Winter Break 1-on-1 Drawing Coach: Advanced Winter Sketchbook

This 1-on-1 coaching course is for young artists who already draw often and want honest, expert feedback to take their sketchbook further. Over four private sessions during winter break, learners work on a themed winter sketchbook while tackling the skills that separate good drawings from great ones.

Session one is a portfolio review: the coach looks at the learner's current work, names strengths and two or three advanced goals, and helps plan a winter sketchbook theme. Session two focuses on light and value through one of the hardest subjects to draw, white snow, using value scales, reflected light and cast shadows. Session three tackles figures in motion, drawing skaters and sledders with gesture lines, anatomy landmarks and foreshortening. In the final session learners design a finished two-page spread with strong composition.

Leadership is built into the course. Learners set their own direction, choose which skills to prioritize and, in the last session, lead the critique of their own spread: presenting choices, identifying weaknesses and planning next steps the way art directors and senior artists do.

Learners finish with several advanced studies, a finished sketchbook spread and a personal practice plan. Work can be done in graphite, ink or a drawing tablet.

How classes work

Each 60-minute session includes a short focused demo, timed studies with live feedback and a review of between-session sketches. Sessions are scheduled 1-on-1, twice a week for two weeks.

What we'll cover

• 

  Session 1: Portfolio Review and Sketchbook Plan – Review current work, set an advanced focus and plan a winter sketchbook theme.

• 

  Session 2: Light, Value and Snow – Render white-on-white snow scenes using value scales, reflected light and cast shadows.

• 

  Session 3: Figures in Motion – Draw winter figures skating and sledding with gesture, anatomy landmarks and foreshortening.

• 

  Session 4: Composition and Critique – Design a finished two-page spread and lead a critique of your own sketchbook.

Learners should already draw regularly and be comfortable with basic proportion and shading. Please share 3 to 5 recent drawings before the first session.