6 Week Beginner Introduction to Human Anatomy

For Figure Drawing

Understanding anatomy doesn’t need to feel intimidating.

This 6-week course is designed to gently guide you into the structural foundations of the human body in a way that feels clear, practical and directly useful for drawing. Rather than overwhelming you with complex terminology, we focus on what artists truly need to see and understand — structure, proportion, movement and weight.

This course is ideal for beginners, those returning to drawing after a break, or anyone wanting to strengthen their figure drawing with deeper understanding.

Each week builds confidence step by step.

COURSE DATES & TIMES

Dates: Monday Evenings, May 4th - June 8th

Time: Arrive at 5:45pm to set up, class runs 6:00 - 9:00pm

Location:
Upstairs first door on the left at Hive Art Gallery
Unit 23/5 Coghill Dr, Currumbin Waters QLD 4223

Fee: $570 - ($31 per hour)

Model:
A live model will be present for all sessions.

Facilities:
The Gallery is air-conditioned and there is plenty of street parking available.

Bring your own Materials:

• A2 Cartridge Paper

• Pencils: 2H, HB, 2B, 6B

• Small box cutter knife for pencil sharpening

• Kneadable Eraser

• Willow Charcoal

Note:
Easels, drawing boards, and clips provided.
This course is limited to 10 students.

Week 1: The Skeleton — The Body’s Framework

We begin from the inside.

• Understanding the ribcage, pelvis and spine as the core masses

• Major joints and how they influence movement

• Bony landmarks that help you measure and align the figure

• Balance, tilt and contrapposto

You’ll start to see why the body moves the way it does — not just what it looks like.

Week 2: Proportion, Gesture & Simplifying the Figure

Before detail comes clarity.

• Classical proportion systems and natural variation

• Simple measuring techniques

• Breaking the body into manageable shapes

• Gesture drawing as the foundation of movement

This week builds flow and confidence so your figures feel alive, not stiff.

Week 3: Major Muscle Groups - Upper Body

Now we begin layering form focusing this week on the upper body.

• Chest, shoulders and back structure

• Arms and forearms simplified

• How muscles wrap and overlap

• Light and shadow across anatomical form

You’ll learn to see volume rather than flat outlines.

Week 4: Major Muscle Groups - Lower Body

This weeks focus is the lower body looking at strength, balance and weight distribution.

• Gluteal group and pelvis connection

• Quadriceps, hamstrings and calves

• Knees and ankles as structural hinges

• Weight distribution and grounded poses

• Understanding tension vs relaxation

Week 5: Hands & Feet — Making the Complex Simple

Hands and feet often feel intimidating — this week makes them approachable.

• The underlying skeletal structure

• Simplifying complex forms into clear volumes

• Proportion relationships within hands and feet

• Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them

You’ll leave with practical strategies you can immediately apply.

Week 6: Integration — Bringing It All Together

In our final week we integrate structure, proportion and observation.

• Combining gesture and anatomy

• Refining longer poses

• Identifying and correcting anatomical inconsistencies

• Developing confidence drawing from life

By the end of the course, you won’t just be copying what you see — you’ll understand it.

What You’ll Gain

Students will gain a clearer understanding of the body’s structure, along with improved proportion and accuracy in their drawings. They will also develop greater confidence working from a live model and leave with practical tools to continue refining their skills independently beyond the course.

About Rebecca Cunningham

Rebecca Cunningham is a Gold Coast–based artist whose practice centers around figure drawing and the human form. Throughout her adult life she has taken several semesters of Anatomy and Physiology studying the subject from a science perspective all the while incorporating it into her life drawing practice. She was first introduced to life drawing in 2013 while studying at RMIT Tafe in Melbourne, where she completed a Diploma of Visual Arts. This formative experience laid the foundation for her ongoing dedication to observational drawing.

From this passion, Rebecca founded the now well-known Life Drawing Sessions, which began as a small hobby group 11 years ago and has since grown into a thriving program running regularly across the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast. These sessions have become a valued space for artists of all levels to develop their skills within a supportive and dynamic environment.

More recently, Rebecca spent time in Sydney studying at the Julian Ashton Art School, where she further refined her practice through traditional realism drawing and painting techniques.

Rebecca is the recipient of the 2019 Dean Cogle Portrait Prize, has exhibited multiple times at the SWELL Sculpture Festival, and has held two solo exhibitions at Dust Temple Gallery. Her work reflects a deep respect for the human form and classical drawing traditions, combined with a contemporary approach to art practice.

Terms & Conditions – Workshop Enrolment

Please consider your availability carefully before booking. Ensure you have checked your dates and confirmed any work or personal commitments.

All courses have a strict no-refund policy.

If you are unable to attend, a credit may be offered provided we receive at least 7 days’ notice prior to the course commencement date. This allows time for us to offer your place to another student. Credits are not available for late cancellations or non-attendance.

If you change your mind or are no longer able to attend, you may transfer or gift your enrolment to another person, however the original booking will otherwise be forfeited.

Life Drawing Sessions reserves the right to cancel or reschedule classes due to insufficient enrolments or venue unavailability. In the event that a class is cancelled by the organiser, all enrolled students will receive a full refund for that class.

By booking, you acknowledge and agree to these Terms & Conditions.