‘Learn to Draw – Birds’ is a course in colour. It came about as an organic extension to the original course, ‘Learn to Draw – Beginners.’ Students were learning quickly and were drawing like experts but when it came to drawing flowers or other colourful subjects in nature, internally I felt like I was letting them down because they didn’t know how to implement colour. How can one draw a flower without colour? Thus, the ‘Learn to Draw – Birds’ course was born.
The main medium used is coloured pencils. They are easy to use, assessable, they are not messy, and most people own some already. However, not many people know how to use them. This is a fact. People are still ‘colouring-in’ just as they did as a child. This medium can create the most intensely striking illustrations when one knows how to use them professionally. A far cry from the pale, washed out deliverance they usually succumb to.
The course was coming together nicely… but then came Covid!
I am sure that you have been impacted to some degree by the activity (or inactivity) of government Covid regulations. My humble drawing business was no exception. Face-to-face classes everywhere had to be postponed again…and again…and again! Sadly, some of them were even cancelled. Students began to ask for an alternative, and the general request was ‘Can you deliver a course via Zoom?’
At first, I responded with evasion because I knew it couldn’t work. How could I possibly teach someone how to draw when I couldn’t see their drawing and they couldn’t see mine? This was reinforced later when students informed me that I was correct… ‘my Cello class was impossible via Zoom’… ‘I tried to learn photography on Zoom, but it didn’t work,’ etc.
The solution came about one day when I left a class scratching my head. ‘How can I teach them more in the limited time that we have?’ Coloured pencils are a slow medium, the breast of one bird can take up to an hour. Completing full demonstrations in class meant less time for the student to draw. What was I to do?’
I went home and made my first video. I emailed it to my students, and they loved it. So I made another… and another. Eventually, they received everything on the course curriculum via videos. The gratitude and success from the students was phenomenal. Being able to watch my teachings and demonstrations, and then watch them all over again, was bringing about results that were astounding even me. The face-to-face course soon became obsolete. It couldn’t match up to the demonstration videos because of limited class time. The Learn to Draw – Birds’ course is now only available as an online course, not because of COVID but because it is BETTER!
Let me tell you how it works…
The course content is based on how to illustrate birds using coloured pencils. All aspects of the professional use of coloured pencil will be demonstrated by myself via instructional video and applied by the student. This is the main body of tuition. In addition, Zoom meetings are available for discussion and extra tuition if required. Personal contact with the individual, means that I get to target exactly what each student needs for maximum results.
The course comprises of:
1) Art Supplies Kit
The 11-piece art supplies kit has all the basic essentials you will require for the course:
I am happy to have a discussion regarding coloured pencils. Please let me know which pencils you intend to use, particularly if you already own another brand. In most cases, coloured pencils other than Prismacolor will be fine, but it will be helpful to let me know before starting the course.
2) The Workbook
The workbook comprises of specific exercises and application practice sheets. You will work through the workbook in conjunction with the instructional videos. The videos consist of me teaching and demonstrating all the techniques in detail. The videos will guide you through the workbook step by step and explain exactly what to do.
3) 15 Videos
Yes, I know that is a lot of videos, but I am not happy unless I teach you everything and I leave no stone unturned. My commitment is to make sure that every student can confidently use coloured pencils and create their own illustrations by the time they finish the course.
Course Content
Via the videos, you will learn and apply all relevant aspects of coloured pencils application to gain competence in bird illustration.
This will include:
Upon completion of the workbook, the videos will guide you, step by step through your first illustration. You will learn various techniques, hacks and all the 'how-to' as you work through your first bird.
When you have finished your first bird, you will then choose a bird of your choice to draw independently from start to finish. This may be a bird from the 7 references pictures you receive with your workbook or a bird of your choice. You don’t even have to choose a bird for your final drawing. You will have enough experience at this stage that you will be able to apply your knowledge and experience to any subject. This stage of the course is when the Zoom meetings will be of particular value as my support may be needed.
The fee for the whole course is $280. This includes the art supplies kit and workbook, the video links and 12 Zoom meetings. Payment can be made via bank transaction.
If you wish to enrol, please let me know. Upon receipt of payment, your art supplies kit and workbook will be dispatched to your home address within 24 hours.
On the day that you receive your art supplies kit, the instructional videos will be sent to your inbox and you can start the course.
I give my personal guarantee that I am committed to teaching you, it is my passion. By the end of the course, it is my expectation that you will be able to create coloured artworks in a wide range of content such as flowers, butterflies, even your own pets.
Please contact me at [email protected]
The main medium used is coloured pencils. They are easy to use, assessable, they are not messy, and most people own some already. However, not many people know how to use them. This is a fact. People are still ‘colouring-in’ just as they did as a child. This medium can create the most intensely striking illustrations when one knows how to use them professionally. A far cry from the pale, washed out deliverance they usually succumb to.
The course was coming together nicely… but then came Covid!
I am sure that you have been impacted to some degree by the activity (or inactivity) of government Covid regulations. My humble drawing business was no exception. Face-to-face classes everywhere had to be postponed again…and again…and again! Sadly, some of them were even cancelled. Students began to ask for an alternative, and the general request was ‘Can you deliver a course via Zoom?’
At first, I responded with evasion because I knew it couldn’t work. How could I possibly teach someone how to draw when I couldn’t see their drawing and they couldn’t see mine? This was reinforced later when students informed me that I was correct… ‘my Cello class was impossible via Zoom’… ‘I tried to learn photography on Zoom, but it didn’t work,’ etc.
The solution came about one day when I left a class scratching my head. ‘How can I teach them more in the limited time that we have?’ Coloured pencils are a slow medium, the breast of one bird can take up to an hour. Completing full demonstrations in class meant less time for the student to draw. What was I to do?’
I went home and made my first video. I emailed it to my students, and they loved it. So I made another… and another. Eventually, they received everything on the course curriculum via videos. The gratitude and success from the students was phenomenal. Being able to watch my teachings and demonstrations, and then watch them all over again, was bringing about results that were astounding even me. The face-to-face course soon became obsolete. It couldn’t match up to the demonstration videos because of limited class time. The Learn to Draw – Birds’ course is now only available as an online course, not because of COVID but because it is BETTER!
Let me tell you how it works…
The course content is based on how to illustrate birds using coloured pencils. All aspects of the professional use of coloured pencil will be demonstrated by myself via instructional video and applied by the student. This is the main body of tuition. In addition, Zoom meetings are available for discussion and extra tuition if required. Personal contact with the individual, means that I get to target exactly what each student needs for maximum results.
The course comprises of:
- An 11-piece art supplies kit.
- A 6-page workbook
- 7 reference pictures of birds
- 15 instructional videos
- 12 Zoom meetings
1) Art Supplies Kit
The 11-piece art supplies kit has all the basic essentials you will require for the course:
- Prismacolour Colourless Blender
- Pencil Sharpener
- Electric Eraser
- Alcohol Markers (12)
- Colour Wheel
- Paper (2 x Stonehenge)
- 6-piece paper sample pad
- Graphite Paper
- Magic tape
- Value finder
I am happy to have a discussion regarding coloured pencils. Please let me know which pencils you intend to use, particularly if you already own another brand. In most cases, coloured pencils other than Prismacolor will be fine, but it will be helpful to let me know before starting the course.
2) The Workbook
The workbook comprises of specific exercises and application practice sheets. You will work through the workbook in conjunction with the instructional videos. The videos consist of me teaching and demonstrating all the techniques in detail. The videos will guide you through the workbook step by step and explain exactly what to do.
3) 15 Videos
Yes, I know that is a lot of videos, but I am not happy unless I teach you everything and I leave no stone unturned. My commitment is to make sure that every student can confidently use coloured pencils and create their own illustrations by the time they finish the course.
Course Content
Via the videos, you will learn and apply all relevant aspects of coloured pencils application to gain competence in bird illustration.
This will include:
- Coloured Pencil techniques; laying, blending, burnishing, solvents etc.
- Colour theory and how to replicate the right colour.
- How to draw feathers and all features relevant to birds.
- Mixing different mediums to create effective results.
- The application of shadow and how to make your drawing realistic.
- ... and much, much more...
Upon completion of the workbook, the videos will guide you, step by step through your first illustration. You will learn various techniques, hacks and all the 'how-to' as you work through your first bird.
When you have finished your first bird, you will then choose a bird of your choice to draw independently from start to finish. This may be a bird from the 7 references pictures you receive with your workbook or a bird of your choice. You don’t even have to choose a bird for your final drawing. You will have enough experience at this stage that you will be able to apply your knowledge and experience to any subject. This stage of the course is when the Zoom meetings will be of particular value as my support may be needed.
The fee for the whole course is $280. This includes the art supplies kit and workbook, the video links and 12 Zoom meetings. Payment can be made via bank transaction.
If you wish to enrol, please let me know. Upon receipt of payment, your art supplies kit and workbook will be dispatched to your home address within 24 hours.
On the day that you receive your art supplies kit, the instructional videos will be sent to your inbox and you can start the course.
I give my personal guarantee that I am committed to teaching you, it is my passion. By the end of the course, it is my expectation that you will be able to create coloured artworks in a wide range of content such as flowers, butterflies, even your own pets.
Please contact me at [email protected]