The 2026 Artist Roadmap:
A structured core curriculum to master figurative drawing.
From Old Masters to Living Form
Meet Your Mentor:
Csaba Tibor Palotas
Csaba is a painter, tattoo artist, and a lifelong student of the human form. His personal work centers on spirituality and philosophy, using the body to express the deeper human experience.
With no formal background in art education, Csaba taught himself by rigorously deconstructing the techniques of the Old Masters and committing to disciplined daily practice. Because he navigated this challenging path alone, he deeply understands the hurdles beginners face and how to overcome them.
He believes art isn’t just about talent; it’s about learning to see. In his courses, he goes beyond mere copying to teach the underlying structure, light, and mechanics beneath the skin. As the Lead Tutor and Organizer of Life Drawing MK, his goal is to bring structured, classical art education to the Milton Keynes community, giving students of all levels the tools to express their own artistic vision.
The Learning Experience
Historic Venue
All sessions are held in the inspiring architecture of the Woolstone Community Centre Church, providing high ceilings and beautiful light.
Woolstone Community Centre Church, Mill Ln, Woolstone, Milton Keynes MK15 0AJ
Materials & Student Kit
We provide: Easels, boards, newsprint, vine charcoal, 8B pencils, a charcoal pencil Pierre Noir 1710, and handouts.
Please bring: Your own precision tools (kneadable & standard erasers) and harder pencils (H, 2H, and mechanical/clutch) for detailed work.
The Atmosphere
A supportive, ego-free environment designed for deep work. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, the focus is on rigorous learning and artistic growth.
2026 Curriculum Breakdown
JAN - FEB: The Foundation (Old Masters)
Term 1: 2D Study
We start here. Why? Because copying the Masters teaches you the vocabulary of art before you face the complexity of a live model.
Mondays 19:00
Jan 19 - Feb 16
Price: £95
MAR - APR: Line quality (Line&Gesture)
Term 2: Life Drawing Intro
Now we apply those lessons to life. Learn to see the 'action' of the pose before you get bogged down in detail.
Mondays 19:00
Mar 2 - Mar 30
Price: £115
APR - JUN: The Structure (Anatomy)
Term 3: Mechanics
What lies beneath? We study the skeleton and major muscle groups so your drawings have internal logic.
Mondays 19:00
Apr 20 - Jun 1
Price: £115
JUN - JUL: The Form (Rendering)
Term 4: Light & Shadow
The final polish. Learn how light falls on the form to create 3D volume and depth.
Mondays 19:00
Jun 8 - Jul 6
Price: £115
Commit to the Full Season. Build a Skill That Lasts.
Guaranteed Seat
Our classes are small (Max 8 students). The Mastery Pass secures your easel for all 4 terms instantly
The Complete Journey
The curriculum works best when taken as a whole. You won't just 'attend classes'—you will walk away with a skill-set.
Includes 4 x Free Drop-in Sessions
(Value £52)
Mastery requires repetition. Your pass includes 4 tickets to any of our Sunday untutored sessions, giving you the studio time to practice what you learned in class.
A Shared Journey
Learning is better together. You will spend the year with the same small group of artists. You’ll share struggles, celebrate breakthroughs, and grow as a team in a friendly, social atmosphere.
Learning to draw is like learning a language. You can pck up a few phrases here and there, but true fluency comes from immersion and structure.
By committing to the full 2026 Curriculum, you stop jumping between random tutorials and disconnected workshops. You enter a logical, step-by-step system where every week builds on the last, taking you from January’s basics to June’s mastery.
You won’t just leave with a portfolio of drawings; you will leave with a new way of seeing the world.
- The "Compound Effect": Skills from Term 1 (Construction) make Term 3 (Anatomy) easier.
- Consistent Mentorship: Csaba gets to know your specific struggles and guides your growth over the full season.
- The Mastery Pass: Save money and commit to your art by booking the complete season in advance.
THE CURRICULUM:
Term 1: Old Masters (Jan) ➞ Term 2: Line & Gesture (Mar) ➞ Term 3: Anatomy (Apr) ➞ Term 4: Rendering (Jun)
The Value Breakdown
If booked separately:
4 x Academic Terms: £440
4 x Drop-in Sessions: £52
Total Value: £492
Your Price: £375
(You save £117)
That brings the cost down to just £15.60 per session.
JAN - FEB:
The Foundation
(Old Masters)
Term 1: Studying greatness
- Start Date: Jan 19 - Feb 16
- Duration: Mondays 19:00 -21:00 Five weeks,
- Cost: £95
Why start here? Before you tackle the complexity of a live model, learn from the giants. In this module, we study the works of Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Albrecht Dürer, and Peter Paul Rubens.
What you will do: You aren't just tracing; you are analyzing how the Masters solved problems. We focus on their line quality, shading logic, and anatomy hacks, thinking and communication through their lines.
The Result: You will build massive confidence and hand-control. By the end, you’ll have a set of professional techniques ready to use in the Life Drawing room.
Course Highlights
The Blueprint
The Method: We aren’t just copying; we are learning a specific construction method. You will learn an approach that works for everything from 2-minute sketches to 3-hour detailed studies.
Inside-Out: Learn to build the figure structurally rather than just outlining contours. We focus on drawing what is underneath first.
Math vs. Organic: We explore the balance between the mathematical (proportions, angles, logic) and the organic (curves, flow, nature). You will learn to switch between these two mindsets.
Preparation: This is the testing ground. We practice the principles here so you are ready for the live model in Term 2.
Class Structure:
Semi-Private Coaching: 1-on-1 feedback from Csaba (Max 8 students).
Weekly Handouts: Printed handouts for you to take away
Optional Homework: Specific copying tasks to refine your hand control.
MAR - APR:
Line quality (Line&Gesture)
Term 2: Life Drawing Intro
- Start Date: Mar 2 - Mar 30
- Duration: Mondays 19:00 -21:00 Five weeks,
- Cost: £115
Stop drawing stiff figures. This module is about capturing energy. Working from a live nude model, we move away from details and focus on the "Action."
What you will do: You will learn to see the rhythm of a pose instantly. We practice short, dynamic sketches to get you drawing with your whole arm, not just your wrist.
The Result: You will stop worrying about "making mistakes" and start capturing the life and movement of the human form. This is the most freeing part of the year.
Course Highlights
The Method in Action
From 2D to Life: We take the “Old Masters Method” and apply it to a living human. This is where theory meets reality.
Design Principles: Drawing is design. We focus on Rhythm, Variation, and Contrast. You will learn how to use line weight to guide the viewer’s eye.
Line Quality: Learn to be decisive. We practice capturing the “Gesture” (the energy) first, then refining it.
The Anchor Points: We don’t just guess; we use Anatomical Landmarks. You will learn to spot the bones and angles that hold the pose together.
Class Structure:
Semi-Private Coaching: 1-on-1 feedback from Csaba (Max 8 students).
Weekly Handouts: Cheat sheets on gesture lines and proportions.
Optional Homework: Sketching assignments to keep you loose between classes.
APR - JUN:
The Structure (Anatomy)
Level 3: Mechanics
- Start Date: Apr 20 - Jun 1 - (Bank Holidays Excluded)
- Duration: Mondays 19:00 -21:00 Five weeks,
- Cost: £115
Drawing what you see is good; knowing what you see is better. To make a figure look believable, you need to understand the machine underneath the skin.
What you will do: We strip it back to the basics: The Skeleton and the Major Muscle Groups. Using a 3D models to rotate and understand muscles, and a live model, we map out where muscles attach and how they move.
The Result: Your drawings will gain weight and logic. You won't just be guessing where a shadow goes; you’ll know why it goes there. No complex Latin names—just practical artist's anatomy.
Course Highlights
The Mechanics
Hybrid Study: We use both a detailed 3D Model (skeleton/ecorche) and the Live Model side-by-side. You see the theory, then you see the reality.
The Big 12: We focus on the 12 Major Muscle Groups. You will learn their Names, Origins (where they start), and Insertions (where they end).
Identification: It’s not just memory games. We train your eye to spot these muscles on the live model, understanding how they change shape when the body moves.
Structure: This is the bridge between a stick figure and a realistic human.
Class Structure:
Semi-Private Coaching: 1-on-1 feedback from Csaba (Max 8 students).
Weekly Handouts
Optional Homework: Muscle tracing and construction exercises.
JUN - JUL:
The Form (Rendering)
Level 4: Light & Shadow
- Start Date: Jun 8 - Jul 6
- Duration: Mondays 19:00 -21:00 Five weeks,
- Cost: £115
Make it pop off the page. Now that you have the Line and the Structure, it’s time to add the Atmosphere. This module is all about Light, Shadow, and Volume.
What you will do: We slow down. With longer poses, you will learn how to build up tone using graphite and charcoal. We cover edge control (hard vs. soft edges) and how light wraps around a form.
The Result: You will move from simple sketches to fully finished, three-dimensional drawings that look professional. This is where your style really starts to shine.
Course Highlights
The Anatomy of Light
Light Logic: We study the “Anatomy of Light and Shadow.” You will learn the physics of how light hits a sphere and how to apply that to the body.
The Toolkit: Master the two essential techniques: Cross-Hatching (for texture and energy) and Blending (for smooth transitions).
Volume: We stop thinking in lines and start thinking in “Form.” You will learn to make the figure look solid and three-dimensional.
The Finish: This term brings it all together—Structure, Anatomy, and Light—into a polished, professional final piece.
Class Structure:
Semi-Private Coaching: 1-on-1 feedback from Csaba (Max 8 students).
Weekly Handouts: Guides on value scales and shading techniques.
Optional Homework: Shading studies to practice your light logic.
