Introduction to Life drawing - Tessa Houghton- 6 week course Spring 2026

6-Week Fully Tutored Course | Wednesday Evenings

Dates: April 22 - May 27
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

This relaxed and friendly course is designed to explore various techniques and methods used to depict the human figure. Suitable for beginners but open to all skill levels, the course will guide you through key aspects of figure drawing, offering both structured tuition and the freedom to explore your own creativity.

The course dates are as follows:

• April 22
• April 29
• May 6
• May 13
• May 20
• May 27

What we will do:

Working with a life model, each of the 6 sessions will focus on a different subject, for example: quick gestural drawings, chiaroscuro (the study of light and dark tonal values), measured drawing or negative space.

We will:

• Learn how to use different drawing materials, including pencil, charcoal, graphite and chalk
• Learn to draw from observation, from a range of short and long, model poses
• Gain an understanding of the materials used
• Use measuring to improve the proportion of drawings
• Learn to create effective compositions

What we will make:

Students will produce line drawings and tonal drawings. In some sessions we might do lots of quick drawings and in others we may produce just one or two longer drawings

Who this course is for:

The course is suitable for complete beginners or those with some experience who wish to hone their skills. No previous knowledge is required.

What needs to be brought to class:

A selection of basic drawing materials will be provided: e.g. paper, a range of pencils, charcoal, white chalk and erasers.

Students are also welcome to bring their own materials if preferred.

The tutor:

Tessa Houghton is a professional artist and experienced art tutor. She now lives in Meanwood and is a studio holder at East Street Arts. Tessa's work has been exhibited and collected around the world. More information about her own practice can be found here: www.tessahoughton.com