Drawing Classes NYC

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Beginners Drawing at the MET Museum

The Art Studio NY @ 145 W 96th St, New York, NY 10025

Escape the everyday and express your inner-artist in this inspiring in-person New York City drawing class at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. This beginners drawing class is perfect for all levels, total beginners included! Everyone can draw, including YOU! With a professional NYC artist and inspiring educator as your guide and teacher, you will learn the most valuable drawing techniques that are fundamental to drawing, including composition, shading,...

No upcoming schedules
$289

7 sessions

Drawing for Beginners

92nd Street Y @ 1395 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10128

This class focuses on the basics of drawing with pencil, eraser, and paper. Expert teachers guide students through the elements of art, including line, shape, shadow, value, tone, form and perspective, demonstrating and offering critiques of work. This course is ideal for beginner and intermediate-level students who seek a foundation in the fundamentals of drawing. For Supply List, click here

Friday Nov 3rd, 6–8pm Eastern Time

 (7 sessions)

$290

7 sessions

Drawing: The Figure

New York School of the Arts @ 315 E 62nd St, New York, NY 10065

Understanding the basics of drawing the figure allows you to organize light, shade, gesture, and rhythm into a single expressive whole. Working individually with the instructor, you’ll be introduced to varied drawing approaches and techniques, and develop your skills and insights.  Open to students of all levels. Registration fee included. Material List: 18 x 24 Newsprint pad 18 x 24 White drawing pad Charcoal pencils - 2B, 4B, 6B Graphite...

Friday Nov 17th, 3–6pm Eastern Time

 (11 sessions)

$380

11 sessions

Weeknight Figure Drawing

Drawing New York @ 15 Gramercy Park South, New York, NY 10010

Our two-and-a-half-hour uninstructed figure drawing session with a long pose at the end. All levels are welcome. This session is designed to allow attendees to create more completed drawings. The first forty minutes are short poses. After that, all poses are 20 minute poses with a 40-minute pose at the end. We play music quietly while the model is posing so sketchers can concentrate. Q&A Q: Can I make up a class if I miss one? A: No,...

Monday Oct 2nd, 6:30–9pm Eastern Time

Instructed Figure Drawing

Drawing New York @ 15 Gramercy Park South, New York, NY 10010

In this class, we will focus on figure drawing and various drawing techniques. We begin with a short discussion/demo of different approaches to drawing. There is a live model for each session. All levels are welcomed. What to bring: A pad up to 18Ă—24 A 2H, HB, and 4B pencil An eraser Please note: The doors to our events open 15 minutes before each session. There is no room to wait inside the building if you arrive before then so please...

Friday Oct 6th, 6:30–9pm Eastern Time

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Botanical Drawing

92nd Street Y @ 1395 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10128

Learn the basics of rendering a botanical subject in pencil. Working with a plant, flower or vegetable for a subject, we will go from beginning sketch to finished drawing. Capture lush petals, stunning patterns, intricate natural designs, and organic colors. Supply List: Paper  Recommended brand: Stonehenge is a widely available brand, sold in pads of various sizes.  Tracing paper  Recommend brand: Canson  Pencil ...

Friday Nov 3rd, 1:30–3:30pm Eastern Time

 (6 sessions)

$290

6 sessions

Drawing 1.01 Drawing Basics

ArtClassBklyn.com @ 98 Sterling St, Brooklyn, NY 11225

A full 12-class offering of the ACB Method of how to draw starting with the Basics through Portraiture in a Low-Key individualized setting. Drawing from life and photographic reference, here we shall learn how to draw the human figure in an informal individualized setting with no embarrassment. Starting with the basic building blocks of contour and gesture drawing, Students create pictures that go beyond stick figures to life-like renditions of...

Friday Oct 6th, 5:30–7:30pm Eastern Time

 (12 sessions)

$597

12 sessions

Weekend Figure Drawing

Drawing New York @ 15 Gramercy Park South, New York, NY 10010

The uninstructed session starts with short poses at the beginning to warm up. The longest pose will be 20 minutes. We take a 5-minute break every 20 minutes. What to bring: We recommend a drawing pad and pencils or charcoal. We can also accommodate small watercolor sets. Please note: We cannot accommodate dry pastels (for health reasons), open ink containers, or paint other than watercolor. Absolutely no photography while the model is...

Saturday Sep 30th, 12–3pm Eastern Time

Language of Drawing

New York School of the Arts @ 315 E 62nd St, New York, NY 10065

Through a series of exercises, we are going to explore the elements of drawing as well as a variety of techniques, tools, and drawing mediums. We will work from still lifes, photographs, and online resources. The primary objective will be black and white imagery, but color may also be introduced. We will have individual and group critics. All levels are welcome. All levels are welcome. Please Click Here for the Material List

Wednesday Nov 15th, 10am–12:30pm Eastern Time

 (11 sessions)

$330

11 sessions

Life Drawing

New York School of the Arts @ 315 E 62nd St, New York, NY 10065

This class has the objective of providing an opportunity to study in depth one particular issue through drawing, and this class will be focusing on structure. At each class we will explore this issue in a number of ways, including examining the works of masters to see various ways that they used structure, discussing as a group. The instructor will give demonstrations when possible.

Thursday Nov 16th, 9am–12:30pm Eastern Time

 (11 sessions)

$430

11 sessions

Accelerated Introduction to Drawing

The Decorus Atelier of Figurative Art @ 117 57th St., Brooklyn, NY 11220

In this intensive two hour class, students with learn how to correctly start a drawing through the process of straight line construction and comparison. The basic principles of light, shadow, and shading will also be discussed. This class is great for artists of every level of experience that would like to improve their technique and gain confidence in the embarkation of a new piece. This class is meant to provide a taste of what we can do at...

Sunday Oct 1st, 7–9pm Eastern Time

Accelerated Portraiture Drawing

The Decorus Atelier of Figurative Art @ 117 57th St., Brooklyn, NY 11220

Sign up to finally learn the basics of portraiture! Students will study how to accurately construct the face, master proportions, identify the bones and major planes of the skull, along with basic facial features. This will be achieved through drawing, lecture, and demonstration.  Walk away with new confidence and a better understanding of portraiture. Good for any level of experience. 

Sunday Oct 1st, 3–5pm Eastern Time

Drawing: Anatomy & Artistry

New York School of the Arts @ 315 E 62nd St, New York, NY 10065

This class will teach the skills necessary to approach figure drawing. Anatomy will be taught and discussed as a tool to create expressive, interesting figure drawings.  Artistry will be emphasized.  We will analyze the "magic" of old master drawings.   Students will also learn basic shading techniques, expression of line, building solid planes, portrait construction, and a variety of other topics, through lectures and examples....

Monday Nov 13th, 7–9pm Eastern Time

 (11 sessions)

$330

11 sessions

Figure Drawing or Painting: A Foundation

New York School of the Arts @ 315 E 62nd St, New York, NY 10065

Students can choose to work on drawing or oil painting from the live model. Instructor may suggest to work on drawing or painting depends on the students’ progress. The class focuses on the structural landmarks of the human figure by combining the variations of form and plane. We will begin by simplifying light and shadow to create shapes with a step-by-step approach, which will then allow you to build the detail of the body and achieve alikeness...

Tuesday Nov 14th, 10am–1pm Eastern Time

 (11 sessions)

$430

11 sessions

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Best Drawing Classes in NYC

Drawing is the art of creating beautiful pictures by hand or digitally. Physical drawing includes pencils, pens, erasers, and paper, while digital art uses design software to produce intricate styles. Learning how to draw in New York City can provide you with many benefits, including a new and exciting career. Thankfully, NYC drawing classes can help you master these skills to produce engaging and attractive artwork for yourself or your employer.

Why You Should Learn Drawing in NYC

Taking drawing classes in NYC can improve your life by helping you master a new and exciting skill. It’s not only potentially profitable but physically and mentally rewarding. For example, drawing can relieve anxiety by creating artwork that vents your frustrations. Studies show that creative arts relieve emotional troubles while improving a person’s hand-eye coordination. 

Even better, you can make money as an artist by selling your drawings or starting a new design career. These jobs include designing advertisements, creating new company logos, painting new billboard signs, producing website layouts, and animating cartoons. These fields let you create engaging artwork and provide ample compensation for your hard work. 

In-Person Drawing Classes & Schools in NYC

In-person drawing courses and schools in New York City provide beginner-friendly training and education for more advanced techniques. They include subjects like drawing lines and shapes, as well as shading and coloring your artwork. Each program includes small class sizes and hands-on support from a skilled professor who can provide personalized educational help. 

Furthermore, classes cover diverse subjects that focus on different aspects of drawing. For example, some teach realistic landscape drawing, while others focus on cartoon or manga artwork. In this way, you can choose an option that works the best for your needs. The following courses are some of the best in-person drawing classes and schools in NYC.

Accelerated Introduction to Drawing 

Accelerated Introduction to Drawing is a course by The Decorus Atelier of Figurative Art in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. It focuses on teaching you to draw quickly by utilizing a small class size. Typically, it tops out at about five people, giving you lots of personal time with the teacher.

During the course, you’ll learn how to draw straight lines, craft shapes, produce attractive designs, and shade your artwork. It’s designed as a sampler for the school and gives you an immersive experience over a two-hour study period. 

Students from 16 and up are welcome to attend this course. You’ll need to bring a sketchbook, pencils, and erasers, though the school may have some available at a low price. It’s a one-time session, meaning you’ll quickly learn art skills you can apply in other classes at the school.

Accelerated Portraiture Drawing 

Accelerated Portraiture Drawing by The Decorus Atelier of Figurative Art includes a fast-paced environment similar to all introductory courses by this school. This session focuses specifically on creating portraits, including self-portraits. 

Subjects include constructing the face, proper facial proportions, bone identification, skull planes, and facial features. You’ll learn how to sketch and shade each of these sections to create an accurate portrait with depth and feeling.

This course works well for beginner, intermediate, and advanced artists because the professor adjusts their lessons based on your abilities and understanding. Class size is around five students, meaning you’ll get more than enough time to interact with the professor. 

Adult Focus on Drawing

Adult Focus on Drawing by One River School provides beginning and advanced drawing students an immersive educational experience. You’ll learn about line, tone, texture, composition, depth, perspective, and light in a hands-on environment. 

During each session, the skilled teacher provides tips and feedback to improve your artwork. They’ll teach you proper drawing form and discuss techniques that can enhance your work, such as cross-shading and using color to produce depth.

Class costs include all materials, including pencil, oil pastels, chalk pastels, ink, and colored pencils. You also take home any art you create, meaning you can either hang it in your home or sell it to others.

Teen Art Focus: Drawing (Grades 6-12)

Teen Art Focus: Drawing (Grades 6-12) by One River School gives students between 11-18 an immersive four-session experience. It accepts all skill levels, including advanced artists looking to improve their techniques with more advanced concepts. 

During each class, you’ll focus on technical skills, like drawing straight lines, creating detailed shapes, and texturing your artwork. Mediums like graphite, charcoal, oil pastels, chalk pastels, and ink are all allowed.

Other subjects include light, tone, composition, spatial depth, and perspective. Learning these subjects will improve your art by giving it more detail. Between each session, you receive teacher feedback on previous work to better utilize each artistic technique they teach.

Adult: Drawing From the Right Side of the Brain 

Adult: Drawing From the Right Side of the Brain is a Creatively Wild Art Studio Dumbo course that focuses on tapping into your creative mind. It’s unique among NYC drawing classes because it highlights both artistic techniques and their scientific nature. 

For example, you’ll learn about perceptual skills that help you break down a subject by lines, shapes, colors, and textures. The goal of these lessons is to teach you how to perceive the world like an artist and capture it on paper more effectively.

You’ll also learn important drawing skills, such as sketching, coloring, shading, and texturing your work. All course materials are included in your fee, such as paper, charcoal, pastels, pencils, and pens. Each student must complete a class waiver form before attending.

Long Pose Figure Drawing 

Long Pose Figure Drawing is a Drawing New York class without an instructor. Instead, you work alongside up to 24 other students drawing a live model. During your session, the model lays flat, allowing you to sketch their body and its many contours. 

You’ll take a five-minute break every 20 minutes, during which you can talk to other artists and make new friends. The course costs includes a drawing pad and pencils and charcoal, though they accommodate small watercolor sets. Pastels, open ink, and other paints are not allowed. 

This class works best if you have previous drawing experience and don’t need help with basic skills. It’ll take place over three hours, meaning you should have more than enough time to sketch out the model and create a unique piece of art. 

Weeknight Figure Drawing 

Weeknight Figure Drawing is a Drawing New York course that includes a live model taking short and long poses. Short poses last 20 minutes, while long poses are 40. During each pose, music quietly plays to help you concentrate on your art. 

Note that you must bring supplies to this class, including pencils, paper, erasers, and sketchboards. Watercolor paints are allowed, though acrylic and spray paints are not. When finished, you’ll take home several drawings to sell or display.

Like with the Figure Drawing class offered by Drawing New York, this course works best when you have previous art experience. That said, beginners may appreciate this fast-paced nature of this program.

Virtual Drawing Classes & Schools

While NYC has many high-quality in-person drawing classes, virtual courses may work better for many people. These programs include live, online training with an art professional who can work one-on-one with you or in a larger class-based setting. This approach provides many advantages and some downsides that make them worth considering.

Pros of Online Classes 

Virtual drawing classes provide many advantages that make them worth your time. Just a few reasons for you to try them include: 

  • Diverse Attendance Options: Do you travel a lot and worry about missing your in-person drawing classes? Virtual courses let you work anywhere you can find an internet connection. This benefit ensures you can attend classes while on vacation or a work trip.
  • Recorded Lectures: Most online drawing teachers record their lectures, meaning you can watch it later if you miss something. You can even watch them if you can’t attend for any reason. This benefit ensures you get the full value from the course.
  • Lower Cost: Virtual classes often cost less than in-person classes, which makes them perfect for anyone on a budget. Some even provide discounts when you schedule multiple people for the course, which can save you even more money.
  • Safer to Attend: New York City is safer than it was 30 years ago but the roads are even worse. If you feel unsafe fighting NYC traffic for an in-person drawing class, virtual courses will work well for you. You don’t even have to leave your apartment to attend.

Cons of Online Classes

Though virtual classes provide many advantages over in-person courses, there are some downsides. First, you’ll have to provide your own supplies, including pencils, paper, and erasers. You’ll also have limited socialization chances because you’ll likely be far from your professor and classmates. However, virtual courses still work well for those on a limited budget or who dislike NYC traffic. 

Online Classes You May Enjoy 

If you’re interested in online drawing classes, you can choose from one or more options on CourseHorse, including: 

  • Beginner’s Intro Art Journaling: Beginner’s Intro Art Journaling guides you through creating a personalized art journal with drawings and paintings. You’re encouraged to produce stylized artwork that reflects your emotional state and relieves your anxiety.
  • Botanical Drawing 1: Botanical Drawing 1 focuses on wildlife designs, including sketching and coloring seeds, fruit, and animals. Each class includes live lectures from a skilled artist who can fine-tune your abilities and help you produce better work.
  • For the Birds: For the Birds: Wildlife in Landscape Art teaches you how to draw and paint beautiful wildlife. You’ll work with watercolor paints via Zoom and get personalized help. You must take Botanical Drawing 1 or a similar course before attending this class.

Private Group Drawing Classes in NYC

Are you trying to schedule a team-building event for your company but everyone’s sick of kayaking, hiking, and trivia nights? Well, the best private group drawing classes for NYC provide a fun and creative way for your employees to bond. To meet your needs, CourseHorse hosts several private group drawing programs that cover multiple subjects. 

For example, Virtual Group Drawing & Sketching Class teaches up to 255 people about creating still life, landscape, facial, and botanical art using graphite. Your team can also learn basic watercolor painting in Virtual Watercolor Workshop, which covers landscape and portrait art. Lastly, Virtual Cartooning & Doodling Workshop highlights cartoon-related drawing skills.

If these classes don’t appeal to your team, CourseHorse has many more you may enjoy. Furthermore, they can create personalized programs specific to your team’s needs. Simply contact them using their online form to learn more. They’ll discuss things like class size, subjects, costs, and other important elements to streamline your experience. 

CourseHorse also provides many other benefits for your team, including 24-hour confirmation, no booking fees, adaptable class sizes, and multiple supported platforms. These benefits make them a good option for both in-person and virtual classes. For instance, CourseHorse’s programs should work for your remote team by easily adapting to their operating systems.