Open currency, time zone, and language settings

Cartooning & Drawing Step by Step

In this fun, multi-day class, students build self-confidence while improving their art skills, drawing cartoons, bodies, hands and much more, learning at their own pace in a fun, interactive environment!

Michael K Lyman

Average rating:

4.9

Number of reviews:

(34)

What's included

6 live meetings

5 hrs 30 mins in-class hours

Class Experience

For students wishing more structure, each class will explore a different theme, beginning with basic sketching. So many art books and classes focus on the technical skills of drawing; very few emphasize the most important part: the creative spirit. This class does BOTH, with humor in a non-judgemental creative safe space. By learning not to care whether their art is "good" or not, students will see a huge improvement in their skills as they build self-confidence and learn how to draw hands, the human figure, faces, expressions, perspective and much more. There is no need to "keep up" with other students, and the only requirement is an open mind and a desire to learn. Students also get access to FREE visual reference libraries to help them whenever they need it.

WEEK ONE: Sketching Basics - learn to relax and play with the lines to draw what you want
WEEK TWO: Body Basics - learn to draw bodies and characters, both realistic and cartoony, along with a variety of poses
WEEK THREE: Fun Faces - learn how to draw faces, expressions and hair to your characters
WEEK FOUR: Handy Hands - learn how to draw hands doing just about anything
WEEK FIVE: Simple Perspective - learn simple ways to draw three-dimensional objects and give depth to your drawings
WEEK SIX: Final Class Review - students get to go over any areas they need more help with 

My teaching style mixes humor with live demonstrations and helpful techniques. Students are encouraged to ask questions and provide feedback on what is working and what isn't, so the classes can be as helpful as possible. There is no set homework; students can practice the techniques they learn while outside of class. This is a fun, pressure-free environment in which students are taught not only how to draw, but how the arts can improve the quality of life.

Learning Goals

Students will learn the basics of sketching, as well as how to explore new ideas and creative concepts. Drawing complex subjects such as hands, the human figure and backgrounds will also be covered, as well as faces, expressions, shading, and inking. The works of noteworthy artists are introduced to inspire and motivate. While each week has a different theme, students have the freedom to try other subjects if they wish.

Other Details

Supply List

All students should have a relatively good quality sketchbook, drawing pencils (the #2B or #4B drawing pencils are best for sketching and drawing), and an artists' eraser, preferably one of the grey putty-like erasers sold at art supply stores.  Students wishing to learn how to use charcoal pencils should have at least one or two, along with the paper stumps used in charcoal sketching. Students are also encouraged to use their own favorite drawing tools. For students who wish to draw digitally, a computer tablet with the preferred drawing app is suggested.

External Resources

In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:

Sources

Free drawing reference images are available to students through the instructor's website, www.magnumarts.net

Michael K Lyman

Joined April, 2019

4.9

34reviews

Profile

Teacher expertise and credentials

I am a lifelong artist and art instructor with a Bachelors degree in photography and graphic design. My first graphic novel, Dark Office, has recently been published on Amazon's Comixology platform, with another one in the works. I have taught teens how to draw in summer camps, craft schools and art centers in New York, Vermont, and most recently Florida. I teach home-schooled students at local educational co-ops (now online), provided art therapy to veterans to help them overcome the traumas of post traumatic stress disorder, and I mentored incarcerated at-risk teens using the arts, teaching them how to process the emotional toxic waste their experiences have given them while helping build their self esteem. I also provide lessons in Adobe Photoshop and photography, and have created a successful online Intro To Photography course.

I have a passion for teaching and love helping others,  and love sharing my art skills with students; the arts are how I maintain good mental health and alleviate stress. I emphasize  the therapeutic benefits of drawing to all my students, something most art courses do not cover at all, but I believe is the most important part of creating art. I use humor, real-world examples and the work of other artists as a way to help students build their self esteem while having fun improving their skills.