Instructor: Tomás Estrada
Course Description: This course teaches students the fundamentals of drawing. Students will experiment with various materials and tools, explore various techniques, and develop their observation skills. Students will be introduced to different drawing styles, and the creation and development of sketchbooks. Exercises and assign¬ments will be presented indoors as well as outdoors. Upon completion, students will have a greater understand¬ing of the many components that will help them build competency with their drawing.
7-Week Schedule
Week 1:
Introduction & course overview. Q&A: art materials & supplies, styles & techniques.
Student's experiences with drawing in/out of school, assessment of student work.
Drawing as art vs. design (composition, content, media, style, technique, theme)
Drawing problems/solutions (composition, proportions, values, etc.)
Introduction to structure of sketchbook & documentation.
Definition & exploration of gesture drawing. (Indoors) + (outdoors)
Week 2:
Definition & exploration of contour drawing
Explore different modalities of contour (exterior, cross, blind)
Explore various line qualities (mechanical vs. organic)
Week 3:
Definition & exploration of drawing texture (visual vs. tactile)
Pattern vs. texture (all-over, random, radial, concentric, etc.)
Line qualities (straight/curved, thick/thin, clear/blurred, smooth/rough, etc.)
Week 4:
Definition & exploration of drawing geometric shapes
Flat-plane shapes, curved-plane shapes, light, shade, shadow (core shadow, highlight)
Sight measuring, alignment of angles
Week 5:
Definition & exploration of landscape, 1-pt, 2-pt perspective environments
Line qualities (straight/curved, thick/thin, clear/blurred, smooth/rough, etc.)
Structure of objects vs. structure of environments
3 Points of View (eye-level, bird's eye, bug's eye) 3 Grids (1-Pt, 2-Pt, 3-Pt)
Theory/Principles (convergence, foreshortening, horizon line, vanishing point)
Week 6:
Definition & exploration of drawing human figures
Introduction to figurative art (proportion, scale)
Student-to-student portrait studies, clothing/drapery
Week 7: Saturday Studio Art Show & Parents' Reception
Definition & exploration of drawing human figures
Introduction to portraiture (proportion, scale)
Character development vs. portraiture
Portrait & compositional studies, clothing / drapery
Note: There will be weekly critiques of work.
This schedule is subject to change according to the needs of the class as determined by the instructor.