How to Draw – The Very Basics is a class I’ve been working on putting online for you guys. I’ve been busy working on a number of projects the past couple of months. I know that doesn’t excuse my absence here, but I’m human and I tend to drop some balls when I juggle too much. I know, I know…I’m human, what can I say?

Anyway, I found this online class website for creative subject matter. You can find classes there at Skillshare covering subjects in traditional art forms like drawing and painting to graphic design. There are classes in photography, music, button making, craft making of all sorts, and even some culinary classes. Their format is as simple as can be. Most classes are taught in less than an hour, total. Each class video is broken down into smaller videos just a couple minutes in length. It makes it much easier to digest in small, bite-sized chunks. Students are presented with the goal of one main project, which they can post to the student project gallery for feedback. It’s meant to be fun, no pressure, and done when you have time.

How to Draw is hopefully the first of many classes that I have in mind for Skillshare. This project took me way, WAY out of my comfort zone! I hate being in front of the camera…especially a video camera. You’d think it would be easier with just me filming me via my web cam. But, no. I was just as uncomfortable and on top of that, felt rather silly sitting there talking to myself.

In addition, I had mic problems. I had purchased a lavalier mic, which should work by just plugging it into the mic jack of the laptop. Of course, it didn’t. I googled and found that the mic doesn’t work that way. It needed a USB adapter. Didn’t make sense to me. Why is there a mic jack on my laptop then if it doesn’t work? Anyway, I purchased the USB adapter. Success! Sort of…my laptop now recognized the mic. Problem was, and still is, that it won’t pick up sound through it. The on-board mic is the one still doing the work and still picking up all kinds of ambient noise. So I left that as a project for later.

Then there was the learning curve for video editing software. I used the 30-day trial of Camtasia, which was highly recommended. I’m just not crazy about the $299 price tag! It took me awhile, but I like how much I can do with it as opposed to the free Windows Movie Maker. Perhaps that one was just so simple that I couldn’t figure it out, I’m not really sure. Was I trying to be too techie? Maybe. I do have a couple other recommendations for software that I’ll be checking out soon.

How to Draw Goes Back to the VERY Basics

Ultimately, I’d like to do a how-to for my animal portraits. But to start with, I decided on going back to the basics for those of you out there who have never taken an art class before. How to Draw – The Very Basics is just that…the VERY basics. It covers the seven basic elements of art: line, color, shape, form, space, value, and texture, why those elements are important and how they are used in art. I realize that the fundamentals are often the most boring because they are so basic, but you have to start somewhere and I would be remiss in not teaching them first. After all, you can’t build a house and expect it to stand without laying the foundation first.

With the basic elements covered, we move into the main project for the class. A still life of simple objects. I’ll instruct you on how to make it as easy as possible, set up, and execution. All of those tips you’ll be gathering with each brief video will definitely come into play in this project! When your project is complete, you can post it to the student project gallery and I will offer feedback. You can also check out what everyone else has posted and offer your own feedback. It’s an encouraging environment where you learn right along with other students, some of them from around the world!

Still, for those of you who feel challenged by drawing a stick figure, this How to Draw class will sufficiently stretch your creative and artistic skills. I hope you’ll take the time to enroll and try it out for yourself. It’s free and it’s as no pressure as you can get. Also, Skillshare currently has a great offer. If you enroll in my free class via this link AND upgrade to a premium membership, you can do so for three months for only .99! Again, it’s no pressure and you have three whole months to check out all of the really great classes available to you. At last count, I think I have about 205 classes saved that I’d like to check out soon!

So there you have it. My first class, which I hope you’ll take the time to enroll in. And as always, I’d love your feedback either here in the comments or there on Skillshare. Until next time, have a great weekend!