What is the Teaching Observational Drawing Course?

Observational drawing is a foundational skill for both the student and the teacher in the field of visual arts. It is a learned skill that requires concentration, analytical thinking, problem solving, and perseverance as one attempts to translate three-dimensional objects onto a two-dimensional surface. This course is designed to take your students' (and your own) observational drawing abilities to the next level and develop lessons that align with the National Core Arts Standards. You will be required to purchase drawing materials and complete many observational drawing exercises, submitting photos showing stages of your work, and developing lesson activities for your students. Grading is not based on level of ability, but rather on completion of assignments. Beginning artists are welcome!

What will I Learn in This Course?

In the Teaching Observational Drawing course, you'll develop and improve ability to capture a subject's basic form through gesture drawing.

The course also helps you identify specific mechanics of drawing that are critical to improving the skills of your students.

By the end of the course, you'll have the tools to:

• Utilize various strategies to increase perception and rendering of solid objects in observational drawings
• Practice drawing on-location and develop criteria and rubrics for evaluating student work
• Identify specific mechanics of drawing that are critical to improving the skills of your students
• Design activities and lesson plans that you can use in your classroom tomorrow

What Will You Learn?

In the Observational Drawing course, you'll learn how to:

• teach gesture drawing
• teach blind and modified contour drawing
• teach sighting techniques for sketching on location
• teach drawing texture and values
• teach strategies for creating depth in your drawings 

What Are the Assignments and Projects?

Assignments and topics include:

• Drawing exercises for each module
• Discussion forums for sharing sketches and offering feedback
• Creating lesson plans and activities that can be integrated into other subjects

Who Should Enroll in the Observational Drawing Course?

This course is for you if you want to learn new strategies for either direct art instruction or integrating drawing instruction into other subjects that you teach. 

What Educators Who Took the Observational Drawing Course Are Saying

"I had a fantastic time in this course! Rob structured it in a way that made the material and projects accessible and fun for people with all levels of drawing and teaching experience, and I think that anybody would be able to get something meaningful out of the course content."

- Educator, California

"I would recommend taking the course, Teaching Observational Drawing, because the course is thorough, the instructor is personable, the course is organized, and you will grow as an artist and teacher. This drawing course really packs in a lot of practical information, teaches specific skills, and presents great drawing lessons to try. In the book used with this course, Keys to Drawing, I appreciated the visual examples of skills taught. The balance between the text and supporting illustrations in this book was just right. And the instructor includes many additional drawing videos and readings to support the students taking this course. This course was a great experience. It stretched me as an artist and encouraged me as an art educator."

- Educator, Michigan

NOTE: Required book must be purchased separately.

This course applies to the Art in the Classroom Certificate.

Course Resources
ART-907 Syllabus (PDF Document)