Basic Drawing Notes
Subject Overview
Basic Drawing builds the fundamental sketching skills every textile designer needs to translate ideas onto paper before they become fabric. You'll be introduced to sketching and different drawing media, move into still life and nature study across pencil, charcoal, pen & ink, watercolour and mixed media, and close with quick sketching in an active environment to build observation skills and fluid hand movement. This is a 2-credit core practical paper across 3 units, assessed on a minimum submission of 300 sketches over the semester.
Subject at a glance
3
Units
9
Topics
2
Credits
3
Infographics
Unit-wise Syllabus
3 units — click WhatsApp below to get the full notes for each
Unit 1: Introduction to sketching
Introductory exploration of drawing and the different drawing media available
Pencil (H to B grades)
Fine lines to soft tones
Detail and shading
Charcoal
Rich darks, smudgeable
Expressive tonal studies
Pen and ink
Crisp permanent lines
Hatching, line drawings
Watercolour
Transparent washes
Light and colour
Pastels
Bold, chalky colour
Vivid colour studies
Study guide
This unit introduces sketching and the range of drawing media available. Sketch every day, even for five minutes.
Unit 2: Still life and nature study
- Handling different media in black & white and colour — pencil
- charcoal
- pen & ink
- brush & ink
- watercolour
- pastels and mixed media
- 1
Observe the arrangement
- 2
Light block-in of shapes
- 3
Check proportion and placement
- 4
Map light and shadow
- 5
Build tones
Darks to lights
- 6
Add texture and detail
Study guide
You handle different media in black and white and colour, including pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, brush and ink, watercolour, pastels and mixed media, through still life and nature studies. Try the same subject in different media to see how each behaves.
Unit 3: Drawing in an active environment
Quick sketching for observation and fluidity of hand movement, discretion in selecting details of the object under study
- 1Look more than you draw
- 2Gesture lines
30 seconds to 2 minutes
- 3Capture the main action
- 4Select only key details
- 5Repeat often
Fluency comes with volume
Study guide
You practise quick sketching to build observation and fluid hand movement and learn to choose which details matter. Set a timer for two minutes per sketch to avoid over-working.
Why Basic Drawing Matters
Drawing is the core design skill. The ability to quickly put ideas on paper helps in illustration, pattern design, fashion sketching and communicating with clients.
How to Prepare for Basic Drawing
- Carry a sketchbook and draw daily.
- Practise observing shapes, proportions and shadows.
- Experiment with each medium to find your style.
Basic Drawing: Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to draw well before joining a textile design course?
No. Drawing is taught from the basics, and regular practice improves it steadily.