“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 consists of 4 video lessons. Each video is around 3–5 minutes long and comes with a PDF.
Once you enroll, you’ll receive the content by email.
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.
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Methodology
All content is delivered by email and includes 4 videos and 4 PDFs.
Each course is a short project—some are narrative, others more like image series.
You complete the assignments at your own pace and can share them on the Slack channel, where other participants show their work. There you receive feedback from both me and the other participants.
Each assignment is oriented to make contact with a certain process and to encourage exploration and experimentation through playfulness, chance and intuition.
What do I get?
︎ ︎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, the courses are pre-recorded and 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 contains 4 lessons:
︎4 videos + ︎4 PDF’s with assignments to gradually develop an initial project.
Beyond the Form
Drawing CourseWe 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.
(Available from 1st February)
Small Talk
Drawing / Narrative CourseLife’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.
(Available from 1st February)
Spiritism
Drawing / Narrative CourseAre 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.
(Available from 1st March)
Trip Fiction
Drawing / Painting CourseTraveling 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.
(Available from 1st March)
Mirages
Drawing / Narrative CourseThe 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.
(Available from 1st April)
︎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