Sketching, Drawing, Cartooning and Beyond
This is an 8 week art class for kids who love to draw. It covers basic drawing skills and how to turn their imagination into works on paper. Projects include invented people, cartooning, fantasy and reality. Instruction is step by step.
What's included
8 live meetings
7 hrs 20 mins in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. At the end of every class, I will make some suggestions about the kinds of things the student can work on during the week. At the beginning of the next class, they will have the option of sharing their work so we can enjoy each others' creativity. I will have weekly projects for class, the pictures and subjects we don't get to during the class can be completed afterwards.Assessment
As we can continue through the class, I will talk personally with each student and see how they feel about what they are doing and I will make suggestions going forward regarding ways they can approve. Both the student and I should be able to see how their vision and skills develop during the course of the class. The most important thing is that they are happy with their own progress as an emerging artist!Class Experience
US Grade 5 - 8
Beginner - Advanced Level
This will be a weekly class. I have many pre-prepared projects to work on, and we will do projects together in class. We will draw together, and I will demonstrate at every step of the way. Later, they will have time to experiment with their own approaches to these subjects. We will start with basic skills, line, shading, shape making, a little perspective and design. After the basics, we will work with some familiar cartoons objects. We will practice with color and patterns. We will draw everything from butterflies to dinosaurs, video game characters and super heroes. From there we move on to draw faces and full figure people, realistically and as cartoon characters. Here is the weekly program I have prepared: I have samples, props, and projects that will challenge them and should result in imaginative and decorative pictures. We will explore meaning and expression in our pictures, and use lots of color with pencils, markers and watercolors. Classes will all be live, and feature my personally designed projects that they can use as starting points. I will have a new package of projects that I will post up for easy download every week. Having worked with this age group before, I know they like to be challenged but also appreciate a guided approach. During the class I will draw with them and guide them step by step through the process. As they progress, their own creativity takes over, and their pictures directly reflect their own personalities.
Learning Goals
Over the course of the 8 sessions, students should be able to signficantly improve their drawing skills, ability to focus and observe, ability to tap into their inner creativity and express themselves artistically. I will provide very constructive feedback, and hopefully direct them towards ways to best express themselves in art. The projects we will work on include subject matter that will interest them and encourage the to expand their overall interest in art. As the course continues, student art work should look more focused, have a better sense of proportion, 3-dimsionality, tones, colors and composition. The class should instill on them a desire to go forward and make more and better pictures using their new knowledge and skills.
Syllabus
8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
Introduction to drawing skills
Our goal is to have fun and make great pictures with basic drawing skills. Our tools - pencils, pens, markers and crayons- scribble and lines, shapes and tones, and using our sketchbooks. Techniques explored are shapes and shading, balancing light and dark, creating abstract shapes and using color 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Drawing a Funny Face
We will explore the basic structure of a face, adding features, individualizing and making caricatures. We will draw some familiar funny faces, and make our own funny face. We will draw some faces together, and also draw from a 3D bust. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Drawing People
We have simple guides to drawing a 3 dimensional person, solid and with shading. Then add details, invent our own people, move them around and put them in action. Drawing people from photos. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Using our imaginations
After drawing real people, now we will turn to creating monsters, dragons, dinosaurs, unicorns, aliens, and whatever else is deep inside our heads. We will also start working on projects involving, animals - dogs, cats, an octopus, elephants and sharks. 55 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Supply List
I will have weekly packages of learning materials for all learners, hopefully able to easily download and use. Children will need a sketch book, 9X12 is best, inexpensive sketchbooks from Canson and UCreate are available at Art Supply stores, Staples, or on Amazon. Later in the class, they may like some sheets of larger drawing paper. Drawing pencils, a set or a few different types, 2H, H, F, B, 2B and 3B. They should have one or two fine black gel roller pens, such as Pentel, Pilot, Uniball or Bic (fine and extra fine black). We will use a lot of fine color markers, sets are available at Staples or Amazon, about 12 colors is good. Also a similar set of colored pencils. White erasers, pencil sharpeners and a ruler or T Square are also needed. A set of watercolors is optional. I would estimate a full set of supplies will cost approximately $40.00.
8 files available upon enrollment
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
I will refer at times, and provide some samples, of famous and important historical artists, as a way of learning how to approach certain artistic topics. These will include such familiar names as Leonardo, Rembrandt, Durer and Picasso. Content will be carefully screened so as not to be offensive. Students are encouraged to explore the world of art further by visiting museums, their local libraries, and online.
Joined October, 2023
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Queens College, CUNY
I am a long-standing and exhibited professional artist, who specializes in sketching, printmaking, and computer graphics. I received a Masters of Fine Arts (many years ago), from Queens College in NYC, and taught for many years at the community college level, before (and during) a 41 year career working for Social Security. I have recently taught several kids enrichment classes at a local school district, and summer classes for kids 5-8 and 9-13. This has gone really well and it is what I am focusing on these days.Reviews
Live Group Course
$18
weekly or $144 for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
55 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-13
3-7 learners per class
