How to Draw Basics: Composition
One of the most important elements to make your artwork impactful and unique is composition; this class is designed to teach you how to use composition to your advantage!
Adria W.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(323)
What's included
1 live meeting
1 in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. No formal homework will be assigned, but learners are encouraged to review and practice concepts taught in class.Assessment
To remove the stress of what is sometimes a very daunting course of study, your learners will not have tests, quizzes, or formal grades in the class. Instead, I utilize positive verbal critiques to provide feedback and encourage improvement. However, if grades are requested I will provide them via rubrics that will suggest a grade. Learners progress will be gauged by the completion of their assignments, execution of techniques, contributions in critique sessions, and their class presence (being on-time, listening when I am speaking, and how they communicate with peers).Grading
includedClass Experience
What about an artwork catches your eye? How do you look at works of art? How does an artist make their work engaging or interesting to look at? One of the most important elements of an eye-catching, unique work is thoughtful composition. We all have a sense of what’s visually pleasing, that is aesthetics, but the best artists know how to work beyond their initial impressions and experiment with how their pieces are arranged. How to Draw Basics: Composition is designed to teach your learner about composition and how to do composition sketches for still life drawing. No background knowledge is required! How to Draw Basics: Composition utilizes an interactive PowerPoint lecture and in-class practice time to teach students the basics of composition through the lens of still life. Our lecture will begin with the two most fundamental decisions an artist has to make when they begin thinking about how to compose their piece: orientation and whether the piece is opened or closed. After our conversation about those two decisions, I will outline various methods of arranging objects and thinking about composition, such as the eight elements of successful composition. Once the lecture is complete, students will have the rest of the time in class to work on four composition sketches. Each composition sketch should be thoughtfully done and unique compared to the others. Students will have the option to use their viewfinders to assist in their compositions. Time permitting, learners may also work on an object study. Learners should complete this class with an understanding of basic composition including orientation, opened versus closed, the importance of “3”, and other methods of arranging objects. They should be comfortable with setting up a still life. Students will have also completed four composition sketches. ***I recommend taking my one-time How to Draw Basics classes in the following order: #1: Materials and Value #2: Contours #3: Light and Value #4: Composition
Learning Goals
o Understand and define important vocabulary: composition, horizontal, vertical, opened, closed, rule of thirds, implied lines
o Know what composition sketches are and why they are important.Have completed several successful ones
o Be comfortable in arranging a still life
Other Details
Supply List
***MATERIALS*** Your student will need: - A graphite drawing pencil AND/OR charcoal - Polymer or vinyl eraser AND/OR kneaded eraser -Sketchbook or drawing paper -Several (at least five) household objects to sketch for our composition sketches. These materials should cost less then $25.00 and are multi-purpose. They can be used outside of this course. Your student may choose to create a viewfinder using the guide provided in the syllabus. The viewfinder is optional. I provide two PDF's for this class: -A syllabus with course information and vocabulary -An in-depth materials guide
2 files available upon enrollment
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
I am delighted to be able to offer classes that emphasize fine art techniques through the lens of observational drawing. Observational art is a method of learning to draw with three principles in mind: understanding of the subject, building looking skills, and practice of artistic technique. Through this method and practice, learners can draw anything. Completion of my courses will result in a learner who is engaged with art and understands basic art technique. Even students who are not aspiring artists have much to gain from drawing, including improvement of hand-eye coordination and hand dexterity skills.
Along with my bachelor’s degree in art history and studio art from a premier liberal arts institution in Ohio, I also have been teaching since 2016. My online teaching career began on Outschool in 2017. I have taught homeschoolers, unschoolers, and undergraduate students of all ages. My background in art history means that my classes are created with an understanding of historical precedence- I’m teaching what I know works! Many of my classes include examples of important artworks from masters for students to examine and learn skills from. In addition, my many years of teaching art have helped me curate concise and logical drawing curriculum that young artists can easily pick up and apply to their work. Every art class I teach hopes to provide learners with all the knowledge and support they need to grow as an artist.
Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$12
per classMeets once
60 min
Completed by 38 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-16
1-9 learners per class
Financial Assistance
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