The Art & Science of Drawing / BASIC SKILLS (Udemy.com)
Drawing is not a talent. It's a skill anyone can learn.
Created by: Brent Eviston
Last updated March 2020
Our take
Based on the ratings of 16,115 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in March 2020. No course pays to be reviewed.
Brent Eviston's beginner drawing course is built on the idea that drawing is a skill you can practice, not a gift. The core is six lectures and about 85 minutes on holding the pencil, seeing basic shapes, and building a drawing from light lines. The other 11 lectures, roughly three hours, are bonus demonstrations. It is the first of a series, so it works as a starting point rather than a full education.
Reviewers praise the clear, unhurried explanations, the good audio, and the way the course starts from basic shapes and lines. One says even non-native English speakers can follow along, and another calls the English impeccable. One student liked the habit advice, such as repeating a drawing 100 times and practicing for 30 minutes. Complaints are mild. Two three-star reviewers found the teaching unattractive or wanted easier techniques, and a four-star reviewer said watching video is not the same as learning in person. Of 16,115 ratings, only 233 are one or two stars.
The last update was March 2020, so the material is several years old, though recent reviewers still call the audio excellent. At 4.3 hours it is short for a paid course, and there are no quizzes or assignments, so the practice depends on the student. With more than 102,000 students and a 4.7 rating, it is a safe first drawing course for true beginners. Anyone with some experience should look at the later courses in the series instead.
Pros
- Starts from the very basics, including how to hold a pencil and draw simple shapes
- Clear, steady pacing; one reviewer says non-native English speakers can follow easily
- About three hours of bonus demos show the skills applied to botanicals and birds
- Habit advice, like repeating a drawing 100 times, keeps beginners practicing
Cons
- Last updated in March 2020, so the course is several years old
- Only six core lessons; most of the 4.3 hours is bonus demonstration
- No quizzes or assignments, so practice and feedback are left to the student
very good introductory course to drawing for real beginners. It allows me to realize that drawing art is a process that begins in the mind with looking, thinking and then draw on the paper.
Beginner level fits: it starts with how to hold a pencil, so intermediate artists may find the early lessons familiar.
What you will learn
- How to draw any shape.
- How to observe and analyze any subject.
- How to draw any form by breaking it down into basic shapes before adding dark lines.
- How to use light lines and basic shapes to lay an accurate foundation for finished drawings.
- How to hold the pencil.
- How to bring your drawings to life with detail and texture.
Course content
2 sections · 17 lectures · 4.3 hours of video
- 1Basic Skills 1 free preview6 lectures · 1.4 hours
- 2Bonus Lectures and Demonstration Drawings 1 free preview11 lectures · 2.9 hours
Who it is for
The instructor says it suits
- Anyone wanting to learn to draw. Recommended for adults and determined teens.
- Painters! The best way to improve your painting is by learning to draw.
- Anyone interested in seriously pursuing art. Although this course in particular is designed for absolute beginners, THE ART & SCIENCE OF DRAWING series is designed to teach the fundamentals of master drawing.
What you need before you start
- This course is for absolute beginners and intermediate level artists seeking to improve their fundamental skills.
- No previous drawing experience is necessary!
Course Description
Drawing Awards Best Paid Course
The Art & Science of Drawing is a remarkable program that will teach you how to draw one day at a time. The program is simple, each day you’ll watch one video lesson that will introduce an essential drawing skill, and then do the recommended practice. The Art & Science of Drawing is overflowing with powerful insights into the drawing process and offers some of the clearest, most accessible drawing instruction available. Many of the tools and techniques you'll learn here are rarely seen outside of private art academies.
This course is highly recommended for anyone interested in painting as well. Most master painters agree that drawing is a fundamental and essential skill for all painters. BASIC SKILLS is the perfect primer for anyone wanting to learn to draw. The skills you'll learn here will dramatically improve your art & design no matter what medium you work in.
RECENTLY UPDATED & IMPROVED!
This bestselling course is now even better with new content recently added as well as improved picture and sound. This updated version of the course now includes hours of bonus drawing demonstrations that will show you how to apply your new drawing skills to a wide range of subject matter including botanicals and birds. There's even an introduction to basic figure drawing.
BASIC SKILLS is the first course in a series designed to take students from the absolute basics to advanced techniques like volumetric drawing and shading. If you're a beginner, we recommend going through the entire series in the following order:
Basic Skills
Dynamic Mark Making
Form & Space
Measuring & Proportion
Contours
Shading Fundamentals
Shading: Beyond the Basics
If you've got some drawing experience, feel free to mix and match The Art & Science of Drawing courses to suit your personal needs as an artist!
Instructor Details
- 4.7 Rating
16,115 Reviews
Brent Eviston
Drawing has been my lifelong passion. After studying at Otis College of Art & Design in Los Angeles, I continued to study numerous forms of drawing including the timeless traditions of the old masters as well as cutting-edge contemporary practices.
I have been teaching drawing for over 25 years at studios, museums, galleries, and schools and have developed numerous bestselling online figure drawing courses taught to an international student base.
In 2017 I was honored as one of Udemy's Best New Instructors.
I have two drawing books available at all major book sellers "The Art & Science of Drawing: Learn to Observe, Analyze and Draw Any Subject" and "The Art & Science of Figure Drawing: Learn to Observe, Analyze and Draw the Human Body".
I'm thrilled to bring you a lifetime of drawing and teaching experience to this unique program. I look forward to working with you. Cheers!
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Reviews
By Srikanth A V on 7/30/2026
The session explained simple yet effective drawing techniques in a very clear and structured manner. The concepts were presented in an easy-to-understand way, which helped me build a strong understanding of the fundamentals of drawing. Overall, it was an informative and well-conducted online session.
By Manoj shing barghare on 6/24/2026
It was like watching movie can’t learn like as in the physically learning but not too bad . The course taught me more about the arts. Which helped me in improving my drawings and sketchs thank you Brent and hope to look forward ahead to.
By Andy Morris on 6/2/2026
Having not done any 'proper' drawing for so many years and having forgotten most of what I was taught at school, this course has been such a huge help so far. The basic drawing skills (circles, lines, shapes etc) are what I have been missing when making my half hearted attempts to pick up a pencil and pad in the past and quickly losing confidence again. I'm now much more enthused and encouraged than I have been in a very long while. Whilst the subject drawings are not what I'm looking to do in the future, I will try these if only for the increased confidence levels and for practicing everything I've learnt so far. Thank you very much Brett, you really have helped me to pick up my pencil and pad and start again! Highly recommended course, easily understood and runs at a good pace - not too slow but more importantly, not too fast.
By Robert Solis-Stevenson on 4/19/2026
I had never been able to get this valuable information so far out of any other course I have started, on the first couple of lectures, I was able to understand the basics clear enough to give this rating out this early... I'm going to take it whole... such a brilliant work!
By CEREN YAVUZASLAN on 3/28/2026
Harika bir kurs, bu teknikler ve resim çizmenin püf noktalarını öğrenmem sayesinde çizimim çok gelişti, bu yeteneğimi geliştirme fırsatına sahip oldum. Eğitmene çok teşekkür ederim harika, kolay anlaşılır ve insanı çizim yapmaya teşvik eden bir eğitim.
By Massimo Mazzoli on 3/14/2026
L'apprendimento viene presentato in modo non molto attraente
By Udemy User on 3/4/2026
I like the way this course starts with the very basics. Quite eye opening - even how to hold the pencil. Transformative from tension to looseness. I have always resisted transforming what I am looking at into shapes as I thought that it detracted from the whole. i thought that it was better to just 'draw the lines and spaces you see. ' Maybe I was wrong. I have always resisted taking tuition but I like the way Brent explains things. So far - good.
By Evan Williams on 2/5/2026
Well done course that delivered more than I expected. I've had difficulty learning to draw for years, bit for lack of trying. The course breaks down key pieces of the basics of drawing. It may not work for everyone but it's clear Brent is passionate about art and wants anyone who to be able to find their passion as well.
By cynthia therrien on 1/22/2026
Brent Eviston focuses first on the fundamental practice of basic line, circle, oval, rectangle, triangle, and the many possible permutations of these basic forms in life and nature. Then also both artists' and the viewers' experiences as he continuously draws back into focus the fundamentals (line, circle, oval etc.) in a cohesive yet free-flowing experience for both the creator and the viewer. Beautifully done.
By Asli Ozer on 11/8/2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this course. Brent’s teaching style is elegant, highly professional, and wonderfully calming. His technique is clear yet powerful — it taught me so much while making the entire drawing process feel relaxed and inspiring.
Quality Score
Overall Score : 94 / 100










