Join us to learn how to create a detailed still life drawing using a range of fine art graphite pencils. A still life is a drawing of objects that don’t move, like fruits, flowers, or everyday objects. The focus will be on capturing texture, light, and shadow to make the objects in the still life come alive on the page. Students will use different graphite pencil techniques such as shading, blending, and creating contrast to add depth and dimension to their drawings. 

By using graphite pencils, students will experiment with light and dark areas, learning how to use soft and hard pencils to create smooth gradients and sharp details. Through this process, they’ll improve their ability to observe closely, recognize shapes and proportions, and understand how light affects objects. 

Please note, Museum admission is not included in the workshop price, but you can enjoy The New Children’s Museum at a discount! On the day of your workshop, each attendee may purchase one (1) admission ticket for 50% off. 

NCM Members get $10 off. Please make sure you are logged into your member portal to access the discount!

Important Details:

• Workshop Duration: This workshop is 90 minutes.
• Location: The workshop takes place in our brand-new art studio, Artopia: NCM Creative Studios, located inside The New Children’s Museum at 200 W. Island Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101.
• Please plan to arrive around 20 minutes early for parking and check-in.
• Check-in at the Artopia entrance on Union Street & Island Ave (please note: this is NOT the Museum’s main entrance).
• Drop-Off & Pick-Up:
  • A guardian may drop off the participant at the start of class.
  • For safety purposes, only adults listed during registration with a matching photo ID may pick up participants.
• Parking:
  • Limited Museum garage parking is available for $20 per car ($10 for NCM Members and EBT/WIC/SNAP cardholders).
  • Additional public parking lots and metered spaces are nearby.
  • ABM Parking (450 2nd Ave.) offers a 2-hour discount with code 8792 (exclusions apply, including Padres games).
• Public Transportation: The Museum is accessible via the MTS Trolley Green Line and MTS Bus.
• Museum Admission:
  • Workshop participants receive 50% off same-day Museum admission.
  • This discount applies only to the participant; additional guests must purchase admission at the Museum Welcome Desk at the standard rate.
  • Participants under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult to explore the Museum.
• Questions? For any questions about this workshop, please reach out to us at info@thinkplaycreate.org.