Draw & Learn – An Exploration of Animals and Art 


This is a multi-day project based class, which means:
-	We will meet multiple times.
-	There are scheduled times that class is held, recordings will be available if a class is missed.
-	See link at the bottom for a weekly breakdown of which animal we will be learning about and drawing each week.

Each week we will gather and learn a little about the animal of the week all while completing a drawing/art project. This is part science, part project based, and all fun! 

We are our own worst critics. My goal is to help us take our own art less seriously while also taking art in general more seriously. Students will learn that growth in a subject matter such as art comes from repetition and breaking larger more complex drawings into simple shapes. My goal is always to increase student’s confidence levels, help them see mistakes happen and can actually be good sometimes, and that art is a great relaxation activity. After just a few short weeks parents often notice a surprising increase in their student’s art confidence level. 

I recently had a 9 year old student say, "That is cool but looks hard! I wouldn't be surprised to find it easy though! All the art we have made so far has looked hard, but it was actually not hard and fun!" This is 100% my goal. I want to teach my students techniques and drawings that appear hard but are easy enough for them to find success.

My passion and excitement about art comes out in my teaching. And I love seeing and hearing the kids get excited about their art. My classes are set up in a way that there are natural social interactions as we trace over our finished piece in black marker or as we work on coloring our masterpiece. I have found even shy or quiet students share in this no pressure environment. 

It is my hope that students will relate to each other through their art and realize that even though we are each unique, being different is ok, in fact being different is awesome! Students will learn to encourage each other through the struggles of the daily life while growing as individuals. They will learn to express their feelings through line and color as well as other art techniques depending on the week attended.

For examples of the types of drawings we will be doing in this class please see the teacher profile where a link to my student’s art portfolio is provided. If you have a student who typically feels they “can’t draw” this is the perfect class for them. I have been working with students who do not see themselves as artists for the last 7 years and have had these same students who were forced to attend the class the first session, beg to continue on, many I’ve had in class for 4+ years. This is not a draw this in this exact way, which is what helps these students be successful. The goal for me is to have no students works of art be identical, I encourage them to change things up and follow their gut.

What to know what animal we will be studying each week? 
Schedule for 2021 classes can be found here: https://www.eclecticallymeniki.com/class-information-calendars 

Supplies:
-	Any type of quality art paper or sketchbook, cardstock in 3 ring binder/sheet protectors (the thicker the paper the better, look for one labeled multi-media)
- 	Watercolor paints, paint brushes, and water some weeks
-	Pencil and Eraser
-	Ruler
-	Markers, Gel Pens, and or colored pencils (I will be using all 3 depending on the project)
-	Water Resistant Black Fine Point Illustration Pens (.3-.8 nib size) or Extra Fine/Fine Tipped Sharpie 
-	Some weeks may require printing out a template so access to a printer is helpful though students can work from the slides

Please Note: 
I recommend using the biggest screen you have possible as I teach using a combination of slides and live directed drawing so kids can see both the end goal and the process of getting there.