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I'm now teaching art lessons. Sessions can be afternoons, evenings, or weekends. Ages 12 and up, please. I emphasize classical techniques and a strong foundation in drawing as the first priority, but I'm well versed in a variety of methods and techniques - I also teach digital painting and photo retouching. For more information, see below.
Subjects I Teach -||- Frequently Asked Questions -||- Numbers and Prices
Fundamentals of art and design
Theories and methods of composition. The elements and principles of design. Terminology. Materials. Protecting, storing, and preserving art. I could teach this as its own class, but I prefer to integrate it into hands-on work in drawing or other media, because pure theory can be dreadfully dull and hard to remember without direct application.
Beginning to intermediate drawing
The most foundational skill for any artist. In the ateliers of the old master painters, apprentices would spend their first several years learning how to draw from life, before they would be allowed to start learning how to paint. Realistic drawing skills are the foundation for all forms of art, from illustration to sculpture, because it trains the eye to see what's really there, and trains the hands to do move with precision and skill.
Beyond graphite
Once you have a solid grasp of drawing with pencils, what about other media? Pens, ink, colored pencils, pastels, charcoal, watercolor pencil, and other media and techniques. I teach how to use the media, and encourage experimentation and creativity.
Color theory and practice
What is the difference between pigment colors and light colors? How do you mix colors? How is it different for pencil, watercolor pencil, watercolor, acrylic? How does it all change when you go digital? What are the dangers and pitfalls of using grays? Primary, secondary, tertiary colors; the mathematics of color coordination; pastels, tints and shades; saturation, hue, value; tricks and tips and styles of great painters and illustrators, and more...
Introduction to acrylics
Preparing the ground, different brushes, practicing brushstrokes, mixing colors, media and glazes, opacity of pigments, classical and modern techniques, masking, palettes, and more...
Introduction to digital painting
I teach using Painter Classic and the GIMP, because these programs are cheap-to-free and the techniques are the same as in all major raster software. I can teach using a mouse or a tablet, and what the difference is and whether you really need a tablet (most people don't). I teach both how to scan, adapt, and paint from traditional sketches, as well as how to do a digital painting from scratch. Layers, lighting, colors, brushes, filters plugins, and how to avoid the deadly sins of beginning digital artists.
Photo retouching and digital photomanipulation
I teach using the GIMP, which is an open-source (and free) program that does just about everything Adobe Photoshop can do - the techniques transfer between programs easily, and the GIMP exports to all industry standard file formats. Scanning images and working from digital photos. How to drag more detail out of underexposed or overexposed images, redeye removal, skin touchup and other cosmetic post-work, cleaning up scratches, cropping for composition, digital framing, color correction, levels and contrast, aging a photo, vignette, faking depth-of-field, how to use filters without committing the deadly sins of beginning digital artists, and more...
Are these private lessons, or small-group classes?
Both! If you and a group of friends want to come in together, I can accommodate classes of up to 6 comfortably. Or if you'd rather have one-on-one sessions, I can do that, too.
What are the lessons like?
In a typical 3 hour lesson, I'll sit down with the student and review the assigned homework, pointing out ways the student is improving, and giving suggestions on how to deal with problem spots. Then I'll go into some theory and explanations of the day's topic, and then it's time for some hands-on practice. After about an hour and a half, we'll break to stretch and make a cup of tea, and then go back in for more theory and explanations. Then it's more hands-on practice. At about ten minutes until the end of the session, we'll review what we did, and I'll explain the homework assigned for the next time. Click here to see an example lesson plan.
As you can imagine, the 1.5 hour lessons are basically half of a three-hour session, with no break, and a shorter time needed to review and to assign homework each time.
I have some handouts that I pass out. Homework assignments are designed to directly relate to the material, provide practice between sessions, and develop skills.
Does the class fee include materials? How will I know what to bring, or where to go find it, or if I have the right stuff?
The student is responsible for bringing their own materials. The required materials will depend on the lessons, but I provide the required materials list well in advance, as well as places around town you can find them. If after reading the materials list, you have any questions about the materials, feel free to contact me and I can answer your questions.
Will the students be drawing nudes?
No, I will not make your 12 year old draw nekkid people. ;) In fact, I don't exactly have models lounging around at my back and call, so even the adults will just be drawing still lifes, plaster busts, and self-portraits using mirrors. If an adult student is interested in drawing the human form, I will have to charge extra so I can pay a model to come in. I have more information in my new student orientation, and I will gladly discuss the issue.
My kid is obsessed with these Japanese cartoons. I love that s/he is interested in art, but I wish s/he'd find a different style!
Anime and manga are becoming popular once again in the US, and a lot of kids are drawing Naruto fanart, creating anime characters, and storyboarding manga. And it's driving a lot of parents crazy in the process! I know enough about anime and manga to relate the classwork to the needs of an aspiring manga-ka... while still insisting on a foundation in realism. Even in Japan, the artists have to learn how to draw realistically as a foundation for other styles. I can speak to the kids in such a way as to hold their attention, encourage them to practice and improve, give them a solid foundational knowledge for any style, so that if the interest wanes when the next fad strikes, they still have useful, fundamental art skills.
1.5 hour lesson, every two weeks -or- a 3 hour lesson, once a month - $50/month.
This includes instruction, critique, handouts, homework, and lots of encouragement. ;) It does not include materials.
Contact me to discuss your particular needs and interests, and to check for availability of your preferred times and days.