TEACHING IN ENGLISH / 1 WEEK / 13–17 JULY 2026 / ON CAMPUS
From Anatomy to Expression
All artistic drawing condensed into a short and intensive course.
The Expressive Drawing Techniques course aims to refine participants’ artistic eye and curiosity, encouraging them to explore different drawing techniques and materials in an increasingly experimental way.
Through a series of classical and gestural drawing exercises, participants will delve into concepts such as line, shape, volume, light, shadow, movement, composition and interpretation, experimenting with different materials and subjects — from drawing from life to drawing from photographs or imagination.
Two life drawing sessions with models are included, as well as one or more visits to museums or places of artistic interest in the city of Rome.
At the end of the course, a certificate of attendance will be issued, valid with participation in at least 4 of the 5 lessons, for the potential recognition of 2 ECTS.
Course type: Group – in person
Participants: Min. 8, Max. 20 | The programme is open to university and fine arts academy students, as well as anyone wishing to explore the world of artistic drawing.
Schedule: Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm
Dates: 13–17 July 2026
Cost: €850
Requirements/support: No admission requirements. Tickets for visits are provided by RUFA. The list of materials is available in the course programme.
Language: A B1/B2 level of English is required to attend the course.
Lecturer: Ellen Wolf
Location: RUFA – Via degli Ausoni 7, Rome + visits around the city of Rome
Certificate: At the end of the course, a certificate of attendance is issued upon participation in at least 4 of the 5 scheduled lessons, for the recognition of 2 ECTS.
In the Expressive Drawing Techniques course, participants will have the opportunity to strengthen their ability for conscious observation and to translate their impressions into line, shape, volume, light, shadow, movement, composition and interpretation through various exercises, techniques and materials.
Day 1
Introduction to the course and basic notions of perception theory applied to drawing. Study of line (contour, movement, expressiveness), shape, composition, space and proportions.
Day 2
Light and shadow; chiaroscuro techniques and greyscale to create volume. Museum visit with drawing exercises inside and around the venue.
Day 3
The human body: proportions, structure, foreshortening and movement. Gestural drawing, interpretation and representation. Life drawing session with models.
Day 4
Portrait: proportions, structure and expressive study. Drawing exercises from life and/or from photographs.
Day 5
Landscape and reflection on the relationship between figuration and abstraction: structure, texture, synthesis. Introduction to and experimentation with markers and ink. Final exhibition of the best works produced during the course at the Ex Pastificio Cerere in Via degli Ausoni 7, combined with the final exhibition of the parallel courses.
Materials:
• A3 drawing pad, smooth or semi-rough white paper
• 2 sheets of black A3 paper
• Graphite pencils 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B
• Rubber eraser and kneaded eraser
• Sharpener or cutter
• Ruler (minimum 40 cm)
• Charcoal (sticks and pencils)
• Blending stumps (small, medium, large)
• White chalk (sticks and pencils)
• Fixative for charcoal/chalk (or hairspray)
• Ballpoint pen
• Markers (0.1, 0.3, 0.5)
• Black ink (30 ml)
• Ink pen (or wooden stick)
• Round brushes (small, medium, large)
• Occasional photocopies upon request
A visual artist born in Denmark in 1993, she has been living and working in Rome since 2014.
She graduated in Painting (BA) in 2017 and in Printmaking (MA) in 2020 at RUFA – Rome University of Fine Arts, winning several scholarships and completing an internship at the Pizzi Cannella Archive at the Pastificio Cerere in San Lorenzo in 2017.
From 2017 to 2022 she worked as a freelance archaeological illustrator for S.H. Andersen, Moesgaard Museum (DK).
In 2022 she co-founded, together with artist Elisa Selli, the cultural association Lea APS, an independent space for artistic and social promotion, and Artificio, an art workshop for people with Down syndrome.
Since 2021 she has been teaching Painting and Drawing, supporting students from art high schools and art academies with intellectual disabilities.
In 2023 she became teaching assistant to Prof. Andrea Aquilanti in the RUFA Master’s course in Painting.
She regularly takes part in group exhibitions, artist residencies and competitions in Italy and abroad. Among the most recent: 8. Salon (Hamburg, DE), Springtime Art-Camp Residency organised by the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan (Baku, AZ), Ladispolaneamente (Ladispoli, IT) and Seminaria Sogninterra Environmental Art Biennial (Maranola, IT).
RUFA Winter–Summer Course Students and Alumni: 10%
RUFA Students and Alumni: 50%
Very early bird: by 31 December 2025 – 15%
Early bird: by 31 March 2026 – 10%
Course/group/family packages: contact corsibrevi@unirufa.it
Participants who, after attending the course, enrol in a first- or second-level academic degree programme, will receive a 10% reduction on the first-year annual tuition fee.
RUFA has agreements with several facilities providing housing services. For more information, please contact corsibrevi@unirufa.it
For information about the course, fill in the form and you will be contacted as soon as possible.