Drawing is that essential ingredient that makes a piece of work worthy of the title "art". Drawing is not only the ability to render something in charcoal, pencil, ink, or paint; it is the ability to see what you are attempting to capture. Then, once you can actually see what is before you, drawing also encompasses the ability to compose what you see. Being able to render the appearance of an object is an important skill, but it is a mistake to think that rendering is all that drawing is about.

Do you want to be a better painter and create your own original compositions, but find yourself at a loss to compose them beautifully? What you are searching for won't be found in most painting classes. The emphasis is more often on color and paint methods and techniques than on composition basics, and rightly so. What you really want to know is founded on sound drawing principles such as those included in this intensive video class.

Some of the topics that will be covered by these videos are:

• Values in Landscape Masses
• Effects of Weather on Values
• Effects of Time of Day on Values
• Designing Skies
• Creating Deep Space with Values and Linear Perspective
• Perspective and Values in Cast Shadows
• Psychological Impact of Linear Movement
• Using Photographs to Identify the Basics and to Eliminate Useless Details
• Elements of Good Design
• Viewpoint
• Unity & Repetition
• Rhythm & Variety
• Weight & Contrast
• Dynamics of Good Design
• Positive/Negative Space
• Silhouette, Contour
• Value, Line
• The Golden Mean
• Never Be Without an Idea
• Avoiding Bad Composition