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How to Draw Animals

Students will learn the fundamentals of drawing animals through gesture drawings and more detailed studies. Each 10 minute lesson is designed to help artists learn the basics of drawing and sharpen their observational skills.
Paul Richmond
Average rating:
4.0
Number of reviews:
(1)
Class
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What's included

9 pre-recorded lessons
3 weeks
of teacher support
1 year access
to the content

Class Experience

US Grade 9 - 12
Beginner - Advanced Level
Learning the fundamentals of drawing is beneficial for all artists, and professionals Melissa Forman and Paul Richmond are here to teach you the fundamentals of drawing animals. This nine part course will start at the very beginning and walk you through the steps and techniques of creating a series of gesture studies of a variety of animals, including birds, horses, and wolves, followed by two more detailed animal drawings, with an emphasis on improving observational drawing skills.

What You’ll Learn: 

- Fundamentals of Drawing: Master the basics of observational drawing by understanding the shapes and forms that make up an animal 
- Diverse Techniques: From gesture drawings to shading with graphite, explore a variety of art methods and techniques 
- Weekly Practice: Experience the improvement in your skills with exercises and projects. The sky’s the limit once you learn the basics!

Course Features: 

- Engaging Exercises: Each lesson is designed to be light-hearted and enjoyable, ensuring you’ll want to come back and learn more 
- Comprehensive Curriculum: Teaching technical skills and creative expression, this class is perfect for beginners or as a refresher
- Interactive Learning: Paul and Melissa's approachable style makes learning accessible and entertaining 

There will be no live meeting for this class. This course consists of nine 10-minute video lessons. Each week, three new lessons will be released, and students can participate on their own schedule, pausing the videos as much as needed to learn at their own pace. Students are encouraged to share their artwork and join in discussion on the class page. The course takes three weeks to complete. Paul will interact with students who share their artwork each week, providing feedback, encouragement, and support within two days of student submissions.

Materials: 

You are welcome to work with any drawing materials you'd like, but here's a list of everything Paul and Melissa will be using in this series:

- Sketchbook
- Drawing Pencils
- Kneaded Eraser
- Pencil Sharpener
- Micron Pens
- Watercolor Paper
- Paper Towels
- Charcoal

Learning Goals

By the end of this course, you will have a solid foundation in drawing animals and be able to apply the skills learned to create more drawings of any subject matter and in any style. Join us on this artistic journey and grow your drawing abilities!
learning goal

Syllabus

9 Lessons
over 3 Weeks
Lesson 1:
Gesture Drawing: Birds
 This lesson is about making gesture drawings of birds 
Lesson 2:
Gesture Drawing: Horses
 This lesson is about making gesture drawings of horses 
Lesson 3:
Gesture Drawing: Wolves
 This lesson is about making gesture drawings of wolves 
Lesson 4:
Project One: Sketch
 This lesson introduces the first project: sketching a Seahorse 

Other Details

Supply List
You are welcome to work with any drawing materials you'd like, but here's a list of everything Paul and Melissa will be using in this series:

- Sketchbook
- Drawing Pencils
- Kneaded Eraser
- Pencil Sharpener
- Micron Pens
- Watercolor Paper
- Paper Towels
- Charcoal
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined April, 2024
4.0
1reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Columbus College of Art and Design
Paul has been teaching students to draw for over twenty years. In his career as an artist, he has illustrated the covers of over 400 published novels, and his paintings have been displayed in galleries and museums around the world. Melissa has been drawing and painting commissioned portraits since she was 14. She is currently an art director for a greeting card company and runs a department of illustrators and artists. Through their mentoring on Art Makes Us, Paul and Melissa teach art to people of all ages online around the world.  

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Self-Paced Class
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$5

weekly

9 pre-recorded lessons
3 weeks of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Ages: 14-18

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