Teaching without a degree

Honeymoon Cabin, pencil, 11×14, unframed, $300

A few years ago I took 1/2 a semester of oil painting at a local junior college. I learned more about painting from only the primary colors, and I learned about layering (called “glazing” in Artspeak). I learned that I need more light to see than a 19 year old, that just because a class is labeled something (“Photorealism”) doesn’t mean it is that class (it was Studio painting), that I have very little tolerance for rap “music” (rhythmic and profane chanting would be a more accurate term for it), and that the teacher was still trying to “stick it to The Man”. Hunh? He also had very little tolerance for my ilk – a wannabe without a Master’s of Fine Arts posing as an artist and an art teacher.

That’s me – a poser of the first degree!  Gotta have a degree in something to teach, I suppose.

So, Mr. Stick-It-To-The-Man, why are you bitterly and loudly complaining about working at a junior college while I am making and selling art? Hmmmm???

In addition, I learned that there is a real contempt out there for those of us who chose to paint from photos. One of the most influential painters and writers in my so-called art career is Jack White, and he says “All realistic artists either work from photos or they lie about it.”

I do teach people how to draw and they learn and they love it. The only ones who don’t learn are the ones who quit too soon!

I quit the painting class. But, I continue to paint, to learn more about painting by reading and practicing, and I sell lots of paintings. Take that, Mr. Stick-it-to-the-man!

But I’m not bitter. 😎

I believe strongly and whole-heartedly that drawing well is the basis for painting well.

Look at this – Shereen learned to draw!

Drawing Lessons

I teach people how to draw. The lessons are probably considered “semi-private” because each student receives one-on-one instruction, but in a small class.

Just the facts: 4 people at one time, one hour each week, each working on her own piece at her own pace. Youngest – 6th grade. Oldest – too polite to ask! Cost – $50 per month.

We meet every Tuesday afternoon at the Courthouse Gallery in Exeter, except for July, August and December. We draw from photos, see each other’s progress, learn from doing, learn from watching, learn from one another. (And yes, I am speaking in the royal “we”.) July and August feel like a long time to go without drawing. Often I lose a student or 2 during this break; more often, I gain new students.

Why learn to draw? You can read about the reasons here: Reasons To Learn To Draw (Thank you, Captain Obvious!)

If you are interested in taking drawing lessons, you may call or email me to get on a waiting list. Or, if you would rather learn in private, you can schedule private lessons. This means all my attention, all to, by, and for yourself! Is that a good thing? Ask my drawing students!

Pencil Explanation, Part Four

This is a post on how to layer with drawing pencils. I used to only use a 6B; you can read about it here. Then, I met someone who drew beautifully using the full range. I had no idea how to use them and figured they must layered  lightest to darkest. Or maybe they were meant to be used one at a time, depending on how you wanted things to look. Kind of weird that as an art major I never learned these techniques. Anyway, I never could quite achieve the kind of blacks that my drawings needed. After joining the Colored Pencil Society of America, I began applying things learned from their workshops to my graphite pencil drawings. Look at what I learned about layering graphite pencils:

Defies logic! But the evidence is right here. If you have paper and pencils, try it for yourself! I’d love to read your comments once you have experimented with this sort of layering.

Pencil Explanation, Part Three

School pencils are rated #1, #2 and #3.  It is a different rating system, one which I haven’t researched because I am a pencil artist, not a student nor a school teacher. #3 is really hard, and it is horrible if you are writing on a soft surface such as a math workbook. #1 is really dark and wonderful if you get one by accident. #2  are the most common and are the same as the HB drawing pencils. Ever notice that before?

School pencils come with erasers. Those erasers never last as long as the pencils. Drawing pencils don’t come with erasers. My theory is this: the eraser will wear out very quickly but you will have the habit of flipping the pencil over. If you have that habit, when your eraser is gone, you will scratch the heck out of your drawing. Then you will cry. Your drawing will be wrecked. If you are used to reaching for a separate eraser, there is less chance of this sort of disaster. Or tragedy.

Pencil Explanation, Part Two

Pencils are made from a blend of graphite and clay. If they have more clay, they are harder and lighter. If they have more graphite, they are blacker and softer.

H is for Hard, B is for Black.  I don’t get why those two are considered opposites in Pencil World. (Hey Pencil Manufacturers, tune in here!)

Usually the H and the B are accompanied by a number, usually 2 – 6, but occasionally as high as 9 depending on the brands. If there is no number with the letter, a 1 (one) is implied. HB is right in the center. F is an unnecessary interloper that shouldn’t be included in a set because it takes up space that could be better used for a more useful pencil. I’d like a set without an F and with an extra 6B, please. (Pencil manufacturers, are you listening??)

The higher the number, the more the particular quality of that pencil. A 6H is very hard, very pale, and very easily scratches the surface of the drawing paper. A 6B is very black, very soft, and will crack, crumble or collapse internally if you so much as frown in its direction. This is why I’d like a second 6B included in a set of pencils. (Hey Pencil Manufacturers, I’m talking to you!!)

Pencil Explanation, Part One

When I began drawing, I only used the Turquoise brand. Or it might have been called Eagle or Berol or Sanford. They keep buying each other out, and sometimes these graphite pencils now say “Prismacolor” despite the fact that they are all shades of gray. The outer paint color remains turquoise, so I’ll just call them Turquoise pencils in spite of their multiple marriages.

After Turquoise, I discovered blue. Blue pencils are made by Staedtler. Or by Mars. Or maybe they are made by Lumograph. Anyway, their outer casings are a beautiful shade of blue and they tend to be softer and blacker than the Turquoise pencils of the same rating.

Red is not my favorite color – you will seldom see me wearing it. But when it comes to pencils, I LOVE these little red guys. They were made by Stabilo. Sob. Stabilo doesn’t make them anymore. These are the best pencils I have ever used. There may not be much difference between them and the blue pencils, but for some reason, these pencils are about as close to perfection as pencils can be!

And more links to learning to draw

Morro Rock

When I was growing up in Tulare County, I thought the only real beach, the beachest of all beaches, was Newport in Orange County. In fourth grade, we took a field trip to Mission San Miguel and then went to Pismo Beach. It was flat, had giant clam shells, the sand was fine and sort of muddy, and there were no noticeable waves. I was also stunned, just stunned I tell you, to learn there is another Morro Rock! Of course it is spelled incorrectly – the Moro Rock I first knew (and climbed at age 3 I’m told) has only 1 R in its Moro. And isn’t it odd they are both in California, within driving distance of one another? Most convenient for this California artist!

More Links to Learning

If you are here, I’m guessing you have finished the first 8 drawing lessons and are ready for more. Help yourself – I love to teach people how to draw!

Cajon Pass

My maternal grandfather, Eugene B. Maise was a maintenance foreman for the Santa Fe Railroad working in the mountains of San Bernardino. In the late 1940s, he was approached by a photographer who requested help taking photos of the trains as they climbed through Cajon Pass. Note the coal burning engine pulling the passenger cars; the new diesel engines couldn’t quite make the grade. I drew this from a photo from Uncle Frank. That was before I had totally cemented my resolve to work only from my own photos. Besides, I needed a gift for Mom! (Thanks Mom, for rearing me here so I can be a California artist.)

Links to Learning To Draw

In case you are a new reader of this blog and are wondering how to find the earlier chapters of Learning to Draw, here is a convenient clickable list of the first eight.

If you want to click on all these but get tired of going back to this page, just right-click on each one and open in a new tab. Then you can go through them sequentially without wearing out your Back button. How did a California artist become so computer savvy? By asking people and trying stuff!

Ever say a word so often that it ceases to make sense? I just destroyed the word “chapter” for myself!

Fruit On The Vine

Learning to Draw, Chapter 23

Kirby found this photo and it really grabbed her around the heart. I decided they are named Adams and Soldier. Can you tell me why I chose those names?  (besides the fact that I love to name animals) Kirby just smiled when I told her. She’s getting used to me.

When you are deciding what to draw, pick something you love, because you will be staring at it for a long time.