Drawing Classes in Dubai
Structured drawing curriculum for ages 6 and up, pencil, charcoal, ink, portraiture and perspective. Taught by working fine artists at our Karama studio, since 1997.
Learn to draw, properly
Most drawing classes in Dubai are either one-off workshop experiences or colour-with-markers sessions marketed as “art”. Ours are neither. This is a proper, progressive curriculum, the kind of training you’d get at a serious art school, delivered by working fine artists and adapted for students aged 6 through adult.
Whether your child is building a portfolio for a creative high-school programme, you’re an adult finally giving yourself permission to draw, or you want to learn portraiture well enough to gift a family piece, this class meets you where you are and takes you somewhere real.
Why Melody Makers for drawing
- Working fine artists, not generalist tutors. Our Arts & Crafts department is led by Madhusudhan P.K., a professional artist with 15+ years at Melody Makers whose own work spans pencil, charcoal, watercolour, acrylics, oil and Indian ink.
- Small classes (max 6 students). Every student gets real time at the easel with the teacher. One-to-one private sessions are available for portfolio work and exam pieces.
- Portfolio-ready outcomes. Students apply successfully to IB Visual Arts, UK GCSE / A-Level art, and Western art-school foundations off the back of work they produced here.
- All materials included. Pencils, sketchpads, charcoal, erasers, blending stumps, fine-liners are all provided. You bring yourself.
- In-house exhibitions. Student work is regularly displayed in our centre exhibitions, building real confidence and a sense of audience.
- Karama studio fees. Because we have been at the same Karama address since 1997, our fees are meaningfully lower than most newer studios in Jumeirah, Downtown or JLT. From AED 119/month.
Meet your drawing instructor, explore painting classes, or book a free trial lesson.
What you'll learn
- Line quality, control and confident mark-making
- Tonal shading, pencil grades, cross-hatching, blending
- Observational drawing (still life, natural forms, objects from life)
- Perspective, one-point, two-point and atmospheric depth
- Proportion and gesture drawing
- Portraiture, facial anatomy, expression, likeness
- Charcoal, graphite, pen-and-ink and coloured-pencil techniques
- Sketchbook habits, keeping a daily visual journal
- Composition, rule of thirds, focal point, visual weight
- Introduction to digital drawing (iPad / Procreate) on request
Who these classes are for
Kids
Ages 6–11
Builds hand-eye coordination, patience and visual confidence, skills that translate far beyond art. Observational drawing alongside imaginative projects.
Teens
Ages 12–17
Serious technical training. Perfect for students working on portfolios for IB Visual Arts, UK GCSE art, or school-application art folios.
Adults
Ages 18+
Adult beginners welcome. Tailored pacing, learn portraiture, landscape, or prep a body of work for a personal creative project.
How Much Do Drawing Classes Cost?
Why we can price below the Dubai average
- ·Same Karama location since 1997. Rent was locked in decades before Dubai's commercial property boom. Most new studios in Jumeirah, JLT or Business Bay pay 5-10x our rate and pass that cost to students.
- ·Family-run, not VC-backed. No investor return targets to hit, no middle-management layer. The savings go back into keeping lessons affordable for UAE families.
- ·Small class sizes by default, not as an upsell. You get personal attention at the group rate — not a crowded class with a premium 1:1 tier gating the real teaching.
- ·No hidden fees. No enrolment fee, no recital fee, no annual membership. Pay month-to-month. Exam fees only if you choose to sit Trinity or ABGMVM.
See our 2026 Dubai music lesson price guide for a full breakdown of what studios across Dubai charge.
What art students are saying
My son Kavish has been learning piano at Makers Fine Arts Center for over a year, and our experience has been truly wonderful. His teacher, Ms. Thanusha, is incredibly caring and patient, and she nurtures each student with genuine love and dedication. Her teaching style is engag…
Antima Varma
May 2026
Learning how to play the drums has always been a dream of mine . I started 4 years ago knowing basically nothing, and over time it’s become something I genuinely enjoy and look forward to. A big shoutout to Chris Sir, who’s been there with me since day one. He’s always been super…
Nishka Shetty
May 2026
I’ve completed both my practical violin and theory exams up to Grade 8 at Melody Makers, and I also took their art and piano classes. I’m grateful for the dedication shown by everyone working there over the more than ten years I attended. Deepish who taught me the violin, Denver…
Nat Mat
Apr 2026
I have been learning guitar under Kenneth Sir at Melody Makers for 6 years, and I have genuinely developed a passion for music under him. I started doing guitar randomly,only selecting the instrument because I didn't want to do keyboard, and yet Kenneth Sir's devotion to the art…
Madhanesh Manikandan
Apr 2026
Melody Makers has been an incredible part of our son’s musical journey. He started drum lessons here as a toddler, and teaching such young children takes a rare combination of patience, skill, and genuine passion. We were very fortunate to have Kenneth Sir as his teacher. Kenneth…
Jossie Mendonca
Apr 2026
I joined Melody Makers as a child, initially for keyboards. At the time, I hadn’t fully developed my love for music, but I had an excellent instructor who built a strong foundation (shoutout to Mr June, I can still play Mary Had a Little Lamb and Jingle Bells years later). Over…
Joann
Apr 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Related art programmes
Last updated: 25 April 2026
Start drawing this week
Book a free 30-minute trial lesson at our Karama studio. No commitment, no payment required.