Merrymeeting Community & Adult Education

Ed Higgins’ sketching classes are designed to help artists out of the “outlining and shading in” box that many are trapped in. The number one problem facing people who self-identify as not being able to draw what they see, is a persistent belief that concentrating on outlining and focusing on the details first, followed by shading inside the lines leads to great finished drawings. Nothing could be further from the truth. In this class you’ll learn the things that are more important than identifying edges. You’ll give life, depth, character, and movement to your sketches by learning to lead the eye with your marks; and by using pressure and speed changes to truly represent what you are seeing. You’ll replace uninformed contours (aka “coloring book line”) and mindless shading (aka “dead shading”) with graceful, fluid sketching that not only helps you learn to draw, but will give you a deeper understanding of your subjects through sketching. This is what Ed calls “thinking with a pencil,” and is your key to a lifetime of sketching enjoyment. *No Class: 12/23, 12/30, 1/20, 2/17. **Special note about art materials: Please do not call our office about materials. Come to the first class with your favorite sketchbook and drawing pencils & pens. Suggested materials will be discussed by the instructor on the first day of classes. Thank you.