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Fundamentals of Observational Drawing

In this 8-week course, instructor Iliya Mirochnik will share with you his knowledge of the Russian Drawing Approach; a technique that has remained nearly unaltered in Russia for over 250 years. It is an excellent tool for learning the fundamentals of observation, construction, and light theory. With the help of Iliya’s intuitive assignments, 3D models, and reference images, this course will give you a strong drawing foundation. The skills you gain from this course will benefit you through your artistic career.

8 Lessons 11h 13s of videos

Common Questions

What will I learn from this course?

In this course, you will learn how to construct objects from observation, develop light and shadow relationships, block in the planes of a head, and utilize all the required tools from the material list.

What is the Russian/ Illia Repin drawing method?

This observational drawing method has been the foundation of the Repin Academic Institute of Fine Arts (former Saint Petersburg Imperial Academy of Arts). This classical training has been preserved from one generation to the next within an institution that has changed remarkably little over the last 250 years. We would describe this approach as a hybrid between constructive and optical or graphic approaches. We also have a complete 35-lesson course taught by Iliya here: Complete Russian Academic Drawing Approach

Is this course recommended for advanced students or just beginners?

This course is for all levels. If you are beginning to make art, this will give you a solid foundation to jumpstart your artistic career. If you have been making art for many years, this course is an excellent refresher on the fundamentals. Additionally, this style of drawing is rarely revealed outside of Russia; there are many new techniques that you will benefit from.

Can I do this course digitally, using Photoshop or Procreate?

All New Masters Academy courses are designed to be done traditionally or digitally. Software changes constantly, but the fundamentals stay the same. It will be up to you to translate the information that you are learning to your software of choice We recommend avoiding layer, undo, automatic line straightening, or other shortcuts for this course.

Are there any assignments in this course?

This course includes downloadable assignment PDFs, that help you practice the materials taught by instructor Iliya Mirochnik. Keeping up with these assignments will maximize your learning outcomes.

What materials do I need to get for this course?

A material PDF list is linked in each lesson under the description. Please check the file to see what you need to prepare.