Serving Art Educators
and Students Since 1994
Becoming Competent in Drawing
Submitted by: Stephen Watson, at The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Drawing I Lesson Plan: "Drawing Competencies"
Lesson Plan: "Drawing Competencies"
Description:
Successfully draw24 simple shapes.
Objectives:
Learn to draw simple shapes.
Improve your hand/eye coordination.
Improve your motor skills.
Implementation:
Duration:
Three 150 minute class sessions.
Materials:
1-2 black ballpoint pens*
50+ sheets of plain white Copy Paper
Daily Guide Sheets (See the images below. click on the images for full size and to print)
*I bought PaperMate pens
Distribute one guide sheet (Including each image below) per class session. The average student will complete a guide sheet in 2.5 to 3 hours.
Guide Sheet 1
The first student to complete the guide sheet below completed it in 97 minutes.
The second student did it in 106 minutes.
Third in 109 minutes.
Students finished this guide sheet before the three-hour class session ended. Click on the image for full size and to print.
Guide Sheet 2
The first student to complete Guide Sheet below completed it in 107 minutes.
The second student did it in 112 minutes.
Third in 113 minutes.
Students finished the Guide Sheet below before the 3-hour class session ended. Click on the image for full size and to print.
Guide Sheet 3
The first student to complete Guide Sheet below completed it in 96 minutes.
The second student did it in 124 minutes.
The third finished in 128 minutes.
All students finished the Guide Sheet below before the 3-hour class session ended. Click on the image for full size and to print.
Process:
1) Choose one shape from each of the guide sheets above.
2) On a second piece of paper, attempt to do a perfect freehand drawing of your chosen shape.
3) Check your accuracy by placing your drawn shape over the top of the guide sheet and holding it up to light. The shape on the guide shape should show through. (If it doesn't, you're using paper that is too thick)
4) If your freehand drawing fits entirely within the gray area around the outlines on the guide, your drawing is proficient. If it passes, let the teacher know you are finished. The teacher must certify that your drawing is within the gray area.
5) If any part of your drawing is outside the gray area around the border, then your drawing does not pass. Separate your two papers once again and redraw the shape. Check for accuracy each time you redraw the shape. Do this as many times as you need until you are proficient.
6) After passing one shape, you move on to another shape on the guide sheet. Repeat the process until you are proficient. For speedy students, they can move on to a third shape.
Guidelines:
Draw each shape freehand. No tracing is allowed. Attempt to draw the contour of each shape as defined by the black outline. The gray areas around the black outlines show the permitted deviation you have when drawing each shape freehand.
Do not overlap your guide sheet and drawing paper while drawing. There will be too much temptation to cheat and trace the shapes.
If your drawing goes outside the gray area around the borders of the guide sheet, your drawing does not pass. There should be absolutely no stray lines outside the gray area. Some students use short, choppy strokes with their pencil when drawing freehand lines. Those with more control will use a single stroke but this will not affect your grade in this assignment. Students should make sure that all the choppy strokes are within the gray borders.
All passes must be certified by the instructor. The teacher should have a bright light source such as a Light Box
Students must pass every shape on each guide sheet twice. They may not add to or revise any of the drawings on the guide sheets. Students are not to draw inside or around a previous drawing. If you drew a circle that went outside the gray area, you can't draw another one that fits. Your first drawing is the one that counts.
Conserve paper as much paper as you can. If you are having difficulty, ask your teacher for help. Draw as many shapes from the guide sheet as you can on one piece of paper. Do not draw on the back of the paper or it will be difficult to determine your accuracy when holding both papers up to light.
It is OK to measure the original shape on the guide sheet, but only with your hands or pen. No ruler is allowed. The pen may not be used as a straight-edge. Do no draw straight corners or edges near the edge of the paper. It is obviously easier to freehand a straight line when you can use the edge of the paper as a guide. Students should keep the straight lines at least a few inches (or at least 5 cm) from the edge. You may not use a drawing that has passed as a guide for your second attempt. In other words, if you are drawing a square, you may not draw a second square next to it.
Students may choose which guide sheet and shape to start. The only requirement is that they end up drawing all the shapes on all the guide sheets twice. Once your guide sheet is finished and certified by your insructor, show your finished sheet to him or her. You may leave the class only after the teacher confirms you are finished.
If you don't finish a guide sheet during the class period, you must finish the guide sheet(s) as homework and bring it in the following class period. Do not cheat when you take it home for homework! It will be very tempting but the purpose of the project is to make you a better artist. If you cheat, the lesson will not be as effective.
The instructor may change the rules and create additional restrictions if a student or students disrupt the class in any way.
Evaluation:
The teacher will certifiy each drawing by holding the student's drawing over the guide sheet on a light box or on a window. The entire assignment must be completed to get credit. If all the guide sheet shapes have been drawn twice according to the required parameters, the student gets a perfect score.
