ADVANCED ART: SKETCHBOOK ASSIGNMENTS

CRITERIA
▪ Include details using elements (texture, value, color, line , shape, form, space)
▪ Arrange Composition using principles of design (balance, emphasis, rhythm, movement, pattern,
unity, contrast)
▪ Spend a minimum of 1 hour on each assignment and fill the ENTIRE sketchbook page .
▪ Each sketchbook assignment counts as a participation and homework grade
▪ Drawings are due at the end of every month, unless there is no school; then they are due the
following day.
▪ You may choose any assignment each month from this list unless you have another idea to run by
me
▪ You must label each picture at the top with the appropriate title from the list, number, and date

GRADING: 60 points total

***Create a drawing from direct observation using the elements of art or choose
one of the assignments from below. Must be interesting 3D objects, landscape, or
portrait.
ASSIGNMENTS
Alright, let’s start with the bread and butter of any artist’s portfolio - characters!
And I’m not talking about drawing your superhero. I mean real people, with all
their quirks and charm. These prompts will turbocharge your drawing inspiration,
and I’m excited to see where they take you!

Self Portrait: Start by looking in the mirror and let’s get drawing. The objective is not to
create a perfect likeness but to let your creativity run wild. Maybe give yourself a pirate hat
or some fairy wings?

Silhouette Figure: This one is all about shape. Draw a silhouette of a person. Try to get “as
much detail” in the silhouette as possible. Can you tell if they’re running, sitting, or dancing?

Fashion Forward Draw someone wearing an outfit you wish you owned. Sequin jumpsuit?
Leather jacket? Everything goes!

Happy Child Capture the innocent joy of a child playing with their favorite toy. Can you
make your “drawing idea” contagious?
Elderly Wisdom This time, try a portrait of an elderly person. Focus on the lines and details
that tell their life story.

The Musician Draw someone playing a musical instrument. Try to make us hear
the music through your drawing.

Workout Warrior Capture a fitness enthusiast in action. Let’s get those “figure
drawing” skills into play!

The Thinker Draw someone deep in thought. Can you make us wonder what
they’re thinking about?

Group Portrait Gather your family or friends in one frame. This might be
challenging, but remember, it’s all about having fun.

Fantasy Character Now, let’s get fantastical! Draw a mythical creature in human
form. A mermaid barista, perhaps?

Morning Routine Have you ever noticed the peaceful simplicity of your morning
routine? Try to capture that in your next sketch. It could be your yawn in the
mirror or the steam swirling from your coffee mug.

The Beach Think sun, sand, and sea. Can you almost hear the seagulls and feel
the salty breeze? Try to bring those sensations into your art.
Dinner Time This is a chance to draw something straight from the heart. Recreate
the warmth of your family sitting around the dinner table. Can you make the
viewer feel the love?
Marketplace Mayhem This one’s all about life and energy. People bustling,
vendors shouting, the riot of colors at the fruit stalls. Ready to take up the
challenge?
Starry Night Let’s slow things down with a tranquil, star-studded night scene.
Maybe even experiment with digital art. How about a cozy campfire under the
Milky Way?
The Zoo From the fiercest predator to the most gentle herbivore, a zoo has it all.
Can you capture the diversity of life in one drawing?
Mystic Forest How about a dash of fantasy? A magical forest brimming with
mythical creatures. You’re the creator, there are no limits!
The Big Game Take your pencils to the stadium and draw an action-packed sports
scene. Feel the energy and try to transmit it through your art.
The Cityscape Busy sidewalks, towering skyscrapers, zooming traffic - the city is
a living, breathing organism. Can you capture its pulse?
The Classroom This one’s a trip down memory lane. Draw a scene from your
school days. Don’t forget the chalk-dusted blackboard and the chatter of your
classmates!
Shoe Sketch Shoes can be way more than just foot protectors. Pick your favorite
pair and try a contour drawing. I bet it’s more fun than tying shoelaces!
Cuppa Joe Whether you like it steaming hot or iced, your morning coffee mug can
be an artist’s delight. Give it a shot!
Furry Friends Pets make great models. They’re cute and won’t complain if you
don’t get their good side. Draw your furball in their favorite chill-out spot.
The Fruit Bowl Now we’re getting juicy. Look at your fruit bowl and pick the fruit
that looks tastiest. Make your food draw as mouthwatering as the real thing!
Handy Art Hands have interesting shapes and can strike many poses. Try drawing
yours in various positions. It’s like a mini yoga session for your hand!
Pocket Treasures You’d be surprised what artistic inspiration your pockets hold.
Empty them out and sketch away.
Potted Plant Take a mini nature break without leaving your house. Sketch your
favorite indoor plant, capturing all the beautiful details of its leaves and stems.
Dinner Doodle Before you dig into your next meal, sketch it. It’s like taking a
photo, but with your pencil. Just don’t let your food get cold!
Night Sky And for the finale, let’s take it outside. Try drawing the night sky. The
stars, the moon, maybe even a planet if you’re lucky.

Dancing Banana Imagine a banana boogying down. Those smooth moves are sure to make anyone
giggle.
Hipster Cat Picture a cat with glasses, a bowtie, maybe even a little beard. Hipster level: off the charts!
Pineapple Pizza Debate Draw a pineapple and a pizza in a heated discussion. Which side are you on?
Surfer Penguin Ever seen a penguin on a surfboard? Me neither, until now. Surf’s up, little buddy!

Meditating Monkey Let’s see a monkey finding its inner peace. Ommmm… bananas.

Flying Pig Because when pigs fly, it’s a fun day to draw! Add wings and maybe a superhero cape for extra
laughs.

Cactus Cowboy How about a cactus dressed like a cowboy, complete with a hat and boots? Yee-haw!
Ninja Turtle No, not the superheroes, just a regular turtle… who’s also a ninja. Watch out for that slow
and steady stealth move!
Potato Princess Last but not least, give the humble potato the royal treatment. Tiara, gown, the whole
shebang!
OTHER PROMPTS:
1. Plant Drawing: Three Drawings of a Plant
● Contour

● Shaded rendering

● Magnify/enlarge a section
2. Draw Three Hands: Blind contour (do not look at paper), then draw 3 looking. Concentrate on
your subject. Make the drawings overlap each other at some points.
3. Draw Two Feet with shoes on. Look down at your own and draw
4. Shoes: Find a very old shoe and draw it from an interesting and exaggerated angle.
5. Number: Draw your luck number and then keep drawing it over and over using various creative
fonts
6. Bunch of Keys: Group with a lot of variety and do a macro (small detailed) drawing of them.
Give them dimension, value, and focus on the sharp lines of the cuts.
7. Toothbrush & Toothpaste: Show the difference in textures and the angles of the toothbrush
vs. the bulbous shape of the tube. Best if toothpaste is almost empty. What happens to lettering
on a curved surface?
8. Inside a Drawer: Make a line drawing of the contents of a partially open drawer. The junk drawer
in the kitchen would work well. Think Composition!
9. Draw an Egg Beater: Line drawing using techniques involved in drawing negative space.
10. Knotted Fabric: Tie a knot in a sock or dish towel, striped is best. Focus on the variation of line
and shade to give the wrinkles form.
11. Coat Hanging on the Corner of a Chair: Try to show the effects of gravity. Think composition
and exaggerate value in the folds, especially at top.
12. Landscape with Clouds from Observation: Pick a day when the clouds are dramatic. Use
expressive lines.
13. Show movement and drama without closing in any shapes.
14. Hub Caps & Tires: Draw them so that they are elliptical and show any reflection.
15. Street Signs & Lights: Draw a street sign as if it was an analytic botanical. Write notes as to
location, height and color. Think Durer.
16. Lamp Posts and Telephone Poles: Focus on negative space, then go in w/ detail.
17. Lettuce or Cabbage Leaf: Look for the growth pattern, draw at ¾ view.
18. Three packages of Food: Make them overlap, focus on texture and text.
19. Can you see the form of the food, is it pictured or named? Include shadows
20. Corner of a Room: Include a partial piece of furniture and use variation of line.
21. Lay on the floor so that a piece of furniture is highly foreshortened.
22. Front of Your House: ¾ view
23. Glass of water with a spoon in it: Focus on distortion caused by the water on the spoon. Don’t
forget that the glass has dimension and distortion occurs on all edges.
24. View of a Room from a Mirror: Show something as you do not usually see it.
25. Machinery: Magnify a part that moves, try to show how it moves.
26. Eyes: Draw 6 while either looking in a mirror or at someone’s eye. Different angles.
27. Noses; Draw 6 while either looking at your own or someone else. Different angles.
28. Mouths: Draw 6 from observation, 4 of them open and showing teeth. Different angles.
29. Animal: Draw from observation using gestural, simple and expressive lines. Add shadows
30. TV Shows: Draw gesture drawings for 5 minutes of the show or 3 commercials. Go in and add
detail from memory after the show has ended.
31. Movie: From memory draw your favorite scene. Use color and value
32. Logos: Glue or draw 10 logos that you think are exceptional in your sketchbook. Write down
your analysis of why they are successful and why they appeal to you.
33. Illustration: Take a few lines from a poem or song and illustrate it. Be sure to write the lines
above or below. Value, texture
34. Use 1-3 words of a song, poem, or book. Drawing creative lettering using elements of art
35. Balance: Cut out 12 or more words from the newspaper or magazine. Arrange ½ into an
Asymmetrical composition and ½ into a Symmetrical one.
36. Overlapping Forms: Draw 5 overlapping forms from an extreme view. Shade them in an
exaggerated fashion
37. Repeated Motif: Use a shape and repeat it so that it could be used for textile design.
38. Fast Food/ Take Out: Choose your favorite and draw it so the viewer understands just how tasty
it is. Include text and packaging – think composition.
39. Ants-Eye View: Draw something as if you were the ant. Extremely exaggerated.
40. Birds-Eye View: Draw something from an aerial perspective. Think fisheye lens.Your drawing
must be imagined from at least roof height. Don’t get on the roof.
41. Reflections: Draw the images that you see reflected in a chrome appliance.
42. Fantasy: Draw a dream or “somewhere over the rainbow” scene with you in it. Value,
composition, texture, color
43. Old Masters: Choose an artist from the Renaissance and draw a study in their manner.
44. Composition: Choose an image and crop it close. Draw it using only stippling.
45. Draw it using cross-hatching. Do not outline the forms in any way.
46. Photo: Recreate a photograph using only + marks or a continuous line to render.
47. Plumbing: Draw the underneath of a sink, a showerhead or an outside spigot. Use value 1/3 rule
48. Create a drawing of an object using crisp lines and then draw no more than ¼ of it in extreme
detail.
49. Egg in Carton: Use value to show the smooth texture of the egg and rough cardboard 1/3 rule
50. Milk Carton or Condiment Container: Show the form and show texture. Use 1/3 rule
51. What I did today: Make a diagram or floorplan to show how your day was divided. Fill the
rooms with representative objects
52. Old Hat: Use varying thickness of line and implied line to give it character.
53. Garbage: Draw an open garbage or recycling receptacle. Show that it is holding things.
54. Paper Towel or Napkin: Crumple it up and use value to show creases & shadows.
55. Hand Holding Something: Use contour lines to show that the hand is holding an object.
56. Person in a Chair: Use negative space to render someone sitting in chair.
57. Close up image of Popcorn: Make it look larger than life. Use dark, medium& light value
58. Draw with an eraser: Cover the page with graphite or charcoal. Observing the subject erase light
areas and darken shadows using black pencil
59. Warped: This one is up to you to interpret. Use dark, medium& light value
60. Light & Object: A single object from different views with strong light source. 1/3 rule
61. Homework: Your school books stacked up on your desk or in your locker. Use strong value
62. Collection: What do you collect? Do a drawing, collage of whatever they are.
63. Chess: Draw a chess set as though you were looking through the eyes of a pawn
64. Notes: Take an exam or notes you no longer need. Glue a page in and create a drawing over it.
Use dark, medium & light values. Color if preferred
65. Familiar Object: Draw 4 close-up views of a familiar object. Zoom in so far that you wouldn’t
recognize it if you didn’t know what it was. 1/3 rule
66. Person talking on a Phone: Are they involved in the conversation? Value, line, texture
67. Closet: Lots of lines and overlapping forms in a closet. Is it cluttered or neat? Make sure that
you are drawing from an interesting point of view.
68. Looking Out: Look out a window and draw the scene, including the window.
69. Tree from observation: Focus on its structure as an object. Use dark, medium & light value
70. Kitchen Stove: Draw from an extreme angle. Set up a still life with pots. 1/3 rule. Focus on
forms and make sure to get the burner covers and knobs in.
71. Pile of Shoes: There will be a lot of overlap, show the different lines and shoe laces. Add value
72. Draw a Blind Contour Portrait of a Family Member: While drawing ask them to tell you a
story. Write the story behind the drawing and go back into the drawing.
73. 2 Details & 1 Contour: Set up a 3 piece still life. Do a contour drawing using value on only two
objects and the background. Leave one object contour only – focal point.
74. Bag of Chips: Show the dimension and texture of the chips. Show overlap and depth.
75. 2 Versions: Draw a copy of an artwork that you admire. Then do a second version of the same
work of art, but make it your own.
76. Favorite Photo: Draw 2 versions of your favorite photograph. One realistic, one abstract.
77. Birds: Draw a real bird – as much texture as you can. Then draw an abstract version. Make sure
that the abstract is recognizable as a bird.
78. Newspaper: Cut out a newspaper article with an image. Glue it in your sketchbook.Draw and
write your reaction to the article over it. Look at Robert Rauschenberg.
79. Remembering a Landscape: Draw a landscape from memory. Get creative with color and/or
value
80. Alive: Draw something that is alive and then paint the same subject.
81. Your Room: Draw a scene in your room with dramatic lighting – chiaroscuro
82. Intersections & Overlap: Draw a colorful design with intersections of lines and overlapping
shapes. Shade your colors 1/3 rule
83. Unguarded: Draw someone in an unguarded moment from observation. Make sure to use
a sense of mood. Use pencil and color pencil. Hans Holbein, daVinci
84. Illuminated Manuscript: Create a page that mimics an illuminated manuscript, but the text is
your favorite song or a letter that someone wrote to you.
85. Non-Objective: 1 non-objective and 1 asymmetrical composition using points of concentration
(areas where there are objects grouped more tightly) for focal point.
86. Non-Drawing Tool: Drawing or painting using only non-art materials and non-art mark-making
instruments. Example: “Draw” with coffee using a stick.
87. Ball-Point Pen: Create a drawing using two different colors of ball-point pens. Add value
88. Art Nouveau: Create a page based on art nouveau techniques of line.
89. Off Hand: Draw objects of choice using the hand you don’t usually use or foot.
90. Collared Shirt on a Hanger: Get all of the details, overlapping lines, shadows and stitching in.
91. Solid turning into Liquid: Get creative and don’t draw ice melting.
92. Man & Machine Combined: Not Iron Man or a Transformer – Get creative!
93. Still Life composition that reflects you as an individual. Add Value, texture
94. A realistic self-portrait
95. An abstract self-portrait with value
96. Hide an image within an image
97. Landscape from direct observation
98. Texture out of realistic context
99. Water bottles with colored water still life – white paper behind if too difficult
100. Metamorphosis from Natural to Synthetic
101. Objects floating on Water
102. Human & insect combined
103. Architecture from direct observation. Write down address
104. Multiple frame sequential drawing
105. Object being sucked into or through something
106. Composition in which Movement is the primary focus
107. Human Figure from direct observation
108. Solid turning into a liquid
109. Zoom, zoom, zoom: Divide the space into 3 areas. Draw the same object, person or
scene in each, but zoom in exponentially in each of the separate spaces.
110. Cubist Trace: Trace an object over and over until it covers the pages. Go in and add
depth and rhythm by shading in some areas.
111. Spools of Thread: Draw a grouping with overlap or repetition
112. Dishes: Draw dishes in the sink after a meal, include portions of the sink
113. Dishwasher: Draw the dishes or utensils in the dishwasher. Clean or dirty, your choice.
***Don’t like working on a “Empty” WHITE Page? Try Preparing
Alternative Surfaces TO DRAW ON:
There are infinite ways to prepare the pages, but use 5 of the following as a starting
point. Remember not to have the pages stick together. This will add to creativity
● Do a texture rubbing on a page

● Write your favorite poem, quote or song in large handwriting

● Collage text on the page and wash over the page to subdue the texture.

● Scribble on the page with pencil – blend with paper towel to create value.

● Create a 1 color wash on the page – make it transparent