Draw Your Favorite Fictional Characters

This group meets on an ongoing basis on a recurring 4-week cycle. Each 4-week cycle will build from the first stages of planning and sketching, to the final project. We will complete the 4-week cycle each month, and on months that have 5 weeks, the last week of the month there will be no group meeting. 


This group will follow the same schedule each month and students will select their own characters to draw. Therefore, there is no set curriculum outline. The group meeting format each week will be as follows:

5 minutes-Student check in and greeting.

10 minutes-Introduce/review goal for the week (ie: week 1 Character selection and planning) and answering questions/giving tips for success in meeting the goal of the week.

30 minutes-Students work on goal for the week with support and feedback as needed.

5 minutes-Final tips, homework, and goodbyes.


This format will be followed for each group meeting and topics or curriculum will not be outlined in advance. The 4 week schedule will build each month on the following schedule:

Week 1: Character selection and planning

Bring 1-5 references to the first group meeting of the month

Identify the key features and expressions that make this character unique and decide how best to capture those features.

Scale reference to size if needed and choose a sketching strategy.

Work on sketching from the reference (this can be continued throughout the week if it is not completed during the group meeting).


Week 2: Identify and preserve highlights/plan colors

Apply strategies for preserving highlights.

Identify key colors in the drawing and select potential color matches.

Create a swatch with the selected colors and choose the best color matches.

Blend color combinations to identify which colors and color orders best achieve the desired outcome, (may be continued throughout the week if it is not competed during the group meeting).


Week 3: Building color 
(or repeat week 1 if the first one has been completed)

Use the colors and layering selections from the previous week to begin adding color to the sketch.

Apply layering and blending strategies to achieve desired results.


Week 4: Final touches/sharing
(or repeat week 2 if the first character was completed during previous weeks)

Students will have time to add finishing touches to their work such as shading, additional highlights, background details, or fine lining to their work.

Students will have the opportunity to share their work with the group and celebrate their accomplishments.