Foundations, ages 13 and up, learning to see
Sketching Out and About
Sketch the real world quickly, from objects and buildings to people on the move.
- Level
- Easy to intermediate
- Lessons
- 9 in 4 units
- Time
- 5 hours of lessons
- Pace
- About three weeks, then ongoing
Already drawing with Lapis? Open the course in the app
The goal
What you’ll be able to draw
Sketch the real world quickly (objects, buildings, streets, trees, vehicles and people on the move) and build the sketchbook habit.
How you’ll see the progress
A then-and-now sketchbook spread with a short checklist.
Skills
- Observation
- Gesture
- Perspective
Pictures you’ll make
- A Sketchbook Spread Project
4 units, 9 lessons
The syllabus
Unit 1 is free for everyone, so you can see how it feels first.
- 4 draw from life
- 4 checkpoint
- 1 project
- Free
Unit 1
The habit
Small, frequent drawings, and a thumbnail before every sketch.
- 01 Five-Minute Objects Draw from life, 50 min Draw from life 50 min
- 02 Checkpoint: The habit Checkpoint, 15 min Checkpoint 15 min
-
Unit 2
Places
Buildings, café tables and trees, sketched from life.
- 01 A Building from Across the Street Draw from life, 30 min Draw from life 30 min
- 02 A Café Table Draw from life, 30 min Draw from life 30 min
- 03 Checkpoint: Places Checkpoint, 15 min Checkpoint 15 min
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Unit 3
People and movement
People waiting, walking and sitting, and vehicles in boxes and ellipses.
- 01 Cars and Bikes Draw from life, 30 min Draw from life 30 min
- 02 Checkpoint: People and movement Checkpoint, 15 min Checkpoint 15 min
-
Unit 4
Colour and pages
Line and wash, and a day’s sketches arranged as a spread.
- 01 A Sketchbook Spread Project, 60 min Project 60 min
- 02 Then and Now Spread Checkpoint, 60 min Checkpoint 60 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
Sketching Out and About
finished by
your nickname
and the date you finish
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