Free Youth and Adult Drawing Lessons are made possible by a partnership between the Ann Arbor Art Center and the Ann Arbor District Library. Once debuted, the classes will be available on the AADL YouTube channel..
DRAWING FOR KIDS AND ADULTS ARCHIVE
DRAWING FOR KIDS
“Snowmen at Night” Drawings
“Do you wanna draw a snowman?” Join Payton and learn how to draw snowmen in action, just like in the book “Snowmen at Night” by Caralyn and Mark Buehner. Discover how to add shading and shadows to your characters for extra realism! For this activity you will need a piece of dark construction paper (blue or black work great) and either soft pastels or oil pastels. As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and use substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand.
Gratitude Trees
Learn to draw in new ways and create the image of a tree using text! The words used to create the image will describe the things for which you are most grateful! For this activity, you will need a pencil, paper, eraser, and either colored pencils, markers, or crayons. As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand.
Festive Fall Patterned Leaves
Fill your page with leaves festooned with elaborate patterns and textures. For this activity, you will need a pencil, paper, eraser, and either colored pencils, markers, or crayons. As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand.
Terrific Turkeys
Join Payton to design a totally terrific turkey with contrasting warm and cool colors. For this activity, you will need a pencil, paper, eraser, and either colored pencils, markers, or crayons. As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand.
3-D Heart Optical Illusion
Learn how to trick the eye and draw a 3-D Heart Optical Illusion! For this activity, you will need a pencil, paper, eraser, and either colored pencils, markers, or crayons. As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand.
All About You Profiles
Join Payton and create an entirely different type of self-portrait! Draw a silhouette of yourself in profile and then fill that shape with illustrations of your favorite hobbies, memories, and things that you feel define you. For this activity, you will need a pencil, paper, eraser, black ink pen, and either colored pencils, markers, or crayons. As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand.
Sunglasses Reflections
Join Payton and create a summertime sunglasses drawing with a skewed bug’s eye perspective. For this activity, you will need a pencil, paper, eraser, black ink pen, and either colored pencils or crayons. As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand. (Note: This photo will give the general idea, but the glasses will be laying in the grass and reflect a bug’s-eye perspective of the surroundings.)
Spring Leaf Color Wheels
Join Payton and design a stunningly vibrant spring leaf color wheel. Learn all about tints and shades. For this activity, you will need a pencil, paper, eraser, black ink pen, and either colored pencils or crayons. As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand.
Alliteration Ice Cream Cones
Alliteration is a group of words that all start with the same letter. Invent the most delicious (or non-delicious!) alliterated ice cream flavors you can think of and join Payton to learn how to draw a drippy, tasty ice cream cone, illustrating each and every crazy flavor. For this activity, you will need a pencil, paper, eraser, black ink pen, and either colored pencils, crayons, or markers.. As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand.
Spring Scenes Through A Keyhole
Join Payton and learn how to draw a secret spring world as seen through a keyhole. All you will need is a sheet of white paper, a pencil, an eraser, crayons, markers or colored pencils- your choice! As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand.
SILLY SPRING BUNNIES
Join Payton and learn how to make a fresh, fun, and silly spring bunny drawing! Practice using linework to create texture and use bold, bright scenery in the background to provide contrast with the black and white bunny. All you will need is a sheet of white paper, a pencil, an eraser, a black marker, and either crayons, markers or colored pencils- your choice! As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand.
INCREDIBLE TREEHOUSE ILLUSTRATIONS
Join Payton and learn how to design and add some dimension to the perfect treehouse of your dreams! All you will need is a sheet of white paper, a pencil, an eraser, and either crayons, markers or colored pencils- your choice! If you have a fine black marker available, that’s helpful too. As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand.
DRAWING FOR ADULTS
How to Draw Birds
This drawing class will leave you happy as a lark! Learn tips and techniques to draw the feathered friends around us. For this activity, you will need paper, a soft rag or chamois, erasers (A variety is handy where possible- kneaded erasers, mechanical or click erasers, and of course regular erasers). You will need charcoal (Whatever you have is fine. A mixture of vine, pencil, and compressed charcoals is nice where possible.). As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand- such as substituting a graphite pencil for charcoal.
How to Draw Hands
Learn how to render hands realistically! No more drawing figures with their hands in their pockets or hidden away. Join Payton to conquer this challenging subject and fear drawing hands no more! For this activity, you will need a pencil, paper, eraser, and graphite pencils. As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand or use yoru preferred medium.
How to Draw Hair
Drawing hair strand by strand can at times be, well, pretty “hairy”! Join Payton as she reveals the secrets to rendering realistic looking hair and see it in a whole new light. For this activity, you will need a pencil, paper, eraser, and graphite pencils. As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand or use your preferred medium.
Create Compelling Compositions with Mixed Media
Do you ever feel that your compositions are lacking? Do they feel one-note or boring? Join Payton and learn the tricks artists use to create compelling and dynamic compositions using a variety of different mediums. For this activity, you will need a pencil, paper, eraser, and ideally several of your favorite mediums.
Exploring the Use of Space & Dominance
Discover how to use space- an element of art, and dominance- a principle of design, to elevate your artwork. For this activity, you will need a pencil, paper, eraser, and one or more bold mediums, such as markers, acrylics, or pastels. As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand.
Contrast and Color
Join Payton and learn the basics of color theory in addition to how to incorporate contrast in artwork using color. For this activity, you will need paper, a pencil, and some means of applying color, whether it be colored pencils, soft pastels, oil pastels, etc. As always, feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand.
Abstract Art
Join Payton and discover the history of abstract art and learn ways to understand, appreciate, and evaluate non-representational works of art!
Impressionist Art
Discover the history of abstract art and learn ways to understand, appreciate, and evaluate non-representational works of art!
Peaceful Patterns
Join Payton and learn about the history of patterns. Discover a relaxing way to incorporate patterns into a drawing. For this activity, you will need a pencil, paper, and several ink pens of varying weights. As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand.
Portrait Drawing
Join Payton to learn how to draw a portrait and gain an understanding of basic facial proportions. You’ll want to have a pencil, drawing paper, and an eraser.
ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONSIM
Join Payton to learn about Abstract Expressionism and make artwork that is inspired by the artists we discuss in class.You’ll want to have a pencil, drawing paper, ink pens, colored pencils, and oil pastels. As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand.
PATTERNED LANDSCAPES
Join Payton and learn how to draw a beautiful, artistic, patterned landscape! All you will need is a pencil, eraser, drawing paper, ink pen (you can use one pen or use several with varying line weights if you have them) and colored pencils. As always, if you don’t have everything on this list- don’t worry. Feel free to be creative and find substitutions for any supplies you may not have on hand.