Class Description
Bring the Bitterroot Valley to life through art and imagination in this innovative digital storytelling class for the 2024-2025 afterschool year. This unique course supports students in exploring the diverse ecosystems of the Bitterroot Valley through digital art and storytelling, designed as a cohesive journey from character creation to publication. In this introductory session, you’ll develop your artistic skills and create compelling animal characters inspired by our local wildlife. Learn traditional and digital art techniques, focusing on character design and the fundamentals of ecosystem storytelling. By the end of this session, you’ll have created character sheets for three Bitterroot Valley animals from different elevation zones (alpine, forest, and valley) and developed an ecosystem-based story outline.
Learning Objectives: in this class, students will learn about:
- Both traditional and digital art techniques, focusing on creating animal characters native to the local ecosystem;
- The fundamentals of ecosystem-based storytelling for a young audience;
- Gain familiarity with tools and software to develop proficiency in Adobe Fresco;
- Elements of Art & Design for drawing techniques;
- Creating a portfolio to show progression of analog and digital skills;
- The art of the peer critique and how to give peer critiques on the progress of student work;
- Opportunities and potential resources on career pathways;
- How to distribute, exhibit, and promote artwork for a variety of audiences.
Equipment
- sketchbook
- art supplies (pencils, ink, paint options)
- iPads
- iPencils
Software
- Adobe Fresco
Deliverables: Students and Class Projects
- Students will create character sheets for three Bitterroot Valley animals from different elevation zones (alpine, forest, and valley)
- Developed a portfolio of progress for animal characters, with 10+ drawings showing different angles and emotions.
- They will have developed an ecosystem-based story outline.
