I learned so much in this class. It didn’t just teach me how to draw nature, but made me look at it in a new and different way. Glenn teaches you how to see things that were always there, that I was missing before I gained that knowledge. Incredible course.

This course will really set you up for success. The approach is to start with a simple sculpture that consists of general facial planes. It moves onward and transitions to monochromatic head paintings. Towards the end you will paint in color. I hope to take this again and reinforce these fundamentals.

This course is for all levels. Glenn will provide feedback based on where you are at.

This is a topic that is covered well in books using illustrations of the basic folds. What I have come to realize is that books only facilitate part of the learning process. You need to draw to develop. That's what is so great about the way Glenn teaches. He's direct and encouraging. He demonstrates practical approaches and sustainable lifestyle-like routines to developing your skill. Whether it is drapery or painting, his teaching style is gentle and consumable by most all people. I recommend it. I really didn't think I would get as much out of this class as I did.

In this class, you will learn how to analyze folds. You'll understand that folds are dependent on other variables, i.e, material and underlying forms.

I have taken this course twice. Both times have been two of the biggest leaps in quality for my artwork. The way Glenn teaches drawing is unmatched, and though this course is called Figure 1, it has forever changed my approach to drawing any subject. I cannot thank Glenn enough for all that he has taught me, and I will be coming back whenever I can to learn more from one of the best artists I’ve had the pleasure of learning under.

I was eager to start this course because I knew that my expectations would be realized quickly. I did not know that I would feel I got 'my moneys worth' after only a couple of weeks. Glenn keeps the painting demonstrations to less than a couple of hours which keeps the lessons practical. The critiques are constructive.

I took Landscape Drawing first which allowed me to learn about light/darks, overlapping, broad strokes, etc. This helped.

I have gained a lot from this course, with the most significant benefit being Mr. Vilppu's feedback on my assignments. Everyone has their blind spots and may not see their own issues, but having a master like him review your work is a tremendous help. However, I must say that Mr. Vilppu's course is quite challenging, and it heavily depends on your personal efforts. I've seen some students making progress, but it seems like the pace is relatively slow.

Of course, this isn't kindergarten; it's all about your own dedication. Even if you don't put in the effort, Mr. Vilppu won't push you to do your assignments. In the final stretch of the course, many students who were submitting assignments disappeared, leaving only me and another classmate still consistently handing in assignments. I feel sorry for those who dropped out.

Since I'm in China, participating in this course has been quite challenging. I couldn't even make the payment due to a lack of available payment channels. Thanks to my cousin in Canada, I was able to enroll, and I am deeply grateful to him for his support.

Lastly, I hope the website can support Alipay for payments in the future. Paying in USD through other channels is very difficult for us.

Glenn Vilppu makes you feel you belong in his art class no matter your skill level from beginner to advanced. His critiques are invaluable because each student is given a personal evaluation on how to improve their submitted artwork every week during the course. I am a retired nurse and I am just beginning my art journey. I have much to learn and would not hesitate to retake the class. Do take the landscape drawing course and enjoy the class!

As a professional illustrator and passionate artist I highly recommend studying with Glenn. Choose the subject which is most interesting to you and start from there. Over the years I have attended Figure Drawing One and Two, Composition One and Two, Head Drawing, Head Painting, Anatomy and most recently Animal Drawing Part One. Some of these several times. All of Glenn’s lessons and critiques helped me to improve my drawing and painting skills with the tools he provides. His videocritiques with comments and recommendations are very important for me to improve my skills.
After more than ten years of studying with Glenn my toolbox of Vilppu drawing tools (which I use without rules) is still growing and I cherish every part of it. I use what I have learned every day and it is a pleasure to have it because I love to draw from imagination.
Glenn's courses have helped improve my drawing skills in many ways. I have achieved goals that I dreamed of and there are more on my list which I can tackle with my improved skills. Thank you Glenn.

In Essentials class I've learned the fundamentals of drawing. It was really important for me to develop my skills. It opened my eyes to see art in everything, and It helped me to head the right direction. Before Figure 1 class I had no idea how to draw a human figure. I've learned about movement, about the effect of each line on the drawing, about how to draw a tridimensional form, how to feel where each part is placed in space, how to observe shadow and light. Having Glenn's critiques on my assingments was also really helpful for my learning process and development.

This is my fourth class with Glenn Vilppu. All have been amazing. My drawing skills have steadily increased since I started. This class has been really helpful. My ability to draw heads and faces has definitely improved. Glenn is am amazing teacher and I so appreciate that I am able to study and learn under his guidance.

I took the live, in-person, Rome(Italy) 7-day Workshop, where Glenn taught a LOT of drawing topics. Part of the workshop was Figure 1, so here is my review.

Like all of education, the same is true in drawing: there is no match to a live, in-person, drawing study…and in this case, especially with Glenn as a teacher who is super inspirational and Also one who also knows when, where and how to provide direction.

I explain bellow, providing examples..

First of all I have to say this:
I went into the course as a beginner. At the end of the workshop, after being affected by the drawing energy and aura of the intensive drawing course that it was, I was able to at least draw 1 good gesture drawing in the Vilppu way. Basically, Glenn helped me reach a height in my drawing skill in such a small duration of time which I never could have achieved on my own. Of course, that skill faded away very soon after the course had finished 😆...as it happens with these things…but Glenn’s words stayed with me and over the years, as I kept practicing and as my drawing awareness was improving, I was able to understand his teachings...

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So, Glenn drew a few sketches on my sketchbook during the workshop.

He was SO playful with them...with the lines....and the way he was talking about the process!

and I was so lost!!

I was like a hoarder having all my stuff thrown into a very small closet!

In my brain, as well as my sketches, everything was crammed together in a tight space!!!

in my head: “what?!how does he just draw the lines like that?!?”

and Glenn was just smiling and being very playful with them...

then he must have seen my face and immediately realized I am not “there” yet 😄😄

..so he just moved on..

..but whenever he came back, he was the same!! Playful with the lines..with the process!

And because of the above, It was a while later when realized, one of Glenn’s most important teachings: ”Do not Copy. Analyse.”

That you can only be Playful in analysis and not in copying! And because of that, in drawing, analysis is not paralysis! copying is paralysis! And analysis is freedom!!

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At another point during the workshop, I couldn’t grasp some overlapping, going on, between the thorax and the pelvis, at the flank pad area. So, after a couple of days went by and because I wasn’t getting it, Glenn decided to help me by drawing, 1 simple small line, at the exact right second for me – which changed EVERYTHING about how I was looking at the figure.

He almost drew it hesitantly, but I wasn't going anywhere without it😂

Glenn realized it and I am so lucky and thankful of that.

Knowing myself, it would have taken me a few years to overcome that issue...

and there were many more moments like that…and many more answers Glenn gave us during the workshop, which are still maturing in my brain..

Hands down, best drawing experience in my life and Best way I could have taken Figure 1.

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Lastly, Glenn is a Great storyteller!!! He used storytelling combined with drawing, to help me understand a couple of concepts!

Bless you Both Glenn and Eleanor!

I really enjoyed this head painting session. Starting with the lessons outlining facets of the face, to color mixing and preparing the painting ground ..The instruction provided builds the portrait from the skull up. Each weeks lesson explores color and techniques for differing effects in the portrait . Glenn’s weekly critique of painting homework encapsulates what is good and discusses possible directions for the artist to work toward.
I am amazed at how detailed Glenn’s comments and instructions to submitted questions for consideration are too. Toward the end of the session Glenn shared some of his current painting and discussed his own evolution of work.. He really exemplifies what he is teaching. Working from the imagination with tools let’s the artist work become realized .

This course teaches us how to study drawings and paintings from many artists that influenced Glenn. The more we study them, the more we appreciate their craft.

As we put into practice what we've learned, we become aware of the high amount of ingredients the old masters stirred together to produce a delightful soup.

With Glenn's precious guidance, we manage to cook a somewhat more diluted version of it. We get motivated to practice more and more. As time passes, his teachings slowly sink in, and we end up being more skillful at communicating the beauties in life.

I feel really grateful to be a student of Vilppu Academy!

I am a longtime working artist in the animation industry and I have taken many classes with Glenn. I have recently completed my 2nd round of Landscape Drawing classes, which covered many techniques, methods and history of the art. My artwork has improved greatly and I look forward to more classes with Glenn in the future.

Personalized guidance and so much wisdom! This class I amazing!