Drawing Success with Jan Bower

The curriculum requires minimal teacher expertise as instruction is delivered via DVD. The lesson book provides support materials, making it accessible for non-art specialist facilitators.

Reviews note that 'Since Bower does the teaching, a parent or class facilitator can learn right along with the students' and the course 'can be used independently by self-directed students.'

The curriculum excels at direct instruction through detailed video demonstrations. Bower provides clear modeling and explanation of each technique with encouragement for students to pause and review.

Reviews highlight that 'Teacher Jan Bower helps students establish proper techniques from the beginning as she demonstrates step-by-step with lots of explanation' and 'She reminds students to pause the video or review whenever they need to.'

The curriculum includes explicit vocabulary instruction through a comprehensive glossary. Technical art terms are taught systematically throughout the lessons.

Reviews mention '70 glossary entries that teach art terminology' and that students can 'look up words in the glossary,' indicating deliberate vocabulary development.

The curriculum provides extensive explicit instruction in drawing techniques with systematic skill development. Bower demonstrates step-by-step techniques with detailed explanations, filmed from multiple camera angles.

Reviews note that Bower 'helps students establish proper techniques from the beginning' and 'demonstrates step-by-step with lots of explanation,' with videos filmed from 'multiple cameras so that students can view Bower's work from different angles and distances.'

The curriculum is highly structured with sequential skill-building but lacks open-ended creative exploration. Students follow prescribed exercises with little opportunity for personal artistic expression.

The course has '36 lessons in the courses, and lessons are grouped into an introduction and eight chapters' with systematic progression, but reviews indicate students primarily copy demonstrated techniques rather than explore personal creativity.

The curriculum does not appear to include formal art history instruction. The focus is entirely on practical drawing skills rather than historical or cultural context.

Reviews describe only technique-focused lessons covering drawing objects, landscapes, birds, and animals, with no mention of art history, movements, or cultural contexts.