Introduction to Illustration
A 4-Week PIE Basic Course
- Multi-day Course
- Beginner
- PIE Basel
- 4 × 2.5 hours
Up to 20% discount for Members
Absolutely! Here’s your PIE-style description for your 4-week Introduction to Illustration Course, positioning it as visual storytelling for all styles — comics, manga, character design, or personal expression.
Every drawing tells a story.
In this 4-week course, you’ll dive into the art of illustration — the playful and powerful world of visual storytelling.
Whether you love comics, graphic novels, manga, zines, or just want to bring your ideas and characters to life, this course gives you the foundation to start telling stories through your art.
We’ll explore the basics of character design, composition, dynamic poses, and simple inking and shading techniques. You’ll learn how to build images that speak without words — whether you’re illustrating a single scene or starting your own visual universe.
This isn’t about getting it “perfect” — it’s about getting it out of your head and onto the page.
✏️ What to Expect
- Step-by-step weekly guidance from a professional illustrator
- Live demos and examples from comics, manga & more
- Time to practise character poses, scenes & storytelling techniques
- A relaxed space to develop your personal style and ideas
🧠 What You’ll Learn
- Character creation basics (faces, bodies, expressions)
- Poses and movement for dynamic drawings
- Simple composition and layout tricks
- Inking, shading, and linework techniques
- How to tell stories through images — with or without words
🎁 What’s Included
We provide everything you need:
- Paper, pencils, pens, markers & illustration tools
- Full use of our professional studio and resources
Just bring your ideas — and let’s bring them to life.
🤔 Is This Course Right for Me?
Yes — if you’ve ever dreamed of telling stories with your art.
Perfect for beginners or hobby creatives who want to explore illustration, comics, manga, or personal projects — no experience required, just imagination.
🥂 First Class Vibes: Sips, Snacks & Hellos
We like to kick things off on a warm and social note. During the first class, we’ll take a little extra time to get to know each other — and we’ll toast to the beginning of your creative journey with a welcome drink. Choose from a soft drink, hot drink, wine, prosecco, beer — or our Cocktail of the Week.
🍴 Feeling peckish?
Our Creative Café offers a delicious à la carte menu during class sessions — think wraps, salad bowls, finger foods and snacks. Perfect fuel while your masterpiece dries.
📦 A Few More Things to Know
- Please arrive 15 minutes early to settle in and connect with your classmates
- We’ll safely store your artwork between sessions and package it beautifully at the end
- Cancellations: Tickets are transferable but non-refundable within 36 hours. You can reschedule your spot up to 72 hours before the first class
- Keep practicing! Our Studio Classes are the perfect way to keep that brush moving
Introduction to Illustration
A 4-Week PIE Basic Course
- Multi-day Course
- Beginner
- PIE Zürich
- 4 × 2.5 hours
Up to 20% discount for Members
Every drawing tells a story.
In this 4-week course, you’ll dive into the art of illustration — the playful and powerful world of visual storytelling.
Whether you love comics, graphic novels, manga, zines, or just want to bring your ideas and characters to life, this course gives you the foundation to start telling stories through your art.
We’ll explore the basics of character design, composition, dynamic poses, and simple inking and shading techniques. You’ll learn how to build images that speak without words — whether you’re illustrating a single scene or starting your own visual universe.
This isn’t about getting it “perfect” — it’s about getting it out of your head and onto the page.
✏️ What to Expect
- Step-by-step weekly guidance from a professional illustrator
- Live demos and examples from comics, manga & more
- Time to practise character poses, scenes & storytelling techniques
- A relaxed space to develop your personal style and ideas
🧠 What You’ll Learn
- Character creation basics (faces, bodies, expressions)
- Poses and movement for dynamic drawings
- Simple composition and layout tricks
- Inking, shading, and linework techniques
- How to tell stories through images — with or without words
🎁 What’s Included
We provide everything you need:
- Paper, pencils, pens, markers & illustration tools
- Full use of our professional studio and resources
Just bring your ideas — and let’s bring them to life.
🤔 Is This Course Right for Me?
Yes — if you’ve ever dreamed of telling stories with your art.
Perfect for beginners or hobby creatives who want to explore illustration, comics, manga, or personal projects — no experience required, just imagination.
🥂 First Class Vibes: Sips, Snacks & Hellos
We like to kick things off on a warm and social note. During the first class, we’ll take a little extra time to get to know each other — and we’ll toast to the beginning of your creative journey with a welcome drink. Choose from a soft drink, hot drink, wine, prosecco, beer — or our Cocktail of the Week.
🍴 Feeling peckish?
Our Creative Café offers a delicious à la carte menu during class sessions — think wraps, salad bowls, finger foods and snacks. Perfect fuel while your masterpiece dries.
📦 A Few More Things to Know
- Please arrive 15 minutes early to settle in and connect with your classmates
- We’ll safely store your artwork between sessions and package it beautifully at the end
- Cancellations: Tickets are transferable but non-refundable within 36 hours. You can reschedule your spot up to 72 hours before the first class
- Keep practicing! Our Studio Classes are the perfect way to keep that brush moving
Why take an urban sketching course at Paint It Easy in Zurich?
Learn how urban sketching works in a relaxed and inspiring environment. No dry sketching, but real sketching in the centre of Zurich - with cool people and in a great atmosphere. Our courses are aimed at anyone who wants to walk through the city with open eyes, discover motifs and capture them creatively. Perfect for beginners as well as advanced or professional sketchers.
In any case. Urban sketching is for everyone - whether you already have experience or just want to try it out.
Just yourself and your desire to observe and draw - we'll provide the right materials.
With pleasure. Sketching together is even more fun.
Our offers in Zurich
Forget boring studio atmosphere, dry theory and rigid drawing - we're going outside. Our urban sketching courses offer you a creative break in the centre of Zurich's city life. Whether it's a cosy café, a lively square or a hidden house - we'll show you how to capture the atmosphere with pen and paint. Learning urban sketching has never been so easy and inspiring.
events
workshops
Courses lasting several days
PIE Creative Café
Creativity with lots of fun and a pencil
We are not a dull and normal painting school - we are a colourful and somewhat crazy team of artists who share their passion for urban sketching in a relaxed, creative environment. We motivate you to try out new techniques, boldly draw lines and discover your surroundings from an artistic perspective. Let's get started right away.
- Peter
- Pati
- Eszti
- Coco
- +31Zum Team
Urban sketching courses in Zurich
Our courses take place in the most beautiful places in Zurich - perfect for learning urban sketching on the spot. Discover new techniques, exchange ideas with like-minded people and capture urban life in your own way with quick sketches. Whether alone or in a group - we have the right format for you.
Contact us
Arrival
Bederstrasse 94
8002 Zurich
Plan your journey
FAQs - Everything you need to know about urban sketching
Just get started! We'll show you how to create expressive sketches with just a few lines and shades.
Urban sketching means spontaneously sketching the surroundings on location - whether in a street café, by the river or in front of impressive architecture. It's about expression and atmosphere, not perfection.
A handy sketchbook with sturdy paper that you can take with you wherever you go is best.
Smooth, hard-wearing paper that absorbs both fineliner and watercolour paints well.
The Spanish draughtsman Gabriel Campanario started the urban sketching movement - today there are sketching communities all over the world.

«One of the best places in the city to switch off with creative projects, good coffee and a warm atmosphere. The studio offers unique courses and workshops - with a great team that combines knowledge with fun.»
Salony Roongta

«The evenings in the PIE Studio are always wonderful. A place where you can give free rein to your creativity and connect with like-minded people. Don't miss the chance - become part of the community!»
Laura Company

«A great place to get a little happiness boost and be creative! Wonderful people and a great atmosphere - definitely worth a visit. I've already done several drawing and painting courses in the studio and I'm really pleased that there's now a café too!»
Valentijn Broeken

«Paint It Easy is my creative feel-good place in Zurich. Whether painting courses, open studios or brunch & paint - everything is just right here. Great team, relaxed atmosphere and always new ideas to try out!»
Ally Z

«We absolutely loved the Creative Café - delicious food, a relaxed atmosphere and the creative freedom to just get started spontaneously. We painted ceramics, got inspired and immediately wanted to try lino printing on our next visit!»
Janiza Ouarab
More PIE workshops & courses
Your Creative Escape
Step away from the rush, pick up a brush, and lose track of time in your own creative world.
To the event calendarYour Party Called — It Wants Paint
Celebrate with colour and chaos. Because boring parties should be illegal.
Plan your event nowMake Art — Grow As a Person
Create Something. Discover Something. Usually about yourself.
To the event calendarTeamwork Makes the Art Work
Paint outside the lines and your comfort zones — together.
Discover team events







































































































































































































































































