Sample Drawing Lessons

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The Swan Lesson is presented with the authors' comments, followed by the Heron Lesson (scroll down). Steps 1 through 3 of both drawing lessons are basically the same. The heron simply has a few more details and requires a bit more attention to scale and proportion.

Swan Lesson
Draw Write Now, Book 1
by Marie Hablitzel and Kim Stitzer

Drawing Instructions
Have the child look at the color drawing of the swan.

Point out and describe the shapes and lines in the color drawing.
Use the step-by-step drawing as a guide.

Draw Write Now, Drawing Lesson

Drawing practice builds an understanding of scale and proportion. Keep the following tips in mind:

Pay close attention to the placement of the first line (Step 1). This is the basic form of the head, neck, and back of the bird. Is the swan's head on the left side of the paper? Is the head up high enough on the paper so that there is enough room for the body?
The head oval is smaller than the body oval.
The front of the neck can be a tricky line to draw. Start the line near the bottom of the head oval, draw the curved line parallel to the back of the neck, then finish the line so that it blends smoothly into the body oval. The eye oval is in the center of the head oval.
Look at the top line of the tail feathers. In relation to the neck, it is half as tall as the neck.
Look at the top of the wing in relation to the head. The tip of the wing is at about the same level as the bottom of the swan's head.
Look at the zigzag feather line. The zigzags are to the left of the wing tip.

Drawing instruction develops strong reasoning skills. The more a child draws, the better their understanding of scale and proportion.

Next
3. Draw the background

or draw the heron (below)

Explore the world with Draw Write Now -- a collection of drawing lessons developed by an elementary school teacher. Learn more...

The author, Marie Hablitzel, gave these lessons without the step-by-step instructions -- she simply had the children look at a drawing as she pointed to and described the shapes and lines. We want children to draw what they see -- to look at their subject -- so that eventually there is no need to refer to a book when drawing.

Heron Lesson
Draw Write Now, Book 6
by Marie Hablitzel and Kim Stitzer

Drawing Instructions
Have the child look at the color drawing of the Great Blue Heron.

Point out and describe the shapes and lines in the color drawing.
Use the step-by-step drawing as a guide.

Draw Write Now, Drawing Lesson

The skill of drawing requires that a child look at a complex object, then break it down into smaller more manageable pieces:

Pay close attention to the placement of the first line (Step 1). This is the basic form of the head, neck, and back of the bird. Is the heron's head up high enough on the paper so that there is enough room for the long legs?
The head oval is smaller than the body oval.
The front of the neck can be a tricky line to draw. Start the line near the bottom of the head oval, draw the curved line parallel to the back of the neck, then finish the line so that it blends smoothly into the body oval. The eye oval is centered vertically toward the front of the head oval.
The legs are approximately the same length as the head and neck length. The beak is approximately the length of the head oval.
The head feathers are approximately the length of the head oval or the beak.
Complete the left leg claws before drawing the right leg.

Drawing becomes easier with practice. The child who draws can take a complex object and break it down into smaller more managable pieces. Certainly this carries over into other challenges in their lives.

Next
3. Draw the background

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	Sample Drawing Lessons Introduction Draw the swan or heron Draw the background Write about the swan or heron Color the drawing
Have you signed up to receive our free newsletter?		The Swan Lesson is presented with the authors' comments, followed by the Heron Lesson (scroll down). Steps 1 through 3 of both drawing lessons are basically the same. The heron simply has a few more details and requires a bit more attention to scale and proportion.
		Swan Lesson Draw Write Now, Book 1 by Marie Hablitzel and Kim Stitzer Drawing Instructions Have the child look at the color drawing of the swan. Point out and describe the shapes and lines in the color drawing. Use the step-by-step drawing as a guide.
		Drawing practice builds an understanding of scale and proportion. Keep the following tips in mind: Pay close attention to the placement of the first line (Step 1). This is the basic form of the head, neck, and back of the bird. Is the swan's head on the left side of the paper? Is the head up high enough on the paper so that there is enough room for the body? The head oval is smaller than the body oval. The front of the neck can be a tricky line to draw. Start the line near the bottom of the head oval, draw the curved line parallel to the back of the neck, then finish the line so that it blends smoothly into the body oval. The eye oval is in the center of the head oval. Look at the top line of the tail feathers. In relation to the neck, it is half as tall as the neck. Look at the top of the wing in relation to the head. The tip of the wing is at about the same level as the bottom of the swan's head. Look at the zigzag feather line. The zigzags are to the left of the wing tip. Drawing instruction develops strong reasoning skills. The more a child draws, the better their understanding of scale and proportion. Next 3. Draw the background or draw the heron (below)
Explore the world with Draw Write Now -- a collection of drawing lessons developed by an elementary school teacher. Learn more... The author, Marie Hablitzel, gave these lessons without the step-by-step instructions -- she simply had the children look at a drawing as she pointed to and described the shapes and lines. We want children to draw what they see -- to look at their subject -- so that eventually there is no need to refer to a book when drawing.
		Heron Lesson Draw Write Now, Book 6 by Marie Hablitzel and Kim Stitzer Drawing Instructions Have the child look at the color drawing of the Great Blue Heron. Point out and describe the shapes and lines in the color drawing. Use the step-by-step drawing as a guide.
		The skill of drawing requires that a child look at a complex object, then break it down into smaller more manageable pieces: Pay close attention to the placement of the first line (Step 1). This is the basic form of the head, neck, and back of the bird. Is the heron's head up high enough on the paper so that there is enough room for the long legs? The head oval is smaller than the body oval. The front of the neck can be a tricky line to draw. Start the line near the bottom of the head oval, draw the curved line parallel to the back of the neck, then finish the line so that it blends smoothly into the body oval. The eye oval is centered vertically toward the front of the head oval. The legs are approximately the same length as the head and neck length. The beak is approximately the length of the head oval. The head feathers are approximately the length of the head oval or the beak. Complete the left leg claws before drawing the right leg. Drawing becomes easier with practice. The child who draws can take a complex object and break it down into smaller more managable pieces. Certainly this carries over into other challenges in their lives. Next 3. Draw the background
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