Advanced Drawing Semester 1

Enrollment Message

Available for August 2026 registration. See Required Materials. Students need access to a webcam or video recording device.

Course Description

In Advanced Drawing Semester 1, students strengthen foundational drawing skills while expanding their understanding of the elements and principles of design. Emphasis is placed on how proportion, balance, rhythm, repetition, and perspective function within successful compositions. Through observation and analysis of historical and contemporary artworks, students build visual literacy and begin developing a clearly defined personal aesthetic using formal art vocabulary.

Students work with a variety of drawing media, including pencil, colored pencil, chalk pastel, oil pastel, pen and ink, and marker. Through focused studies and guided practice, they develop technical control in line weight, value, gradation, blending, color mixing, hatching, cross-hatching, and other media-specific techniques. Each assignment results in an original composition that demonstrates both craftsmanship and intentional design choices.

Students also explore the still-life tradition, examining its historical significance and the ways artists have interpreted ordinary objects across time. They create both realistic and abstract still-life compositions, applying strong compositional strategies and thoughtful media selection. The section concludes with a structured self-evaluation, encouraging students to analyze their work, articulate their artistic decisions, and continue refining their personal aesthetic.

• Indiana Core40 Diploma Applicable through class of 2028
• Counts as a directed elective or elective all diplomas
• Indiana NEW Diploma Applicable for students entering school in 2025-26 (Class of 2029) 
• Fulfills an Elective Credit

Required Materials

• Materials List

Course Goals

Upon completion of the course, students will…

• define drawing and explain its purposes within artistic practice.
• identify and analyze the elements and principles of design in various artworks.
• apply proportion, balance, rhythm, repetition, and perspective to create effective compositions.
• create original compositions that demonstrate intentional use of design elements and principles.
• demonstrate technical proficiency in pencil, colored pencil, chalk pastel, oil pastel, pen and ink, and marker.
• utilize line weight, value, gradation, blending, and color mixing to achieve desired artistic effects.
• evaluate artworks from various artists and movements to expand visual literacy.
• design and compose a visually balanced still-life using appropriate media.
• produce both realistic and abstract still-life compositions using deconstruction techniques.
• assess personal artwork through a structured self-critique and justify artistic choices in writing.

Indiana Academic Standards

• Visuals Arts Grades 6-12

Units of Instruction

• Unit 1 Basics Drawing Review
• Unit 2 Media
• Unit 3 Still Life

Grading/Evaluation

Indiana Online does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue transcripts or diplomas. A final score reported as a percentage of total points earned will be sent to students upon completion of a course. Your school of record can also access this score within the Student Information System, Genius. The final score will be shown as a percentage in Canvas and Genius. The student’s school of record will determine the letter grade based on their specific grading scale.

Students must complete at least 70% of the course and take all parts of the final exam(s) to have a score reported to their school of record. Failure to meet these requirements will result in a score of 0 reported to the school of record.

Assessments

Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, teacher-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building and other forms of authentic assessments. The course includes the minimum number of assessments

• 16 Discussion
• 22 Assignments
• 23 Quizzes

The assessments for this asynchronous course are weighted as follows

Teacher Contact Response Time

Students can use email or the private message system within Genius or Canvas to access highly qualified teachers when they need teacher assistance. Students will also receive feedback on their work inside Canvas. The Teacher Information page of their course may describe additional communication options.

The teacher will respond to student inquiries (email, text, call) within one business day. Assignments will be graded and posted within two business days.

Expectations for Academic Conduct 

Student Handbook 

It is your responsibility to read the student handbook to understand all aspects of taking an online course including expectations for academic conduct. Contact your teacher if you have any questions. 

Assistance for Students with Accommodations

Indiana Online supports an inclusive learning environment for all students. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that hinder your full participation, such as inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned videos and podcasts, reasonable accommodations can be arranged.

Technology

Technology Requirements 

Students are required to have a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube. Please review Indiana Online’s Technology Requirements.

Technical Skills Needed 

Basic technology skills necessary to locate and share information and files as well as interact with others in a Learning Management System (LMS), include the ability to

• download, edit, save, convert, and upload files
• download and install software
• use a messaging service similar to email
• communicate with others in online discussion or message boards, following basic rules of netiquette
• open attachments shared in messages
• create, save, and submit files in commonly used word processing program formats and as a PDF
• save a file as a .pdf
• copy and paste and format text using your mouse, keyboard, or an html editor’s toolbar menu
• insert images or links into a file
• search for information within a document using Ctrl+F or Command+F keyboard shortcuts
• work in multiple browser windows and tabs simultaneously
• activate a microphone or webcam on your device, and record and upload or link audio and/or video files
• use presentation and graphics programs
• follow an online pacing guide or calendar of due dates
• use spell-check, citation editors, and tools commonly provided in word processing tool menus
• create and maintain usernames and passwords

Technical Questions?  Please contact the Indiana Online Helpdesk.