Have Sketchbook, Will Travel is an ongoing drawing club and artist collective for young artists who like to draw and want to learn how to draw even better! We'll all draw in our sketchbooks together while my live-drawing is presented on the screen with my camera. We'll come up with different ideas and things to draw while I show some old techniques. 

Each several will allow the first several minutes for the artists to share and comment on each other's work, which will be based on the assignments and/or drawing prompt given.

Syllabus:
May 6: Introduction to Sketchbooks and Warming Up w/ Ink Pen.
Activity: Overview of sketchbook ideas; being comfortable using an ink pen; abstract drawing (doodling) and "taking your pen for a walk."
Exercise: practice drawing straight lines, geometric shapes and patterns.
Homework: create a two page spread made up of panels and abstract shapes.

May 13: Object Studies and Thumbnail Sketches
Activity: Looking for things to draw and then figuring out how to draw them.
Exercise: draw an inanimate object and make it anthropomorphic (having human features).  
Homework: still life drawing--lay 4-6 objects down on a surface  [examples: a Barbie doll, a box of Kleenex, a Boxcar Children paperback from the library at school, a hair dryer, a pillow with a checker design on it, etc] sit in front of it (or take a photo for reference) and draw what you see from your perspective on a two-page spread. Choice of pen or pencil.

May 29: Drawing Animals
Activity:  Showing examples of both serious and cartoon animals; using Google Images as a source.
Exercise: Artists will suggest different types of animals to draw and then share at the end.
Homework: Focus on a specific animal study for next time

May 27:  Landscapes
Activity: Finding interesting things to draw outside--natural and manmade; exploring Thomas Hart Benton's sketchbook adventures and landscape artists like Vincent Van Gogh and Wesley Willis. 
Exercise: Go outside and find a landscape to draw live, take a pic to work on it at home later. 
Homework: draw an outdoor scene from your perspective containing both manmade and natural objects with ink pen.
 
June 3: Figure Drawing and Intro to Faces
Activity: Emphasis on Figure drawing; discussion of Benton's 3D model process as well as Pablo Picasso's early years.
Exercise: draw the screen in front of you, complete with a mini portrait of each student. 
Homework: draw a person in their natural posture who's in the room with you with ink pen; finish drawing class if not finished in class (take screenshot for reference).

June 10: Blueprint and designs
Activity: using your sketchbook as a notebook to deconstruct ideas and for reference material; discussing sketchbooks of Leonardo da Vinci, Frank Gehry and Chris Ware; discuss form vs. function and the system of the LEGO design. Exercise: Begin designing a self portrait LEGO character. 
Homework: create an autobiographical LEGO playset, complete with characters and setting. Pen or pencil option along with Crayon and/or colored pencil (optional). 

June 17: Lettering and Typography 
Activity: Sketchbooks for written expression; studying the typographical sketchbooks of Basquiat, Leonardo da Vinci and Oliver Jeffers; focus on history of typography; study of handwriting and signatures.
Exercise: Fill up a two-page spread with a stream-of-consciousness entry made up of primarily text and use plenty of block letters.
Homework: create a diary that takes place between now and the next session. Use illustration if you'd like.

June 24: Drawing Faces
Activity: Understanding how to draw faces; focus on sketchbooks of Walt Disney and Jim Henson.
Exercise: practice thumbnails of pics of people.
Homework: draw a self portrait using a mirror with a pencil.

Although the sessions will not necessarily build on one another we will be focusing on, and revisiting the above listed, as well as the following:
•  drawing-prompts to work on during and between meetings (drawingprompt.com)
•  understanding how to navigate and utilize Google Images for reference material 
• growing reference archive of drawing-prompt contributions from students (Prompt Morgue)
•  utilizing the camera on the iPad
•  Print Morgue (interesting and relevant clippings from publications to be pasted/taped into the sketchbook for  reference material at later times)
•  record/note keeping (write down ideas as they come to you, feel free to use for other information like important dates, grocery lists, email addresses or whatever else you think you need to keep)

The closing of our session will allow for students to further share out, either, pre-class work or what has been created during class.  All 50 minute sessions will allow for time to draw and/or implement the technique presented. 



"My sketchbook is a witness of what I am experiencing, scribbling things whenever they happen."
-- Vincent Van Gogh