Expressive Drawing Lab with Jody Graham

Suitable for intermediate - advanced

Want your artwork to feel more expressive, confident and full of life?

Join professional artist Jody Graham for a six-week studio course exploring the many possibilities of expressive drawing. Through observation, experimentation, mark making and mixed media, you'll discover how to create artwork with greater energy, sensitivity and personal expression.

Unlike traditional drawing classes that focus only on accuracy or technique, this course is about developing a deeper connection between what you see, what you feel and the marks you make.

We will explore both sides of expressive drawing — from bold, energetic gestures and spontaneous mark making to quieter, more intimate studies that reveal the subtle beauty of shape, tone and detail.

Working at different scales, you'll discover how a large expressive mark can capture movement and emotion, while a smaller drawing can invite patience, focus and a more intimate way of seeing. Both approaches are powerful ways of communicating through drawing.

Throughout the course, you'll learn to handle materials with greater confidence and intention, including pencil, fountain pen and mixed media techniques. We'll explore pressure, line variation, layering, composition and mark making, helping you create work that feels more natural, dynamic and uniquely yours.

Each week, we'll investigate a different element of drawing through demonstrations, practical exercises and creative experimentation. The focus will be on strengthening observation, expanding your visual vocabulary and finding greater freedom in your creative decisions.

Designed for intermediate to advanced artists, this course will encourage you to take risks, trust your instincts and develop a more personal visual language.

Week 1 – Line

Explore the expressive power of line through gesture, contour drawing, continuous line, rhythm, movement and mark making.

Week 2 – Shape

Investigate positive and negative space, simplification and abstraction to create stronger visual relationships and compositions.

Week 3 – Form + Value

Explore light, shadow, tone and contrast to create depth, atmosphere and structure.

Week 4 – Texture
Experiment with layering, surface, mixed media, expressive marks to create texture.

Week 5 – Colour

Explore intuitive approaches to colour, mood, harmony with combining drawing and painting.

Week 6 – Space + Composition

Bring all the elements together through scale, layering, cropping and composition to create a resolved expressive mixed media artwork.

By the end of the course, you'll have expanded your understanding of expressive drawing, developed greater confidence with your materials, and created a body of work that reflects your own unique way of seeing and responding to the world.

Come ready to experiment, slow down, speed up, make bold marks, discover subtle details and find your own creative voice. 

Recommended Materials

• A sketchbook – A3 or bigger
• A3 or A2 Mixed media or watercolour pad, 300gsm smooth grain
• A selection of ‘B’ pencils – 2B, 4B, 6B
• An Artline black pen & A coloured biro
• A pack or watercolour pencils (12 minimum)
• Chinese drawing brush
• 50ml bottle of black ink and container for ink
• Masking tape / Paper towel / Glue stick / Scissors / Eraser / Sharpener  
   

Terms & Conditions

Please choose carefully as fees are non-refundable. Refunds of course fees will only be given if the course is cancelled or a place is not available in the course.

Payment of course fees implies that you have read and agree to the WAC Terms & Conditions.