Here we go!

We will begin all the Art classes this year with exercises in observation based drawing. Each level (Art 1, 2, 3 and GT) will complete different kinds of drawing activities to build skill and confidence in our drawing ability.
I found it interesting how many of the Art 1 students stated in their Interest Inventories that they hoped to "draw a lot" and "learn to draw" this year in the art class. There are so many ways to draw and so many different kinds of media that we can use to develop in the area of drawing that I struggle as a teacher to figure out just what will help each level of student. I remember being in art classes and being so frustrated when I couldn't get a drawing to look just like the subject I was trying to depict. Although we will focus on creating realistic drawings during some exercises, I want to remind you that sometimes realism is not necessarily the best kind of drawing. Sometimes, your gestural, abstract drawings are just as interesting as your realistic works. I invite you to keep an open mind.
What kinds of subjects do you hope to draw? Does a drawing have to look like a photograph to be considered "good?"