About Art Lessons
Small Class Size
Students come for a weekly one hour class or bi-weekly 2 hour class with 2-4 people in each class. Completely private lessons are also available. Small class sizes produce one-on-one attention and instruction. Having a small class is imperative for sharing both the mental and physical components that work together to create meaningful art. A small class also creates an environment that is not intimidating and where no one feels overlooked.
Available Sessions
The year is broken into two sessions: a school-year session and a summer session. Because of the small class size students can begin at any time during the year as each lesson is built around the individual. School year lessons are a great way to have continuous sustained learning and growth.
Summer lessons are done in a capsule. This means a new student would have the experience of completing the assessment and introductory lessons and finish in about 8-10 lessons. A returning student can choose a project to complete in any medium. Returning students can also choose to do 16x20 oil paintings on canvas for the summer oil painting capsule class. Because groupings for lessons are based upon weeks that a student is available during the summer, many students choose to come several times a week. This allows students to finish in a short amount of time creating momentum with a project, while others space their lessons throughout the summer. This is a great chance to finish an impressive piece in a time schedule that fits your availability, and it allows students to experience the benefit of working consecutive days on a piece if they have the availability.
Structured Learning
Art lessons are about learning fundamentals and techniques. Each lesson is based on the individual working in a pressure-free environment that allows everyone to have fun and produce great art at their own pace. Each student will learn how to utilize different tools and mediums such as:
Drawing with pencil, charcoal, Conte, and pastel
Painting with watercolor, acrylic, and oil paints
Water-soluble graphite
Figure drawing
Mixed media
Pen and ink
Oil wash
Scratchboard
Using all media on various surfaces and learning how each surface interacts with a chosen medium
How to get started:
Assessment Lesson
Each student begins with a private assessment lesson to find out what each students artistic goals are, assess student readiness, and introduce each student to what a studio class will look and feel like. Student readiness is not about talent, but rather a willingness to learn and a shared understanding of the goals and expectations during a class.
Introductory Lessons
The first few lessons will be filled with lots of instruction and basic principles that can be applied to every drawing and all subsequent artwork. Each student will receive a sketchbook a folder for printed notes, and reference sheets so they can practice at home. Learning to draw without guessing, drawing from life, developing shape consciousness, measuring, learning to use a pencil set, and creating a small fully rendered realistic piece of art are some of the things we accomplish during these beginning lessons.
Studies and Long Term Projects
Once a student finishes the introductory material we focus each week on a different dimension of drawing. Some weeks we will focus on taking our sketches further and making them finished studies allowing us to experiment with short term projects that just take one or two lessons. Our larger long term projects are carefully selected and worked on over several months. These pieces produce a “wow factor” as a result of many weeks of focused effort to take each students understanding and comprehension of how to use a specific medium to the next level.
The Goal of Art Lessons
My goal is to show my students how to produce amazing works of art that they had no idea they were capable of producing. Learning how to produce art is another way to help students build confidence and feel good about themselves. You do not have to have any formal training to start, just a desire to learn. Many adult students have waited their whole lives to try their hand at art, and finally have the time to do so. Regardless of age you will be shocked at what you can accomplish!
Lesson Fees:
One hour semi-private lesson: $60
One hour private lesson: $120
Registration/materials fee for school year session: $170
Summer registration/materials fee: $70
Age range: third grade through adults
Make your art a gift of inspiration to others to work toward better things. (Richard Schmid)