Cartoon Me: Watercolor Portraits

In this one time live watercolour class learnes will look at drawing a cartoon representation of themselves or a loved one, stylizing, and painting those portraits in watercolour. We will cover: Pencil types – leads – and drawing and under painting Watercolour – types – applications – variances Colour – spectrum – temperature – mixing Inking – contour lines – line weight Learners will work along side the teacher but be working on individual art pieces. This is a technique class and the emphasis will be on process as we work towards a finished goal, however a piece may be finished after class time. This program would be ideal for learners who have an understanding of drawing and proportion, who are open to artistic development, who are comfortable being on camera and sharing their work in a small class. We are here to support one another and the classroom atmosphere will focus on being supportive to all skill levels. Wonderful Watercolours! Introductory Techniques FLEX is a great watercolour class to explore before this one, however it is not a pre-requisite and learners with any experience layering watercolours will do well. As with all my classes, my goal as an artist facilitator is equip all learners with not only a safe place for artistic exploration, but the tools to pursue this exploration outside the classroom.

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Paint with Me: Beautiful Botanicals

In this two session class learners and the teacher together will work to plan, draw, and paint a beautiful botanical from reference. In class one we will look at composition, drawing from reference, plotting, and pencil work for painting. We will create color swatches and a value study. In class two we will use the swatches and study to complete our paintings using watercolor and inks. We will look at negative space, line weight, watercolor techniques, and light and shadow.

Learners should come away from this class with the confidence to draw from reference, have a better understanding of simplifying shape, know how to prepare a search for planned painting as well as a value study. Learners will use watercolor techniques they already know or are trying for the first time.

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Charming Charcoal Portraits

In this one time live class learners, along with the teacher, will work on shading a drawn portrait using willow charcoal. The class material will cover value, light source, blending, and preservation.

Learners will use artistic language and drawing skills to explore value, light and shadow, blending techniques, and working from reference.

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Expecto Patronum in Paint!

In this two session study learners will use water based paints to create a finished painting of a corporeal patronus of their own choosing. In this class learners will be guided through the initial brainstorming, planning, and sketching phase of a final painting. Learners will use atmospheric perspective to create depth of field and distance, they will look at negative space and colour, and expand their artistic language as they work towards a finished painting using various watercolor techniques. Learners can expect to cover the following: Week 1: Brainstorming, Planning, Composition, Sketching, and background. Week 2: Colour, Perspective, Distance and Scale, Details, and finished piece. This class is beginner friendly but experience with watercolour is a plus. This class is hands on and size will be kept small to ensure that each learner has an opportunity to share and ask questions.

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Art Fundamentals : Drawing Perspective FLEX

In this four week flexible schedule program learners will explore the basics of one and two point perspective, adding this key fundamental to their artistic toolbox. Each week learners will be guided through drawing exercises, video demonstrations, peer critique, and weekly discussion prompts to engage with the teacher and co learners. The material that will be covered is as follows: Week One: why perspective? One point perspective and man made objects. Week Two: one point perspective and organic objects. Week Three: Going to extremes with 2 point perspective. Week Four: Two point perspective and foreshortening. Learners should be prepared to share in the classroom with drawings, photos, and videos.

Learners should come away from this program with a strong grasp of perspective fundamentals, and how to apply them to their drawing practice. Learners who are new to perspective may come away with a larger artistic vocabulary and tips for art critique.

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Feet First! Starting Your Sketchbook

During this hour class we will conquer an intimidating blank sketchbook by working through the following exercises: Contour Drawing Blind Contour Thumbnails Gesture Drawing experience is not necessary but a willingness to make mistakes and try new things will be helpful.

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Paint the Galaxy: Watercolor

In this watercolor workshop we will talk about and try the techniques needed to create your own original galaxy painting. This class will focus heavily on technique and students will be encouraged to complete any unfinished work on their own time. No previous watercolor experience is necessary. Drawing experience not necessary.
Students will learn watercolor techniques: Wash
Wet on wet
Splatter
Desaturation
Lifting

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Wonderful Watercolours! Introductory Techniques and Tips

In this intro to watercolours class learners will explore some of the key techniques used by watercolour artists. We will examine these techniques, test them out in class, and take about how they can be used in our paintings and painting practice. I will share some of my favourite tips for bringing watercolour into drawing and how this versatile medium can be used in a variety of styles. Learners do not need to have experience in watercolours, this is a great class for beginners! Techniques we will cover include: Wash Wet on wet Resist Drybrush Desaturation Lifting Painting direct Drawing experience will be helpful but not required. Learners can expect teacher demonstrations, in class exercises, and links to reference for extended learning.

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LEARN TO DRAW YOUR DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CHARACTER

In this 4 week class learners will bring their characters from Megan Hardy Dungeon & Dragons campaigns (https://outschool.com/teachers/Megan-Hardy?usid=dmMhTMXF&signup=true&authTrigger=follow_teacher&follow=true&utm_campaign=share_leader_link)
and learn to draw, colour and bring to life their characters and quests.

Week 1: In the first week of this drawing class learners will introduce their characters. Using drawing to explore proportion, gesture, expression, and movement, we will create concept sketches to conceptualize our finished character art. We will explore character design and develop character design sheets to guide our work in future weeks.
Week 2: In the second week create a line drawing of our character in full body and bust. We will explore contour drawing, create colour swatches for our work, discuss composition and visual hierarchy. We will look at costume design, details, and line variation.
Week 3: In the third week we will colour our character sheets and explore color, value, form, and stylized versus realistic rendering. We will use color theory to understand complimentary colors in shading, creating tone, and work with light sources and cast shadows. We will talk about rendering techniques like blending, hatching, cross hatching, and contrast.
Week 4: In the final week of this character class we will use our learned skills in combination to complete our coloured character sheets. We will use drawing and shading techniques to depict character support items such as pets and environments. We will explore ways to draw and depict character abilities and special items. We will ensure we have equipped all artists with the ability to use a variety of techniques and art elements to create future characters on future adventures.

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Let’s Make a Comic Book! FLEX

To create a comic book from concept to completion learners should come to class excited with a written story or robust idea. We will work together to create our own comic books and put them together in a class anthology for all learners to add to their comic book collections. Learners will interact with the teacher and their peers by using classroom video demonstrations, brainstorming threads, sharing and developing visual work together.

Learners will interact with the teacher and each other using the Outschool classroom, nearpod for collaboration boards, visual games, and summary quizes. All of our classroom interaction will occur on the outschool platform and there is no sign-in needed to use the additional nearpod features. Learners will need the capability to reply to materials and brainstorming using written word, video replies to one another, and most importantly uploading photos of their art work to the classroom. Some learners may need parental assistance to upload their work to the classroom successfully.

Learners can expect the course to explore:
Week 1: In the first week learners will share their story concepts, we will work with thumbnail sketches and storyboards to identify the pacing of our comic book. We will use contour lines, sketches, and gesture drawing to establish main characters, costumes, and visual elements to support plot points.
Week 2: This week will have us exploring the various ways to produce illustrated comic books. We will decide on our use of ink and colour and using classroom prompts, nearpod collaboration boards, and video replies we will talk about the process of digitizing for reproduction. Using polls and votes, we will decide as a group on page size and layout so that our comics can be combined into an anthology at the end of this program. We will see video demonstrations and nearpod visual games to look at different art styles in sequential illustration. At the end of this class we will have decided upon page number, page size, and page panels for our personal comic books.
Week 3: Learners and the teacher will delve into panel layout and sketching our page content. We will use a cut paper exercise to talk about page layout and composition, and we will have a real world scavenger hunt to help us look at comic books from our own collection that demonstrate key aspects of composition, line quality, and visual hierarchy. Learners will be drawing their panels and stories in pencil at this stage and the teacher will schedule one on one live meetings OR correspondence to ‘check in’ on progress.
Week 4: This week we will pause with our pages and take a look at Cover Art. With video demonstrations, classroom sharing, and discussion, learners and the teacher will explore art materials used to create cover art. We will look closely at font use, margins, and we will practice digitizing art while we create compelling covers for our comic books. Learners will share their covers in the classroom
Week 5: This week learners will discover all about inking. We will participate in exercises on line quality, line variation, and talk about how artists have inked work over the years. We will participate and share in an activity using hatching and cross hatching to create value. We will look at portraying mass, depth, and form in our objects. Along with the teacher demonstration we will share and comment on an inking exercise in high key value.
Week 6: This week learners will begin to colour their comics and will explore and implement decisions about spot color, limited color palette, and full colour. We will explore the print process and learn why certain decisions about colour is made in book creation. Some colour theory concepts will be touched on here to examine how to use colour to reinforce action in our composition.
Week 7: In the second to last week of this course learners should be completing their comic books. Together we will take a look at reproduction options, and will be uploading to the classroom. Learners will be shown how to bind their work and protect their original art. Before Week 8 begins each learner will have uploaded their comic book to be added to the class anthology. This week will also include a look at distribution options for comic book creators.
Week 8: After weeks of hard work Learners will present their comic books to each other. As a fun nod to each other’s creative efforts, learners will engage in an exercise called “in my style” where we take all of the drawing skills we have learned in previous weeks and draw a character made by another learner in their own style. Collaboration during this week is lighthearted and fun. We will include a “guess the side kick” game using Nearpod and upon completion by everyone the class anthology will be available for each learner.
For this program learners are expected to have a keen interest in drawing and comic book creation. This class is for experienced artists and artists who feel comfortable sharing their work with classmates.

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Let’s Create: An Inspiration Journal (FLEX)

In this flexible schedule art course learners will create and develop an inspiration journal, an important tool for all creative artists. Using drawing exercises, demonstrations, collections and sharing of resources in the classroom, learners will discover the elements of art and design each week including line, shape, color, value, form, texture, and space.

Week #1 – Starting our inspiration journal – what is it for and how do we use it?
Week #2 – Let’s study line. Are there lines in the real world? Let’s talk about how lines are important to art.
Week #3 – Identifying and using shape in art. How shape builds composition.
Week #4 – Colour and Value . Looking at colour wheels and value scales and how they make us feel.
Week #5 – Lets look at form and space and how they create visual harmony!
Week #6 – Totally Textured – using drawing techniques to create texture.

How the class will be structured:
Each week learners will be given video demonstrations, prompts for discussion via flipgrid, and collaborative activities via nearpod. Learners will work through the exercises with each other to explore the weekly learning focus and share that work in the classroom. Learners to this classroom will want to be comfortable with posting photos and videos and parental assistance may be needed to navigate the tech for some learners.
Learners will be expected to seek out materials in their lives such as old photos, magazines to cut and tear, fabric scraps, print outs from online resources, and so on. Parental guidance will be strongly urged for collection and repurpose of materials.
In this program we will draw inspiration from the world around us and we will talk about the elements of art that we like to create and explore.

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