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Sketching: Learn How to Make a Realistic Sketch of an Animal (Smithsonian)

In this on-going lesson, students will learn how to sketch an animal with pencil and use techniques such as shading and blending to create three-dimensional perspective on their sketch.
Mr. Son (BFA) - Visual Art Instructor
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:
(3,932)
Class
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What's included

1 live meeting
1 in-class hours per week

Class Experience

Nature has been a broad subject which people have been studying for long time. By sketching animals, students will have a deep examination of animals in terms of their anatomical structure, forms, and unique characters. This class is designed to help students make a sketch with the use of circles, straight and curved lines. All students will be given a step-by-step instruction to build a sketch of an animal along with instructor. After that, they will be shown how to use pencil to shade and blend with materials on the supply list. 

The reference of each lesson will be from a book called “Animal!” published by Smithsonian. It is suggested but not required that students have the book in class for personal reference and read more about the animal which they make a sketch of.

Students will be asked to share their works on the cameras to receive feedback from instructor and have a chance to see other works from their classmates. However, sharing works is optional not required.

Schedule for October
Week of Oct 3:		Garden Snail (26)
Week of Oct 10:	Salvin’s Mushroomtongue (93)
Week of Oct 17:	Peregrine Falcon (133)
Week of Oct 24:	African Savanna Elephant (168)
Week of Oct 31:	Harp Seal (205)

Schedule for November
Week of Nov 7:		Sandtiger Shark (41)
Week of Nov 14:	Panther Chameleon (103)
Week of Nov 21:	Eagle Owl (140)
Week of Nov 28:	Long-Eared Jerboa (172)
	
Schedule for December
Week of Dec 5:		Glasswing Butterfly (40)
Week of Dec 12:	Dwarf Crocodile (117)
Week of Dec 19:	Superb Fairy-Wren (150)
Week of Dec 26:	Fennec Fox (195)

Schedule for January
Week of Jan 2:	American Burying Beetle	P 37
Week of Jan 9:	Darwin’s Frog	P 89
Week of Jan 16:	Budgerigar 	P 135
Week of Jan 23:	Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur	P 176
Week of Jan 30:	Cheetah	P 214

Schedule for February
Week of Feb 6:	Praying Mantis	P 45
Week of Feb 13:	Galapagos Tortoise	P 98
Week of Feb 20:	Wood Duck	P 139
Week of Feb 27:	Caracal 	P 220
		
Schedule for March
Week of Mar 6:	Hummingbird Hawkmoth	P 40
Week of Mar 13:	Namaqua Chameleon	P 103
Week of Mar 20:	Galapagos Penguin	P 127
Week of Mar 27:	Plains Zebra	P 227
		
Schedule for April
Week of Apr 3:	Goldenrod Crab Spider	P 52
Week of Apr 10:	Frill-necked Lizard	P 109
Week of Apr 17:	Tawny Owl	P 143
Week of Apr 24:	Western Red Deer	P 234
		
Schedule for May
Week of Apr 1:	Greater Blue-ringed Octopus	P 25
Week of May 8:	Emerald Tree Boa	P 110
Week of May 15:	Eurasian Nuthatch	P 150
Week of May 22:	Alpine Ibex	P 237
Week of May 29:	Cetaceans	P 247

Schedule for June
Week of Jun 5:	Signal Crayfish	P 31
Week of Jun 12:	California Giant Salamander	P 92
Week of Jun 19:	Greater Prairie Chicken	P 129
Week of Jun 26:	Sumatran Orangutan	P 183

Other Details

Supply List
- Pencils (2B and 8B)
- Eraser (cut by half diagonally)
- Q tips 
- Cotton balls
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined May, 2020
4.8
3932reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from California State University, Fullerton
Drawing and painting portraits and human figures have been one of my passions which encourages me to go to school for art education. I am teaching a diversity of art classes with traditional media such as pencil, colored pencil, and watercolor. 

     I have graduated at California State University, Fullerton for my Bachelor of Fine Art degree with concentration on drawing and painting. I also study Vietnamese traditional music as a hobby for meditation.
 
     Teaching is interesting since it encourages me to continue studying art and improving my skills. The more I teach, the more I feel like I have learnt something new. To me, an art teacher who is considered competent is the one not only able to explain techniques which are used on each lesson but also able to understand how to utilize the medium he or she has picked for students. Therefore, it is important for me to keep learning and practicing making art to become a better teacher for my lovely students, especially those who are really dedicated to visual art.
 
     A fact about me (hope this will be surprising to you): My students would think I was a freshman at college even though I'd already been 28 years old. 

                                                        ***RECOMMENDATION***
If you wonder how I teach my classes, take some soft courses listed below, so you will not only be familiar with the pace but also be prepared for a journey of learning art with me.

1. Semi-Realistic Cute Animal
https://outschool.com/classes/sketching-learn-how-to-sketch-a-semi-realistic-and-cute-baby-animal-5vOQTMX2#ushyLG9cx3
2. Realistic Animal Sketching
https://outschool.com/classes/sketching-learn-how-to-sketch-and-shade-a-realistic-animal-wildlife-XLBnXcn8#ushyLG9cx3
or 
https://outschool.com/classes/sketching-learn-how-to-sketch-and-shade-an-animal-national-geographic-wiiJbDF1#ushyLG9cx3
3. Human Facial Feature Sketching
https://outschool.com/classes/sketching-learn-how-to-sketch-human-facial-features-1gMLveLy#ushyLG9cx3
CAUTION: Color lessons are not for beginners. I would recommend taking some sketching lessons with pencils before trying color lessons.

                                                                 ***POLICY*** 
- Please be in class on time to show respect to classmates as well as to me - your instructor. I may briefly go over instruction for late students who give proper apology and explanation. However, this is still not fair for those who have come to class promptly to be waiting for nothing. 

- Recordings will not be released under any circumstances. Therefore, I highly recommend coming to class on time so nothing will be missed. You may choose simple classes before taking complicated ones with complex texture, pattern, and perspective so no confusion or struggle will be faced.

- If you are going to be absent, notify your parents so they will responsibly send me a notification. However, to qualify for a transfer, the notification needs to be received EARLY, AT LEAST 24 HOURS OF WEEKDAYS before the class starts. No transfer will be made for late notification. For refund, please contact Outschool Assistant team.

- Your microphones are supposed to stay muted during the lesson so echo or distracting noise will not interrupt the class. This does not mean that you are not allowed to ask for clarification regarding lesson contents. In fact, all students are welcome to participate and question as long as the conversation is relevant to the lesson.

- If you are shy and refuse to show your face on the screen, you can have webcams capture the worktable so I can see their process instead. However, as Outschool requests that students turn on their videos for check-in, videos should be turned on for 5 SECONDS before students turn their off. 

- Music will be played to maintain the flow of the lesson. If you find it too distracting to concentrate, please kindly request to have music volume modified or even turned off.

- For any technical issues (such as link, password, or screen, etc.), please contact Outschool for assistance.

- Be prepared and stay focused during the class so that I can direct you to a broader content of the lesson. The faster you can complete a step, the more tips and techniques will be demonstrated on the lesson.

Looking forward to meeting you all who are devoted to learning visual art and improving artistic skills.

Reviews

Live Group Class
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$15

weekly
1x per week
60 min

Completed by 40 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-13
2-12 learners per class

This class is no longer offered
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