• Share Basic pencil for free with others, at home, school or wherever
  • Choose a topic from one of the levels that interests you or use the search function
  • Each chapter and loose image can be downloaded and printed
  • Basic pencil can be both hobby, preparation for the academy and additional lessons for teachers
  • Do you have a question about a lesson? Send an email to info@basispotlood.nl

The idea behind these lessons:
I strive for lessons that are communicative and introduce you to subjects from the world of drawing, from masterpieces of art history to imaginative illustrations and comics. Drawing lessons and art appreciation in one! Of course, some of us, young or old, have more talent than others (just like with sports, language, math, music, DIY, etc.), but with good examples and solid exercises, everyone who wants to can learn something concrete and get satisfaction from it at any level. By limiting myself to pencil as the basic material, the emphasis is on visual communication rather than materials and techniques. Of course, there is nothing wrong with using other materials than a ‘basic pencil’ for my lessons. Many thanks to the designers of Hollands lof Haarlem who design this website so beautifully.

 The three levels
Basispotlood.nl is not a strict drawing method with a prescribed order. The three levels do have a slightly increasing difficulty scale: Level 1 focuses on flat shapes. Level 2 focuses on composition and the suggestion of 3D/plasticity. In level 3, perspective plays a more important role.

Materials
Standard size drawing paper (eg A4/A3), a nice drawing pencil (2B), a good eraser and a sharpener. Other materials are fine but not necessary. Digital drawing (e.g. on an iPad) is also a possibility

About the author
Rogier van der Erve (1953) graduated from the Rietveld Academy Amsterdam in 1991, specializing in drawing and free graphics. In 1993 he obtained his first degree in drawing/art history at the HKU. Since that time he has worked as an art teacher for 20 years with children in the upper years of an elementary school and up to 2025 as an art teacher in secondary education exam classes havo/vwo in Rotterdam.