Bootcamp
DURATION
6 Hours in 6 Weeks
(1 Hour session per week)
AGE RANGE
08-11 Years
12-14 Years
Skill Development:
Drawing Characters
Learn the principles of portraiture and character design and develop drawing skills. Digital (using iPad and stylus + Procreate app) or classical (sketch-book) options available.
The most challenging and yet intriguing artistic subject; the human! Or, should we say, humanoid – as our character design bootcamp encompasses character creation from the like of SpongeBob SquarePants, to the graceful Mona Lisa. Children are guided through the rules of proportion and perspective, before learning how to skilfully break the rules with exaggerated cartoon figures. A fun-filled ride with plenty of drawing practice and stimulating exercises, and options for digital or classical drawing mediums.
INSTRUCTOR’S BIO
Rachel Grace Carpenter
Freelance Illustrator and Academic Manager
M.A. (Hons) in Psychology
Perception and Visual Cognition
Procreate Pro.
LESSON PLAN
Equipment Required
Pipe cleaners, tin foil, sketchbook, pencils, erasor
Topics Covered
Intro to the human form, skeleton structure, proportions of the human body, exaggerated/cartoon forms
Homework Assignment
1. Life drawing – sketch of a person 2. Create a human figure out of pipe cleaners and tin foil
Learning Objectives
Students become familiar with the human skeletal structure and proportions of the human body.
Equipment Required
Small mirror, sketchbook, pencil, erasor, coloured pencils
Topics Covered
Proportions of the human face, portraiture in art history/self expression, observational drawing
Homework Assignment
1. Life drawing – self portrait 2. Research an artist if your choice and create a mood board
Learning Objectives
Students learn techniques to apply proportion to faces, practice observational drawing of facial features and are introduced to examples of portraiture and self-expression in art
Equipment Required
Sketchbook, pencil, erasor, ruler
Topics Covered
Perspective, 3d human head, foreshortening
Homework Assignment
1. Life drawing – portrait with foreshortening 2. Complete excercise sheet on perspective
Learning Objectives
Students develop an understanding of the rules of perspective and foreshortening and learn a technique for drawing a 3D head
Equipment Required
Sketchbook, pencil, eraser
Topics Covered
Dynamic forms, building a character using a simple template, representing motion and speed (smear effects)
Homework Assignment
1. Life drawing – use a screenshot from a video to illustrate a character in an action pose 2. Illustrate a smear effect (worksheet)
Learning Objectives
Students will be introduced to representing the human form in motion, and will learn about different ways of creating an effect of motion
Equipment Required
Sketchbook, pencil, eraser, coloured pencils, hardboiled egg and table lamp
Topics Covered
Shadows and shading, form and cast shadows, detail, shape and colour
Homework Assignment
1. Life drawing – study of an egg with lighsource 2. Shadows worksheet
Learning Objectives
Students will learn about different shadow forms and shading techniques, and look at the importance of detail, shape and cour in shadow work
Equipment Required
Sketchbook, pencil, coloured pencils, drawing pen, eraser
Topics Covered
Shapes and their connotations for character personality, exaggerated proportions in cartoons, use of colour and costume, stylised drawing
Homework Assignment
1. Life drawing – draw yourself in a stylised manner 2. Complete your character design with colour, shading and shadows
Learning Objectives
Students will learn about the connotations of shape for personality of a character, explore their own taste in stylised drawing, and practice character design combining their learning from the previous classes
