San Francisco Drawing Group

Upcoming Events

Foundations of Portraiture – Working with Chiaroscuro

Thursday 23 April

Richmond District - 5:30pm - 2.0 Hours

Suzanne Cowan

This informal but focused session is designed to provide further practice in portrait drawing. Before copying features and attempting to create likeness, we will start with simplified forms and volumes to better understand how light affects the planes of the human face. Beginners and intermediate artists welcome. This session is fun, creative and non-competitive.

book now

$49

Portrait Drawing Meetup

Sunday 10 May

South San Francisco Library - 2pm - 2.0 Hours

Cristian Garcia

In this workshop, we will learn how to draw a portrait in proportion and capture the personality of the subject. Join other drawing enthusiasts for a supportive and fun session.

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$49

Other Nearby Groups

How to Find Pictures

Sunday 26 April

Embarcadero - 10:30am - 3.0 Hours

San Francisco Photography Group

Jerry Downs

Somewhere on your phone or in your photo files, you have a picture that you think is just wonderful. You already know what a good picture looks like, but you might not know all the things that made it a good picture. This class is designed to greatly increase the odds of you getting great pictures.

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$98 5 places left

Street Photography

Saturday 09 May

Embarcadero - 10:30am - 3.0 Hours

San Francisco Photography Group

Jerry Downs

For many photographers, street photography is the holy grail of photography. We'll look at being invisible and catching the action without anyone seeing you. And we will, definitely, take advantage of the license photography gives us to walk up to complete strangers and not have the person or yourself feel strange about it. We'll work on giving you the mental muscles you need to see and capture the great image.

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$98 5 places left

Portrait Photography Meetup

Sunday 24 May

Embarcadero - 10:30am - 2 Hours

San Francisco Photography Group

Jerry Downs

For many people, having their photo taken can feel intimidating. One of the most effective ways to help them feel at ease is by giving clear, simple direction.

There are dozens of practical techniques a photographer can use to create comfort and connection in the moment the image is made. When a person feels relaxed and confident, their natural beauty comes through effortlessly.

In this session, we'll explore and practice that magic, learning how to guide, engage, and create portraits that feel genuine and alive.

book now

$49

Nature Photography Meetup

Saturday 06 June

Golden Gate Park - 10:30am - 2 Hours

San Francisco Photography Group

Jerry Downs

Join us for a nature photography meetup in one of the largest and most beautiful municipal parks in the world. Golden Gate Park offers an extraordinary range of photographic opportunities—from wooded trails and open meadows to lakes, gardens, and diverse wildlife habitats.

This meetup is suitable for photographers of all levels who want to refine their observational skills while experiencing the remarkable natural diversity of Golden Gate Park.

book now

$49

Come along to our meetups to improve your drawing in a relaxed and social atmosphere and under the guidance of a professional instructor. Complete beginners to experienced artists all welcome.

Our 2 hour meetups are held in a different location each time, usually outdoors.

Bring your own materials. If you are a complete beginner all you need to start drawing pad and some pencils, which can be easily obtained online or from your nearest art supplies store.

Who can attend? Open to all skill levels, from beginners to experienced artists. The instructor is there to help everyone.

The meeting point and full details for the day are sent in the booking confirmation email to the email address you provide at time of booking.

Join the San Francisco Drawing Group on Facebook to share your art and enjoy the art of other locals.

liked the class

5/5

Seema

2026-02-09

Teacher was great!

5/5

Steve

2026-01-12

Good event.

4/5

Pete

2026-01-12

Suzanne Cowan

I have been drawing since I was barely old enough to clutch a crayon, and began painting as a young child. Although I do not have an "art school" diploma, I have taken art courses nearly every year throughout my life, and participate actively in three to four regularly scheduled drawing and painting groups in San Francisco. I mainly create representational works using pastel, charcoal , ink and watercolor, but switch to acrylics when doing abstract painting. When not making art, I love looking at it -- In museums, galleries and open studios everywhere I go!

Suzanne Cowan is available for private bookings

Available weekdays except Tuesday and Friday, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturdays from 1:00 to 6:00 PM

create a private booking

Cristian Garcia

Cristian Garcia is an artist and creative storyteller with a passion for bringing ideas to life through drawing and painting. Known for his expressive animal portraits and imaginative hybrid creations, Cristian blends technical skill with a playful, exploratory approach to art.

With a background in both structured study and self-driven creativity, he believes art should feel accessible, fun, and personal, not intimidating. His classes are designed to be relaxed, encouraging spaces where students of all skill levels can experiment, build confidence, and develop their own unique style. Whether you're picking up a pencil for the first time or looking to refine your craft, Cristian's goal is simple, help you enjoy the process and leave inspired to keep creating.