Monday, 02.04.2007
Artistic Endeavours

Many people think that you need great talent to be good at art. They're mistaken - the secret truth is that everybody can learn to draw. Drawing is a natural human activity that has been practised since our ancestors found out what to do with their opposable thumb. Our ancient forebears didn't worry if they got Ug's nose wrong or if Ook looked at bit chubby. They drew what they saw, and we have evidence of their artistic leanings on cave walls and tombs.

One of the best ways to get started with art is with a course in drawing and sketching. This will boost your confidence and make you realise that art is something that can be learned. Most people complain that they can't draw a straight line, but this is not strictly necessary unless you are drawing rulers, sticks or very skinny people. A drawing class will help you discover your inner artist, using a variety of media, such as pencil, charcoal and ink. It will help you develop the skills and techniques that are necessary to create preliminary sketches and strong completed drawings.

You can mark your progress by sketching the same object every day for a month and then comparing your first effort with your last. Unless you have been throwing spitballs at the teacher for the duration of the course, you will be pleasantly surprised by the improvement.

Anyone who has ever been at home in the afternoon should have caught Watercolour Challenge, the Channel 4 programme that pits amateur painters against each other in a battle to the death for a set of sable brushes and a subscription to Art Monthly. If you want to be a contender, then a watercolour course will get you past the first round. However, if you would prefer not to have your efforts critiqued on television by a lady in a floppy sombrero, then consider one of the many other paint mediums, such as oils, pastels, acrylics or gouache.

A painting course will teach you how to paint from a variety of subjects including still life, life models, portraits and landscapes. You will learn about line, colour, texture, form and movement and soon you will be able to hang your masterpieces up in pride of place above the toilet tank. Students are encouraged to develop their own style - painting by numbers went out with Bunty annuals and those seascapes are so yesterday's news.

You will learn to paint from real life and to realise that making mistakes is all part of the learning process. If your first portrait makes your mother look like Winston Churchill, then coax her away from the razor blades by telling her how much she has helped you to improve your technique.

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