Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn to draw
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Drawing is mostly a way of looking, and a short beginners' course teaches the basics of line, tone, proportion and perspective that everything else in art builds on. All you need is a pencil, an eraser and paper.
Gentle£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoorsWith othersUK and US
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What it's really like
A beginners' course starts with simple objects. City Lit's Drawing for beginners works through mark-making, tone from light to dark, the way light falls on basic forms, positive and negative space, and simple composition. It is aimed at people with little or no drawing experience, and paper and drawing media are provided.
Some courses are more traditional. A Cumbrian adult learning course has beginners copy a lithograph from the Charles Bargue drawing course, with lessons in measuring, proportion and using tone to make forms look solid. 92NY in New York covers line, shape, shadow, value, tone, form and perspective, with demonstrations and critiques.
The hard part is that three evenings is only a start. City Lit points students on to Drawing 1, Life drawing for beginners or Portraits 1, and the Art Students League in New York runs classes month by month with no entrance requirements, so you can keep going.
Ways in, side by side
| Where | Course/format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| City Lit, London | Drawing for beginners, three evenings of three hours, or two Sundays; materials provided | £179 evening or £209 weekend; less for seniors and concessions |
| Penrith Adult Learning, Cumbria | Beginners Drawing, Classical Drawing Foundations, four Wednesday afternoons; spring 2026 run | £65, or £32.50 concessionary |
| 92NY, New York | Drawing for Beginners, weekly from November to December; pencil, eraser and paper | $350 to $480 depending on the session |
| Art Students League of New York | Ongoing monthly classes; no entrance requirements or examinations | Monthly tuition plus a $100 annual registration fee |
The Art Students League also runs open sketch sessions you can try up to three times before paying the annual fee.
How to start
- Book a short beginners' drawing course at an adult education college, a council adult learning service or an art centre.
- Buy the basics if they are not supplied: an HB and a 2B pencil, a kneadable eraser and an A4 sketchbook.
- Draw one simple object at home between sessions, looking more at the object than at the paper.
Where to go
- City Lit: Drawing for beginners (London) UK
- City Lit: all beginners' drawing courses UK
- 92NY: Drawing for Beginners (New York) US
- Art Students League of New York: how to get started US
We opened these links on 7 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Can anyone learn to draw?
Beginners' courses are built on that idea. City Lit's course is for people with little or no drawing experience, and the Art Students League has no entrance requirements or examinations.
What do you learn in a beginners' drawing class?
Typically line, tone, light and shade, proportion and perspective. 92NY's class lists line, shape, shadow, value, tone, form and perspective.
What do I need to bring to a drawing class?
Often very little. City Lit provides all materials for Drawing for beginners; a Cumbrian course asked for an A4 sketchbook, 2B and HB pencils, a kneadable eraser and a drawing board.
How much is a beginners' drawing course?
As last listed, from £65 for four afternoons in Penrith and £179 for City Lit's three evenings in London, to $350 to $480 for a term at 92NY in New York.
Where this comes from: City Lit, Drawing for beginners; City Lit, Beginners drawing courses; Adult Learning Cumbria, Beginners Drawing - Classical Drawing Foundations (PEN25T115); 92NY, Drawing for Beginners; Art Students League of New York, How to get started. Opened 7 November 2026.
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