The Drawing Studio upcoming events

Intro to Drawing (April 21, 2026)

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:30:00 GMT

This 8 session, two hour class meets Tuesday mid-day, 12:30-2:30pm, from April 21, 2026, through June 9, 2026.

For absolute beginners. This class is also great for experienced drawers who don’t love to draw, or haven't drawn in a while, or want to loosen up or open up their drawing. Emphasis is placed equally on seeing and expression, description and the pleasure of making. Exercises break down students’ preconceptions about how drawings come about, so that drawing becomes a matter of truly human scale exploration and experimentation, rather than the product of giant leaps of talent or inspiration.

All students who are new to Phil's teaching should start with this class, even if experienced. I've had exhibiting artists with MFAs take this class and say that it wasn't like anything they had previously done and that it really helped their work.

Materials: Please bring the following materials to the first class meeting and wear clothes you don't mind getting charcoal on:

two 4b or 6b graphite sticks (rectangular shape, not pencil shape)

one white vinyl eraser

two soft charcoal pencils

one soft charcoal pencil with peel off wrapping

six to twelve sticks of compressed charcoal (Alphacolor Char-Kole if the store has it)

Paper, drawing boards, clips, drawing horses and easels will be provided by the studio.

Intermediate Drawing/Painting, The Figure (April 25, 2026)

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 17:00:00 GMT

This 8 session, three hour class meets Saturday mornings 10am-1pm from April 25, 2026, through June 13, 2026. All first time Drawing Studio students, no matter how experienced, must take Intro to Drawing at The Drawing Studio before taking this class.

This class is for intermediate level drawers and acrylic painters who want to work primarily from the figure. I will typically give exercises during the first hour to help students loosen up and to encourage experimentation. Students will then run their own show during hours 2 and 3, though I will continue discussing process issues through the whole class. There will be figure models nearly every session.

Students who want to paint but are new to painting should take the 3.5 Day Intro To Painting Intensive in June or the Winter Term Intro to Painting class rather than this class. Students who have never taken any of Phil's classes should first take the Intro Drawing class even if experienced. I have had exhibiting artists with MFAs take the Intro class and say that they have never done anything like it and that it really helped their work.

3.5 Day Intro to Drawing Intensive (June 25, 2026)

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 01:30:00 GMT

This workshop will present most of the content of Phil Sylvester's 8 week Intro class in a three and one half day workshop format. Class will meet Thursday evening June 25 through Sunday afternoon June 28. Thursday the 25th, we'll meet from 6:30-8:30pm. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we will have 2, two-hour drawing sessions each day, the first from 10:30am-12:30 and the second from 3:30-5:30pm. That way, students will be able to take an intensive version of Intro that only requires one day off work. We'll work mostly from the human face, self-portraits and photos, just so we can go into one subject very deeply.

This class is perfect for brand new drawers, as well as for experienced artists who feel stuck or who have lost their sense of joy in making. Emphasis will be placed equally on observation and expression, description and the pleasure of making. Exercises will break down students’ preconceptions about how drawings come about, so that drawing can become a matter of truly human scale exploration and experimentation, rather than the product of giant leaps of talent or inspiration. All materials will be provided. The workshop will take place at The Drawing Studio, 3614 SE Division, Portland, Oregon.