This is a 15-Week Semester Series. Classes will meet ONCE every week through the course of the curriculum.
Weeks 1-7, students will embark on a foundational journey into the world of figure drawing. These preparatory weeks lay the groundwork for the course, focusing on building core skills and concepts. Students will delve into the fundamental principles of sketching, familiarizing themselves with sketching materials, and honing their skills. Students will enhance their observational abilities, enabling them to capture figures with greater precision and authenticity.
As the course progresses into Weeks 8-16, the focus shifts towards a deeper exploration of figure drawing. They will learn the intricacies of human anatomy, dissecting skeletal structures and muscle groups, proportions of the human body, including the 8-head concept and the relationships between the torso and limbs. Gesture drawing and capturing movement in live scenes or photos will add a dynamic dimension to their art.  Moreover, students will explore the expressive potential of color in figure drawing with colored pencils. Students will learn about the art history of figure drawing, studying renowned masters and their contributions. Contemporary trends in figure drawing will encourage them to infuse modern influences into their work. Finally, students will work on individual projects using photo references, exploring diverse figure drawing styles and receiving valuable feedback from peers, enriching their artistic journey.

1:1 Private class option: This curriculum provides a structured framework. It can be adapted to suit the needs and interests of the students for portfolio development.

Schedule

Week 1: Introduction to Figure Drawing
• Discussion of the importance of portraiture in art history.
• Introduction to sketching materials (pencils, colored pencils, charcoal, canvas, etc.).
• Refresher on drawing skills, including line work, shading, and blending.
• Understanding the Plumb Line with quick sketching exercises to improve observation.

Week 2-3: Anatomy and Proportions
• Study of human anatomy, including skeletal structure and muscle groups.
• Proportions of the human body, including the 8-head, torso, and limbs.
• Exercises in drawing individual body parts from anatomical references.

Week 4-5: Gesture Drawing and Movement
• Study of live scenes or photos of people in action.
• Understanding line of action in poses and movements.
• Capturing different poses, gestures, and expressions.
• Quick sketching exercises to improve observation and fluidity.

Week 6-7: Shading and 3D Rendering
• Understanding light and shadow in relation to 3D forms.
• Exercises in drawing simplified, basic figure shapes and forms.
• Putting together a three-dimensional full figure with proportions.

Week 8-9: Color in Figure Drawing
• Refresher on colored pencil techniques.
• Techniques for achieving realistic skin tones and textures, etc.
• Putting together a full figure in colored pencils.

Week 10-11: Art History and Figure Drawing Masters
• Study of famous figure drawing artists and their contributions.
• Analysis of different styles and historical context.
• Appreciation of the various mediums in figure drawing.
• Exploration of expressive and traditional approaches to figure drawing.
• Reproducing in own style with colored pencils.

Week 12-13: Contemporary Trends in Figure Drawing
• Exploration of contemporary portrait artists and their work.
• Discussion of current trends and diverse approaches in figure drawing.
• Discuss cultural influences and contemporary interpretations of human figures in art.
• Reproducing in own style in colored pencils.

Week 14-15: Models from Photo Reference
• Students work on individual projects with a photo reference.
• Suggesting students to work with models of various ages, genders, and backgrounds.
• Recommending different poses, moods, and body types to use.
• Encouraging students to explore diverse figure drawing styles, from realism to abstraction.
• Sharing with peers and receiving teacher feedback.

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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.