Tag Archives: student work

Call of the Wild: Youth & Adult Students Draw Animals in the Brave Real World

Our irrepressible youth sketchers have forged ahead to improve their drawing skills while enduring month after month of pandemic restrictions. And they’re staying true to their passion for drawing as they balance online school courses with phased reopening of hybrid classrooms.

Youth sketcher Scout emailed me several drawings of animals that she did during a Cabrillo College art course. Scout practiced various techniques including making dots to create a stipple effect in her beautiful ink composition (shown above).

Animals seem to be a favorite subject of interest for our community of sketchers. The wilder the creature, the better.

Mobile Drawing Coach (MDC) youth student Libby masterfully drew this sea turtle during our Zoom session. She blocked in a few large shapes to measure proportions, sketched contours and textural patterns, and then took time to draw final details.

Learning at school in the virtual digital world has not been easy to navigate for many kids. But finished drawings are tangible results that students can hold in their hands or hang on their bedroom wall in the real world. Our diligent sketchers apply their drawing skills to school assignments whenever possible.

Continue reading Call of the Wild: Youth & Adult Students Draw Animals in the Brave Real World

Drawing Lab Farewell Music Video

With a cautious sigh of relief, we glance in the rearview mirror while leaving a turbulent 2020 in the dust behind us. But let’s not forget the great strides we made during our Drawing Lab sessions in the months prior to the pandemic shutdown.

In fact, our lively student sessions spanned the course of 11 years before I had to close the Scribbles Institute studio permanently due to Covid restrictions. 

A Stroll Down Memory Lane 
As a special thanks to all of you for the many wonderful memories of working together during the past decade, I created this music video featuring our innovative Drawing Lab sessions.

Please enjoy watching it. You may see someone you know!
Here’s the link:

Drawing Lab Music Video>

Cheers to the camaraderie we shared throughout the ups and downs of learning new drawing skills!

Continue reading Drawing Lab Farewell Music Video

Students Explore the Benefits of Sketchbooks

Drawing Lab students work in sketchbooks to augment studies we usually do on larger paper. Our Wednesday and Thursday evening crews enjoy learning quick gesture sketches as well as longer, detailed studies of objects around the studio. Shown in the above photos, Lenore happily busted out a fine Picassoesque gesture sketch of the rooster, while Fiona swiftly studied textures and details of the rusty, old lantern.

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Our Thursday evening crew, deep in the sketchbook drawing zone

Regular practice in a sketchbook is an important aspect of improving observational drawing skills. The sketchbook is also a powerful tool for drawing from imagination, organizing ideas for projects, and journaling one’s deepest thoughts. Continue reading Students Explore the Benefits of Sketchbooks

In the Studio & In the Streets: Summer Highlights 2016

During the past several months, as always, our studio enjoyed opening the doors to a diverse mix of students from Santa Cruz as well as international visitors, all with diverse skill levels and interests in drawing. Our Drawing Lab sessions were festive yet focused on improving skills. Continue reading In the Studio & In the Streets: Summer Highlights 2016

Drawing Lab Students Get Sketchy

Drawing lessons take on a whole new meaning at the Scribbles Institute. We turn up the music, serve the snacks, and get serious about having fun learning to draw. Shown above, adult and youth students create abstract compositions while listening to different music genres. Please scroll down to view adult and youth Drawing Lab sessions, Draw With Your Kids sessions, classes in Santa Cruz and Monterey county schools, and our free meetups. Continue reading Drawing Lab Students Get Sketchy

2 Local High Schoolers Take Doodling During Class Very Seriously

Doodling is very much a part of life in school. Students the world over indulge in this meditative activity, often during class. As a drawing coach in high schools, I encourage doodling as a way to explore spontaneous expression and creative problem solving.

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Comparing Apples to Dolphin Skulls: Day in the Still Life of Drawing Lab Students

Variety is the spice of still life drawing. Whether drawing apples, oranges, or skulls, students in the Scribbles Institute Drawing Lab were very engaged this winter. Our in-depth sessions allowed students time to study composition, form, and techniques from a wide variety of objects. The apple shown above is by Jennifer, one of our Level 3 Drawing Lab participants. Using only primary colors (red, yellow, blue) she layered and blended Prismacolor pencils to achieve vibrant colors. Continue reading Comparing Apples to Dolphin Skulls: Day in the Still Life of Drawing Lab Students

SI Youth Sketchers Build Character

After spending time building observational drawing skills in previous sessions, everyone was up for a fun summer session of character design sketching. While working from their sketchbooks and online references, the SI studio crew went right to work–if one can call it work. Afterall, drawing characters from their imagination is what these kids love to do. Rena (above photo) busts out a sketch of a very famous, villainous comic character. Below are highlights from the classes. Continue reading SI Youth Sketchers Build Character