High School Sketchbook Art and Drawing Club

I will be teaching high school level art, ideal for portfolio building and high school students.

I always mute my classes but I encourage learners to unmute themselves and ask questions at any point. 

Learners who take this as an ongoing class will develop as artists over tim e and learn a variety of drawing and painting skills 

I will demonstrate a variety of drawing techniques like rendering, pointillism, hatching, crosshatching, contouring, cartooning and visual journaling. I often draw using a photo reference and I will provide that for learners before the class. Learners are welcome to draw what I draw, that are also encouraged to do their own thing. Because this is a high school class, I encourage creative thinking and independent drawing. 
Every week we will draw something new together based on a different drawing style or topic. 

I believe in teaching by example. This means that I draw along with the learners, show them different techniques and explain the process as we embark on our creative journey. Because this is not a step by step class, This class can accommodate all skill levels. Learners are encouraged to draw at their own pace and ask questions as needed. Feedback can be given at any time throughout the class. 

Below are some of the topics/styles we will be drawing over the course of the class. (Different one every week) 

Before each class I will write in the classroom to notify learners of the daily topic and what supplies I recommend. Learners are encouraged to draw their own thing, based on the drawing prompt, but are welcome to draw what I am drawing as well.



January 2025

	•	Jan 6: Draw a comic strip (pencil, pen, and other drawing supplies. Tablets work too.)
	•	Jan 13: Draw animals in clothing
	•	Jan 20: Create a doodle page
	•	Jan 27: Draw a word in a cool way

February
	•	Feb 3: Draw a building or buildings
	•	Feb 10: Abstract art
	•	Feb 17: Bring objects to life
	•	Feb 24: Create an illustration for a song or poem

March
	•	Mar 3: Draw a monster
	•	Mar 10: Draw yourself in another artist’s style
	•	Mar 17: Draw an insect
	•	Mar 24: Speed drawing (5–10 minute drawing challenges)
	•	Mar 31: Experiment with manipulating a flat space

April
	•	Apr 7: Miniature drawing (use fine tools like a tiny pen or sharp pencil)
	•	Apr 14: Design and draw a cool pattern
	•	Apr 21: Draw a hole in the page (optical illusion style)
	•	Apr 28: Create a still life

May
	•	May 5: Draw your hand
	•	May 12: Draw a graphic landscape
	•	May 19: Design a children’s book character
	•	May 26: Communicate through concept

June
	•	Jun 2: Design an invention
	•	Jun 9: Draw something you love (any style or medium)
	•	Jun 16: Draw a cartoon version of yourself
	•	Jun 23: Create a creative card design
	•	Jun 30: Draw a childhood toy

July
	•	Jul 7: Experiment with contour shading
	•	Jul 14: Practice graphite smudge shading (use graphite pencils and smudge tools)
	•	Jul 21: Draw someone famous
	•	Jul 28: Design a fictional animal

August
	•	Aug 4: Draw letters and turn them into objects that start with that letter
	•	Aug 11: Try a contour drawing
	•	Aug 18: Practice hatching or crosshatching
	•	Aug 25: Create a scribble drawing

September
	•	Sep 1: Explore pointillism (use black felt-tipped pens)
	•	Sep 8: Draw a pattern (use pencil, pen, or tablet)
	•	Sep 15: Experiment with ink shading techniques
	•	Sep 22: Create a pencil drawing (graphite)
	•	Sep 29: Cartoon creation

October
	•	Oct 6: Try rendering realism (use pencils, toned paper, markers, or colored pencils)
	•	Oct 13: Experiment with manipulating a flat space
	•	Oct 20: Create a miniature drawing
	•	Oct 27: Draw a cool pattern

November
	•	Nov 3: Draw a hole in the page (optical illusion style)
	•	Nov 10: Create a still life
	•	Nov 17: Draw your hand
	•	Nov 24: Design a graphic landscape

December
	•	Dec 1: Design a children’s book character
	•	Dec 8: Communicate through concept
	•	Dec 15: Draw something with an extreme light source
	•	Dec 22: Draw a childhood toy
	•	Dec 29: Reflect on the year and draw your favorite memory


January 2026
	•	Jan 5: Solve a drawing challenge (e.g., “A sad unicorn eating ice cream in a rocketship.”)
	•	Jan 12: Draw a sentence or phrase (turn words into art).
	•	Jan 19: Try an ambidextrous challenge—draw with your non-dominant hand.
	•	Jan 26: Draw a simple recipe (illustrate steps or ingredients).

February
	•	Feb 2: Draw objects on your desk (use pencil, pen, or other supplies).
	•	Feb 9: Turn letters into objects that start with that letter (creative alphabet challenge).
	•	Feb 16: Create a contour drawing (focus on outlines).
	•	Feb 23: Practice hatching or crosshatching for shading.

March
	•	Mar 2: Experiment with scribble drawing (turn random scribbles into art).
	•	Mar 9: Explore pointillism (using dots for shading and texture).
	•	Mar 16: Draw a pattern (repeating shapes or motifs).
	•	Mar 23: Create an ink drawing combining multiple shading styles.
	•	Mar 30: Create an op art piece (optical illusion art).

April
	•	Apr 6: Draw the “inner you” (concept-driven art).
	•	Apr 13: Draw something with an extreme light source (from life or imagination).
	•	Apr 20: Create a fictional animal.
	•	Apr 27: Draw a cool pattern or texture.

May
	•	May 4: Draw a still life using dramatic lighting.
	•	May 11: Design a children’s book character.
	•	May 18: Create a graphic landscape.
	•	May 25: Explore manipulating a flat space.

June
	•	Jun 1: Draw something you love in a new style.
	•	Jun 8: Draw yourself as a cartoon character.
	•	Jun 15: Create a creative greeting card.
	•	Jun 22: Draw a childhood toy in a whimsical way.
	•	Jun 29: Experiment with graphite smudge shading.