Description
Drawing from Paintings in Museums
Online Course
An online course exploring and drawing paintings from galleries and museums around the world, from St Petersberg, to New York to Canberra.
Explore some of the world’s most exciting art museums from the comfort of your own home. Each week, we look at the work of a different artist, gradually moving through the centuries. Students draw from the same painting on their screen while having an informal but organised discussion about the work. There is so much to learn from paintings and our collective interpretations.
Open to all levels
Thursdays
11 January – 21 March 2024 / 6.30pm – 9.00pm
11 weeks / No half term break
Tutor: Laura Smith
Course #: ZM5
Course Programme
This online course allows you to explore major global collections from home. Each week, we draw from paintings from different galleries and museums. Examples include: Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, MoMA, New York and NGA, Canberra. Beginning with an introduction to the artists and group discussion, you will draw from chosen paintings with guidance from your tutor. This course is open to all levels.
Each twelve week block is structured chronologically but the time span will vary from course to course. We look at a single artist each week, focusing on one or two of their paintings.
Class structure
The class has evolved organically into one where we have a great deal of group discussion while we draw. I begin by introducing the artist of the week and giving you some background and context. I will always show you an example of a drawing I have made and give you suggestions for how to approach your drawing. We then spend the best part of an hour drawing while I ask you one at a time for your thoughts.
You don’t need any prior knowledge of history of art. I myself am not an art historian but an artist. Everyone’s points of view are equally valuable and it is true delight how much we all learn each week from one another’s contributions.
We often draw from a second painting, finishing with a look at all our different interpretations of the paintings.
Materials List
A4 sketchbook (or similar)
Pencils (2B – 4B)
Eraser
Sharpener
Optional: coloured drawing materials such as pens, pencils, pastels.
Course Tutor

Laura Smith
Laura completed her BA in 2003 and graduated with a MFA from The Slade School of Fine Art in 2012, winning the Clare Winsten Memorial Award. She was shortlisted for the Threadneedle Prize in 2011 and 2016.
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