Unlock the fundamentals of drawing with award-winning instructor Brent Eviston. In this beginner-friendly course, you'll learn to see the world through the lens of basic shapes—the essential building blocks of drawing. Through a series of hands-on lessons, you’ll gain confidence in drawing circles, ovals, rectangles, and irregular forms, and discover how to simplify complex subjects into these foundational elements.
How to Draw: A Beginner’s Guide Pt 1 – Basic Shapes
Ends tomorrow. Heat up your career with 40% off courses from Adobe, IBM, and more. Save now.
How to Draw: A Beginner’s Guide Pt 1 – Basic Shapes
This course is part of Learn to Draw Specialization
Instructor: Skillshare
Included with 
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
5 hours to complete
3 weeks at 1 hour a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll gain
Details to know
Shareable certificate
Add to your LinkedIn profile
Recently updated!
July 2025
Assessments
3 assignments
Taught in English
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Build your subject-matter expertise
This course is part of the Learn to Draw Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate
There are 3 modules in this course
Start your drawing journey with clarity and confidence. In this module, you’ll get an overview of the course structure, explore essential tools and materials, and learn what it takes to build a sustainable drawing practice. By the end, you’ll be equipped with the mindset and resources you need to begin sketching with purpose.
What's included
3 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt
In this hands-on module, you’ll build the core drawing skills that everything else relies on—circles, ovals, rectangles, and triangles. You’ll practice drawing both curved and straight-edged forms with increasing precision, and learn how to combine these basic elements to create more complex structures.
What's included
3 videos1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Learn how to see the world like an artist. This module focuses on breaking down real-world objects into simplified shapes that are easy to draw. By training your eye to focus on form rather than detail, you’ll gain the confidence to sketch any subject quickly and effectively.
What's included
1 video1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
Instructor
Offered by
Explore more from Music and Art
Coursera Project Network
Status: FreeCoursera Project Network
Coursera Project Network
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Open new doors with Coursera Plus
Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Frequently asked questions
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
More questions
Financial aid available,