2024-01-12
Syllabus Art Classes for children 2024
The aim of the art classes is to introduce drawing skills to children, drawing is a skill that can be learned and improved on with practice. The Betty Edwards “Drawing on the Right side of the brain” method is a training program that unlocks the artists hidden talent.
The focus is on portraits which are considered the most difficult drawings to do, The theory is that if you can draw a person, you can draw anything. The system has been used in many art classes to teach those that cannot draw to understand the basics of drawing and teach them to create artworks that others can enjoy.
My dirty secret is that I could not draw at all even when I started painting in my forties. I was 50 when I found the Betty Edwards system and my drawings went from impossible to recognise to drawing people that could be recognised in only a few weeks. (a dedicated few weeks.)
As can be seen the lack of talent shone through without any lighting at all.
My goal is to encourage children to develop their artistic intent from whatever their current level to improve and become adventurous. The first portrait I did of Neil Draiman above was not my first ever sketch of a face, it was the first time I tried to create a recognisable image after a few years of not drawing and never having attempted to draw someone other than myself. Using the Betty Edwards technique I created the drawing below of the same person a few days later. By no means perfect but recognisable.
My goals for learning to sketch were to improve my paintings.
These are not my best works, or the ones that give me most joy, yet going from the first drawing to this painting in only a few days proves the efficacy of the Betty Edwards method.
Syllabus
Weeks 1-2: Initial Drawing and Skill Evaluation
Class 1 (1 hour):
- Introduction to the course and the importance of observational drawing.
- Initial drawing session: Self-portrait.
- Discussion and self-assessment.
Class 2 (1 hour):
- Review of self-portraits.
- Introduction to the remaining subjects (hand, still life, chair, landscape).
- Individual drawing session: Hand.
- Group discussion and feedback.
Weeks 3-20: Lessons based on "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" Note: Following the structure of Betty Edwards' book, each week is dedicated to specific lessons and exercises.
Weeks 3-10:
- Lessons 1-4: Shifting from L-Mode to R-Mode.
- Emphasize perception and the use of the "edge" and "space" relationships.
- Assign related exercises focusing on contour drawing and negative space.
Weeks 11-14:
- Lessons 5-8: Drawing from Perceptions.
- Explore the concept of "seeing" and capturing the three-dimensional world on a two-dimensional surface.
- Assign exercises related to proportion, light and shadow, and spatial relationships.
Weeks 15-18:
- Lessons 9-12: Drawing with a New Sense of Space.
- Focus on perspective, proportion, and spatial relationships.
- Assign exercises related to drawing simple objects and scenes.
Weeks 19-20:
- Lessons 13-16: Mastery and Beyond.
- Encourage students to apply the learned techniques to more complex drawings.
- Assign final projects related to still life, chair, and landscape.
Weeks 21-24: Final Drawing and Progress Evaluation
Class 21 (1 hour):
- Introduce the final phase of the course.
- Distribute the drawings from the first week for students to compare.
Class 22-23 (1 hour each):
- Individual drawing sessions: Chair and landscape.
- Emphasize the application of the skills learned during the course.
- Provide guidance and feedback.
Class 24 (1 hour):
- Group discussion and reflection on the progress made.
- Repeat the self-portrait, hand, still life, chair, and landscape drawings.
- Individual reflection on personal growth as an artist.
This syllabus combines initial skill assessment, a structured learning approach based on "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain," and a concluding phase for students to apply their newfound skills and evaluate their progress over the 24-week period.
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#Art Classes, # Children, # Syllabus,
