Drawing with All Senses: A New Approach to Artmaking

Engage your five senses in the act of drawing and experience a fresh, personal and perceptive approach to art making. From initial idea generation to the creation of resolved drawings, this course provides a pathway to dynamic and personal expression.
On Campus, Weekly Classes, Daytime
22 Jul - 9 Sep 2026
Wednesday
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Registration Open
$954.00 $1,060.00
GST included where applicable.
  • Number of classes: 8
  • Total Course Hours: 32
  • Discipline: Drawing
  • Lecturer: Dr Toshiko Oiyama
  • Age: 16 years and over
  • Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
  • Location: National Art School

Drawing with All Senses: A New Approach to Artmaking

Course Details

Engage your five senses in the act of drawing and experience a fresh and lived approach to artmaking. Artist-educator Toshiko Oiyama leads you through guided experiments and playful exercises, from unexpected ways of holding pencils to using the sense of touch in focused seeing. Hearing, sight, smell and taste also will be mobilised for enhanced observation and personal response.

Throughout the course, key concepts such as scale, space and composition will be discussed, while mark-making, layering, and materiality will be explored. The course will integrate both traditional and non-traditional media, materials and techniques, within a primarily monochromatic palette. Experience the art of using your whole being when you draw, and discover fresh, personal and perceptive pathways into drawing.

* Short courses are open to students of ages 16 years and over. The NAS Art Club is open to students between 15 - 17 years of age.

* Drawing and painting short courses may be held in upstairs studios. If access to stairs is not suitable, please contact us at short.courses@nas.edu.au

* What to bring? Please refer to the list of required materials in the Art Materials field below.

Art Materials

Students must supply their own art materials, please refer to the list below.

  • Hahnemuhle paper for etching: 300 gsm, 53 x 78 cm, 3 sheets of Warm White
  • Cartridge paper, 110 gsm. A1 size x 10 sheets
  • Black drawing ink, small bottle
  • 6 pencils with a combination from B to 8B
  • Box of Willow charcoal, medium thickness
  • Small box of crayons
  • Masking tape (25 mm width), knife, kneadable eraser, plastic eraser
  • Wide brush (around 8 cm) or a large new kitchen sponge
  • Large plastic container (1 kg yoghurt container or equivalent)
  • 6 small disposable plastic food containers, about 8cm in diameter 4cm height, or similar
  • 1 roll of paper towels
  • 1 flat sheet of Styrofoam, 2cm thick, about A4 size or bigger. Old packing material - find them on a garbage collection day.
  • 2 large corrugated cardboard boxes (clean, from recycle bins)
  • Apron and disposable plastic gloves, if desired
  • Additional paper can be purchased at Parkers Art Supplies at NAS if required throughout the course.
  • Enclosed footwear is essential in all studios on campus.

Lecturer Profile

IMG 3828 Toshiko cropped

Born in Japan and trained as a graphic design in the United States, Dr Toshiko Oiyama had a long design career in the States, Holland, Indonesia, Singapore and New Zealand before coming to Sydney in 2001. In Sydney she changed her direction and studied fine art, obtaining two masters degrees and a PhD from the University of New South Wales while developing her art practice. Having lived in many countries and criss-crossed the fine and applied arts fields, she has a special interest in cultural interactions in visual arts. In her own art practice, she draws inspirations equally from the outback of Australia and the ancient pilgrimage trails of Japan, science, philosophy and poetry. She exhibits regularly, and has won prizes and grants including the Tim Olsen Drawing Prize and a residency in Paris. Currently Toshiko divides her time between her art practice and teaching at the UNSW Art and Design.

- toiyama@​nas.​edu.​au 

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