A modern approach to classical skill-building in observational drawing
- 20 lessons, Tuesdays and Thursdays 19:00-22:00
- Starting March 17 until June 4
- Location: Cultuurwerkplaats Wageningen Arboretumlaan 1, 6703 BD Wageningen
- Course price: €350,- (2-installment plan available).
- All students receive a complimentary starter kit upon starting the course including pencils, eraser, blending stump – Everything you need to dive into your drawing journey.
- This English-language course comes with handouts and personalized feedback, all provided in both English and Dutch
- No prior drawing experience required, just good motivation
- Capacity: Limited to 10 students – Small group for personal guidance and a focussed learning experience
- Free Introductory class – February 17 there will be a free introductory class 19:00 – 22:00 to see if this class is for you. (limited spots available Sign up for it here)
Unplug, focus, and create
After a day in front of a screen, treat yourself to the meditative practice of Traditional Academic Drawing. Learn how to observe, interpret, and capture nature in 2D, guided step by step by an experienced instructor following their own own modernized adaptation of a 19th century skill building process.
With handouts, personalized feedback, and a small group of fellow students, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to produce drawings of the highest standard — while enjoying a mindful, screen-free creative break.
image: Marcus Brutus in charcoal after a Charles Bargue lithograph
Course Structure
Over a period of10 weeks, we will build your skills step by step:
Weeks 1-3: We will start by drawing Block in sketches after 19th century lithographs, subsquently photographs and finally from 3d casts of the features of the human face.
Image: Some exercises from the Charles Bargue book and a plastercast of an ear
Weeks 4–6: We will do a series of tonal exercises to equip us with the skills we need to render the illusion of 3 dimensional form from photographs and physical objects
Image: graphite drawing of how to draw the sphere
Weeks 7-10: We will start to work on a basic mastercopy in graphite that we aim to finish by the end of the course.
You don’t need prior skills or knowledge, everyone is welcome.
Handouts and individual feedback available in English & Dutch
Image: Caesar lithograph by Charles Bargue, one of the basic mastercopy options available
What’s next?
After the course has finished there will be a summer workshop available and in the fall there will be a new 10 week course.
About the Instructor:
Rutger has been drawing and painting since a young age, but decided to take atelier training since 2018. Rutger has taught introductory drawing courses and bootcamps at an atelier school in Haarlem from 2022-2025
image: Mastercopy after Pierre-Paul Prud’hon done in graphite
Curious, motivated and ready to learn? Then this course is for you. Register now!
Materials required:
-Painter’s tape (the cheap kind is fine)
-Something to store your pencils in
-A craft knife
-Something to transport your a4 and a3 drawings in
-An a3 sketchbook for short exercises
Payment: The course can be paid in one or two installments. The first installment has to be paid within 7 days after your registration. The second installment within 7 days after April 17.
Please note: The course will run only if a minimum of 4 participants enroll. You will be informed by February 24 whether the course will take place. If the minimum amount of participants is not met, your payment will be fully refunded.
Registration & Cancellation Policy
Registration is final upon payment.
Cancellations made up to 14 days before the start of the course are eligible for a full refund.
Cancellations made within 14 days before the start date, or after the course has begun, are non-refundable.
Missed classes cannot be refunded.
If the instructor cancels a class, it will be rescheduled accordingly.
In exceptional cases, this policy may be adjusted by mutual agreement.
Questions?Feel free to send me a message using the Contact form
🌈 Inclusive and respectful learning environment – LGBTQ+ welcome