Fransisco Zolla

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I had the opportunity to teach drawing to students remotely, which was both a challenge and a rewarding experience. I focused on understanding the individual struggles each student faced, especially since many were learning in isolation and without the usual in-person guidance.

One of the biggest challenges was helping students who felt disconnected from their art, either due to lack of materials or the difficulty of learning without hands-on instruction. To address this, I found creative solutions to make learning more engaging and accessible. For example, I would often give simple drawing prompts that required minimal tools—just pencil and paper—so that students could continue practicing at home without feeling overwhelmed.

I also made sure to break things down step by step. I realized that, especially in a virtual setting, students could feel easily lost or frustrated if things were too abstract or complicated. So I focused on explaining the basics of shapes, shading, and composition in a way that was easy to grasp. Instead of giving lengthy lectures, I encouraged students to draw along with me, so they could apply what they were learning in real time.

I also made learning fun and interactive by incorporating challenges, games, and drawing exercises that made the process feel less like a task and more like an enjoyable activity. For instance, we had “theme weeks” where students would create drawings based on fun, random prompts—like “draw a superhero in your favorite food” or “design an imaginary creature.” These activities allowed students to tap into their creativity and express themselves without the pressure of being "perfect."

Throughout this time, I made sure to be patient and supportive, always offering positive reinforcement and constructive feedback. My goal was to create a safe, stress-free environment where students could embrace the learning process and see their own progress, no matter how small.

By focusing on the challenges they faced and finding fun ways to work through them, I helped students build confidence in their abilities. It was incredibly fulfilling to see their growth, not just as artists, but as individuals who learned to enjoy the process of drawing despite the circumstances.