Log In

Middle School Drawing Class! Drawing From Observation: The Basics of Perception

Class
Play
Stephanie Krause: The Art Playspace
Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(376)
In this 10-week skill-building journey, learn and practice the skills all artists need in order to draw accurately from observation - life drawing! Contours, spaces, proportion, shading - we'll delve into all during the class.

Class experience

Students will gain a lot of practice in important building blocks of life drawing: contour, negative space, proportion, value. As they practice, they will be developing a clear understanding of why these skills are fundamental to drawing accurately from observation.
I'm a teaching artist with a BFA in illustration/graphic communications and an MAT in art education. I've taught art at every level, and intensive drawing classes both when I was teaching on the high school level, and the past few years to middle schoolers in the local homeschool community. Many of these exercises were introduced to me as a 10-year-old aspiring artist, and opened up my artistic doors! I love sharing them with others.  
Homework Offered
As mentioned in the body of the listing, I can't underestimate: the more you draw, the more you improve! In many weeks, we will be starting but not necessarily finishing a drawing exercise, so I will ask students to finish those drawings. In addition, I will ask students to sketch during the week in between class meetings to maximize their learning. I suggest students sketch or practice for at least an hour during the week in between classes. In addition, as mentioned, I'm requesting that students either post to the classroom or private message to me through the classroom each week with an example of what they have done - either in class, or a piece of homework. It will be important for me to help gauge student progress since I can't otherwise clearly see your drawings. If students never post or message me their work, I won't be able to accurately gauge how I might best help them improve.
1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
I'm going to rehash information from the body of the listing here, but it's important to note that I can't accurately assess where a student is if I don't see their work at all. One drawback of working virtually is that I can't wander the classroom and easily watch students working/offer feedback! During the live sessions, I ask if anyone wants to show their work (I don't insist in that context - some kids want to, some don't) - but even then, with poor lighting etc, it's often not that easy to see it. IN ADDITION, since I cannot effectively help students improve without a clear sense of how they are progressing, I will request that every week, even if they have shared their work by holding it up to the camera during the live class session, students share something with me from that week via the classroom (either a classroom post, or a private message to me through the teacher tab) - either what they did in class that week, or a piece of homework. That will be important for me to help gauge their progress since I can't otherwise clearly see their drawings. I'll respond to the post/message with specific feedback to let them know they are on the right track, and/or suggestions for things to pay closer attention to as they move forward. (I usually mark up their work in Photoshop with specific suggestions, and may respond via written or video message.)
Grades Offered
I will provide LOTS OF INFORMATION about each suggestion in the classroom, including specific supply suggestions!
-Sketchbook, no smaller than 9x12, I suggest 11x14 as a great size.
-Toned gray drawing paper
-#2 pencil
-6B pencil
-(8B pencil - in parentheses as an optional - I LOVE these and recommend them, but they aren't as easy to get so I'm calling it optional)
-white charcoal pencil
-rubber/latex eraser
-kneaded eraser
-ruler, 12" or more (for rare use)
-PRINTER: you will need access to a working printer, since I will post various documents to the classroom for you to print out for class-time and/or at-home assignments. I'll probably ask you to print things on 3 occasions.
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(376)
Profile
Calling all art explorers! The act of creation shouldn't be limited to professional artists. Artistic expression is for EVERYONE - something you should feel entitled to do, without judgment, your whole life long. Unfortunately, many of us have... 
Group Class

$175

for 10 classes
1x per week, 10 weeks
55 min

Completed by 28 learners
Live video meetings
Ages 11-14
3-8 learners per class

About
Support
SafetyPrivacyCA PrivacyLearner PrivacyTerms
Outschool International
Get The App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
© 2024 Outschool