Basic Figure Drawing from a Reference Photo

Have you ever sat down to draw the figure and felt unsure where to begin or how to move from a rough sketch to a confident, finished drawing? In this comprehensive figure drawing course, Stuart Loughridge teaches you a clear, practical three-stage approach that removes the guesswork and replaces it with strategy. Designed for beginners through intermediate artists, this class focuses on building strong foundations first, so your finishes feel natural instead of forced. You’ll start by learning how to set up your page, establish proportions, and block in the figure using simple envelopes and comparative measurements. From there, you’ll move into straight-line construction, where you’ll train your eye to see big relationships, points of depth, and internal rhythms before ever worrying about curves or details. This scaffolding stage is where real progress happens, and Stuart shows you how to patiently refine placement, symmetry, and structure so everything works together. Once your drawing is solid, you’ll transition into a light, but refined, finish using clean line work and a simple two-value system to suggest form without over-modeling. Rather than chasing perfection or heavy rendering, the course emphasizes clarity, confidence, and freshness, helping you create drawings that feel alive and intentional. Throughout the lessons, Stuart shares professional insights from decades of figure drawing experience, including how to work efficiently within limited pose times, how to avoid common proportional pitfalls, and how to think with your pencil as you build accuracy layer by layer. If you’re ready to develop a reliable process, sharpen your observation skills, and gain confidence in drawing the human figure, this class will give you the tools to move forward with clarity and momentum.