“Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant, there is no such thing. Making your unknown known is the important thing--and keeping the unknown always beyond you.”
–Georgia O'Keefe
These courses are designed as a complement to the Drawing Workout, diving deeper into concepts and ideas such as abstraction, subjectivity, symbolism, and autobiographical storytelling, while also putting into practice topics like the human figure, nature, and the animal world. Each topic includes both a conceptual and a practical part.
(It isn’t necessary to do the Drawing Workout in order to take these short courses)
Each course starts with a Live Session (see schedule) and consists of 4 short video lessons and a PDF.
Approach
My approach to drawing emphasizes observation, attention, and experimentation over perfection. This course encourages students to explore the world emotionally, prioritizing process over technical precision. Mistakes are welcome, and uncertainty is part of discovery. Through playful exercises, experimental mark-making, and shifting perspectives, drawing becomes a form of personal research and self-expression. We’ll experiment freely with techniques, embracing the abstract and the unexpected, while having fun and discovering new ways to communicate through drawing.
Methodology
All courses begin with a Live–Session via Zoom (see schedule) that serves as an introduction to the topic and where the first exercise is presented.
Each course consists of four exercises that will be sent over four weeks. The results will be shared in a Slack group to encourage exchange between participants.
If you are unable to participate in the live session or cannot/do not want to keep up with the group, you have the option of accessing the content and recordings of the sessions and doing the exercises at your own pace.
Each task is designed to engage with a specific process and encourage exploration and experimentation through play, chance, and intuition.
What do I get?
︎ Intro Live Session
︎ ︎4 videos + ︎4 PDF’s with assignments to gradually develop an initial project.
︎ Access to a community Slack channel to share my work and view the work of others.
︎ Talks with guest artists (Zoom) throughout the year (6 in total).
About me
My name is Cristóbal Schmal.
I am an illustrator, artist, designer and passionate about drawing.
I believe that drawing is a form of expression that is worth discovering both to improve your relationship with representation and narrative and also as a means of observation. But I also see drawing as an emotional state where we can express our concerns, visions, desires and fears. A personal space of our own, in which we feel free and confident.
I studied Graphic Design in Valparaiso (Chile) and then emigrated to Barcelona where I worked in Design and Advertising Agencies. In 2008 I moved to Berlin when I decided to take the leap to dedicate myself to Illustration. Since then I have worked for more than 15 years for different brands, institutions and media such as The New York Times, Washington Post, Lufthansa, Taschen, Greenpeace, Financial Times and National Geographic among others.
FAQ
Can I start the course at any time?
Yes, all lessons and Live-Sessions recordings are available for 1 year.
I only know how to say “thank you” in English, can I participate?
A basic level beyond “thank you” is great, but the drawing is universal and if you don't want to speak it's OK.
How are the works evaluated?
The works are not evaluated but reviewed with the teacher and the rest of participants. Part of the concept of this course is to share the processes and learn from them.
I'm afraid to share my drawings because I always think they suck.
The bad drawings are sometimes the most interesting ones. I try to create a climate of trust without prejudices and judgements.
What kind of artists are the guest artists?
In the last years artists like John Broadley, Powerpaola, Katrin Stangl, Catalina Bu, Gosia Machon, Fanny Dreyer, Chris Harnan, Sophia Martineck, Amanda Baeza, Martha Verschaffel, Sarah Mazzeti, Mantraste , Molly Fairhurst, Aidan Koch and many more have been invited.
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Short Courses 2026
Short Courses 2026I’m very excited to announce this new format for 2026!
Each course begins with a Live Intro Session (Zoom) and includes four lessons that will be sent over the course of four weeks. Results can be shared in a Slack Group with the aim of encouraging exchange between participants.
Beyond the Form
Drawing Course
Starts with a LIVE SESSION –Wednesday 11th February at 8.30 pm (CET Timezone)
We perceive the world through shapes, objects, colors, and sounds—sensory signals that give form to meaning. In this course, we will explore abstraction and its symbolic power as a bridge between the objective and the subjective.
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Small Talk
Drawing / Comic Course
Small TalkStarts with a LIVE SESSION –Wednesday 11th March at 8.30 pm (CET Timezone)
Life’s routine is threaded with the uncanny: hilarious missteps, bizarre encounters, and small absurdities that color our days. Over four lessons, we’ll turn these seemingly trivial moments into short stories that quietly reflect the essence of our lives.
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Spiritism
Drawing / Narrative Course
Starts with a LIVE SESSION –Wednesday 22th April at 8.30 pm (CET Timezone)
Are spirits the bridges between worlds—between what is real and what is imagined, what has been and what will be? Can a soul inhabit matter?
In this course, we will listen voices from the other world to create short stories based on fictional speculation.
Trip Fiction
Drawing / Narrative CourseStarts with a LIVE SESSION –Wednesday 13th May at 8.30 pm (CET Timezone)
Traveling means stepping into the unknown, seeing the world as if for the first time, and letting go of who we think we are. It is a way of observing and thinking that invites uncertainty—the foundation of all personal transformation. In this course, we will work on a travel book to create a mini narrative project.
Mirages
Drawing / Narrative CourseStarts with a LIVE SESSION –Wednesday 17th June at 8.30 pm (CET Timezone)
The world does not simply exist; it emerges from what we see, feel and experience. It is from these shifting experiences that the narrative of the self slowly takes form, becoming our way of inhabiting the world. In these four classes, we will explore autobiography as a gentle, imaginative approach to recounting our experiences in the form of a short story.
︎Pack 5 courses
Special offerMore short courses coming soon!
Stay tuned and Subscribe to my Substack
*the member option is for Drawing Workout 2025 members only.
** if you are a student please email me a copy of your student ID card
Materials:
Sketchbook, Mix media paper ( 240 g/m2) Graphite Pencils (HB, 2B, 4B), Brushes, Inks, Drawing pens, Watercolors, Wax Crayons, Color Pencils, Blend Stumps.
A detailed list of materials will be sent after enrollment.
Language: English
The course is designed for all levels.
If you have questions just send me an email:
info@artnomono.com