How to Draw Intermediate: Obsessive Drawing

How to Draw Intermediate: Obsessive Drawing includes four lessons and one critique session for a total of five classes. Learners will learn what obsessive drawing is and how to do it, elements of composition such as filling the medium, how to incorporate mixed medias into one piece, patience, planning, basic criticism skills, and how to combine observation with creativity in addition to learning fun warm-up exercises. HtDI: Obsessive Drawing is a challenging course that requires learners to work on one drawing over the course of four weeks, with an hour of in class time a week to work. At the end, your learner should have several preparatory sketches and one large-scale drawing that incorporates at least three different media and two observational elements. It is recommended your learner have drawing experience and the patience to work on one drawing for a long period of time.

How to Draw Intermediate: 101 Intro, Media, & Sketching
Our first lesson will begin with introductions. As your learner and I will be spending five weeks together, I would like to get to know them! We will then move into a brief explanation of course expectations by exploring the Outschool Classroom and provided PDFs together. Then, we will proceed to a brief PowerPoint lecture that will include a discussion of various, common media (such as graphite, charcoal, colored pencil, pen, and marker), explain what obsessive drawing is, and inform learners on how to make preparatory sketches. For the rest of the lesson, learners will work on their three preparatory sketches which will include planning out the drawing and notes that include comments on medium, color, and strategies for composition. This class will teach your learner about obsessive drawing, planning artwork, and basic use of common media. In addition, your learner will have clear expectations of the class. Your learner will come away with several preparatory sketches. 

How to Draw Intermediate: 102 Blind Contours & Starting to Obsess 
The challenge of the obsessive drawing is two-fold. First, it requires the ability to clearly plan out a composition while considering how to fill the space, different types of media, and combing creativity with observational skills. Second, it requires a ton of patience. Obsessive drawings are primarily about the time put into the work, it should take your learner at least three hours to complete their drawings. The next three hour-long lessons of this course will allow your learner a productive space to finish their drawing. Our second lesson will begin with a ten-minute warm-up of blind-contour drawings. The rest of the lesson will be spent working on the obsessive drawing. This class will teach your learner about blind-contour drawing and give them the space to work productively on their obsessive drawings. I will be present to act as a guide throughout the process. 

How to Draw Intermediate: 103 Shapes and Lines & Height of Obsession 
The lesson will begin with another ten minute warm-up session. This time, learners will be practicing drawing straight lines, making perfect cubes, and making perfect circles without tools. The rest of the lesson will be spent working on the obsessive drawing. This lesson will teach your learner about fundamental “warm-up” techniques and how to improve their drawing skills but practicing simple mark making. They will also be given the space to work on their obsessive drawing. I will be present to act as a guide and for advice. 

How to Draw Intermediate: 104 Scrumble Figures & The End of Obsession 
Our ten-minute warm-up for this lesson will be doing scrumble gesture drawings. We will be using either Line of Action or QuickPoses, two websites that have complied a large assortment of photo references of full-body people. Scrumble drawings require the artist to draw a figure under a time limit using only consistent scribble marks. The rest of the lesson will be spent working on the obsessive drawing. This lesson will teach your learner about gesture drawing and introduce them to figure drawing resources. They will also be given the space to work on their obsessive drawing. I will be present to act as a guide and for advice.

How to Draw Intermediate: 105 Assessing Obsession 
The final lesson in the class will be dedicated to a final critique. We will begin by reviewing our Critique Guide. Then, each learner who wishes to participate will share their still life and composition sketches, give an artist’s statement, and receive critiques from each of their classmates. The goal of the final critique is to allow learners to practice utilizing the vocabulary they have been working with over the duration of the course, master giving and receiving criticism, and be able to respond and engage with each other’s works.