Foundations, ages 13 and up, learning to see
Seeing and Measuring
Draw what you see rather than what you know: edges, spaces, angles, proportions and the block-in.
- Level
- Easy to intermediate
- Lessons
- 16 in 5 units
- Time
- 5.5 hours of lessons
- Pace
- About four weeks
Already drawing with Lapis? Open the course in the app
The goal
What you’ll be able to draw
Draw what you see rather than what you know: edges, spaces, relationships (angles and proportions), lights and shadows and the whole, with comparative measurement and the block-in.
How you’ll see the progress
Three “before” and three “after” drawings side by side; angle and proportion drills scored against the placement check.
Skills
- Observation
- Proportion and measurement
Pictures you’ll make
-
The Block-In Watch and draw -
Light Logic Watch and draw
5 units, 16 lessons
The syllabus
Unit 1 is free for everyone, so you can see how it feels first.
- 4 drill
- 4 draw from life
- 3 checkpoint
- 2 then and now
- 2 watch and draw
- 1 concept
- Free
Unit 1
Before
Three drawings made before the course, kept to compare with the three after it.
- 01 Three Before Drawings Then and now, 45 min Then and now 45 min
-
Unit 2
Edges
Copy one short segment at a time, and draw edges slowly while looking at them.
- 01 Segment by Segment Drill, 8 min Drill 8 min
- 02 Pure Contour Draw from life, 5 min Draw from life 5 min
- 03 Modified Contour Draw from life, 20 min Draw from life 20 min
- 04 Checkpoint: Edges Checkpoint, 4 min Checkpoint 4 min
-
Unit 3
Spaces
The picture plane, and the shapes of air around things.
- 01 The Picture Plane Concept, 5 min Concept 5 min
- 02 Negative Space Draw from life, 30 min Draw from life 30 min
- 03 Checkpoint: Spaces Checkpoint, 15 min Checkpoint 15 min
-
Unit 4
Relationships
Angles against true vertical, sizes compared, and the block-in before any detail.
- 01 Sighting Angles Drill, 8 min Drill 8 min
- 02 Comparing Sizes Drill, 8 min Drill 8 min
- 03 The Block-In Watch and draw, 45 min Watch and draw 45 min
- 04 Checkpoint: Relationships Checkpoint, 6 min Checkpoint 6 min
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Unit 5
Light and the whole
Shapes of light and shadow, a measured profile, a measured self-portrait and memory.
- 01 Light Logic Watch and draw, 40 min Watch and draw 40 min
- 02 Self-Portrait from a Mirror Draw from life, 45 min Draw from life 45 min
- 03 Memory Drawing Drill, 8 min Drill 8 min
- 04 Three After Drawings Then and now, 45 min Then and now 45 min
When you finish
A certificate for the fridge
Finish every lesson and Lapis makes a certificate to print or download, with the nickname, the course, the date and a drawing from it. Children get one too.
Lapis certificate
Seeing and Measuring
finished by
your nickname
and the date you finish
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