Cartoon Academy | How To Draw Video Collection

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Afterschool

Family Resource

Grades: Grades 1-3, Grades 4-5, Grades 6-8

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Playful Pig and Delightful Duck

How to draw a playful piggy and a delightful duck using easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions. Students will be familiarized with art terms such as “setting,” “symmetry” and “profile.”

Cow

Students will create a real scene at the farm. Incorporating a cow character, barn, and scenery, cartooning instructor Joe Wos will demonstrate how to pull together all the elements to set the stage. Students will also learn the basics of art composition.

Rooster on the Roof

High up on the barn roof, a rooster wakes up early and waits for someone to draw him. Cartoonist Joe Wos will teach students how to draw that barnyard alarm clock commonly called the rooster. Students will also learn about conveying emotions through facial expression.

Kangaroo and Joey, Too

Cartoonist Joe Wos takes viewers through the simple steps of drawing one of “Down Under’s” most popular denizens—a kangaroo and its baby, commonly known as a Joey. Students will also learn about adding background to an illustration.

Koala and a Kooky Kookaburra

Joe takes to the trees of Australia where we learn to draw a Koala and Kookaburra. Students will also learn about using line to create the illusion of texture.

Platypus and Crocodile

Learn to draw one of the world’s most unusual animals, the platypus. Follow along step-by-step to create this unique Aussie mammal. He’ll draw in another Australian water creature, the crocodile. Students will also learn how similar features can be used to create completely different characters.

A Very Fancy Hamster

In this episode we draw a hamster all dressed up in his top hat and tails. Students will see how costume can help transform a character.

Dog Gone Cute

Learn to draw an adorable dog using letters, numbers, and simple shapes. Joe will also share tips on using props to set a scene.

Something’s Fishy

Our fishy friend looks a little worried when we draw a cat to keep him company! Students will also learn about the relationship between predator and prey.

How to Draw an Axolotl

Learn how to draw the unique axolotl, step-by-step, and discover fascinating facts about these hard to spell but fun to draw aquatic creatures!

Seal of Approval

Meet two North Pole pals—a Narwhal and his best friend Seal! Students will also learn about character relationships.

That’s Snow Business

Joe Wos walks viewers through a winter wonderland and the steps to creating a cartoon snowman. Students get more advice on bringing characters to life through costume.

Playful Penguin

Grab your paper and pen and float on down to the South Pole where we will draw an ice-skating penguin. You’ll also get a lesson in the concepts of shape and form.

How to Draw Santa Claus

Learn to draw Santa Claus using simple lines and shape.

How to Draw a Polar Bear

In this episode of Cartoon Academy we learn to draw one cool polar bear!

A Passion for Planets: Create a New Solar System

Join Joe as he shares his passion for drawing planets such as Saturn, Pluto, and a few that have yet to be discovered! Learn how to fill the cosmos with emotion by giving human traits to our neighboring planets.

Alien Encounter

In this episode, Joe Wos draws us into a close encounter of the alien kind! Follow along as Joe utilizes a rocket, some spacecraft, and an interplanetary friend to demonstrate motion and movement.

Lunar Friends: Travel to the Moon

Travel along as we blast off to the moon and learn how to draw an astronaut and his robotic friend. In this episode, Joe teaches us how to use our imagination in our drawings.

Welcome to the Ocean Floor

Dive deep with Joe Wos by drawing an octopus, blobfish, and anglerfish. Learn about the importance of depth and dimension in drawing in this episode of Cartoon Academy.

A Work of Aarght!

Joe Wos immerses us in the world of pirates and sea monsters. Learn about the use of costumes, symbols, and texture as tools for bringing your drawings to life in this episode of Cartoon Academy.

Can a Shark Have Friends?

With the help of a shark, seahorse, and crab, Joe Wos shows the importance of developing a personal drawing style. He also shares some of his early influences in this episode of Cartoon Academy.

Jurassic Pals

Joe Wos shows the importance of scale by drawing an Apatosaurus and a Pterodactyl. Learn why composition is key when drawing these two dinosaur pals.

Try, Try, Triceratops!

Take a trip into the past with your host, Joe Wos, and learn how to draw the mighty Triceratops! In this episode, we will learn how the use of texture and shading can help to bring your drawings to life.

T. Rex Territory

We take on the King of Dinosaurs, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, and learn about the importance of creating a setting by using foreground, middle ground and background.

Learning to Draw is as Easy as 1,2,3

In little more than a minute, Pittsburgh cartoonist Joe Wos shows us how numbers can be transformed into drawings.

Learning to Draw is as Easy as A, B, C

Pittsburgh cartoonist Joe Wos shows us how letters can be transformed into drawings.

Learning to Draw is as Easy as Signing Your Name

In little more than a minute, Pittsburgh cartoonist Joe Wos shows us how our names can be transformed into drawings.

Doodling

In little more than a minute, Pittsburgh cartoonist Joe Wos shows how to find inspiration in scribbles.

Practice Makes Pretty Good

In little more than a minute, Pittsburgh cartoonist Joe Wos shows why the best way to learn is to practice!

Colorful Personality

In little more than a minute, Pittsburgh cartoonist Joe Wos shows how to convey emotion through color in your drawings.

Tooling Around

In little more than a minute, Pittsburgh cartoonist Joe Wos shows how different tools provide different types of lines.

Drawing a Forest Friend

In this episode of Cartoon Academy Quick Draws, Pittsburgh Cartoonist Joe Wos shows how learning to draw is as easy as ABC using the letters O-W-L to create a wise owl character.

Black, White, & Red All Over: Panda

In the latest Cartoon Academy Quick Draws, Pittsburgh cartoonist Joe Wos draws his take on the classic joke: what’s black and white and red all over? Tune in to see how Joe brings this joke to life through his unique cartooning style!

How to Draw a Rabbit

Cartoonist Joe Wos takes you through the process of drawing a rabbit, using only a few letters of the alphabet!

Sky Islands

A coyote, a rattlesnake and a hummingbird co-exist high atop the Sky Islands of the American Southwest. Joe explains how stylistic choices can be influenced by a region’s artists and culture.

The Everglades

A flamingo, turtle, and manatee co-exist in Florida’s tropical wetlands. Joe emphasizes the beauty and diversity of Florida’s wildlife, while sharing artistic advice on setting, texture, and perspective.

Rainforest of Costa Rica

A sloth, toucan, and tree frog “hang” out among a lush canopy of trees. Students will also learn the importance of protecting habitats they may never visit. Composition and design are the creative lessons.

Relationships

What makes a good friend? Helping one another is “step one” to building good friendships. This is shown by the symbiotic relationship between a rhinoceros and bird—two very different species who depend on each other. Joe discusses using size and scale to create a balanced scene.

Emotions

Joe shows how we express our feelings through facial expressions. Viewers will also learn how emotion is used to help define a character’s personality.

Diversity and Acceptance

What makes us the same? What makes us different? “Florps” – a group of imaginary creatures with different body shapes, sizes and other variables — teach an important lesson in social and emotional learning. Artistically, Joe teaches how variations in basic design can create new characters.

Draw a Frog and a Dragonfly

Learn how to draw a friendly frog and a beautiful dragonfly, step-by-step, and discover fun facts about these amazing creatures.

Draw a Dandelion

Learn how to draw a beautiful dandelion in its flower and seed-bearing forms, step-by-step, and discover fun facts about Joe’s favorite flower.

Draw a Butterfly

Learn how to draw a beautiful butterfly step-by-step and discover fun facts about these garden pollinators!

Draw a Cockroach

Learn how to draw a creepy, crawly cockroach, step-by-step, and discover fascinating facts about the world’s oldest living insect.

Draw a Grasshopper

Learn how to draw a lively grasshopper, step-by-step, and discover fun facts about these amazing insects.

Draw a Rose and a Bumblebee

Learn how to draw a beautiful rose and a bumbling bumblebee, step-by-step, and discover fun facts about their prickly relationship.

Draw a Daisy and a Ladybug

Learn how to draw a lovely ladybug and darling daisy, step-by-step, and discover fascinating facts about these garden favorites!

Quick Draw: Flight of the Bumblebee

In this Cartoon Academy: Quick Draws, Pittsburgh cartoonist Joe Wos draws inspiration from music as he demonstrates how cartoons can be created alongside the iconic composition “Flight of the Bumblebee.” Watch as Joe brings the music to life through his unique cartooning style and creates a buzz-worthy drawing!

Draw a Lightning Bug (Firefly)

On this episode of cartoon academy we give a firefly a glow up!

Puffin

On this episode of cartoon academy we learn how to draw a puffin.

Turkey

Gobble, Gobble, it’s turkey time! Toon in to Cartoon Academy to learn how to draw a cartoon turkey.

Parrot

How to draw a parrot.

Pelican

Want to learn how to draw a large seabird? We’ve got just the bird to fit the bill as we learn how to draw a pelican on this episode of Cartoon Academy.

Condor

On this episode of cartoon academy our imagination takes flight as we learn how to draw a California Condor.

American Bald Eagle

Learn how to draw the symbol of the United States, the Bald Eagle.

Zebra

We are earning our artists stripes on this episode of Cartoon Academy as we learn how to draw a Zebra. Also learn about foreground, middle ground and background.

Elephant

On this episode of Cartoon Academy Joe demonstrates how to draw a playful pachyderm as we create an elephant.
Learn how to differentiate between vertical and horizontal.

Lion

On this episode of Cartoon Academy we learn how to draw the king of the jungle! A lion!

Gorilla

On this episode of Cartoon Academy we learn how to draw a gorilla.

Black Bear

Learn how to draw an adorable black bear.

Beaver

On this episode of Cartoon Academy, we are drawing nature’s hardworking engineer, the beaver.

Squirrel

On this episode of Cartoon Academy we learn how to draw an adorable squirrel.

Moose

Cartoon Academy is on a northern adventure and a moose is on the loose! In this episode we learn how to draw a cartoon moose.

Groundhog

Learn how to draw a groundhog using a stick figure as the base design.

Bulldog

On this episode of Cartoon Academy we learn how to draw a bulldog.

Dachshund

Hot dog! We are learning how to draw a Dachshund! Draw a long dog, along with Joe on Cartoon Academy!

Chihuahua

In this episode of Cartoon Academy you’ll learn to draw a Chihuahua!

Scottish Terrier

Learn how to draw an adorable Scottish terrier, more commonly called a scotty dog. Learn about symmetry and expression of emotion.

About

In this WQED webseries, Cartoon Academy, Pittsburgh cartoonist Joe Wos takes students through the creative steps of drawing cartoon characters while sharing educational facts on the cartoon subjects. Viewers will also learn artistic terms during each lesson.

Educator Tips when showing Cartoon Academy to students:

Encourage students to try new things and work with mistakes that might happen rather than starting over when something doesn’t go quite right.
Take time to pause after a few steps to give younger students a chance to catch up on what they are drawing.
Reassure students (especially younger ones) that it’s okay if it doesn’t look exactly how they want it to look; art is a fun process and should be relaxing, not stress-inducing!

Cartoon Academy is perfect for:

Kids of all ages who love to draw
Parents seeking engaging and educational activities
Educators looking for creative art projects
Homeschool art programs
Anyone interested in learning cartooning techniques

In these videos students will:

Follow a simple, step-by-step drawing tutorial
Learn essential cartooning tips and tricks
Develop artistic skills in a fun and engaging way
Engage in art-based learning that sparks creativity and knowledge

Credits: WQED, Joe Wos

Standards

Arts & Humanities 9.1.3.A Identify and use elements and principles in visual arts (color, line, shape).
Arts & Humanities 9.1.3.B Demonstrate skills in visual arts through practice.
Arts & Humanities 9.4.3.D Make artistic choices to express ideas or feelings.
Early Learning AL.3 Applying knowledge – using prior experiences to choose colors.
Early Learning AL.4 Learning through experience – experimenting with color combinations.
Mathematics 2.3.K Recognize and describe shapes.
Physical Development PD.3 Develop fine motor skills.