Basic Drawing
Line, form, and observation — the core skills that every other drawing course builds on.
What this course is
A grounding course for a student just starting out, or one who needs the fundamentals reinforced. Every later drawing skill — shading, proportion, composition — rests on the line, form, and observation habits built here.
It is designed as an eight-week course, but it is fully self-paced, so a student can move through the material on their own schedule. One enrollment covers a single family — every child in that family's homeschool program can take part — with lifetime access to revisit lessons whenever they need to.
By the end, your student will be able to
- Draw with controlled, confident line instead of guessing
- Turn flat shapes into believable 3D forms
- See and measure proportions accurately by eye
- Render light and shadow to give a drawing weight
- Compose a drawing so it holds together on the page
The eight weeks
Each week builds on the last. Work through it in an afternoon or spread it across a semester.
- 01Week
Learning about Line
The foundation behind all of drawing is line. Thus, in this class, we will use of contour line drawing and blind contour line drawing to discover how to see the outlines of an object.
- 02Week
Learning the Basic Shapes
By breaking down complex objects into basic shapes, it can help us quickly simplify our work for more accurate and proportional drawings.
- 03Week
Negative Space Drawing
The "spaces-in-between" are just as important as the positive space area. We explore negative space and its use in the drawing method.
- 04Week
Action and Gesture Drawing
Want to draw a kitten? Or a child? Or anything moving and filled with action? Gesture helps you not only capture action, but helps you understand form as well.
- 05Week
Light and Shadow on the Form
Once you understand how light and shadow work on the basic shapes, drawing life-like images from both observation and imagination suddenly become a lot easier.
- 06Week
Light and Shadow in Composition
Be intentional about your lighting. Understand the different types of lighting setups and how to use each one to direct attention, establish a mood, and build a composition.
- 07Week
Mark Making
An introduction to different ways of expression through line.
- 08Week
Final Application
Take everything you know and create one final masterpiece still life.
Or get both courses, with bonuses
Both current courses — Perspective 101 and Basic Drawing — plus Benjamin J Hummel's companion books "Adventures in Space" and "It's A Wrap!" The license covers the printed classroom activities and access for one family.
What is included
- Perspective 101 — full 8-week course
- Basic Drawing — full 8-week course
- "Adventures in Space" companion book by Benjamin J Hummel
- "It's A Wrap!" companion book by Benjamin J Hummel
- Printed classroom activities license for your family
- Lifetime family access (revisit anytime)
- Private community access
Bonuses
Private community access
Join a private community of homeschool families to share work, ask questions, and keep your student encouraged.
Lifetime access
Revisit every lesson whenever you need to. The courses are on-demand and self-paced, so a family can move on their own schedule.
Printed classroom activities license
The bundle license covers the printed classroom activities, ready to use across every child in one family's homeschool program.
The Homeschool Bundle
or 3 payments of $175 · $525
Both courses, both companion books, and the bonuses above — for one family, with lifetime access.
Pay in Full · $500Or Basic Drawing only · $240Course books, recommended supplies, and Hummel Art School spirit gear are in the bookstore.
Looking for the other course?
Perspective 101 — Vanishing points, horizon lines, and how to build believable space on a flat page.
Ready to bring real drawing instruction into your homeschool?
Enroll in Basic Drawing now, or save with the homeschool bundle and get both courses plus the companion books.
A credential your student can actually share
Every student who completes the course receives a branded Certificate of Completion — a real credential to share with family, attach to a portfolio, or add to a LinkedIn profile in one click.
- Branded with the Hummel Art School emblem and instructor signature
- Downloadable as a PDF — print it, frame it, or attach it to a portfolio
- One-click add to a LinkedIn profile so the accomplishment is public
This certifies that
[ Student Name ]
has successfully completed
Basic Drawing
Benjamin J Hummel
Instructor
What's included — and what you save
Every course, textbook, and bonus purchased separately totals $679.94. Pay in full for $500 (save $25), or 3 payments of $175 ($525).
Basic Drawing course (full 8-week on-demand curriculum)
Lifetime family access to line, form, observation, gesture, and light & shadow modules.
Perspective 101 course (full 8-week on-demand curriculum)
1-, 2-, and 3-point perspective, grid construction, and visual perception.
Adventures in Space companion textbook
Benjamin J Hummel's full-color textbook walking step-by-step through perspective fundamentals.
It's A Wrap! companion drapery & folds book
Benjamin J Hummel's fun, easy-to-read guide to drawing realistic clothing and fabric folds — interactive workbook pages, illustrated fold diagrams, and tips that apply to any media. Rated 4.0★ on Amazon (38 ratings).
Printed classroom activities license for one family
BonusPrint and reuse all course activity sheets across every child in your household.
Lifetime family access for every student in the home
BonusNo subscription, no per-child seat fees, never expires.
Private community access
BonusEncouraging community space to share assignments, get feedback, and connect.
Full lifetime license covering every student in your immediate family.
How enrollment works
Everything you need to know about access, pricing, and taking courses as a family or co-op.
A private community for enrolled families
Every enrollment includes access to a private community of homeschool families. Connect with other parents, share ideas for using the curriculum, and keep your student's success at the center of it all.