Project Based Learning Electives provided by the Berrien Springs Virtual Academy
​Drawing with Niki McNeil                                Fall 2020
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Students and teachers must be able to readily switch to online lessons at any point in the semester in order to register for classes. All students must complete a project for this class.

Teacher: Niki McNeil
ph: 269-876-6518
email: nikimcneil@comcast.net​
Format: In-person
Grades 1-12

Registration with teacher required. Please contact the teacher with class location questions.

Classes begin the week of August 31, 2020
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Art Journaling/Zentangle
Mondays-Stevensville Martins 1:15-2:30 PM or 4:00-5:30 PM
OR
Mondays-Stevensville Martins 4:00-5:30 PM  Art
OR
Wednesdays-South Haven First Baptist Church - Noon-1:15 PM 
OR
Wednesdays-Coloma Library 3:30-4:45 PM
OR
Create your own class once a week for 1.25 hours. See syllabus and contact instructor to schedule.
 
​Due to the change in allowing only one class per category I have combined these two classes into one, each can be done as a create your own class separately on their own if desired. While the combined class is slightly heavier in the art journaling, I introduce students to the concept of Zentangle inspired drawing to add detail and interest to their projects. 
​What is Art Journaling?
“On the surface, an art journal is simply a bound journal filled with color, art, or imagery with words. But when you start asking journal artists what art journaling is to them… you’ll get a variety of answers. Some may tell you it’s a place to work out their ideas, or to practice and document their growth as an artist. While others may explain that it’s a safe container for their feelings, or a retreat to escape from stress, or a place to explore their inner landscape. It can be a place to practice following your intuition, to expand your comfort zone with the unknown, to play with new art supplies, a place to heal, to reduce stress, to learn more about who you really are… What it comes down to… is that art journaling is really only defined by what YOU say it is.” Kristal Norton
Kristal said it well, in this class I will help each student make their journal one of their favorite possessions. Artistic students will build confidence in their journaling ability and strong writers will find freedom in being artistic. Each week students will find they are learning more about who they are as a person and who they want to be in the future. The important thing to remember in this class is there are no wrong answers, it’s about personal growth and happiness. No two journals will look the same, every age can benefit from this process.
What is Zentangle?
This class is inspired by the Zentangle way of drawing. We will learn 2-3 new patterns each week and work towards mixing them together in bigger creations. We will work with illustration pens, learning how the different nib sizes affect each pattern and when to use a thicker or thinner pen. Students will learn a better understanding of balance, symmetry, and weight in art.
Syllabus
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*Please note: it is important to make as informed a decision as possible when choosing your student's Community Resource classes. Most locations will allow a student to drop a class after one meeting, at no charge if it wasn't a good fit for the student, but not all. Some classes plan ahead based on the number that have signed up and have purchased materials, hired teachers, etc. and there might be a fee for class time or materials given to the student if the student drops after one or two meetings. The school cannot pay for classes that students do not complete, so choose wisely; if you do not take the class off of your student's schedule by the deadline, you may be asked to pay for the class time incurred prior to dropping the class. 
​Teacher of Record:  Lisa Van Plew-Cid