Animals always bring so much joy to everyone that I teach, young and old, that it's time to make it a point to show them off!  This *FLEX* course is for those who love art and wish to advance their sketching and drawing skills while sharing their love of animals.  We will create a new work of art focusing on a different farm animal each week. 

❗Please note that since this is a FLEX course we will not have scheduled live meetings, instead, each learner will be able to work on their art at their convenience.

Hone your skills by creating art consistently with repeated practice.  I will guide you through techniques that will enhance the details of each week's animal drawing.

🎥I will start off the weekly introduction video with a quick chat about the animal of the week with some fun facts and suggestions for details that can be added into the background.  I'll follow that with step-by-step video instructions along with a PDF guide.  Creativity is encouraged as I demonstrate the steps to sketch, draw, shade, and add color throughout the lesson.  Although there will be a video to follow along with and a printable guide I also want to see what you can do to add your own personal touch.  Give it character and begin developing your own artistic style!

The six animals that will be created are:
1. Horse    2. Cow    3. Chicken   4. Goat   5. Pig   6. Sheep

We will focus on the difference between sketching and drawing, color schemes, texture, and adding details. 
 We'll start with outlines and main shapes and then add smaller details to push each drawing from basic to amazing results with finishing touches being added to the background of each work of art.  Instructional videos and printable resources will be dropped each Monday at 12am EST.  

The students and I will interact regularly in the Outschool classroom if they wish.  Please share what you know and love about each of the animals!  Do you have that kind of animal?  Share a picture or a video of it.  Don't have any farm animals but love them anyway?  Share your favorite stuffed animal or pictures you may have and tell us all about why you love it so much. Students will submit photographs (or videos, if they wish) of their work and submit questions, concerns, successes, or comments to be made about their artwork for peer review in addition to my guidance.  A mid-week check-in will ask for participation in not only prompts for discussion about the pets and artwork created but will vary between games, polls, and challenges based on that week's theme.  Sharing your work will help you gain confidence in your artistic abilities and give me a chance to provide feedback.  

🐎Week One - Horse
Objective: 
Develop an understanding of how to draw using basic shapes and then changing small lines and details to make it look like the type of horse you want.  Think about how a horse's markings make it unique.  

🐄Week Two - Cow
Objective: 
The last time I drew a cow it was based on a picture I was able to take of a calf who poke his nose out toward my camera and it was the most adorable thing ever.  We live in an area in which we see many different breeds of cows on our way to town.  Work to create a personalized drawing based on the breed of cow you want to draw. 

🐓Week Three - Chicken
Objective: 
We will create an entire family of chickens this week with the hen, rooster, and brood of chicks.  Different characteristics will be developed to show what type of chicken you are drawing.  Will yours lay white, brown, or blue eggs?

🐐Week Four - Goat
Objective: 
This unique animal is very social and needs a lot of attention and opportunities to play.  We'll add a bit of a 3-Dimensional setting for your goats to live in within your drawing.

🐖Week Five - Pig
Objective:
This stout-bodied animal will be a bit different to draw since it doesn't have much of a neck, but it certainly looks different enough from the other farm animals in this series that we will end up with a unique piece of art in the end.

🐑Week Six - Sheep
Objective: 
The texture of sheep's wool will be a change from drawing fur as we concentrate on creating this soft, fluffy creature.

Interaction:
📧Learners will be asked to share their progress with one another.  This interaction will not be limited to showing off only finished works of art but to sharing throughout the process to receive help and encouragement from myself and the other learners.  It is important to share and receive feedback as you progress through each stage.  The weekly check-ins will ask for participation in not only discussions about the animals and artwork created but will vary between games, polls, and challenges based on that week's theme.

🤔Perhaps you are stuck on something or just can't quite figure out why you aren't happy with some part of your work - ask for feedback, not just from me, but from your peers.  Maybe you tried something that had an unexpected result.  Share with the class so we can celebrate your successful experimentation!  We can learn so much from each other through the work-in-progress photos and being able to compare each piece from day one to the completed masterpieces.  

💬I will provide individual feedback and guide each learner through the questions that are asked and photos that are shared.  Learners will also be encouraged to provide feedback and encouragement to each other with specific prompts each week.  Since so many other physical supplies are required, we will keep communication as simple as possible.  Communication will be made entirely through the Outschool classroom, no need to log in to anything else during this course.  Feedback will be provided within 24-48 hours Monday-Friday.

🎨Creativity is encouraged!  As I provide demonstrations and resources each week to draw I hope you take what you learn and use your own color combinations and spin the suggested subject matter into something unique to your own interests.  I can't wait to see how you give your work character and begin developing your own artistic style!