Welcome to The Painting Panda Classroom, I'm Mrs. Liisi (Lee-C)

Welcome to Intermediate Watercolor Animals FLEX CLASS!

This is a Flex class, meaning NO LIVE CLASSES, you sign up and then watch the weekly videos for the lesson, craft, and animal facts as your schedule allows, participate in the classroom discussion with your classmates and teacher, communicate with other classmates by commenting positively on their art once posted to the classroom each week.  Feel welcome and free to ask any question you want, about the animal or lesson.  The craft and animal facts I research on youtube, and have the links embedded into the classroom, so only that video is what will be shown on those days.  It is also expected that students share art work as projects are completed on a weekly basis.  If the class moves too fast for the student or if the extra activities are not working for the student please contact Mrs. Liisi directly for suggestions to help work with each student. 

With this class you don't need to have much prior knowledge about watercolors, as the techniques we'll be practicing each lesson will help you with each lesson's project.  We will be using various techniques to learn to paint different types of animals/ insects.  Watercolor is relaxing, reflective, and persuasive when it comes to painting mediums and I encourage students to not only paint the project as they watch me paint it, but to also express themselves in the manner that they choose to.  With many ways to "do watercolor" I've decided to include a few with techniques, practice sessions, as well as examples of what we'll be doing, then step by step painting instructions for each class.    

This class theme is Insects.  Each week we'll learn how to draw and paint different Insects, Bugs, Arachnids with watercolor.  Yes, we draw with brushes when you learn from The Painting Panda Teacher.  Each week we'll cover a new type of watercolor technique, so that in the end of class students will know at least 4 different watercolor techniques, how to paint 4 different IBA, and learn trade secret tips along the way.

Week 1: We will be covering the following: Ant & Grasshopper

Week 2: We will be covering the following: Dragonfly (3 different ones)

Week 3: We will be covering the following: 3 Different Bees

Week 4: We will be covering the following: 4 different Jewel Beetles

I will post my instruction videos, my step-by-step videos by week each Monday no later than 5pm EST.  Monday is also the perfect time for students to introduce themselves to the class, tell us about yourselves, and share something fun as listed in the very first message I post to the classroom. Tuesday is our tip video day where I provide a tip video about how to better understand how to use watercolor paints, brushes, techniques.  Wednesday is our specified peer interaction day that I help lead through any of the following means: games, trivia, video chatting with peers, ice breakers, animal fact quizzes, interactive classrooms, etc.  Peer interaction is expected during our class.  Wednesdays are also our animal fact video day.  On Thursdays Thursdays is our craft day as well as, my day to offer customized help, tip videos and anything you need that wasn't addressed already about our lessons so that you feel confident sharing your work of art on Fridays. Friday is our Art submission day, this means that students upload an image or video clip of their art work directly to the classroom, and then are expected to comment on their classmate's art in a polite, positive manner.  Saturdays I typically respond to art submissions that have been posted for the week.  If art is posted after Saturday I'll respond the following week.  Sunday's are my off days, and I won't respond to anything on this day.  This is of course based off my location in North Carolina USA in the EST zone.       

For this class I have created an interactive classroom specifically designed to help give students more interaction with each other and myself outside of our painting project.  The classroom will have a variety of video clips I've created, found on youtube, or Q&A, FAQs I've created.  Parents please read the parent guidance section for this class, as students will need your approval to participate with this classroom.