JD Hillberry
Realistic Drawing Workshops
Partial Schedule for 2021

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In this class you will learn how to create the delicate shading required for flowers as well as increase contrast to make the drawing "pop". We will use charcoal, graphite and carbon pencils along with my blending techniques to create the soft, smooth texture of the petals against a rougher, dark background.

After several demonstrations and shading exercises, we will all work on the same image which I will supply to the class.

You'll learn the unique methods I use to keep the dark background from smearing into the white petals.

This course will give you all the techniques necessary create more depth, dimension, and contrast in your drawings - regardless of the subject.

Reference photos will be discussed in depth, and you will learn how to identify and solve potential problems on your future drawings. You are encouraged to bring examples of previous work for me to evaluate privately. These one-on-one sessions will take place at the end of class each day for those interested.  

Your tuition also includes immediate access to my online tutorial "Realistic Drawing with Light, Texture, and Contrast" in the member’s area of my website.

I'm very excited to offer this workshop where you will learn the realistic drawing techniques that I'm most known for. Everything you see in the image is drawn - including the masking tape and background.

I'll take you step by step to render this illusion in this award winning drawing. The techniques you will learn here will transfer to your future drawings giving you the ability to create amazingly realistic looking works of art.

The idea of this piece is that the butterfly may think the rose is real, while you - the viewer, may think you see a real photo taped to the background. In reality, you have both been fooled - since everything you see here is drawn.
 

Character Study of "Hook"
Rough Skin/Dark Background

In this workshop you'll learn the techniques needed to create a portrait which includes rough wrinkled skin, white hair and beard, against a background with a graduated value from dark to light. 

If you have struggled with achieving a realistic skin texture or getting your portrait drawings to really "pop" off the page though the use of backgrounds, this class is for you.

Once you understand these core concepts and techniques you'll be able to use this knowledge to help give all your drawings a much more realistic look.

I've had a lot of requests to conduct a class that would incorporate many of the subjects and textures that artists have difficulty with... like glass, reflective metal, water, fur, clouds, etc.

In my previous workshops, I've answered many questions about how to render these subjects realistically.  Now you'll have a chance to watch demonstrate exactly how they are done and to follow along with my guidance.
 
I spend much of my time walking around the class giving individual attention to insure you understand the specific techniques and concepts needed to draw each of these subjects.

After that, I'll provide you with two reference photos to choose from for the final project.