Foundations of Realistic Drawing for Teens | A-G / VAPA Aligned for CA Charters
This class is for high schoolers who are on the A-G / VAPA track with CA homeschool charters. This art class is approved at most charters. Please DM us to verify. Learn realistic drawing, elements of art, sketching and shading techniques!
What's included
18 live meetings
16 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursHomework
Customized Commitment: Your Artistic Journey, Your Pace! We understand that every student is unique, with individual goals and aspirations. That's why our class offers a flexible time commitment, tailored to your specific needs. Whether you have an hour a week to spare or can dedicate up to an hour a day, we'll work closely with you to achieve your desired level of mastery. For the ambitious ones, we even provide optional extra credit assignments to further challenge your skills. Time commitment: 55 minutes per week in class, and some time outside of class, which varies depending on the student. Your instructor will assign homework, but since each homeschool charter school has slightly different requirements, we are happy to help you customize it to meet your goals and the requirements of your school.Assessment
Create a Stunning Portfolio: Showcase Your Artistic Talents! Throughout the course, your focus will be on creating a captivating portfolio of artwork. As you progress, you'll witness your skills evolve, and your portfolio will become a testament to your growth and dedication. This valuable collection of your best work will serve as a showcase of your artistic talents, ready to impress colleges, potential clients, or future employers. Guidance and Feedback: Elevate Your Skills with Personalized Support! Each week, our dedicated instructor will provide grades and valuable feedback on your assignments. We believe in nurturing your growth as an artist, and our instructor's insights will help you refine your techniques and elevate your skills to the next level. If you ever need assistance, bring your homework to class, and our instructor will be there to guide and support you on your artistic journey.Grading
includedClass Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
Beginner - Advanced Level
Unleash Your Artistic Potential: Master the Art of Realistic Drawing! Are you ready to take your drawing skills to extraordinary levels of realism? If you're serious about honing your abilities and achieving breathtaking results, then this class is for you! Skill level: Beginner to Advanced Whether you're a budding artist with basic skills or a seasoned creative looking to push your boundaries, this class is designed to help you master the art of drawing. Perfect for teens of any skill level, our comprehensive program will guide you towards becoming an advanced artist capable of producing stunningly lifelike artwork. We adapt the class for the students within the class to ensure it will be a good skill level for you while meeting all the standards. Partnering with Your Homeschool Charter School to Help You Earn A-G / VAPA credit! Are you a high school student who wants to earn A-G / VAPA credits through a California homeschool charter school? Look no further! Our class is specifically designed to meet the requirements of the A-G / VAPA credit, a valuable credential for students aiming to apply to any of the UC colleges. We are proud to announce that our class is approved at most homeschool charter schools in California. While we don't directly award the A-G / VAPA credit, we have established partnerships with various homeschool charter schools who grant you the credit when you successfully complete our Megapixels Art course. By enrolling in our class and working in collaboration with your homeschool charter school, you can earn this prestigious high school credit. To ensure your eligibility, please DM us on Outschool to verify that your homeschool charter school has included our class in their approved list. FAQ: Can I take this course if I'm not in a CA homeschool charter school or if I'm not trying to get A-G or VAPA credit? Absolutely! This class is for any teen who wants to learn realistic drawing. However, only students from select schools will get A-G / VAPA credit. FAQ: what type of art supplies do I need? This class puts a focus on graphite drawing, but if you have a favorite type of art supply, we can customize it, from painting to procreate. The instructor will generally demonstrate using graphite pencils. FAQ: How much time does it take to master drawing? If you're willing to invest several hours on each drawing project, this class will be a perfect fit for you, but if you have more limited time, we are happy to help customize your homework assignments. From animals to people, optical illusions, and more, you'll have the opportunity to explore a variety of subjects while meticulously perfecting your techniques. FAQ: Will I receive a letter grade? Yes, if you want a letter grade, we can provide that. For more information about this fun and transformative drawing experience, read on... Discover the Secrets of the Old Masters and Beyond! Embark on a journey through time as we delve into the world of the Old Masters of the Renaissance and other revered artists. Through a series of engaging projects, primarily focused on black-and-white graphite shading, you'll gain invaluable experience by replicating intricate masterpieces as well as drawing household items, portraits, or whatever the class votes on (as long as it's still aligned with the standards). Prepare to witness your skills skyrocket as you unlock the secrets used by professional artists! Uncover the Elements of Art and Art History! In addition to mastering realistic drawing techniques, this class covers the fundamental elements of art. You'll learn about line, shape, form, value, color, texture, and composition—essential building blocks that will enhance your artistic prowess. Moreover, we'll provide a brief overview of art history and introduce you to the exciting world of artist careers, inspiring you to pursue your passion with confidence and knowledge. Unlock Your Potential: Join Us for an 17-Week Semester! Our transformative program spans 17 weeks, providing ample time for comprehensive learning and skill development. But why stop there? For those hungry for more artistic growth, we offer an additional 17-week second semester, allowing you to continue your creative journey and reach even greater heights. Why should your teen take art at Megapixels? Here are just a few reasons… 1. Get help every step of the way! Our expert instructors help students and answer all your questions, so you never have to worry about getting stuck. 2. Receive continuous encouragement! Get valuable feedback and gentle critique from instructors. 3. You never have to worry about falling behind! We check in with learners frequently, so you never have to worry about needing to try to catch up. You can also request to have a teacher assistant (a second instructor) join your class for the following week if needed. 4. Socialize and make friends! Meet and connect with teens who share your passion for art and what we are drawing. 5. Learn cool art techniques and tricks to sketch creative and realistic pictures you will be proud of! 6. Develop character, confidence and creativity! In addition to helping you create spectacular art, we care about each learner as a whole person. We use art classes as a vehicle to partner with families to instill a love of learning, creativity, and confidence in your teen as well as character traits like empathy, encouragement, respect, and kindness. Be sure to see the Learning Goals section below for more benefits and information on how your child will learn and grow! Class Structure: 1. First few minutes of class: meet other learners, chat, and share your art if you want to 2. Class Introduction 3. Step-by-step instruction as learners follow along and draw (during this focus time, we ask that students mute their microphones). Raise your hand anytime if you need help! The instructor will ask periodically if anyone needs more time, so your learner never has to worry about falling behind! 4. Learners can show their art for encouraging feedback during checkpoints throughout the class. 5. We will do a brief social hangout at the end of class or during the coloring portion when time allows Time permitting, the instructor will also show cool coloring and/or shading techniques like layering, shading, blending, and highlighting. The type of art supplies we use is based on the requests of the learners in the class and each instructor’s areas of expertise. This is primarily a drawing class, but if students have a favorite type of art supplies, they are welcome to use it. Learners can start coloring or shading during the class and finish their artwork after class at their own pace if they want. The instructor will give lots of feedback, encouragement, and personal guidance every step of the way, so your learner never has to worry about getting stuck. Learners can use their creativity to make their artwork unique, make changes, and add cool details. The instructor will show the step-by-step process so everyone can create their masterpiece. If learners want, they can share their artwork with the class during several sharing checkpoints throughout the class, but this is not required. They can also send a DM after class to share art with their instructor, but for the greatest level of feedback, we create a safe supportive environment to share art in class if a student wishes to do that. Upcoming Drawing Subject List: Note: This list is subject to change based on what the learners in class want to draw. Feel free to send us a message if you want to know for sure what we’re drawing for the week! Here is the list of topics/projects for this 17-week flex class: Week 1: Gumball Machine Week 2: Bunny Week 3: Visual Foolery Ladder Week 4: Scrambled Mystery Grid Week 5: The Furniture Store Week 6: Upside Down Drawing Week 7: Draw the Realistic Hands Week 8: Shade the Realistic Hands Week 9 to 14: Advanced Shading Week 15: Portfolio Week 16 to 17: Elements of Art and Principles of Design Overview | Required Reading for A-G and VAPA Students Enroll today to witness your teen’s imagination take flight as they unleash their artistic potential, creating awe-inspiring works of art they'll cherish forever! Don't miss this chance to embark on an awe-inspiring artistic adventure. Enroll today and discover the exhilarating world of realistic drawing like never before!
Learning Goals
Students will learn realistic drawing techniques and how to add their own creative flair to their art. Some weeks, learners will also learn how to color or shade and to create depth in their art to make it pop. The end result will be cool drawings they will feel proud to display.
What will your child learn and grow in when they take art at Megapixels? Here are just a few…
-Become a creative genius! Did you know that studies show that kindergarteners are natural creative geniuses but lose that by the time they graduate high school? At Megapixels, we help students preserve and regain their creative genius, which gives them joy as well as an edge when they are ready to start their careers.
-Drawing skills! Learn a variety of drawing methods and discover which ones work best for you - because we are all unique. Our instructors teach a variety of drawing techniques used by professional artists, and we emphasize the methods that we have seen help our students achieve amazing results while allowing students the space they need to experiment with which methods work best for their unique learning and drawing styles.
-Character! Creating amazing art requires patience, persistence, perseverance, and a positive mindset. During class, you’ll get to exercise positive character traits, and our instructors make encouraging comments throughout class to help motivate learners to build these character skills.
-Confidence! Your instructor will give you genuine encouraging feedback to help you recognize your strengths as well as help you improve any areas where you might be struggling. You’ll develop skills you can feel confident about, learn to love yourself and your art right where you’re at, and create art you’ll feel proud to display!
-Coloring and shading techniques! Time permitting, we will color and shade some weeks, learning techniques like layering, blending, gradients, mixing, color theory, value scales, and more!
-Social skills! Instructors demonstrate how to give encouraging feedback in various forms, including the encouraging sandwich critique. Students will have opportunities to practice giving encouraging feedback to each other and to exercise their empathy. (We ask that students don’t give critiques to each other - only encouragement). Students will also interact socially with their peers, discuss common interests, and make friends with other learners from around the world.
Please keep in mind that the growth areas vary each week, so the list items above are examples of the more common things we tend to focus on. Some of these areas are lifelong pursuits, and we feel honored to be a part of your child’s growth journey. If there is a certain growth area that you’d like us to emphasize, please send a message to your instructor and we will do our best to accommodate your goals!
Other Details
Supply List
Students are encouraged to use supplies that they already own. The instructor will demonstrate using the following, but again, students do not need these exact supplies: -Printer Paper (or any type of drawing paper) -Pencil (any type) -Ruler -Ebony Pencil or 6B drawing pencil -Colored pencils or anything to add color (if desired)
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
1 teacher has a teaching certificate
District of Columbia Teaching Certificate in Music/Theater/Arts
5 teachers have a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Dordt University
Bachelor's Degree from Lynn University
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from California State University of Fullerton
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Elizabethtown College
1 teacher has an Associate's degree
Associate's Degree from Randolph Community College
Each instructor at Megapixels School of the Arts is a master of their craft and is certified to teach the Megapixels Method. This method of instruction trains students to be able to draw realistically while having the freedom to go wild with creativity and also gives them the mindset to succeed.
We are on a mission to empower kids to become lifelong learners who are confident in their creativity so they can overcome any obstacle, achieve their biggest dreams, and change the world. We facilitate an inclusive learning environment. We encourage students to not get caught up in perfectionism but rather to enjoy the process, which further unleashes creativity.
Megapixels School of the Arts is an organization of about 12 amazing teachers who are masters of their craft. If the teacher assigned to your class is not available to teach a session, one of our other teachers will take over the class that day. Only teachers trained to teach the class will become possible substitutes, and we will usually post a message on the Outschool classroom as a heads-up. If you would prefer not to attend the session with a substitute teacher, feel free to send us a message through Outschool up to a day after your class occurs so we can give you a refund. Thank you!
About the Founder of Megapixels School of the Arts:
🎨 Meg Navarro. Over the past decade, Meg has taught thousands of students to create dazzling, realistic art, to take impressive photos, and to write their first novels. In 2007, Meg founded Megapixels School of the Arts, which began as a local art school and expanded to offer online classes a few years back. Meg personally trains each teacher in the Megapixels Method, which she has tested and refined over the past decade. Meg studied art, photography, and writing while earning her BA, and is currently working on her Masters in Education. In her free time, she loves making human pyramids with her friends!
Reviews for Meg:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Meg is such a fabulous teacher! She is patient, enthusiastic, encouraging, and fun - both of my girls love taking classes with her!! - Lisa D.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My daughter (11) loves this class and is always looking forward to the next one. Her art skills improve with each class. I'm so glad she's found a class that she enjoys. She also says Teacher Meg is very patient and good with the other students. I recommend this class. - Melissa B. Meet our instructors!
Meet our instructors:
🎨 Gemma is a professional artist who creates and sells artworks in resin, acrylic, watercolor and ink mediums. She was born in England but lived most of her life in the great state of Michigan. She's a movie buff and a huge fan of Star Wars. She is patient, encouraging and loves helping others!
Reviews for Gemma:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hello! This is Sabrina(a student in this class), this class has been really fun for me so far and has helped me to improve my drawing skills quite a bit. Miss Gemma is always so nice and is always giving positive feedback(and if we need to change something on our drawings she always is very polite about it tells us how to fix it). Some of the drawings I have done were I little too easy and some were just a tad too hard but overall this class is just the right level for me(I’m eleven). I would definitely recommend this class to anyone who really likes animals and really likes art. Thanks for teaching this class! By the way, to show my improvement I put the first drawing I did in this class in May of 2021 and the drawing I did last Thursday(September of 2021).
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ms.Gemma is great with the kids. She is very patient and she makes the class fun. My daughter loved her class. - P. Edwards
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My 9-year-old says: "The teachers are really nice and they teach us well."
🎨 Marissa kicked off her career in Art Education when she was earning her bachelor’s of fine art in Animation at California State University of Fullerton. She has had the pleasure of instructing and generating art lessons for 5 years in-person and online and also has experience working with students with special needs in small groups and in 1:1 settings. Marissa has also completed an internship as an instructor for therapeutic arts and has volunteered with multiple children’s arts events. Aside from creating her own art in her free time, Marissa also enjoys spending her days outdoors, cooking new recipes, and excessively spoiling her dog, Bailey.
Reviews for Marissa:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This class is always very fun and exciting! I get to learn different technics while drawing with this amazing class! I think the best thing about this class is you can always share your breathtaking pictures and drawings! - Ji H.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My son (11 yo) enjoyed this class very much. The teacher handled his exuberance well, and he liked the format immensely. Thanks! - Alicia M.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We love this class! We take a lot of outschool classes and this is definitely at the very top. This class has really turned my son onto drawing. He joined reluctantly and now you cannot keep him away. The (He) loves the teacher, the students and of course drawing! - M. O'Brien
🎨 Mattie has a BA in Fine Arts with a concentration in drawing from Elizabethtown College in Lancaster Pennsylvania. Mattie fell in love with teaching art when she first started in 2020. She currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She loves to read, write, draw, sing, play with her dog, Freya, and enjoys a cup of Earl Grey tea in the morning.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent teacher and class; impressed with what my kid produced, and the teacher was very nice and engaging. - Judy V.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Miss Mattie is amazing! She takes time prepping each week for her lesson with my daughter and despite the fact that we have just done a few lessons with her, she has already made amazing progress. - Marianne S.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My daughter is an animal lover and has really started to show interest in drawing. This class was the perfect fit and she loved it- the teacher is so kind and encouraging.
🎨 Becca is a visual artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drawing. She has experience teaching art as well as swimming. She enjoys drawing digitally as well as with graphite and ink.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I have two kiddos enrolled in this class and they absolutely love it! The instructor is fantastic--motivated, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. The pace is perfect and the kiddos always learn something new. I've been so impressed by how 3-D all their images are... they look just like the Minecraft animals! Each week it's something new and it's always a hit! This is a step-by-step class, and the instructor is great about going at the pace of the students, but still gives them a lot of room for creativity with their individual drawings. This would be a great class for any student that loves art and Minecraft. Highly, highly, highly recommend this fabulous instructor! 5 stars! If we could, we'd give it 10 stars! - Jen C.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My daughter had given up drawing for a bit and has found a new inspiration in this class! Thank you for reawakening our artist!
🎨Maggie has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and has six years experience of teaching kindergarten, first grade, fourth grade, and elementary art. She enjoys drawing and painting with watercolor and sells art through her Etsy shop Magpie Paints. In her free time, she loves playing piano and volleyball, swimming, hiking with her husband and children, and hosting summer art camps.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Great class! A nice introduction to 3D drawing for the Minecraft enthusiast.
🎨 Danikka is an Arkansas-based professional artist with a degree in fine arts who loves instilling a passion for creativity in others. Born and raised in Mexico, she draws much of her inspiration from her tierra patria as well as from her dreams and her favorite animals- horses. In addition to her 10 years of teaching experience as well as her TEFL and TESOL certifications, she also creates custom commissions for drawings, paintings, and even murals.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Excellent class led by a wonderful teacher. My son started as a beginner and I've seen his drawing skills and abilities improve greatly. He looks forward to this class every week and is always excited to show me his newest Minecraft creation. Highly recommend!
🎨 Ilyse is a professional artist with a BA in English Literature who does freelance illustration and character design. She was born in Connecticut but spent most of her childhood in North Carolina. She has a huge passion for vibrant colors and bringing untold stories and characters to life. Her bubbly, welcoming demeanor reflects strongly in the art she creates!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ My child is learning so much. She loves to draw, and this course has helped her fine tune that. I can see it in her amazing work too.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We loved Ms. Ilyse. She is talented, kind, and engaging.
🎨 Cheyenne is a professional visual artist who does art commissions with pencil drawings as her expertise. In June, she is set to finish her associates degree in Fine Arts with a focus on Painting and Drawing from Stratford Career Institute. She is passionate about encouraging others to dream big and make those dreams become a reality! She likes to encourage and hopes to help the next generation chase their dreams through their artistic talents.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cheyenne is an excellent teacher. She is very patient and works at a good pace for my daughter. She always checks in and ensures the students are on track and she is not leaving anyone behind. My daughter looks forward to the class every week.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ My son loves his Animal Drawing class with Miss Fowler and looks forward to it all week. It has given him a sense of purpose and importance and has inspired him to continue drawing on his own outside of class as well. The class moves at just the right pace - fast enough to keep students engaged but slows down at the right moments for personal engagement that makes each kid feel special. My son tells me that he likes the way Miss Fowler explains things and how patient she is. The whole class has a very positive vibe and Ms. Fowler really knows how to connect with kids
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ My daughter had her first class last week and LOVED it! I signed her up as a way to keep her busy while she is visiting her grandparents overseas and thought this would be a one time thing, but as soon as the class was over, she immediately sent me a message asking to do the next class! She loved the teacher, Miss Fowler, who was kind enough to catch her up since she joined the class a few minutes late. She was also really flattered by the positive feedback email she received from Miss Fowler. Overall, an EXCELLENT experience!
🎨 Kimberly Trotter, is an accomplished artist with an Associates degree in Advertising and Graphic Design and over two decades of professional expertise as a mural painter for educational Schools, businesses, and residences. With a remarkable five-year tenure as a face painter, she has also conducted engaging painting classes for adults. Presently, Kimberly imparts her artistic wisdom as an instructor for art classes at a local CoOp, all while showcasing her creativity through the crafting and sale of exquisite polymer clay and wire jewelry.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Very nice class. My 7-year old had a lot of fun and made a lovely work of art!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Excellent class for wings of fire fans! My kids love the graphic novels and chaptr books and they enjoyed drawing the dragons a lot. The teacher is very nice and teaches drawing very comfortably.
🎨 Tiffany is a professional artist who works with a wide range of mediums and in events like live weddings, charities, and more. She also does commission portraits of people, pets, and other subjects. She loves working with children and she has experience in teaching crafts and general child care through VBS and other volunteer work. As a country girl, she loves animals as well as being outside, and spending time investing in people and building meaningful relationships.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$387
for 18 classes1x per week, 18 weeks
55 min
Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-18
2-7 learners per class
Financial Assistance
Tutoring
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