Our Still Life Drawing Classes invite you to explore the art of rendering objects with care, precision, and creativity. Working with pencil, charcoal, ink, and watercolour, you’ll learn how to capture form, light, and texture through careful observation and expressive technique.
This course is perfect for artists who want to sharpen their eye, develop composition skills, and experiment with colour and material. You’ll study a variety of still life arrangements – from everyday items to more intricate set-ups – while learning how to bring out their character, volume, and atmosphere.
By the end, you’ll have built a personal sketchbook of studies, improved your technical drawing skills, and completed a final piece that reflects your unique style and voice.
What You’ll Learn
Each class will focus on a different technical or creative element of still life, helping you develop at your own pace. You’ll learn how to:
- Observe with precision: Train your eye to notice shape, proportion, light, and surface detail
- Work with light and shadow: Use tonal contrast to create the illusion of volume and depth
- Compose balanced, engaging arrangements: Learn how object placement influences visual storytelling
- Explore materials: Experiment with graphite, charcoal, ink, and watercolour to discover your preferred tools and effects
- Build colour confidence: Learn colour theory and practise realistic mixing techniques and expressive brushwork
- Add emotional depth: Begin to develop a personal style that communicates feeling, atmosphere, or narrative
- Finish with a portfolio-ready piece: Complete a final painting that brings your skills and vision together
All materials are provided, and sessions take place in our fully equipped art studio with expert one-to-one guidance from your tutor.
Benefits of Taking This Course
Still life isn’t just a technical exercise – it’s an opportunity to develop patience, precision, and creative expression. Whether you’re looking to build foundational drawing and painting skills or refine your artistic voice, this course offers the structure and freedom to grow.
- Train your observation: Learn to truly “see” as an artist sees – with attention to detail, shape, and form
- Gain confidence with new materials: Explore charcoal, graphite, ink, and watercolour in a supportive space
- Build your compositional eye: Learn how to arrange objects for balance and storytelling
- Add depth and realism to your work: Master tone, shadow, and perspective techniques
- Discover your artistic voice: Begin shaping a visual style that’s distinctly your own
- Leave with a final piece: Create a finished drawing or painting that reflects your journey
See like an artist
Train your eye to recognise shape, proportion, lighting, and surface texture. You’ll learn to slow down and really see your subject, not just glance at it.
Bring depth to your drawings
Use shading and tonal contrast to transform flat sketches into lifelike forms. Discover how highlights and shadows create volume, atmosphere, and structure.
Create visual balance and meaning
Learn how object placement, spacing, and angles influence the impact of your artwork. Explore how still life can tell a story through thoughtful arrangement.
Mix and apply with purpose
Understand the colour wheel, tonal harmony, and how to mix realistic and expressive colours. Develop confident brushwork and learn to layer colour with control.
Create visual balance and meaning
Learn how object placement, spacing, and angles influence the impact of your artwork. Explore how still life can tell a story through thoughtful arrangement.
CLASSES STARTING SOON
| DATE | DAY | TIME (BST) | DURATION | TUTOR | VENUE | PRICE | BOOKING | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 2025 - 29 Nov 2025 | Sat | 10:00-12:30 | 5 weeks | City Academy Art Tutors | City Academy, Farringdon | £225.00 | Book Now Click the gift icon to gift this course | Book Now Gift this courseClick the gift icon to gift this course |
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Useful information
This course is ideal for improvers and those with some experience, but beginners with a basic understanding of drawing are also welcome. Your tutor will provide individual support to suit your level.
No, all materials are provided, including paper, pencils, charcoal, paint, and brushes. You’re welcome to bring your own sketchbook or favourite tools if you like.
You’ll work with pencil, charcoal, ink, and watercolour. The course is designed to let you experiment with different tools and discover what suits your style.
Both. While the course begins with drawing fundamentals, you’ll also explore colour theory and expressive brushwork using watercolour for your final pieces.
Yes, alongside your studies and experiments, you’ll work toward a final drawing or painting that demonstrates your progress and personal style.
If you’d like to continue developing your technique or explore different themes, your tutor may recommend one of the following follow-on courses:
Drawing with Colour
Speed Drawing
Self-Portrait: Exploring Identity
Drawing on Location
| DATE | DAY | TIME (BST) | DURATION | TUTOR | VENUE | PRICE | BOOKING | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 2025 - 29 Nov 2025 | Sat | 10:00-12:30 | 5 weeks | City Academy Art Tutors | City Academy, Farringdon | £225.00 | Book NowClick the gift icon to gift this course | Book Now Gift this courseClick the gift icon to gift this course |
|
Select your Entry Level:
PAYMENT OPTIONS
ONLINE & PHONE PAYMENTS
Online – To book your selected class/course online, just click Book Now next to your chosen class/course.
Phone – We would be happy to take your booking over the phone, just call us on 020 7042 8833.
CASH & CHEQUE PAYMENTS
Cash - You are welcome to pay cash, just come and see us at our office: City Academy, 38 Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4RN
Cheque - You can also pay by cheque by filling out this form (click here) and posting it to the address above.
CANCELLATIONS POLICY
We offer a full refund or full credit if you cancel at least 72 hours before the start of your booking.
We cannot offer any refund if you cancel less than 72 hours before the start of your booking, or if you do not attend. Please note bookings are non-transferable after 72 hours.
(For more information please see our terms and conditions)
10% DISCOUNT AVAILABLE
If you book 2 or more different classes/courses at a time we can offer you a 10% discount. If you wish to take advantage of this offer please enter 2ORMORE in the promotional code box when booking online or quote code when booking over the phone. Please note that this offer cannot be applied when you are booking two or more of the same class/course.
| DATE | DAY | TIME (BST) | DURATION | TUTOR | VENUE | PRICE | BOOKING | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 2025 - 29 Nov 2025 | Sat | 10:00-12:30 | 5 weeks | City Academy Art Tutors | City Academy, Farringdon | £225.00 | Book NowClick the gift icon to gift this course | Book Now Gift this courseClick the gift icon to gift this course |
|
Select your Entry Level:
PAYMENT OPTIONS
ONLINE & PHONE PAYMENTS
Online – To book your selected class/course online, just click Book Now next to your chosen class/course.
Phone – We would be happy to take your booking over the phone, just call us on 020 7042 8833.
CASH & CHEQUE PAYMENTS
Cash - You are welcome to pay cash, just come and see us at our office: City Academy, 38 Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4RN
Cheque - You can also pay by cheque by filling out this form (click here) and posting it to the address above.
CANCELLATIONS POLICY
We offer a full refund or full credit if you cancel at least 72 hours before the start of your booking.
We cannot offer any refund if you cancel less than 72 hours before the start of your booking, or if you do not attend. Please note bookings are non-transferable after 72 hours.
(For more information please see our terms and conditions)
10% DISCOUNT AVAILABLE
If you book 2 or more different classes/courses at a time we can offer you a 10% discount. If you wish to take advantage of this offer please enter 2ORMORE in the promotional code box when booking online or quote code when booking over the phone. Please note that this offer cannot be applied when you are booking two or more of the same class/course.
All City Academy tutors are experienced professionals from theatre, film/TV and performance industries. So whilst they're training you they may also be rehearsing for a West End show or working on a movie. We like that and we do believe it makes a difference in class.
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