Drawing Lessons

Since 1994 I have been teaching people how to draw. We don’t go outside and sketch. We sit inside and work from photos. We learn to break a complex photo into its basic shapes, how to start a drawing, to get all the shapes  and proportions right, how to shade so that it appears 3 dimensional and how to finish it off to be the best possible.

I have about 20 students, ranging in age from 13 to Too-Polite-To-Ask.

Everyone works at his own pace on the subject of his own choosing. We generally don’t doggedly copy photos but do some well-thought-out cropping, and in general just clean up the mess that real life consists of.

I encourage everyone to work from her own photos rather than things from calendars, magazines and the internet. Not everyone has a good camera or a backlog of photos, and often I will lend photos to my students.

Usually each person has an idea of what he wants to draw.

The main thing is this: PICK SOMETHING YOU LOVE BECAUSE YOU WILL BE STARING AT IT FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

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This is a grandson with a stuffed lion. Definitely a much loved subject!
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We have spent a great deal of time evaluating exactly what we are seeing here. That is one of the drawbacks of working from a photo taken by someone else.
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I warned him and warned him about the slowness of colored pencil, but he proceeded anyway. Just getting the gradation of blues, and getting it smooth, is taking F O R E V E R. That’s okay – we don’t have any deadlines.
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A perfectionistic animal lover is doing a fabulous job on this challenging conglomerate of squishy shapes and elusive textures.
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Stunning! Simply stunning. This is by a woman who began lessons about 9 years ago so that her watercolor paintings would be more accurate. She mastered graphite quickly and has been showing off with colored pencil ever since. She doesn’t need lessons any more, but I am ever so grateful that she continues to show up each week.
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No faces smaller than an egg! Sometimes my students are determined. So, I help them the best I can and we all learn. Those who are looking on in horror become determined to never draw a face smaller than an egg. What a challenge!
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Turned my back to help the other students for awhile and BOOM! FInal leaf, done. There’s a very dark background coming. . . that ought to slow her down a bit. Or not.
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The idea with this is to do one of the blossoms in color. That is one of my favorite ways to use color, and this is turning out beautifully.

Drawing Lessons

Since 1994 I have been teaching people how to draw. Each class has 3-5 people who meet together for one hour per week. There are 5 of these classes in Exeter at the Courthouse Gallery on Tuesdays. (but not in July, August or December)

Each person works at his own pace on his own drawing. Some have been with me for a month now, some for about 10 years. The only ones who don’t learn are the ones who quit too soon.

Everyone comes for a different reason. Here are some:

  1. To learn how to get their shapes and proportions more accurate so they can paint better.
  2. A desire to prove some art “teacher” wrong, who told them they have no talent. (Isn’t that mean!? Wasn’t the “teacher” there to help?? )
  3. A love of learning how to do new things.
  4. A desire for a new hobby.
  5. Always thinking it might suit them, and finally making the time to investigate that interest.
  6. Already knowing how to draw but needing a specific time and place.

Have a look at what some of my students have either just completed or are currently working on:

Spice Cat

joshlyn

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There are specifics about drawing lessons here. (Click on the word “here”).

My classes are full right now but you can get on a waiting list. Sometimes people do quit. I don’t think I drive them away. . . life changes, or they got what they came for and move on.

I Love To Teach People How To Draw

I love to teach people how to draw.

Every Tuesday afternoon, people come to the Courthouse Gallery in Exeter for lessons. Four people for an hour at a time, each one working at his own pace on his own drawing. (Yes, I know it is acceptable to say “they” as a singular pronoun now, but I cannot. Can not.)

Sometimes I demonstrate some drawing techniques to a group. Two weeks ago I did this for the Tulare Palette Club, a delightful and attentive group. I sort of talked a little bit too long. They were gracious, but told me to shut up at 9:05. It was very fun.

And occasionally someone makes an appointment and comes to my studio for a private lesson. This is also great fun. I find out why she wants to learn to draw and tailor the information to her specific needs.

Equal opportunity here: “his” in the 2nd paragraph, “she” and “her” in the previous. No “they”. However, the Theys used to live up the road from me. Had a sign in their front yard – said “The Theys”.

I am not making this up.

And I don’t make up stuff when I teach people to draw. I help them all learn, and we all have a great time.

Are you interested?

Here is a sample to whet your appetite:

Bandit

This pencil drawing is “Bandit” by Jennifer Logan. She has been taking lessons from me for about 3 years.

You can learn more here: Lessons.

Secret Oil Painting Workshop Part 2

Why “secret”? Because I don’t advertise and recruit. . . it is an insider thing for my advanced drawing students. I don’t believe I know enough to truly teach anyone how to oil paint. Instead, I view myself as one beggar showing a few other beggars how to find bread.

Let’s see how these other beggars did. . .

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M wanted to paint the Tetons from a photo she snapped on one of her many road trips. I painted it first so she could see what sorts of colors and brush strokes. (Mine is slightly visible behind the photo on the little easel on the right.) Then, she was off and running, just looking at the photo and mixing her colors from the primaries. She needs another session or 2 on this canvas to complete it. Phooey – I was hoping she would buy mine from me, Just messing with you, M. I am PROUD of you!!

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A chose a photo that I found a little intimidating. She wanted a black background which I knew how to help her with. She has a great eye for proportion, knows what chicks look like and is a bit perfectionistic. These are great qualities to paint in a realistic manner. This is after 2 sessions, and I think 1 more might do the trick. Isn’t this wonderful??

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L is amazing. She has painted with me several times, and is off and running. She paints on her own at home, and has plans to give these second two paintings as Christmas gifts this year. The orange wants more texture, but the pear might be finished. There is no stopping this woman!!

Secret Oil Painting Workshop

I’ve been oil painting since March 8, 2006, which doesn’t seem like enough experience to be teaching. However, several of my drawing students have asked me to conduct an oil painting workshop. I began doing this a few years ago, but only for my advanced students.

The participants need to understand proportion, perspective, values and my manner of teaching.. I need to understand where they are in their abilities, and how they learn. 

Oil painting is much harder than pencil drawing because of the added elements of color mixing, all the ingredients to manage and the less than cooperative, wet, flippy brush, but if a student has the understanding I listed above, they can achieve impressive results in just a few painting sessions. Four of the five participants had painted with me before, and we did two sessions together this year.

We work from photos as a matter of ease and convenience. Plein air or using real life set-ups doesn’t fit our space, abilities, or level of experience. I want my students to have success and to be happy with their results rather than leave a workshop feeling as if they wasted their time and money. I am too familiar with that sort of result and want better for my students.

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About 2 years ago, E asked me if she was ready to oil paint. I told her that she wasn’t. She kept working very diligently at her drawing skills, and this year she was ready to paint. We started with a simple subject – easy shape, few colors to mix. This is how it looked at the end of her second session. This photo looks a bit washed out compared to the painting because it is wet and shiny. But, still. . . pretty impressive! Her choice of background color truly complements the orange, since blue is the complement (opposite on the color wheel) of orange. Hey, Mr. Favorite Customer, aren’t you proud of your wife, and aren’t you glad she didn’t listen when you told her to give up on drawing lessons??

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J pulled out this canvas she had started last year and dabbed at it without any photo reference. I dug through my cat photos on hand and couldn’t find the one I was looking for. We found one that helped with cat face proportions, and then as she was packing to leave, she flipped her canvas over and found the very photo I had been seeking! It was how she started this painting a year ago, and then we both forgot. The second session of painting was more fruitful. Lots of life in those eyes!

 

 

 

 

 

Margie’s Sunflower

My drawing students do excellent work. I encourage each one to choose something she loves. because she will be looking at it for a lonnnnng time. (or he – currently I have 2 guy students). They each have subjects that interest them, and it is so fun to help them figure out how to best portray those subjects.

Margie has been with me for perhaps a year, perhaps less. She has drawn and painted in different classes and situations for many years. Hard to believe she thinks she needs lessons, but I’m happy to help her

Sometimes people take drawing lessons because unless they have 1 hour per week set aside for the purposes of drawing, they don’t pick up their pencils. I’m guessing that’s the reason Margie takes lessons.

Do you agree with my assessment?

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More About Drawing Lessons

Lou's Pumpkin

Just the facts, Ma’am, about Drawing Lessons, please.

Tuesday afternoons at the Courthouse Gallery on B Street in Exeter.

5 classes, each 1 hour long.

4 people per class.

$55/month.

Each person works on her own drawing, at her own pace.

No one needs to know anything before beginning. That’s why people take lessons.

No lessons in July or August (or December, but who cares about that month in July?)

There is space available. Call or email for details. (Use the comments or the contact button under About The Artist.)

P.S. Note the rebellious and creative spirit here. “Just the facts”? Fine. I’ll do them in pretty colors, so there.

 

About Learning To Draw

Sara's Swing
Swing, by Sara Evans, graphite on paper, 8×10″

 

Since I have been teaching private and group drawing lessons for 21 years, I have lots to say on the subject.

In looking at the photos in yesterday’s blog posting, it reminded me that yes, a slanted drawing table would be more effective. However, my classes last for one hour, so we just make do with what is available.

I hear critical voices out there, saying “She’s only teaching them to copy photos.”

Spice
Spice, by Jennifer Logan, graphite on paper, 8×10″

I am teaching people to see what is really there, providing tools which help them see proportions correctly, showing them how to break down complex shapes and textures into manageable forms, teaching how to plan and persevere and persist.

They are learning about values (the darks and lights), proportions, perspective, how to make things stand out, how to drive pencils to their furthest possible use (“It’s just a pencil!” – Nope, it’s a magic stick of graphite!), how to discern what is worth drawing.

Ripe
Ripe, by Wendy Miller, colored pencil on paper, 14×17″

To top it off, my students get to meet a variety of people from different walks of life, of different ages and backgrounds. All have a common interest – learning to draw in a realistic manner.

I love teaching people how to draw, and I really do love my students!

Very Effective Drawing Teacher

May I say that I am a very effective drawing teacher?

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I’m 55, so I can say whatever I want. However, I think this assessment of my ability to help people learn to draw is accurate, not boasting.

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I’ve been teaching drawing lessons for 21 years, and my students are FABULOUS. They are fabulous people, tremendous students, and “at the of the day” (what an overused expression), they turn out remarkable drawings.

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I have much more to say about this, but will tell you tomorrow.

Drawing Lessons

For about 21 years I have been teaching drawing lessons.

This sounds formal. The more accurate description to my way of thinking is simply that I show people how I draw and thus guide them to do their own pencil drawing.

It is one of the most satisfying and rewarding (more than just financial) parts of my art business.

There are no lessons in July or August because it is too hot and attendance is traditionally down.

So, today is it, the last one until September 8.

This is Rosemary and her wonderful walrus.

Rosemary

Delighted and delightful!

If you are interested in taking drawing lessons, either in a small group ($55/month, 1 hour a week) or private lessons in my studio ($35/1 hour, $45 1-1/2 hour, scheduled as it suits), email me using “cabinart at cabinart dot net” (written that way to confuse the trolls who roam the internet looking for trouble). Or call me at 561-7606 (area code is five-five-nine, also written that way out of general troll paranoia.)