FIGURE DRAWING CLASSES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Unveiling a student mural at the Citigroup Center (2019).
After so many years of teaching artists of all ages and a variety of interests, there’s one thing I’ve noticed about children:
Children almost always begin by attempting to draw people. That’s why figure drawing is a good place for kids to start. As they develop, so do their interests. Some love painting landscapes, some enjoy drawing animals, while others draw cars and trucks. But no matter what the artist of any age’s focus is, one fact seems clear; if you can draw people, you can draw anything!
MY APPROACH TO TEACHING ART TO KIDS
When guiding young people, it’s important to assure them that they’re doing just fine. Little kids often become frustrated when they make an error. I remind them there’s not much that can’t be fixed, and showing them how leaves them feeling empowered.
With middle school students, it helps to start by pointing out that trying new techniques means not getting it right the first time. We’ll get there soon enough, but we’ll start by taking some chances and, perhaps, making some mistakes. This is part of the process. This is how we learn.
Fundamentals of Figure Drawing for Young People
Beginner and Intermediate Curriculum
Classes are 8 sessions over 4 weeks. All sessions are 90 minutes.
Session 1: Gesture drawing and proportion
Session 2: Volume and structure
Session 3: Head and neck
Session 4: Facial expression
Session 5: Light and shadow
Session 6: Fabric folds and draping
Session 7: Guided figure drawing 1
Session 8: Guided figure drawing 2
For more class information, see our detailed curriculum.
For figure drawing class inquiries and questions about instruction, please fill out the form below: