Drawing from Observation for Beginners
A course by Alvaro Arteaga, Graphic Designer and Illustrator
Learn different techniques to overcome the blank page and create a sketchbook filled with light, volume, and detail
Drawing is the art of observation, and for graphic designer and illustrator Alvaro Arteaga, better known as Alvarejo, it's also the best way to understand the shapes that surround us. In this online course, learn how to overcome the blank page and train your hand to recreate on paper what you see in the world around you.
Alvaro teaches you how to draw with confidence and embrace your mistakes knowing you can redo your sketches as many times as needed. Discover the hatching technique and how to transform parallel and crossed lines into light, shadows, and textures in a sketchbook.
What will you learn in this online course?
18 lessons & 23 downloads
What's included in this course?
Meet your teacher, Alvaro Arteaga, better known as Alvarejo. He tells you about himself and how he developed his personal drawing style by simply observing the things in life that interest him.
Next, Alvaro teaches you how to draw using a series of tools and techniques that encourage daily practice and change the way you approach the blank page. Begin by looking at the materials and their characteristics and discover what differentiates one type of sketchbook from another before loosening up your hand with some exercises.
Learn how to connect your eye to your drawing hand and be precise when analyzing what you see. Then, draw a variety of textures in your sketchbook to get a grasp on key concepts like line value and how to control it, as well as hierarchies on a page.
Now it's time to learn the hatching technique step by step. Start with some basic exercises and progress towards more complex designs by studying the work of great artists. See how to apply these concepts to draw a hand and recreate an image from a reference photo.
Finally, discover how to combine the techniques covered in the course with different tools like pencils, pens, and ink and brushes to create a composition that incorporates them all.
- 100% positive reviews (284)
- 12,114 students
- 18 lessons (4h 0m)
- 23 additional resources (5 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish, English, French, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Indonesian · Romanian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Fill a sketchbook with drawings centered around the hatching technique using tools like pens, pencils, and ink.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who wants to broaden and improve their drawing skills, as well as sharpen their eye.
Requirements and materials
No previous drawing experience is necessary to take this course.
All you need is a sketchbook, graphite pencils, pens, India ink, and brushes.
Reviews
Alvaro Arteaga
A course by Alvaro Arteaga
Alvaro Arteaga, better known as Alvarejo, is a graphic designer with a passion for illustration. After studying graphic design at the University of Chile, he began to professionally promote his illustrations on Threadless, which provided him with a platform to showcase his art and quickly led to commissioned work. Since then, he's been collaborating with brands in advertising, publishing, and other similar fields.
Over a decade ago, Alvaro discovered that he was also passionate about helping others overcome their fear of the blank page and started teaching illustration, drawing, and design at the University of Santiago, Chile. Throughout his career, he has worked on packaging, publishing, and advertising projects for companies like Puma, Converse, Jeep, and Nestlé.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
We start drawing
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Recognizing the tools
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Let's talk about sketchbooks
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Hand release exercises
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U3
Train the eye and the hand
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Outline drawing 1
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Outline drawing 2
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Applying textures to your drawings
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U4
The ink and hatching
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Shading exercises
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Copying the hatching of the teachers
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Application of the techniques on the hand
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A photo for reference
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U5
Graphite, gouache and mixed media
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Working with graphite pencil 1
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Working with graphite pencil 2
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Using pen
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Ink and a little water
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Composition and mixed media 1
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Composition and mixed techniques 2
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FP
Final project
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Drawing from Observation for Beginners
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
You’ll learn to observe, copy, and analyze drawings, organize your portfolio, experiment with hatching, chiaroscuro, material blending, and develop creative compositions using graphite, ink, and pen.
This course is aimed at intermediate-level artists who already understand basic concepts and want to refine their manual techniques and develop their own style.
You’ll need a sketchbook, graphite pencils, pen, markers, a water brush, ink, and paper of various weights. You can also adapt with materials you have at home.
The course teaches you how to analyze and copy references as a core part of learning, encouraging active observation and creativity to transform what you learn into original ideas.
Yes, you’ll learn hatching, chiaroscuro, and how to use graphite and ink to create volume, shadow, texture, and contrast in your illustrations.
Yes, the course includes exercises in observation, quick sketching, working with outlines, rough sketches, and drawing objects and hands from direct observation.
You’ll learn how to collect, organize, and professionally present your work, including tips for showcasing your portfolio on platforms like Instagram.
todo bien
Excelente curso! la verdad el profesor explica muy bien y los ejercicios realmente sueltan la mano. Es muy llevadero, al punto que no te das cuenta y de repente, terminas el curso. Muchas gracias por compartir tu conocimiento. Saludos desde Argentina
Muy buen curso de entrenamiento y aprendizaje
An enjoyable and informative course
Excelente curso!