Nicholas Thorp In-Person Art Workshop: Drawing Fundamentals Bootcamp, May 12-15, 2025

Drawing is an essential skill for any visual art. From watercolor to sculpture, being able to accurately place boundaries and contours is the foundation on which composition and beauty are built in representational art. In this workshop with Nicholas Thorp, we will cover techniques with a pencil, paper, and eraser to develop drawing skills so that you can become a better draftsman. We will begin with covering how to accurately measure and develop contour drawings from large to small shapes using the famous Bargue Drawing Course plates. On the second day these techniques will be explored with portraiture and figurative drawing to achieve a better likeness and more solid poses. For the third day, we will get into shading and how to express three-dimensional form with value and linework. Finally, on the fourth day, we will complete a drawing from a photo reference as a capstone of all of these skills.

• Monday May 12, Tuesday May 13, Wednesday May 14, Thursday May 15, 9:00am - 4:00pm EST

Please see Downloads Tab for Important Information.

Pre-class instructions and/or specific details will be emailed 1 week prior to the workshop.

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Workshop Terms and Conditions

 Level 2 (and up) - Beginner-Intermediate: Reviews basic techniques for beginners as needed, and offers practice exercises at an average pace to assist in gaining confidence and experience with the medium. Assistance is given to all.

Nicholas Thorp is a High Country native and third generation painter. He apprenticed for two years under portraitist Louis Carr and figurative painter Alex Venezia, learning the academic approach both to drawing and painting, as well as sitting in on the many guest artists who taught workshops through their studio. In his portraiture, he experiments with blending the liveliness of impressionism with the solidity of academic painting. He currently lives with his wife and two daughters in Jefferson, NC. 

By completing your purchase, you agree to the following cancellation and refund policy:

• A $30 cancellation fee applies if you cancel at least 8 days in advance.
• Cancellation requests must be emailed directly to meghann@cheapjoes.com.
• No refunds will be issued for cancellations made less than 8 days prior to, during, or after the class.
• Transfers to a different workshop are not permitted.
• There are no refunds or discounts for missed sessions or no-shows.
• If Cheap Joe's or the instructor cancels the class, you will receive a full refund of tuition, but not for other related expenses.
• Please do not combine supply purchases and workshop purchases in the same order.