Teaching Drawing: A Step-by-Step Guide to Student Success
Teaching middle or high school students how to draw can feel daunting, but with the right approach, it’s not only achievable—it’s a guaranteed success. For over 12 years, I’ve used a scaffolded method to teach drawing, and I can confidently say: everyone can learn how to draw. Yes, you read that right. Anyone. Anywhere. Anytime.
The Myth of Talent in Drawing
One of the first hurdles to overcome is the myth that only “talented” people can draw. This simply isn’t true. With the right guidance, breaking the process into manageable steps, and keeping lessons structured, every student can develop strong drawing skills. It all starts with building confidence and breaking down the process into approachable stages.
Key Drawing Methods for Student Success
I break down drawing into four key methods, each building on the previous to ensure student engagement and mastery:
- Line Drawing
- Drawing Using Shapes
- Drawing Using Negative Space
- Drawing Using Value
Once students are confident with these methods, you can introduce any medium—including painting—with minimal hesitation. This process even engages students who may not have wanted to be in the class in the first place, turning them into confident creators.
For scaffolded lesson plans that support these methods, visit Mrs. T Fox’s Resource Store on TPT.
Phase 1: The Power of Line Drawing
Line drawing is where it all begins. Why start here? Because it’s simple and unintimidating. It’s just a line—no shading, no value—just a focus on direction, movement, and relationships between lines. Starting small helps students gain confidence and build foundational skills.
Phase 1 Activity: The Forgery Challenge
Engagement Tip: Want instant engagement? Tell students you’re going to teach them to be professional forgers. Works every time.
In this exercise, students learn to:
- Sight angles
- Recognize relationships between lines
- Draw with accuracy
- Seek ways to improve (a key “Studio Habit of Mind”)
The Forgery Challenge is an “A-ha” moment for students. Posting their work on the board at the end of every class builds accountability and improves the quality of their drawings quickly.
Phase 2: Quadrant Drawings – Working Out the Kinks
In this phase, students complete two small four-quadrant drawings using 3×3-inch images of simple cartoons.
Key Lessons:
- Learn the quadrant method to scale up an image while maintaining scale and proportion.
- Introduce line weight by mimicking varied thicknesses of observed lines.
- Improve focus and build habits of refinement.
Time Frame:
- 1-2 days per worksheet (80-minute blocks).
Goal:
Work out any difficulties in scaling and improve observational skills without intimidation.
Phase 3: Final Line Drawing Project
For the final line drawing project, students create a larger, more complex 8×10-inch four-quadrant drawing.
What They Learn:
- Managing time and setting goals for project completion.
- The importance of scale, proportion, and line quality.
- Developing stamina and focus.
Time Frame:
- 5-6 class periods.
Outcome:
Beautifully rendered, polished final drawings from students of all skill levels.
For tools like quadrant drawing worksheets and project guides, explore Mrs. T Fox’s Online Courses.
Building Student Engagement Through Drawing
I show examples of prior student work throughout the process to inspire confidence and reinforce the idea that success is achievable for everyone.
By the end of the scaffold, even students who felt uncertain at the start are proud of their abilities. These foundational skills set the stage for more advanced techniques, like drawing with shapes, which we’ll cover in a future post.
Why Tight Deadlines and Small Steps Matter
One of the key factors to success in teaching drawing is setting tight deadlines and keeping assignments small. Tight deadlines force students to focus, and smaller assignments feel less overwhelming, especially for beginners.
By keeping your art room quiet and focused—no talking, just drawing—students can fully engage in the right-brain activity required for creative excellence. In my classroom, students can listen to music (headphones or a classroom radio), but the focus remains on pursuing excellence in every drawing.
Explore More Resources and Stay Connected
1. Shop Mrs. T Fox’s Resource Store on TPT
Looking for ready-to-use tools to take your classroom or art program to the next level? Visit Mrs. T Fox’s Resource Store on TPT for exclusive resources, including drawing worksheets, quadrant templates, and scaffolded lesson plans. Empower your teaching with practical, high-quality resources that save you time and make a lasting impact!
2. Learn with Mrs. T Fox’s Online Courses
Want to dive deeper into teaching drawing techniques, classroom management, or creative project planning? Check out Mrs. T Fox’s Online Courses for expert guidance, step-by-step lessons, and actionable advice. Start learning today and feel confident as you guide your students to success!
3. Follow Mrs. T Fox on Social Media
Stay inspired and up-to-date with the latest tips, resources, and behind-the-scenes highlights by following @mrs_tfoxresources on Instagram. Join a community of like-minded educators and discover fresh ideas to spark creativity in your classroom!
Wrapping It Up
Teaching drawing doesn’t have to feel daunting. With a scaffolded approach, tight deadlines, and a focus on small, achievable steps, you can turn even the most reluctant students into confident creators. The line drawing phase is just the beginning of their artistic journey, and I can’t wait to share more about what’s next!
Thanks for stopping by, and happy teaching!
Tiff 🙂
