Youth Art Program – Drawing Workshop | Yücel Cultural Foundation

Workshop Description

The drawing workshop, organized under the Young Art Program, was designed to introduce young people interested in art to basic drawing techniques and to expand their means of artistic expression. Spread across five intensive weeks of learning, the program not only provided technical knowledge but also aimed to enhance participants’ intellectual creativity, visual perception, and forms of expression.

Throughout the workshop, drawing was approached not only as a visual skill but also as a unique way of expressing thoughts, emotions, and stories. Thanks to weekly thematic focuses, participants were able to approach drawing from a holistic perspective, developing both their observational and storytelling skills.

What Was the Aim of the Workshop?

The main goal of the drawing workshop was to provide a solid foundation for young people’s artistic development. Accordingly, the workshop aimed to:

  • Teach participants basic drawing techniques,
  • Enrich their artistic perspectives,
  • Encourage them to discover their own styles and modes of expression,
  • Foster creativity to inspire original productions,
  • Develop critical thinking and interpretive skills.

The workshop was not just a technical training, but also a creative journey where young people built deeper, more meaningful, and personal connections with art.

What Did Participants Learn?

During the five-week program, participants experienced a comprehensive and hands-on learning process in the field of drawing. The main topics they covered included:

  • Basic techniques: Perspective, proportion, light and shadow, texture and line work; human anatomy, figure drawing and facial expressions; building composition and arranging scenes.
  • Creative exploration: Exercises to discover personal drawing styles; abstraction, storytelling, and emotional expression practices.
  • Visual critique and interpretation: Group drawing presentations and peer critique sessions; learning to evaluate different perspectives and provide feedback on artistic works.

Participants were encouraged not only to learn drawing techniques but also to discover their own unique forms of expression.

 

How Did the Process Work?

The workshop followed five main weekly themes, each focusing on a different technique and creative approach.

  • Through both individual and group exercises, participants improved their own work while gaining practice in producing collaboratively.
  • Live drawing sessions and field observation studies, guided by the instructor, enabled participants to put technical knowledge into practice.
  • Weekly mini-presentations and feedback sessions provided a constructive learning environment where participants grew open to critique.
  • By the end of the workshop, each participant had prepared a small personal portfolio of their works, serving as a reference point for their future artistic journey.

The sketchbooks used throughout the program became tangible records of week-to-week progress and creative transformation. Alongside their lines, participants’ confidence, imagination, and commitment to art grew visibly stronger.

Outcomes and Contributions

At the end of the program, participants not only gained technical skills but also began to chart their own artistic paths as individuals who had internalized an artistic way of thinking.

  • Acquisition of basic drawing knowledge and practice,
  • Diversified modes of artistic expression,
  • Improved skills in visual critique and analysis,
  • Strengthened experience in group production and collaboration,
  • Discovery of the first traces of a personal style,
  • Creation of mini-portfolios documenting personal development.

Some participants pursued individual projects in drawing after the workshop, while others became determined to continue their formal art education. For young people aiming to pursue creative fields, this workshop was both a strong starting point and a source of inspiration.

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