Pencil Drawing & Sketching Full Semester Art Series: Beginner Fundamentals

This is a 14-Week Semester Series. Classes will meet ONCE every week through the course of the curriculum.
Weeks 1-6 are preparatory weeks that focuses on the elements of art. Students will learn the basic principles and techniques of sketching. They will develop their observational skills, line work, shading, and composition abilities through hands-on exercises and projects. From Week 7, students will proceed to more in-depth studies on four fundamental categories, namely Still Life, Portraiture, Figure Drawing and Landscapes. Drawing inspiration from the works of art by past masters, they will explore and replicate their techniques and achievements as part of the learning process. Emphasis will be on problem-solving, skill building, and helping students find their personal styles.

1:1 Private class option: The curriculum below provides a structured framework. It can be adapted to suit the needs and interests of the students for individualized portfolio development.

Weeks 1-2: Sketching Supplies and Contour Drawing
• Experiment and familiarize with sketching materials.
• Practice with contour drawing exercises to enhance observation and line work control.
• Study Henri Matisse's use of lines and shapes in contemporary art.

Weeks 3-4: Shading Techniques
• Explore the role of light and dark (value) in sketching.
• Practice various shading techniques to create depth and volume.
• Study Rembrandt van Rijn's mastery of value and shading techniques.

Weeks 5-6: Perspective Drawing
• Understand one-point and two-point perspective.
• Depict architectural elements and captivating scenes.
• Study Vincent van Gogh's dynamic lines and unique perspectives.

Weeks 7-8: Still Life Sketching 
• Set up and sketch still life arrangements.
• Practice capturing objects and their lighting.
• Study Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin to improve texture, color, and lighting rendering skills.

Weeks 9-10: Portrait Sketching
• Understand human facial proportions and distinctive features.
• Explore techniques for achieving likeness and expression in portraits.
• Study Da Vinci's portrait works.

Weeks 11-12: Figure Drawing
• Understand human anatomy as a foundation for drawing.
• Learn gesture drawing to capture the dynamic human form in motion.
• Study Edgar Degas' masterful depictions of the human form in dynamic ballet poses.

Weeks 13-14: Nature and Urban Landscape Sketching
• Sketch natural scenes and outdoor environments.
• Add urban structures to explore perspectives.
• Observe Claude Monet's Impressionist style to depict outdoor and urban scenes.
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Please read below for frequently-asked questions on our policies:

Mandatory Video Check-In
Video check-in is mandatory for safety purposes per Outschool policy. Students are required to have their cameras on to allow the teacher to check in and verify each learner. After check-in, students have the option of either turning off their camera or leaving it on, whatever is their preference.

Refunds & Missed Classes
All of our classes are backed by Outschool’s standard policy. To receive a full refund, parents may withdraw or stop their subscription within 24 hours of payment OR 24 hours before class starts, whichever occurs earlier. No refunds are issued if a learner misses a live meeting. Recordings are made available in each classroom and can be watched at their convenience. Students are always welcome to reach out with any questions and share their work in the classroom.

Class Recording Access
Learners must JOIN A LIVE CLASS ONCE in order to lift Outschool's safety protocol and unlock access to video recordings of class meetings. Learners who have not attended a live class but need access to the recordings must contact verification@outschool.com to apply for a lifetime verification badge. 
Learn more about this by going to: https://support.outschool.com/en/articles/4063624-learner-verification

Late/ Missed Class
All classes will begin on time as long as one learner is in the classroom. In the event that no students are in the classroom at the assigned class time, the teacher will leave a message in the classroom and exit after ten minutes of waiting per Outschool policy.

Minimum Enrollment & Class Cancellation
A minimum of two learners is required for every class to run. In the event that we have to cancel a class, parents will be notified within 24 hours of class. Learners will have the option of either transferring to a more populated section of the same class or receiving a full refund, whichever is preferred.

Technical Difficulties
In the event of class delay/ cancellations due to unforeseeable technical issues, all families will be notified and a make-up section will be posted, or a refund will be issued if a make-up class cannot be scheduled.