Drawing Animals w/Barbara Zanelli

This class is for anyone who is interested in learning how to draw animals.

We will begin with the premise, borrowed from art teacher Glen Vilppu, that in order to learn how to draw something you don’t know, start with what you do know. So, we will start with the human skeleton, reviewing basic bone structure. You will find out you know more than you think! Also, looking at the bone structure isn’t as difficult as one might imagine.

From there, you will see that the structure of animals are just slight variations of human bone structure. Through tracing you will start to explore this. Knowing even just a little of the bone structure greatly helps when you start shading.

There are other ways of approaching drawing animals as well, and that is through simplifying the surface look of the animal into shapes. We will also be employing this method. You will have a chance to explore and experiment by combining these methods.

As well as exploring methods of drawing, we will also explore styles or approaches. We will be copying photographs, as well as various types of drawing, including whimsical and cartoon. Some examples are Beatrix Potter and Disney. So, you will also get a chance to try out different styles of drawing, including basic watercolor and colored pencil.

What you will learn:

1. Make detailed rendered value drawing of real objects

2. Explore different shading techniques

3. Gain more understanding of the structure of the human and animal head and body through studying basic anatomy

4. Begin to develop an understanding of decisive, quick sketching

5. Confidence and comfort with the materials

Supply List

• Drawing pad (white paper) 9 x 12 or whatever size you have already

• Pencils 2B, 4B or a full set, or add a couple more: 2H, 8B

. Waterproof fineliner pen such as Micron around size .05

- Basic watercolor set

- Basic colored pencil set

- Watercolor brush that comes to a point

- Hot press (smooth) watercolor paper or multimedia paper such as Canson XL

• 1 blending stump, tortillion or a few q-tips

- 2 erasers: 1 kneaded, 1 Mono Zero

• Ruler (minimum 6”)

- Vellum tracing paper pad 8.5 x 11 such as: Amazon.com: Crehatos 8.5" x 11" Tracing Paper, Translucent Tracing Pad, 100 Sheets 38lb/60gsm Vellum Art Paper

- Binder with sheet protectors to use for handouts and creating tracing paper drawing file

- Optional: Sennelier fixative for graphite to protect drawings from smearing

- Optional: scissors and drafting tape

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