Simple Shapes Vol. 1 DVD

Watching these DVDs is like having an art teacher come into your house and give the whole family drawing lessons - but in this case you can repeat the lessons as often as you want! Each DVD contains three or four lessons, each one focusing on one important drawing concept and using a different subject to illustrate. The art teacher, Donna Hugh, besides being masterful with a pencil herself, is also encouraging and friendly. She makes drawing approachable and understandable for everyone, and I think it's very helpful to be able to view the drawing in action instead of out of a book. In my sample of Vol. 1: Simple Shapes, viewers will learn how to really "see" objects while drawing bell peppers, how to use shading and shadows by drawing a shoe, how to finish a drawing with colored pencils by drawing a conch shell, and how to make a mixed-media still life. I really enjoy the way each DVD covers different drawing skills using different subjects including animals, people, and plants. Each lesson runs about 15-20 minutes in length, during which Donna introduces the topic, begins the drawing, and finishes it, instructing the whole time. It would probably be helpful to watch the lesson first and then begin doing the lesson yourself, watching the DVD as you go if you find it helpful. Materials required are few, including a basic set of drawing pencils, paper, colored pencils, a simple frame, pan watercolors, watercolor pencils, and water-based pen. If you find learning to draw out of a book difficult, these DVDs would be a refreshing change! - Jess