The Secrets to Drawing (Udemy.com)
A comprehensive video and ebook course designed for people wanting to learn the core concepts of drawing.
Created by: Matthew Fussell
Last updated January 2014
Our take
Based on the ratings of 4,384 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in January 2014. No course pays to be reviewed.
Matthew Fussell's course is a theory-first introduction to drawing. The syllabus shows 28 lectures in 11 sections, about five hours of video. It starts with line, shape, form and value, moves through space and one, two and three point perspective, then covers techniques, composition, drawing media, portraits and a short figure drawing block. Fussell is an illustrator who runs TheVirtualInstructor. It is pitched at complete beginners, though reviewers who already draw a little call it a useful refresher.
Students like the teaching most. Reviewers call the instructor clear and easy to follow, say he reviews the key points in each lesson, and like being able to go back and replay earlier videos. One says it got them drawing regularly. The complaints are consistent too. There are no quizzes or assignments, so most of the work is watching and then copying. One reviewer says the portrait and figure videos explain less than the early ones, and another could not open the resources, which are written summaries of the videos.
The course was last updated in January 2014, though perspective and value don't go out of fashion. Of 4,384 ratings, 2,423 are five stars and 1,388 are four, with 430 threes. It makes a solid foundation, best paired with a sketchbook habit of your own. Beginners who want to understand why a drawing works will get a lot from it. Anyone after guided projects and feedback should look elsewhere.
Pros
- Reviewers say the instructor speaks clearly and recaps the main points in each lesson
- Covers line, value, form, space and three kinds of perspective in a logical order
- Videos are easy to replay, which students say suits their pace
- Reviewers say it got them drawing regularly and gave them solid fundamentals
Cons
- No quizzes or assignments, so practice is up to the student
- Last updated in 2014, so the material has not been refreshed in years
- Portrait and figure videos get less explanation, says one reviewer
The instructor speaks very clearly and it's easy to understand all the points he mentions in the lessons. all the subjects are well-structured.
Truly beginner friendly. No prior knowledge is listed, and reviewers with some experience call it a handy refresher.
What you will learn
- By the end of this course, the student will have a strong understanding of the core concepts of drawing including materials, processes, and devices.
Course content
11 sections · 28 lectures · 5.3 hours of video
- 1Introduction 1 free preview1 lecture · 5 min
- 2The Elements Of Art - Part 1 1 free preview5 lectures · 54 min
- 3Linear Perspective3 lectures · 36 min
- 4Drawing Techniques3 lectures · 40 min
- 5Composition1 lecture · 12 min
- 6Drawing Media Part 13 lectures · 28 min
- 7The Elements of Art - Part 21 lecture · 14 min
- 8Drawing Media Part 23 lectures · 35 min
- 9Portraiture5 lectures · 59 min
- 10Figure Drawing2 lectures · 33 min
- 11Conclusion1 lecture · 3 min
Who it is for
The instructor says it suits
- This course is designed for anyone looking to improve their drawing skills
What you need before you start
- No prior knowledge is necessary.
How it compares
Against the other 194 rated Udemy courses in Drawing on CourseDuck:
- Rating4.6 out of 5higher than 51% of them
- Reviews4,384#16 of 195 by number of reviews
- Length5.3 hourslonger than 54% of them
- Last updatedJanuary 2014earlier than 99% of them
Course Description
Drawing is a skill that is learned and developed and this video course is designed to give you the knowledge that you need to draw better almost immediately! Anyone can learn how to draw. Each aspect of drawing is broken down into “easy to follow" and “easy to understand" segments complete with drawing demonstrations and commentary. All lessons are presented in High Definition! There are a total of 28 HD videos with over 500 minutes of drawing instruction. The course also includes 26 ebooks that combine for 178 pages with 498 color illustrations.
Here's what's included...
- Video 1 – “Introduction"- An introduction to “The Secrets to Drawing" video series.
- Video 2 – “Line" – A look at the element of art, line and its relationship to drawing. Concepts covered include contour, blind contour, line quality, and cross contour lines.
- Video 3 – “Shape" – A look at how shapes can be used to draw anything. Concepts covered include geometric and organic shapes, using shapes to draw objects.
- Video 4 – “Form" – A look at how to create the illusion of form on a 2-Dimensional surface. Concepts covered include turning shapes into forms, using shadow to further the illusion.
- Video 5 – “Value" – This video takes a look at the element of art, value and its relationship with drawing. Concepts explored include tints, shades, highlights and shadows, and creating the illusion of a light source.
- Video 6 – “Space" – This video takes a look at how to create the illusion of space on a 2-Dimensional surface. Concepts covered include overlapping, size, value/color, detail, placement on the paper, and linear perspective.
- Video 7 – “One Point Perspective" – Space is explored further in this video through one point perspective. Concepts covered include horizon line, vanishing point, one point perspective.
- Video 8 – “Two Point Perspective" – A look at how to use two point perspective to create the illusion of space in a drawing. Concepts covered include horizon line, vanishing points, two point perspective.
- Video 9 – “Three Point Perspective" – A look at creating the illusion of space through three point perspective. Concepts covered include vanishing points, horizon line, steps to three point perspective.
- Video 10 – “Drawing Techniques" – A look at basic drawing techniques and suggested media. Concepts covered include medium, hatching, cross hatching, blending, rendering, random lines, and stippling.
- Video 11 – “Drawing from Life" – Tips on drawing from life. Concepts covered include still life lighting, using a view finder, and sighting techniques.
- Video 12 – “Drawing from Photos" – How to draw realistic drawings from photographs. Concepts covered include cropping photos, editing photos, creating a grid, drawing with the aid of the the grid.
- Video 13 – “Composition" – How to create successful compositions in drawings. Concepts covered include sketching thumbnails, positive and negative space, Plato's Rule, The Rule of Thirds, The Golden Mean, eye movement, and how to create focal points.
- Video 14 – “Graphite" – A description and characteristics of the drawing medium, graphite. Concepts explored include graphite grades, characteristics, forms, and techniques.
- Video 15 – “Charcoal" – A look at the drawing medium, charcoal. Concepts covered include charcoal forms and applications.
- Video 16 – “Drawing with Ink" – An exploration of the drawing medium of ink. Concepts covered include ink wash, choosing the right ink, pen and ink applications with a nib pen.
- Video 17 – “Color" – A look at the three parts of color theory and how it influences color choices in our drawings. Concepts covered include: the color wheel, primary, secondary, tertiary, color values, color intensity, psychological effects of color, color schemes, monochromatic, complementary, color triads, color tetrads, analogous, warm, cool, split complementary.
- Video 18 – “Colored Pencils" – How to use colored pencils. Concepts covered include layering, mixing, building up colors, burnishing, and adding details.
- Video 19 – “Oil Pastels" – An exploration into the drawing medium of oil pastels. Concepts covered include layering, mixing, and landscape drawing with oil pastels.
- Video 20 – “Soft Pastels" – An in-depth look at the use of soft pastels in the creation of a seascape. Concepts covered include proper use of soft pastels including smudging and layering colors.
- Video 21 – “Facial Proportions" – A look at basic facial proportions from the front and profile views. Concepts covered include general locations of facial features and placement relationships.
- Video 22 – “The Eye" – An in-depth look at drawing a human eye.
- Video 23 – “The Nose and the Mouth" – A look at drawing the nose and the mouth.
- Video 24 – “The Ear" – A look at drawing the human ear with graphite.
- Video 25 – “Hair" – A look at drawing hair with graphite.
- Video 26 – “Basic Figure Drawing" – A basic introduction to figure drawing including a simple four step method for drawing a figure.
- Video 27 – “Foreshortening" – Drawing the figure in perspective.
- Video 28 – “Conclusion" – A review of the course and a plan for moving forward.
Instructor Details
- 4.6 Rating
4,384 Reviews
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
By Sandy Hosey on 2/19/2021
I am very impressed with this class I really have enjoyed it the instructor is very clear and I especially like the way he goes back and reviews what he is trying to teach in each of the lessons I also like the fact that if I want to go back over some of the previous lessons I can do so I am very happy to have this on my iPad and I’m very happy to have such a good instructor I feel like I’m almost in the class
By Mike Perry on 12/30/2020
I started late with drawing. I never was an "artist". For more than 40 years of my life I thought drawing is purely talent. When I was still a student, my teachers and classmates thought my drawing resembles chicken scratch. I never had any of my drawings praised or looked at with interest. It was a joke to make people laugh. After more than 40 years of being discouraged, I found Mr. Matt at youtube and got encouraged to try his course. Of course my family tried to discourage me and say I lack the talent and skill and it is a pure waste of money. I am glad I did not listened this time. The best thing I learned is that drawing is not purely talent. It can be developed by perseverance and proper training. I made a portrait of my wife and son after taking this lesson, Now people thought I am a natural artist, gifted with talent and so on. I am still struggling hard and keep getting frustrated but at least I now have the confidence to keep on. Thanks.
By Stephanie van Zyl on 10/17/2020
Yes , I am enjoying it
By Angela Tesfay Murgano on 10/3/2020
i like it so far, very clear explanation,
By Ramolla Karnani on 9/23/2020
Very helpful. Cclear step by step instructions.
By Monica S. Yoma-Awin on 9/22/2020
perfect
By Christine Leonard on 9/19/2020
Ask me when I have taken a few lessons
By Tomoko A on 9/16/2020
Thank you so much!
By Hagen Peukert on 9/15/2020
Well, what have I learned from this course? I have learned that there is someone who really knows how to draw well? Have I improved my drawing skills? Not really. Why? I think I could never see from what the teacher copied his drawings. I thought drawing is so much about actually seeing what there is and putting this impression on a two dimensional surface. It would add so much value to the course if the object of observation was screened (i.e. a picture put somewhere near the drawing of the lecturer), so one can directly see what is drawn. Here is where the learning takes place!
By Toni Yim on 9/11/2020
Easy to understand n beautiful drawings, great for beginners
By Denise Smith on 9/1/2020
Loved the course once I was able to download the resources.
By Zulekha Kathim on 8/23/2020
It is good study and I am enjoying it. I have learnt alot. Keep up the good work.
Thank you very much. I have learnt alot of fine points which I didn't know how to draw. thanks.
Quality Score
No CourseDuck member has rated this course yet. Taken it? Give each part a thumbs up or down.
Overall Score : 92 / 100












