The following drawing lessons and exercises are a great way to introduce your students to the magic of drawing.
Why Drawing?
Drawing is one of the most important activities you and your students can do. Drawing not only provides the basis for other creative activities – like painting, sculpture and printmaking – but it also provides a direct link with reading, writing and especially mathematics. Drawing is the single most accessible form of art available. All you need (to begin with), is a pencil (or maybe some markers) and a sheet of paper.
Here are 6 fantastic drawing exercises to try with your students and children.
BLIND CONTOUR DRAWING – all ages
Contour drawing is an excellent way to train the eye to draw what it really sees rather than what it thinks it sees. DOODLES – all ages
A free-form drawing project that deals with the elements of design – colour, line, shape, form and texture. PORTRAIT DRAWING – GRID SYSTEM – grades 4 and up
Using artist Chuck Close as inspiration, art teacher Alison Lorion shows us how to draw portraits using the grid system. ADVANCED SCRIBBLE PICTURES – all ages
This lesson from Kim Swanger requires planning and problem solving, much like a math problem or science experiment. Students will see that scribbles can become much more. PATTERNS PATTERNS PATTERNS – grades 2 and up
Using paper, pencils, markers and some objects from around the home and classroom, you and your students can create some fantastic patterns that will astound and amaze. A UNIQUE DRAWING EXPERIENCE – all ages
Students (and teacher) will see how with just one set of directions, everyone in the classroom will come up with very unique works of abstract art.