Virtual Drawing Lesson

Figuring out a way to teach via computer seems like an important skill. I tried it earlier this year using Zoom, but hit a rough spot when it came time for me to demonstrate, or show my work, or see my students’ work, or lay a piece of tissue paper over their drawings to show them how to adjust proportions. 

Okay, that was more than “a rough spot”. It just didn’t work past a certain stage.

As long as I have been teaching people how to draw, I have been learning from my students. One of my students had a good idea of how to do this and was willing to try. Let’s call her C, because this is the World Wide Web and I protect the privacy of people. 

C scanned her drawing in progress and the photo she is using. I looked over her work, and just as if we were together, I circled various parts on her photo, and then showed her on another piece of paper how to proceed. This is her photo, so there is no copyright problem.

Before I show you her photo, drawing, and my instructions: if you are a bit of an art snob, before you get all bent about how “copying isn’t real art”, let me remind you that I am a drawing teacher. I help people learn how to put on paper what they really see, not what they think they see. This is the basis for good art. You have to learn how to see first.

Whooo-eee, that is some sloppy handwriting! I’m sorry, C, and will work harder to write more neatly next time. Plus, I made a writo – a typo in handwriting – “hit” instead of “hint”.

If we were together, I’d circle through the other students in the class, helping them in whatever way they needed, and then get back to C to learn if my suggestions were helpful to her, if she needed me to rephrase or clarify something, or if she was ready for more instruction.

This could be fun! 

P.S. Do horses have “bangs”?

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4 Comments

  1. Jana – you are such a special person and artist. I took drawing lessons from you a couple of years ago. Your patience and ability to teach clearly, gently and enthusiastically helped me learn to draw. I always said ‘I couldn’t draw a straight line with a ruler’ but you showed me that it WAS possible! I am a long way from being an ‘artist’ but now enjoy sketching ideas for painting, cards making and scrapbooking. Thank you again.

    • Dawn, I am so happy that the lessons you took from me turned out to be helpful. Thank you for checking in, and Happy New Year to you and Dick!

  2. Jana – horses have bangs which are called a “forelock.” Personally, horse bangs is a much cooler name for that patch of hair… good question!

    • Thank you, Lauren, for that helpful term. I will probably continue to call them bangs, because I tend toward buffoonery.


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