Still Life Drawing & Sketching Full Semester Art Series: Beginner Fundamentals

This is a 12-Week Semester Series. Classes will meet ONCE every week through the course of the curriculum.
Weeks 1-4 are preparatory weeks, students will become acquainted with the importance of still life in art. They will delve into the rich significance of still life in the realm of art, while simultaneously honing essential techniques such as linework and shading.  Additionally, students will explore the intricate world of composition and arrangement, allowing them to grasp the principles that infuse vitality into still life scenes. These crucial skills will be developed through hands-on exercises and engaging projects.
From Week 5 students learn about color theory and using colored pencils. As the course progresses, they will shift their focus to texture and surface details, perfecting techniques to authentically capture the essence of diverse materials, from delicate fabrics to glistening glass. They will explore art history, still life artists and their contributions across diverse styles and historical contexts. In the final weeks,  students will explore contemporary trends in still life, all while cultivating a unique artistic style and embarking on personal creative explorations. This course encourages the student to bring the beauty of still life to life on paper, fostering their artistic growth and expression.

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.

Week 1: Introduction to Still Life Sketching
• Description of the importance of still life in art.
• Introduction to sketching materials (pencils, colored pencils, charcoal, paper types, etc.).
• Refresher on drawing skills, such as linework and shading.

Week 2: Composition and Arrangement
• Understand the principles of composition in still life.
• Set up and arrange still-life setups.
• Refresher on techniques for rendering light and shadow and advanced 3D shading skills (cross-hatching and stippling, etc.)

Week 3-4:  Sketching Everyday Objects
• Introduction to sketching common objects from life.
• Emphasis on observation and capturing details.

Week 5-6: Color in Still Life
• Introduction to color theory.
• Practice exercises on colored pencil techniques.
• Sketching still life subjects using colored pencils.

Week 7-8: Texture and Surface Details
• Continue with common object sketching.
• Focus on techniques for depicting various textures (glass, fabric, metal, etc.).
• Observation and sketching of textured objects.

Week 9-10: Art History and Still Life in Art
• Study of famous still life artists and their contributions.
• Analysis of different styles and historical context.

Week 11-12: Contemporary Trends in Still Life
• Exploration of contemporary still life artists and their work.
• Discussion of current trends in still life art.

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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.