Why Drawing Matters
Drawing is more than learning to put pencil to paper.
It encourages us to slow down, observe more closely, and connect with the world around us. As your observational skills grow, so does your confidence – not only in drawing, but in every creative practice that follows.
Before colour, before paint, before technique comes observation.
Strong drawing skills help you understand proportion, form, light, shadow and composition – the building blocks of confident, expressive artwork.
Whether you’re picking up a pencil for the first time, returning to drawing after a break, or strengthening your painting practice, Foundation Drawing will help you build skills that support everything you create.
What You Will Learn
By the end of Foundation Drawing, you’ll have the skills and confidence to approach drawing with curiosity, observation and a solid understanding of the fundamentals.
You’ll learn how to:
- Draw what you see rather than what you think you see
- Build confidence using line, shape, proportion and perspective
- Understand light, shadow and tone to create depth and form
- Explore a range of drawing materials and techniques
- Develop stronger observational skills and creative problem-solving
- Create drawings with greater accuracy, confidence and expression
Whether you’re beginning your artistic journey or strengthening the foundations of your painting practice, these are skills you’ll continue to use throughout your creative life.
Inside Foundation Drawing
Module 1: What is Drawing
Module 2: Line Lecture
Module 3: Draw What You See, Not What You Know
Module 4: Setting Up to Draw
Module 5: Measuring
Module 6: Embracing the Search
Module 7: Line and Relationship
Module 8: Considering Space
Module 9: Seeing Space
Module 10: Perspective
Module 11: Understanding Cylinders
Module 12: Getting an Angle on Perspective
Module 13: Building on Perspective
Module 14: Capturing the Essence
Module 15: Shape, Form and Contour – Part 1
Module 16: Seeing Value in Value
Module 17: Understanding Light
Module 18: Pencils
Module 19: Sharpening Your Pencils
Module 20: Drawing Light
Module 21: Shape, Form and Contour – Part 2
Modules 22-23: Exploring Drawing Materials
Modules 24-25: Discovering Paper
Modules 26-27: The Sum of the Parts
About Erika Gofton
Erika Gofton is a Naarm (Melbourne, Australia) based artist working across drawing, painting, ceramics and installation. Her work explores the many facets of what it is to be human, and precariously sits between the beautiful and the ugly, the ambiguous and the lucid, the dark and the light, the absent and the present.
She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and Post Graduate Diploma of Education and has undertaken further studies in London and New York. She has held solo exhibitions in Melbourne, Sydney and Queensland, and has exhibited in numerous group and curated shows both within Australia and Internationally.
Erika is the founder and Co-Director of The Art Room, and self-confessed drawing nerd!
Begin Your Drawing Journey
Build a strong foundation in drawing with a self-paced online course designed to help you develop essential skills, sharpen your observation, and draw with greater confidence.
$149 AUD — 12 months access
Learn at your own pace, revisit lessons whenever you need, and enjoy the flexibility to fit drawing into your schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Foundation Drawing is designed for complete beginners as well as those returning to drawing or looking to strengthen their fundamentals. The course guides you step by step, so you can build confidence at your own pace.
You only need basic drawing materials to begin – such as drawing paper, pencils and an eraser. Throughout the course, Erika also introduces additional materials you can explore as your skills develop.
Foundation Drawing includes 27 self-paced modules with approximately 8 hours of content. Each module is designed to build your skills progressively through demonstrations, exercises and guided exploration
You’ll have 12 months access, so you can learn at your own pace and revisit lessons whenever you need.
Yes. The course is fully online and can be accessed on desktop, tablet, or mobile devices with an internet connection.
The course is fully self-paced, so you can move through the modules in your own time and revisit lessons as often as you like within your access period.
No. Foundation Drawing is for anyone who wants to develop their drawing skills – whether for personal enjoyment, as a creative practice, or as a foundation for painting and other art forms.
This course focuses not just on techniques, but on learning how to observe. It helps you build a strong foundation in seeing, which supports all areas of your creative practice.
Yes. Foundation Drawing is a single payment of $149 AUD with 12 months access included.
We stand behind the quality and effectiveness of our course. We are confident that our program, meticulously researched and designed, is suitable for individuals ranging from complete beginners to experienced artists.If you’re not satisfied within the first 30 days, we offer a hassle-free refund.