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Mark Kistler is an Emmy Award-winning author and illustrator and is regarded as one of the world’s best drawing instructors, teaching millions how to draw for over 40 years.
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9+
hours
50
lessons
Absolute Beginner
level
English, Spanish, 3 more Languages
English, Spanish, 6 more
Subtitles
- French
- Italian
- German
- Portuguese
- Svenska [Auto]
- Japanese [Auto]
What you’ll learn
- The absolute basics of drawing
- Draw simple, fun illustrations step-by-step using basic shapes
- Start off easy and work your way up to more advanced illustrations
- Master 1-point and 2-point perspective drawing (great for backgrounds!)
- Learn to draw roses, dragons, human eyes, trees, koalas and many more!
- Discover how to make objects & /characters look 3D
- How to create realistic forms and interesting textures
- How to make objects appear in front of, behind, on top of, or under each other
- Learn how to give your art depth with simple shading techniques
- Develop core drawing skills that you can apply to your own illustrations
- How to build on your new skills for continued growth
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Description
Have you ever watched someone create amazing artwork but felt like you lack the talent to do the same? Have you tried drawing in the past, but felt frustrated and gave up, thinking you just weren’t ‘artist’ material?
Well, guess what!? You CAN learn to draw! This comprehensive course was created specifically for someone like you!
You’ll learn from industry legend, Mark Kistler, who has taught beginners of all ages to draw for over 40 years. Mark is an Emmy-award-winning producer of the famous Mark Kistler’s Imagination Station.
With Mark’s help, you’ll progress from an ABSOLUTE BEGINNER to a skilled artist in just 21 days!
Mark will teach you the basic concepts and essential techniques you need to create stunning illustrations from scratch! You’ll be amazed at the results you can achieve under the guidance of our patient and supportive teacher.
In each consecutive lesson, you’ll progressively build your skill set and knowledge, gaining new confidence in yourself and your artistic abilities!
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to effortlessly draw beautiful roses, silly dragons, cute koala bears, impressive castles, and LOADS more fun characters. Guaranteed! Your family and friends will be in awe of your new skills!
Sounds like fun?! What are you waiting for? Let’s jump in!
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Who is this course for
- Absolute beginner students who have never drawn before and are looking for an easy way to start!
- Artists who want to refresh their knowledge on foundational concepts and drawing techniques
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This course includes
- 9+ Hours of on-demand videos
- 20 Reference images
- 2 Cheat sheets/guides
- Bonus material
- Certificate of Completion
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Used in course
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What you'll need
- Just a paper/sketchbook and a pencil
- No drawing experience needed
- (Optional) Ruler and Blending stump
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Lesson Plan
with Mark Kistler
Expand all sections
01
Introduction
07:00
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Want to learn how to draw but have little or no previous drawing experience?
Meet Emmy-award-winning Mark Kistler who has taught thousands of people to draw for over 40 years. Now he’s teaching you the secrets to basic drawing in ONLY 21 days! Devote just twenty minutes a day to building your drawing habit and confidence with Mark’s guidance.
You’ll learn progressively, as each lesson builds on the skills taught in previous lessons, starting off very simple and advancing to more complex characters! By the end of the course, you’ll have a fantastic new skillset and impress your friends and loved ones with your awesome abilities!
02
The Sphere
24:23
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Let’s start off with something fun: the SPHERE!
In this first lesson, you’ll practice drawing circles with shadows and shading for a 3D effect! You’ll also learn how to make objects appear closer or farther back from the viewer.
2.1
The Sphere
13:01
2.2
Advanced Sphere
11:22
03
The Cube
33:10
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Let’s move on to the extremely versatile, always-a-crowd-pleaser CUBE.
You can use a cube to draw so many things, like presents, houses, doorways, castles, and much more! You’ll also learn how to draw objects at realistic angles and discover how to crosshatch. It’s easy!
3.1
The Cube
31:36
3.2
Book reference
01:34
04
The Cylinder
19:19
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Ready to take it a step further? We already conquered the sphere and the cube. In this lesson, we will conquer another building block: the CYLINDER.
Mark will also teach how to create depth in your artwork with some beginner shading tricks.
4.1
The Cylinder
11:29
4.2
Overlapping Cylinders
07:50
05
Stacking Tables
21:45
This super fun lesson was inspired by Mark’s teacher, a former Disney animator, Bruce McIntyre. His enthusiasm for drawing made a profound impression on Mark.
In this lesson, you’ll combine all of the shapes and techniques you’ve mastered so far into one very cool 3D drawing. You’ll enjoy it so much that you’ll be drawing stacked objects on every scrap of paper you find!
5.1
Stacking Tables
11:48
5.2
Stacking Cylinders
05:07
5.3
Stacking Boxes
04:50
06
The Marshmallow Doorways
28:22
Now, time for a fun drawing project! This illustration was inspired by a children’s book from Dr. Seuss, who has authored and illustrated some of the most popular children’s books of all time (selling over 600 million copies).
Use your knowledge of cylinders to create some adorable, emotive marshmallows and get inspired to draw other “Seussical” characters!
6.1
The Marshmallow doorways
12:28
6.2
Peeping Marshmallows
08:47
6.3
Marching Marshmallow
07:07
07
Rippling Flags
27:23
Master the skill of drawing flowing fabric!
The simple shapes you’ll learn about in this lesson will be the building blocks for drawing flags, scrolls, curtains, clothing and lots more cool stuff! (This is the favorite lesson of scrapbookers!)
7.1
Rippling Flags
07:41
7.2
Double & Triple Flags
05:19
7.3
Quadruple Flags
03:58
7.4
Continuous Flag
08:07
7.5
Book reference
02:18
08
The Ninja Squirrel
23:56
Mark will show you how to draw a cute, fluffy ninja squirrel using spheres as the structural elements.
You will experiment with textures to add depth and interest to your artwork! Awesome, right?
8.1
The Ninja Squirrel
23:56
09
Cool Koalas
26:44
Let’s take a break from boxes and cylinders and draw an entire family of cuddly koalas—from our imagination! You’re gonna LOVE this lesson!
9.1
Cool Koalas
26:44
10
The Rose
21:31
The foreshortened circle is one of those essential shapes that can be used as a base to create TONS of objects, for example, a bowl, a rose and a cup. You’ll learn to draw all three in this engaging lesson!
10.1
Cereal Bowl, Tea Cup & The Rose
03:29
10.2
Tea Cup & Bowl
07:02
10.3
The Rose
11:00
11
The Wave
21:44
Wanna draw impressive-looking waves? Well, today is the day! Discover how to use a simple cylinder shape to create awesome waves that surfers could only dream of!
You’ll also learn to draw contour lines, which are essential in giving forms a round appearance, such as various body parts, like the arms, legs, head, etc.
11.1
Warm-up
05:30
11.2
Contour Tubes
07:29
11.3
The Wave
08:45
12
Trees
27:03
Mark will introduce you to the joy of drawing trees, combining shapes and textures you are already familiar with. You’ll be so proud of the cool tapered trunks and leaf-laden branches you’ll create!
12.1
Trees
10:46
12.2
Drawing Tree Roots
16:17
13
A Room in One-Point Perspective
23:22
Have you ever wondered what your room would look like if you moved your bed, dresser, or other pieces of furniture?
You’ll learn how to draw great interior spaces, like rooms and hallways, and then plan your own redecorating on paper—filling up the space from your imagination!
Mark will also demonstrate how to place objects within those spaces in a realistic way so they don’t look flat or disproportionate.
13.1
A Room in One-Point Perspective
23:22
14
Buildings in Two-Point Perspective
35:23
If you enjoyed experimenting with one-point perspective, you are really going to have fun with two-point perspective!
With two vanishing points as guide dots, you’ll learn how to draw awesome buildings, working off a cube-based structure.
14.1
Buildings in Two-Point Perspective
33:50
14.2
Book reference
01:33
15
Doors in 3D
25:52
Let’s have fun drawing doors, windows, and arches at angles that look 3D as if they are really leading into or out of an enclosed space. Super cool, right?
15.1
Doors in 3D
25:52
16
Flying Saucer
23:34
Why not get a bit crazy and try drawing some flying saucers!? 🙂
Find out how easy it can be to create stunning, seemingly-complex artwork with some really simple shapes!
16.1
Flying Saucer
23:34
17
Lettering
27:47
Many of Mark’s adult students have requested lessons in 3D lettering, like on the poster of Superman, the Movie (1978). So here it is!
Mark will show you how to draw awesome lettering in four different styles in this fascinating lesson!
17.1
Lettering
11:51
17.2
Fluffy or Leafy Texture
07:35
17.3
Three-Dimensional Lettering
05:52
17.4
Peeling Shadow
02:29
18
Castle
35:57
Create the visual illusion of a stately medieval castle existing in three dimensions on your paper!
You’ll have a total blast learning how to draw this fortress, using 2-point perspective!
18.1
Castle
13:20
18.2
Details
11:26
18.3
Shading
11:11
19
Glaciers
48:08
Heading north for some arctic vibes! Look forward to drawing impressive glaciers with loads of cute, little penguins on them.
You’ll use fore-shortening and combine a variety of techniques to create a balanced scene.
19.1
Glaciers
10:07
19.2
Details & Shading
09:48
19.3
Penguins
28:13
20
The Human Eye
27:21
The human eye is the window into a person’s soul. But how to capture it on paper?
Mark will show you exactly how in detailed steps, breaking down the shapes that make up an eye.
20.1
The Human Eye
13:37
20.2
Shading & Details
13:44
21
The Dragon
39:22
Congratulations! You made it to the very last lesson!
In this final lesson, you’ll learn how to draw a toothy (not toothless!), quirky dragon, having loads of fun while you’re at it.
21.1
The Dragon
07:19
21.2
Adding Horns
06:06
21.3
Drawing Claws
05:24
21.4
Shading & Final Details
17:18
21.5
Book reference
03:15
Student Feedback
481 customer reviews & ratings
4.9
Course rating
5 star
97 %
4 star
3 %
3 star
1 %
2 star
1 %
1 star
1 %
Best Suited for
Absolute Beginner
(Based on 481 reviews)
Most Liked
Showing 10reviews of
reviews & ratings
IL
Igor L.
11 months ago
Verified Purchase
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under the guidance of the instructor. The teacher is exceptionally engaged and emanates positivity throughout the course. Many thanks for this fantastic experience!I recommend it forAbsolute Beginner
34people found this helpful
Ellonise P.
10 months ago
Verified Purchase
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re! I recommend this course to everyone, from very beginners to advanced artists.I recommend it forAll levels
24people found this helpful
SH
Shari H.
11 months ago
Verified Purchase
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k forward to try other classes here with other instructors.I recommend it forBeginner
16people found this helpful
DD
Dieter D.
10 months ago
Verified Purchase
I recommend it forAll levels
14people found this helpful
ND
Nikola D.
11 months ago
Verified Purchase
I recommend it forAbsolute Beginner
10people found this helpful
BT
Brier T.
11 months ago
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ally get to make art that I'm proud of thanks to Mark and this course.I recommend it forAll levels
10people found this helpful
RW
Ria W.
10 months ago
Verified Purchase
I recommend it forAbsolute Beginner
9people found this helpful
KA
KYLIE A.
11 months ago
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I recommend it forAbsolute Beginner
6people found this helpful
NU
Nooreyzahra U.
11 months ago
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I recommend it forAbsolute Beginner
4people found this helpful
KA
Khuloud A.
11 months ago
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I recommend it forBeginner
3people found this helpful
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About the Instructor
Mark Kistler
Art Teacher, Producer and Illustrator2 courses
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Some classes include the ability to chat with the instructor in a public forum, e.g. if you want feedback on your artwork.
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We have classes for all levels, even for those with zero drawing experience. In general, artists at all levels can benefit from these courses—whether beginner, intermediate or advanced.
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Many lessons in our courses apply to both digital and traditional art. In a few tutorials, digital drawing software, e.g. Photoshop or Procreate for iPad is required. However, for the majority of lessons it is more about the underlying concepts and all that is needed is a pen and paper.
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More from 21 Draw
About 21 Draw
21 Draw offers online courses and books on how to be a better artist for students of all skill levels. Our contributing artists and instructors are the best in the world.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have direct access to search engines or external websites. However, I can provide you with information related to the concepts mentioned in this article.
This article is about a drawing course taught by Mark Kistler, an Emmy Award-winning author and illustrator. The course aims to teach absolute beginners how to draw by starting with basic shapes and progressing to more advanced illustrations. Here are some key concepts covered in the course:
-
Drawing Basics: The course covers the absolute basics of drawing, teaching students how to draw simple illustrations step-by-step using basic shapes.
-
Perspective Drawing: Students will learn about 1-point and 2-point perspective drawing, which is useful for creating realistic backgrounds in their illustrations.
-
Creating 3D Effects: The course teaches techniques for making objects and characters look three-dimensional, including how to give them depth using shading techniques.
-
Drawing Various Subjects: Students will learn to draw a variety of subjects, including roses, dragons, human eyes, trees, koalas, and more.
-
Textures and Forms: The course covers how to create realistic forms and interesting textures in drawings.
-
Composition and Placement: Students will learn how to position objects in relation to each other, making them appear in front of, behind, on top of, or under each other.
-
Continued Growth: The course aims to develop core drawing skills that students can apply to their own illustrations and build upon for continued growth.
Please note that the information provided above is a summary based on this article. For more detailed information, I recommend visiting the official website of the course or conducting a search using relevant keywords.