Line & Mark-Making
Your ability to control a pencil, pen, or charcoal — creating varied lines (thick/thin, light/heavy), contour drawing, gesture sketching, hatching and cross-hatching.
Shape & Form
Translating what you see into flat shapes (circles, rectangles, organic blobs) and then building them into 3D forms using shading. Breaking complex objects into simple geometric parts.
Value (Light & Shadow)
Creating a range from light to dark. Understanding how light falls on objects — highlights, midtones, core shadow, reflected light, cast shadows. Making things look solid and real.
Color Theory & Mixing
Understanding the color wheel, warm vs cool colors, complementary relationships. Mixing specific colors from primaries. Using color to create mood, depth, or emphasis.
Composition & Space
Arranging elements on a page or canvas. Understanding balance, focal points, rule of thirds, leading lines. Creating depth through perspective, overlapping, and scale.
Figure & Anatomy
Drawing or painting the human body — proportions, gesture, bone and muscle structure. Includes hands, faces, and full figures in various poses.
