Beginner’s Guide to Realistic Drawings by Gemma Chambers

This beginner-friendly class strips away the jargon and gets straight to the point: drawing a realistic ladybird with a limited set of colored pencils. Gemma Chambers focuses on the core techniques you’ll use in every drawing, making it a perfect first step into the world of colored pencil art.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Understand the essential materials for colored pencil drawing.
• Master fundamental techniques like layering and blending.
• Create an accurate sketch from a reference photo.
• Build up base layers and add vibrant color to a finished piece.

✅ Requirements

• Skills: No prior drawing experience needed.
• Tools: Colored pencils (a set of 12 is recommended), graphite pencil, eraser, ruler, pencil sharpener.
• Hardware: Smooth Bristol board paper (240gsm recommended).

📝 Description

This isn’t about theory. It’s about picking up your pencils and drawing. Gemma walks you through her entire process, from choosing the right paper to building up the final layers of color on a ladybird. She keeps the language plain and the steps clear, so you can follow along without getting lost in technical terms.

The course is built around a single, simple project: a ladybird on a leaf. This subject is perfect because it has clear shapes and a limited color palette, letting you focus on the layering and shading techniques that make a drawing pop. You’ll learn how to study a reference photo, create a clean sketch, and then slowly build up the depth and vibrancy of the insect’s shell. By the end, you’ll have a finished piece and a solid understanding of the fundamentals you can apply to any future drawing.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Absolute beginners who have never used colored pencils before.
• Hobbyists looking for a simple, confidence-building project.
• Artists who want to learn a straightforward, repeatable drawing process.

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Gemma Chambers is a UK-based pencil artist specializing in colored pencil, watercolor pencil, and graphite. She is a Skillshare Top Teacher who believes drawing is a teachable skill, not just a talent. Her teaching style is direct and encouraging, focused on giving students the practical tools and confidence to create realistic artwork.

🏁 Final Result

• A finished, realistic colored pencil drawing of a ladybird on a leaf.
• A clear understanding of the basic materials and techniques for colored pencil art.
• A repeatable process for creating future drawings from reference photos.