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Pencil Drawing - The Guide to Graphite (Udemy.com)

A complete course for mastering drawing with graphite.

Created by: Matthew Fussell

Last updated April 2019

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What you will learn

  • Students will learn various pencil drawing techniques and approaches to drawing.
  • Students will learn the various grades to graphite and when each pencil should be used.
  • Students will learn graphite application techniques including hatching and cross hatching, blending, and rendering.
  • Students will learn how to draw various subjects with graphite including still life, portraiture, and landscape.
  • Students will learn how to use graphite in non-traditional forms including water soluble graphite and powdered graphite.
  • Students will learn how to create different textures with graphite pencils.
  • Students will create pencil drawings on different surfaces and learn how to texture of the paper influences the resulting texture created in the drawing.
  • Students will learn how to use various forms of erasers.
  • Students will learn how to create the illusion of light in drawing and how light affects the illusion of form.

How it compares

Against the other 194 rated Udemy courses in Drawing on CourseDuck:

  • Rating4.7 out of 5higher than 67% of them
  • Reviews266#124 of 195 by number of reviews
  • Length3.6 hoursshorter than 60% of them
  • Last updatedApril 2019earlier than 72% of them

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Course Description

"Pencil Drawing - The Guide to Graphite" is a complete video course on pencil drawing with graphite designed for beginner and intermediate artists. The goal of this course is to provide the learner with a rich learning experience through "easy to digest" modules consisting of video demonstrations and accompanying ebooks.

The ordinary graphite pencil is usually the first art-making medium that we explore as artists. This common and simple tool is capable of producing incredible drawings and anyone can do it. All it takes to create amazing drawings is a basic understanding of the concepts of drawing, a knowledge of the tools and surfaces, and a willingness to learn and apply what you've learned to your own drawings.

Fortunately, it doesn't require talent to create life-like drawings. It requires knowledge and practice. This comprehensive drawing course provides you with the knowledge by exploring the core concepts of drawing such as light and shadow, shading, creating textures, sketching and proportion while covering a variety of forms of graphite including traditional drawing pencils, mechanical pencils, powdered graphite, water soluble graphite and even colored graphite. All while exploring the subjects of still life, portrait drawing, landscape drawing, figure drawing, and pet portraits.

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Instructor Details

Matthew Fussell

       Hi, I am an illustrator and educator.  As the founder and instructor at TheVirtualInstructor (website), I am able to help thousands of people all over the world realize their dreams of creating quality art.  My illustrations have been featured in numerous publications and my work can be found in many private collections.  Although I am an illustrator, my true passion in life is teaching.  I have been teaching for over ten years and I am lucky to have helped so many people achieve their goals of creating art. 

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Reviews

4.7

266 ratings on Udemy

Select a bar to show only those reviews.Select the bar again to show every rating.

By Peter E Schlosser on 12/21/2025

I have some basic drawing skills, but woefully out of date. A great intro to get me back in the game. The instructor is very easy to follow, knows his material, and is both upbeat and personable.

By Ishraq Kamal Arafeh on 7/17/2025

This is a very amazing course. I ENJOYED every module to the last. I decided from this moment to enroll in every course provided by this amazing art instructor; Matt Fussell. I wish him all the best, now and in the hereafter.

By Chris Gray on 1/14/2024

Really well explained; good examples that you need to spend time on, so pause the video and focus on your own sketch gradually working through the video example step by step. Whilst I'm no Picasso, my skills level has improved and looks like it will continue to do so. Thank you.

By Deborah Knowlton on 9/1/2023

This seemed to me to be more of an introduction to different types of graphite and pencil strokes that can be used to create a drawing. I liked it , but I am returning to drawing after a long time away and want to do a deeper dive.. However, I am considering signing up for the Virtual instructor classes.

By Kris Cunningham on 3/29/2023

The rose was a challenging assignment, but doing it slowly and adding layers of graphite helped me find success. Not quite as good as my instructor's, but I feel good about the final product.

By Frances Dombrowski on 2/13/2023

I like this course. It’s helpful to have all these concepts fully explained since I’m a beginner. The modules are short, and that’s good because they contain a lot of detail. It helps that the instructor summarizes all the concepts at the end of the module to reinforce learning.

By George f. Sheller on 1/5/2021

I am an architect. However, I have not done pencil sketching since college (1966- 1971). Most of my sketching has been in ink and, with the advent of the computer, I got away form formal sketching all together. I still have most of the materials but the refresher was fun.

By Kathleen Johnson on 3/26/2020

I enjoyed the tutorial videos and worked really well as a refresher for art classes attended many years ago. It stated i had complete 19/19 and i completed the feedback ask requested but still only says its 90% done...what am I missing or is there no certificate after all?

By William Fitzgerald on 9/25/2019

What I like about the course is, how to use the tools and materials for drawing, how to use pencils for drawing, shading and what types of pencils to use. I also like how to use rubbers and the type of rubbers in drawing. Well I have finished the course. I enjoyed learning how to use pencils to create art, reference photos supplied and pdf's of the lessons supplied too.

By Penny Heflin on 7/5/2019

I have had classes from this same artist before but I feel he rushed through this, a beginner would never be able to fully understand the process, sorry Matthew you are a great artist but I can not give you a 5 star rating for this one

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Overall Score : 94 / 100