Basic Perspective Drawing I

Learn the fine art of perspective drawing.  Students learn the basic principles of one, two and three point perspective  with  hands-on participation.  Starting with drawing simple boxes, and moving on to more complex subjects such as stairways and houses, students will have the foundation to experiment on their own.

 

Basic Perspective Drawing II 

Building on Basic Perspective I,  we will delve into more complex perspective problems, including but not limited to,  stairs and railings, overhangs (eaves),  arches,  steeples, domes, dormers, chimneys and cast shadows. 

 

Watercolor for Absolute Beginners

If you know nothing about painting with transparent watercolor,  but would like to learn,  this is the class for you.  We will start at the very beginning with  materials - brushes, paint and paper.   Students will learn how to stretch paper, and why one paper is “better” than another,  and why a paint may be preferred over another.   Each week will focus on a new basic watercolor skill,  starting with flat,  graded and variegated washes.  From there, we will to cover  drawing,  color mixing,  and methods such as wet into wet,  dry brush, and using other materials for texture and effects.

 

Watercolor

If you have a little experience with watercolor,  but would like to learn more, this is the class for you.  This class is a continuation of Watercolor for Absolute Beginners or for students with some prior experience with watercolor  .  Beginners will enjoy continuing to expand their proficiency with the fascinating medium of watercolor. 

 

Other ideas for watercolor classes include pouring watercolor (pouring layers, masking in between), water and the seaside, florals,  plein-air painting, old barns (possibly plein-air or from photos), and painting animals. Most subjects could be done in pen & ink or colored pencil as well. 

 

Drawing for Beginners

Good drawing skills are the foundation for great art.  Learn how to draw what  you see, as well as the principles of perspective and the use of basic shapes.  We will cover a variety of areas,  including drawing materials,  shading for form, value and composition.

 

Colored Pencil Techniques.  

Colored pencils offer versatility,  control and ease of use and can produce a wide range of painterly effects.  The fundamental techniques and principles needed for mastering this expressive and portable medium will be covered in this class.  Learn to render with colored pencil and the endless possibilities of painting.

 

Pen & Ink Techniques

Students will learn about and experiment with line and shading techniques in pen & ink to create the illusion of form, texture and value.  Using only a simple pen, the variety of 

expression is endless.  In addition we learn how to incorporate other media such as watercolor and colored pencil and work with “quick and dirty” sketching to more finished renderings.

 

Landscapes in Pen & Ink with Watercolor 

In this class, you will learn how to compose and render landscapes using a combination of pen & ink and watercolor.   Hands-on demonstrations will include pen and ink drawing techniques and watercolor painting. Other techniques to be explored include printing, stamping and bruising with materials such as tissue, cloth, leaves and sponges. Students will compose their own rendering from original photographs or sketches.

 

Old and Weathered Buildings in Pen & Ink and Watercolor

A subject I often paint is old and weathered houses,  or bits of architectural detail of old houses. Students will explore the use of pen & ink with watercolor  to capture the beauty and character of weathered buildings, barns and factories with all of their glorious imperfections and the stories they have to tell.

 

Anatomy of the Boat 

Anatomy of the Boat is a two-day intensive drawing workshop where students will learn to create accurate drawings directly from observation, while gaining an understanding of how to apply basic perspective theory to the drawing of boats.  How to render boats in the third dimension, how to make vessels sit perfectly in the water,  drawing rigging, sails and all the lines of a boat through the use of perspective, line, value, form and texture will be covered.  Some drawing experience with perspective is necessary for this class.

 

Mandala Drawing Workshop

Mandalas are a part of every culture and religion.  From the Christian rose windows to the Celtic cross circular to the circular Aztec calendar, mandalas are found everywhere.

The word “mandala” comes from a Sanskrit word meaning “circle”.   Drawing a 

mandala can be a simple as a doodle or as complex as Tibetan sand mandalas.  It can have religious meaning to its creator or simply be a method for meditation and relaxation. Creating your own mandala can reflect your state of mind, or help you get to the state of mind would like to achieve.  Or you can do it just for the creative  fun of it.

 

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Many of these classes can be adapted to be done as either a 4-5 week class or as a  1 or 2 day workshop.