Summary: In this challenging art tutoring program, the students will learn and practice many art skills such as: contour drawing, composition, drawing negative space, shading objects, human face proportions, and drawing their own self-portrait!)

In each of these classes we will be also walking around giving occasional tips, feedback, and help to the students. We will need the student’s full cooperation so they can get the most out of Little Picasso. Most activities will be derived from “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: Workbook” by Betty Edwards.

The supplies needed for this semester will be provided to the student on their first day and there will also be an extra set in the art studio just in case a student forgets or loses their supplies. The supplies include: a ten by seven inches wire-bound sketchbook, a graphite pencil drawing set, sharpener, and blending stumps.

In the future, Little Picasso plans to expand its art media selection to include more variety such as charcoal, color pencil, watercolor, oil paint, acrylic, and ink media.

Bring out the Little Picasso inside you!

Portrait Drawing Preparation Curriculum

Goal: This ten day course (two hours each once a week) will teach and provide special skills and knowledge necessary to learn the basic use of graphite and the completion of a realistic self-portrait.

 

  • Class 1:

 

      1. Introduction to class
      2. How to hold a pencil to get different line strokes
      3. The 5 basic elements of shape
        1. The dot, circle, and line family
        2. Helps you see basic shapes in everyday objects
      4. Test drawing skills
        1. Preliminary drawings
        2. Flower, person, and hand

 

  • Class 2:

 

      1. Upside down drawing exercise
        1. Learning to draw is learning to see
        2. Turning drawing upside down helps the child focus on the shapes more and not the actual object
      2. Introduction to contour line drawing
        1. Contour hand drawing exercise

 

  • Class 3:

 

      1. Practicing contour drawing
        1. Blind contour drawing
        2. Improves drawing skills
        3. Students use both senses of sight and touch
      2. Make a viewfinder
        1. Helps students focus on getting the right proportions and size

 

  • Class 4:

 

      1. Learning composition
        1. Rule of thirds
        2. The golden rule
        3. Still life activity (shoes) using contour lines
      2. Negative space
        1. Helps students see the overall shape of a complicated object
        2. Drawing flowers using negative space

 

  • Class 5:

 

      1. Shading objects
        1. Learning more about your pencils
        2. Drawing a shaded egg
        3. Terms and definitions
        4. Shading activity(s)

 

  • Class 6:

 

      1. Human face proportions
        1. Portrait view
        2. Side view
        3. Practice drawing different human facial features
      2. Homework
        1. Take a good quality selfie and send it to the CEO’s email a day before next class

 

  • Class 7:

 

      1. Self-portrait plan
        1. Steps to achieve this goal
        2. Make a small scale drawing of self-portrait with selfie that has been printed out
      2. Homework
        1. Finish drawing the small scale drawing in the sketchbook and have it shaded

 

  • Class 8:

 

      1. Start self-portrait
        1. Make a good grid with sharpie
        2. Finish drawing negative space of the portrait with the good paper
        3. Start with rough sketch of facial features and detail with the help of the grid behind your paper
      2. Homework
        1. Finish drawing out all facial features and start the details

 

  • Class 9:

 

      1. Shading self-portraits
        1. Find and draw out the highlights
        2. Use the graphite pencils and other materials such as the blending stump, Q-tips, and tissues to complete shading
      2. Homework
        1. Finish up self-portrait at home
        2. Get feedback from friends and family

 

  • Class 10:

 

    1. Evaluate self-portrait
      1. Complete finishing touches
      2. Sign name
      3. Frame portraits
    2. Ice cream party!!! (or extra time to complete the curriculum/portrait)