2115 - Life Drawing - Drawing Life
Course Overview
This drawing course invites students of all levels to weave art into their everyday lives. Our emphasis will be drawing the human being- at rest and in motion. Together, we’ll explore a wide range of human subjects and settings that spark curiosity, confidence and play.
We’ll begin with portraits, both straightforward and from dynamic angles, working from a live model and even sketching each other on the sly. From there, we’ll delve into figure drawing with a nude model before jumping into the excitement of drawing bodies in motion: dancers, athletes, and eventually people out in the world. Our “fieldwork” will take us to places like T’ai chi and dance classes, ballfields, martial arts studios, and bustling public spaces, where we’ll capture gestures, rhythms, and fleeting moments.
Each class will end with a supportive group share, reflecting on what surprised us, what challenged us, and what we loved in our work. Together, we’ll tackle artistic obstacles, swap strategies, and finish with one final, fast-paced sketch.
By the end of the course, you’ll bring everything you’ve learned, observation, technique, spontaneity, and courage, into a deeply personal sketchbook or travel journal that reflects your own artistic voice.
Please note that as is customary in figure-drawing instruction, nude models will be used periodically throughout the course.
Your instructor, Erin Currier, is a Santa Fe-based artist, whose vibrant, narrative-driven works blend portraiture, collage, and social commentary. Drawing from her travels to over 50 countries, Currier incorporates recycled materials such as packaging and printed ephemera, into her art, transforming global consumer waste into powerful visual statements. Her pieces celebrate human dignity and shared experience, often portraying activists, laborers, and cultural icons with reverence and vitality. Currier's work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and is part of collections worldwide. Explore her latest creations at Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe, NM, and Durango, CO. More information: Erin Currier | Blue Rain Gallery | Santa Fe, NM - Blue Rain Gallery
What You'll Learn
- Develop confidence in drawing people at rest, in motion, and in everyday environments.
- Strengthen observational skills through portrait, figure, and gesture drawing.
- Learn techniques for capturing proportion, expression, posture, and movement.
- Practice drawing from a variety of live models, including dancers, athletes, and peers.
- Build the ability to sketch quickly and intuitively in dynamic, real-world settings.
- Explore strategies for problem-solving artistic challenges as part of a supportive group.
- Refine personal style and creative voice through consistent sketchbook work.
- Create a cohesive final sketchbook or travel journal that integrates course techniques and insights.
- Make art a regular part of your life!
Who Should Attend
This class is appropriate for all-levels, from absolute beginners to professionals and anyone who wants to enhance and expand their art practice.Additional Information
Please note that as is customary in figure-drawing instruction, nude models will be used periodically throughout the course.
Supplies Needed:
- Personal sketchbook or nice travel journal you like (I use a moleskine notebook - we'll be cutting out drawings we like and pasting into this book)
- White drawing paper or newsprint paper (You can draw on anything!) Just bring drawing/ scratch paper
- Markers, Pens, Pencils, China Markers, Conte, Crayons— absolutely anything a student wishes to draw with (for me it's often fine sharpie markers).
- Small scissors (if you have some)
- Glue stick
- Transparent tape
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UNM Tuition Remission
UNM Staff, Faculty, and Retirees: This class is eligible for UNM Tuition Remission under Personal Enrichment. Click here to see UNM HR's Tuition Remission policy for eligibility and tax liabilities.