Digital Drawing: Life Observed

This course allows students to dip their toes into the world of drawing digitally, to use your own tablet or smartphone as a virtual sketchbook.

Drawing Open Space

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Course details

Dates

18 September – 16 October 2025

Times

18:00 – 21:00

Duration

5 sessions

Fees

£162.00 Concessions available

Location

Online

Tutors

Fraser Scarfe

Overview

Art and technology have a rich, shared history and as technology advances, so too does art. Technology has made art more accessible both in terms of its creation but also the way it is sold, viewed and shared. But what about the humble act of drawing in its simplest terms? Drawing on tablets and smartphones has proven to be an immediate and exciting way of capturing the everyday. Portable and accessible, they have the added advantages of limitless colour choices, layering and the ability to work in low light.

The course will offer an introduction to working digitally, exploring the apps and technology available, whilst keeping a strong emphasis on drawing from observation. Using these new tools, we will approach drawing as reportage; harnessing the portability and flexibility of our digital devices to capture our daily encounters, the places we live, and our private and imagined worlds.

Please note that the recommended app for this course is Procreate, which will be used as a reference point throughout the course.

Who is it for

Beginners welcome. No experience of drawing required.

What’s provided

For our online courses, you will receive prior to the start of the course access to our Padlet Noticeboard where you will be given course details, material lists and some references, as well as our Padlet Gallery where you will be able to upload and comment on work created during the course.

What to bring

For our online courses, you must provide your own materials. Feel free to use any that you would like to during classes, however other suggestions may be posted on the Padlet noticeboard throughout the course by tutors. This is a suggested list of what may be needed:

Drawing Pencils
Conté Crayons
Pastels
Ink Pens
Coloured Pencils
Putty and Hard Erasers
Pencil Sharpener
Sketchbook

Concessions

We offer a range of discounts. To apply, email admin@royaldrawingschool.org with the required proof. Please wait for confirmation before booking.

Available discounts

NHS Staff: 20%
Send a photo of your NHS staff badge.
Full-time Fine Art BA Students: 75%
Students on design or applied arts degrees may also be eligible. Send your student ID and proof of enrolment.
Primary and Secondary Art Teachers: 50%
Send a letter from your headteacher or head of art department.
Jobseekers: 50%
Send a recent DWP or JobCentre Plus letter confirming you receive Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit (if out of work). Appointment booklets are not accepted.
Disability Benefit Recipients: 50%
Send proof that you currently receive this allowance.
Tower Hamlets and Hackney Residents: 25% (Shoreditch courses only)
Send a copy of your most recent council tax bill.
Tower Hamlets and Hackney Businesses: 25% (Shoreditch courses only)
Send a staff ID, business card or a letter from your line manager.
Over 60s: 10%
Send a photo ID as proof of age.
Alumni: Postgraduate Programme or Foundation Year: 50% off short courses
Online Drawing Development Year: 50% off online short courses

Before you apply

Documents must be dated within the last 6 months (or 12 months for council tax)
Your name must be clearly visible
Accepted file formats: PDF, JPG, DOC or DOCX

All our courses are subsidised.

Tutors

Fraser Scarfe

Tutor, Drawing Year Alumni, 2013