Teen Studio

Developing the Artist's Eye

Purpose

Students strengthen their observational drawing skills while exploring the expressive possibilities of graphite, charcoal, and soft pastel. Through Studio Sketch Sessions, Creative Studio Time, and individualized critique, students learn to make intentional artistic decisions while developing confidence with dry media and creating drawings that communicate light, texture, atmosphere, and story.

Core Concepts

  • Observation

  • Value and Contrast

  • Shape and Form

  • Texture

  • Edge Quality

  • Light and Shadow

  • Composition

  • Atmospheric Perspective

  • Visual Storytelling

  • Drafting and Revision

  • Studio Practice

Media

  • Graphite Pencils

  • Vine Charcoal

  • Compressed Charcoal

  • White Charcoal

  • Soft Pastels

  • Pastel Pencils

  • Toned Paper

  • Mixed Media Paper

A detailed supply list will be provided before the course begins.

Every great artist learns to see before they create.

Dry Media Studio builds upon the observational skills introduced in Foundations of Art and Color Theory while challenging students to think more intentionally about the artistic choices they make. Working with graphite, charcoal, and soft pastel, students learn to communicate form, texture, atmosphere, and light through careful observation and expressive mark making.

Each class begins with a demonstration and Studio Sketch Session before students continue developing larger observational drawings during Creative Studio Time. Throughout the course, students receive individualized feedback, revise their work, and strengthen their artistic decisions through thoughtful critique. Students are encouraged to view revision as an essential part of the creative process while developing the confidence to evaluate and improve their own work.

The course concludes with a portfolio of observational drawings that demonstrates artistic growth across a variety of subjects and dry media techniques.

The Creative Mind Dry Media Method

Students strengthen their drawing skills through four creative habits.

Observe: Study light, form, texture, and proportion before making the first mark.

Explore: Develop confidence through Studio Sketch Sessions that encourage observation, experimentation, and artistic problem solving.

Create: Build expressive drawings that communicate atmosphere, depth, and visual storytelling through thoughtful use of dry media.

Refine: Receive instructor feedback, revise drawings, and strengthen artistic decisions through craftsmanship and intentional practice.

Eight-Week Journey

Week Today's Question Creative Focus

1 How Do Artists Build Form? Exploring simple forms through graphite and charcoal while strengthening observation, value,

edge quality, and expressive mark-making.

2 How Do Artists Draw Texture? Studying natural objects and a variety of surface textures while learning how different dry

media communicate texture, depth, and form.

3 How Does Fabric Describe Form? Drawing drapery and fabric folds while exploring movement, weight, and the relationship

between light and shadow.

4 How Do Artists Observe Light in Creating a still life drawing that incorporates reflective surfaces such as glass or metal,

a Still Life? fabric, and natural objects while studying highlights, reflected light, cast shadows, edge quality,

and value relationships.

5 How Do Artists Organize Planning an architectural drawing through observation, composition, perspective, and a

‍ ‍Architecture? complete value study before beginning the final rendering.

6 How Do Artists Refine Completing the architectural drawing by strengthening values, textures, edges, and atmosphere

‍ Architectural Drawings? through revision and individualized critique.

7 How Do Artists Capture Planning a landscape drawing through observation, composition, atmospheric perspective, and

‍ ‍the Landscape? a complete value study before beginning the final rendering.

8 How Do Artists Bring a Completing the landscape drawing by refining values, textures, atmosphere, and focal point

‍ ‍Landscape to Life? while presenting a portfolio of work completed throughout the course.

Recommended For

Teens who enjoy drawing, painting, illustration, or design and want to strengthen their observational skills while developing confidence with graphite, charcoal, and soft pastel. Completion of Foundations of Art and Color Theory or instructor placement is recommended.

Where This Studio Can Lead

Dry Media Studio strengthens observation, drawing, and artistic decision-making while preparing students for future Creative Studios, including:

  • Landscape Studio

  • Architectural Discovery Studio

  • Character and Costume Studio

  • Stories Through Illustration

  • Portfolio Development

  • Private Mentorship

Students with previous drawing experience may be eligible to enroll directly into another Creative Studio through instructor placement. Placement is based on artistic readiness rather than age or previous enrollment. Please contact us to discuss the best learning path for your student.