Self-Study and Live Online Options
Live online classes starting May 8

If you’ve ever frozen at the beginning of a figure drawing, unsure where to start - this course is for you.

Figure Drawing Quickstart teaches you the 7 essential first steps of every strong figure drawing — and how to reorder and adapt them into the most effective starting strategy for any pose.

Instead of guessing what to draw first, you’ll build a gestural block-in that anchors the entire drawing — whether you’re quick-sketching or settling into a long pose.

By the end of this course, you'll know how to:

  • Follow a flexible framework to start any figure drawing
  • Know exactly what to draw first - and why
  • Measure the figure accurately at each step to establish correct proportions early on
  • Build a strong gestural block-in that captures movement and proportion
  • Quick-sketch the figure in 2-minute poses with confidence
  • Find and draw gestures throughout the body that make your drawing look cohesive and natural
  • Problem-solve the first few marks, even when they’re not obvious


Everything you learn after — construction, anatomy, rendering — depends on this foundation.
Figure Drawing Quickstart teaches you how to build it.

The Curriculum of Figure Drawing Quickstart

Module 1: The Figure Drawing Framework


Learn the 7 essential first steps of every strong figure drawing. You'll use these to start every figure drawing from now on.

Using a guided worksheet, you'll practice identifying and drawing these elements so you can recognize and place them accurately in any pose.

Module 2: Measuring the Figure for Accurate Proportions


Learn an efficient "default sequence" of the Figure Drawing Framework, that works well for starting most figure drawings.

Then discover which measuring techniques to use at every step — and practice freehand, guided by detailed drawing demonstrations.

Module 3: Flow and Accuracy Through Gesture


Gesture - often misunderstood as a quick scribble - is a nuanced network of flowing, implied lines that can add movement, life, interconnectivity, and accuracy to your drawings.

You'll learn to use gesture as a powerful tool for both flow and precision, then start training speed by quick-sketching the figure in 2-minute poses.

Module 4: Starting Strategies & Problem Solving


Build a full toolkit of starting methods by learning to adapt the Figure Drawing Framework.

You’ll practice choosing the most effective strategies for starting different poses, guided by detailed drawing demonstrations.

What Students are Saying:

“In the lesson where you're talking about the main action line - it is so clear that suddenly things really start to make sense. I might have read a million times about a main action line, but now it finally makes sense and has really sunk in. Thank you.” –Helen G.

"The precise descriptions of where to look, and where each point starts and ends, is so helpful to me, and answered questions that I had been since starting figure drawing. Those little details where you just don’t assume that we know what’s going on - incredibly helpful, thank you.” -Wendy L.

"You're teaching us how to see the body. Very helpful, thank you." -Bob T.

Who This Course Is For


Figure Drawing Quickstart is for you if:

✔️ You’re new to figure drawing and want to start with a clear, structured approach from day one
✔️ You're an intermediate artist who has tried figure drawing but feels like something is missing (a reliable starting system, accurate proportions, or a confident sense of where to begin)
✔️ You freeze at the beginning of a figure drawing and don't know what to draw first
✔️ You want a faster, clearer, more confident way to start
✔️ You want a repeatable approach you can adapt to any pose
✔️ You want to add more accurate proportions and more flowing, gestural movement to your drawings
✔️ You learn best with structure, clarity, and guided practice


 If you want to draw the figure with confidence, clarity, and flow — start here!


Note: Some general drawing experience is recommended. This course will be most effective if you've started developing your foundational drawing skills — or are working on them alongside the course.

Choose Your Learning Option

Option 1: Self-Study
in the Atelier membership


Work through Figure Drawing Quickstart at your own pace, on your own schedule.

✔ Figure Drawing Quickstart
✔ The full Atelier core curriculum
✔ A growing library of additional courses


$29/month or $199/year USD


Get Instant Access in the Atelier

Option 2: 4-Week Live Cohort
Friday, May 8-29 | 6-8pm EDT


✔ 4 weekly live sessions on Zoom
✔ Fridays 6 - 8pm EDT starting May 8
✔ Direct access to Marina in real time
✔ Submit drawings for feedback
✔ Recordings of every session
✔ Practice schedules at 3 levels
✔ Mid-week check-in email
✔ 1 Month access to the Atelier


$199 USD


Enroll: Live Online Friday Class

Option 3: 4-Week Live Cohort Sat, May 9-30 | 10am-12pm EDT


✔ 4 weekly live sessions on Zoom
✔ Saturdays 10am - 12pm EDT
✔ Direct access to Marina in real time
✔ Submit drawings for feedback
✔ Recordings of every session
✔ Practice schedules at 3 levels
✔ Mid-week check-in email
✔ 1 Month access to the Atelier


$199 USD


Enroll: Live Online Saturday Classs

Here is my favorite Time Zone Converter for your convenience.
(Convert from EDT or Montreal for something more specific!)

Who You'll Learn From:

I'm a professional visual artist, arts educator, former tenure-track college professor of visual arts, and founder of The Drawing Source.

I've spent nearly 20 years studying, practicing, and teaching realistic drawing, and consider myself successful when my students improve their skills and increase their enjoyment of the drawing process.

In my creative practice I make 'drawing installations': large-scale drawings that transform an entire space, such as the one below. (Yes, entirely hand-drawn using charcoal on white paper!)

Frequently Asked Questions


➤ Do I need prior drawing experience?
You don't need any figure drawing experience - we'll start from the beginning - but some general drawing experience is recommended, yes. This course will be most effective if you've at least started developing your Foundational Drawing Skills.


➤ What if I can't attend a live session?
Every session is recorded and available to cohort members, so you won't miss anything even if life gets in the way.


➤ How many students are in each section?
Each section is kept small - maximum 8 students. Limited spots are available to ensure everyone gets personal attention.

➤ How much time do I need each week, outside of the live sessions?
I'll provide three levels of practice schedules, so you can fit practice into whatever time you realistically have.


➤ Is Figure Drawing Quickstart also included in the Atelier?
Yes — a self-study version of Figure Drawing Quickstart is included in the Atelier membership. If you're already an Atelier member, the live cohort is the best way to experience the course with live instruction, personalized feedback and practice schedules.