​​Foundations Of Drawing: Learning to See

Beginner to Intermediate

Thursday, August 27, 2026

10:30 AM-1:30 PM | $150 
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Whether you are picking up charcoal for the first time or looking to strengthen your artistic foundation, this one-day workshop introduces the essential principles that form the basis of successful drawing. Through demonstrations, guided instruction, and hands-on exercises, students will discover that great drawing begins long before charcoal touches the paper. 

Using charcoal as a versatile and expressive medium, students will explore the tools and techniques of charcoal while learning the fundamental concepts of observation, line, gesture, shape, proportion, value, form, and composition. Each exercise is designed to build upon the previous lesson, allowing students to develop confidence while creating a series of drawings that reinforce the skills being learned. 
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The goal of this workshop is not simply to teach students how to draw, but to help them learn to see the world through an artist's eyes. These timeless drawing principles provide a strong foundation for continued growth in charcoal, graphite, pastel, watercolor, and oil painting. 

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​​​​Click here for Class payment policies 
Classes are non-refundable (Read before signing up)

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Workshop Expectations & Guidelines 

Workshop Goals 
By the end of this workshop, students will: 
​• Become familiar with charcoal as a drawing medium and the tools used to create a variety of marks and effects.
• Develop stronger observational skills by learning to truly see rather than simply look.
• Understand the relationship between line, gesture, shape, proportion, value, form, and composition.
• Build confidence through guided practice and individualized instruction.
• Develop a solid drawing foundation that can be applied to any artistic medium.

Workshop Topics / What Students will Learn Students will explore: 
​​• Introduction to Charcoal as a Drawing Medium
• Charcoal Tools and Materials
• Learning to See Like an Artist
• Line and Gesture
• Shape and Construction
• Proportion and Measurement
• Light, Shadow, and Value
• Creating Three-Dimensional Form
• Composition and Visual Balance

Guided Drawing Exercises:
Exercise One - Seeing the Big Shapes - Deer Study
• Learning to simplify the subject into large shapes
• Gesture and directional movement
• Establishing value masses

Exercise Two - Building Form - Still Life Study
• Thumbnail sketches and composition
• Simple forms and construction
• Light, shadow, and creating three-dimensional form

Exercise Three - Creating Composition - Landscape Study
• Composition and visual balance
• Creating depth through value and perspective
• Simplifying natural forms

​Exercise Four - Apply the Principles -- Personal Reference Drawing 
Students will bring a favorite reference photograph (pet, landscape, architecture, or another meaningful subject) and apply the principles learned throughout the workshop while receiving individualized guidance from the instructor. 

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Supply List 

Students are encouraged to bring their own drawing materials; however, the instructor will have a selection of charcoal drawing supplies available for classroom use. Beginning students are welcome to use these materials during the workshop before deciding what supplies they may wish to purchase for future study. 

Recommended Student Supplies 
• Drawing pad (9" x 12" or 11" x 14")
• Vine Charcoal
• Compressed Charcoal (Soft, Medium, and Hard)
• Charcoal Pencils (HB, 2B, 4B, and GB)
• Kneaded Eraser
• White Vinyl Eraser
• Pencil Sharpener
• Blending Stump or Tortillon (optional)
• One printed reference photograph in both color and black-and-white (approximately 8" x 1 O"). Choose a subject that is meaningful to you, such as a pet, landscape, architecture, or another favorite image. This reference will be used during the final guided drawing exercise, allowing you to apply the observational and drawing principles learned throughout the workshop to a subject of your own choosing.

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About the Instructor 

Jill Johnson is an award-winning fine artist, entrepreneur, and founder of Creative Paths Art Mentoring in Gainesville, Georgia. Best known for her equine artwork, her work in graphite, charcoal, pastel, and oil reflects a lifelong passion for the horse and a deep appreciation for observation, craftsmanship, and storytelling. 
Jill's artistic journey began in childhood when she was selected for the prestigious Tam O'Shanter program through the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. Although her professional career led her into hospitality management, her passion for art-and her dream of teaching-never faded. 

Throughout a distinguished career in restaurant leadership, Jill was consistently recognized as a top performer and selected for advanced training and leadership roles. She served as a General Manager and Training Manager for manager trainees with Rusty Scupper/Stouffer Hotels, Regional Training Manager for certified trainers and managers with Red Lobster/Darden Restaurants, and later as a Training Manager for manager trainees with Golden Corral. Over the course of her career, she developed training programs, mentored employees and managers, and prepared future trainers and leaders. More than any title she held, Jill found her greatest fulfillment in helping others discover their potential and build strong foundations for success. 

Looking back, Jill recognizes that those decades of teaching, mentoring, curriculum development, and leadership became the perfect preparation for the work she was always meant to do. Inspired by her own experience of wishing she had received greater artistic mentorship as a young artist, she founded Creative Paths Art Mentoring to provide students with the guidance, encouragement, and strong technical foundation she believes every aspiring artist deserves. 

Creative Paths Art Mentoring is now an active mentoring program serving youth ages 13 and older and adults through individualized and small-group instruction. Built upon Jill's philosophy of learning to truly see, the program emphasizes strong drawing foundations, technical skill development, creative confidence, and personalized guidance. Since its launch, Creative Paths has provided individualized mentoring for young artists, helping them develop both their technical abilities and their unique creative voices. 

In addition to Creative Paths, Jill developed and implemented a structured drawing curriculum for students ages 6-18 at Whispering Angels Youth Ranch. Designed to meet students at a variety of skill levels, the program introduces the fundamental principles of drawing through a progressive sequence of lessons that build observation, technical proficiency, confidence, and artistic understanding. Jill believes that a strong foundation empowers students to continue growing as artists long after the class has ended. 
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Jill believes that every successful painting begins with drawing and that learning to truly see is the most important skill an artist can develop. A strong drawing foundation can open the door to success in every artistic medium. Jill believes that every student is capable of artistic growth through patient instruction, thoughtful encouragement, and careful observation. Her goal is not simply to teach art, but to inspire confidence, cultivate creativity, and help each student discover the unique artist within.