Leonardo was learning to be an artist , so he had to learn drawing , painting , sculpting and model making . While he was at the workshop , he was able to learn all sorts of other useful skills : chemistry , metallurgy , metal working , plaster casting , leather working , mechanics and carpentry . Leonardo would have been exposed to both theoretical training and a vast range of technical skills including drafting , chemistry , metallurgy , metal working , plaster casting , leather working , mechanics and carpentry as well as the artistic skills of drawing , painting , sculpting and modelling .