Drawing 101

You will work on a simpler project to get you from zero to a finished drawing most likely a portrait.

Along the way you will get a solid grounding and learn about light and shade, pencil skills, how to set up a drawing and key skills to be able to apply to any project.

I will help you choose a reference from your photos or I will provide one.

These classes can take from 6-8 classes to complete a drawing. It can take less or more time depending on experience level and work that you put in.

You can also choose to learn the Bargue method which may take a variable amount of time per drawing depending on each student and complexity of the image. At this stage you will be offered a simpler project.

This is a good beginning for people with no experience. Or who are coming back to drawing after a break. Also for those who have not done portraiture before, or want to improve their basic skills.

You will learn about the building blocks of drawing and get a good grounding in seeing like an artist, demystification of the process so you know how to problem solve at any stage.

Drawing Techniques

In my classes, you'll learn to bring portraits to life through graphite and charcoal, mastering both classical and contemporary techniques. Working primarily from photos, I will guide you to:

• Selecting the perfect reference photo: Learn how to choose a photo that captures the essence of your subject, focusing on light, shadow, and expression.
• Understanding proportions: Whether you're drawing portraits or figures, getting the proportions right is key. I will teach you techniques to break down complex images into simple shapes, ensuring accuracy in every stroke.
• Capturing emotions and likeness: You'll go beyond the basics and learn how to infuse your drawings with personality, expression, and life. Each drawing will tell a story.
• Shading and blending: Master the art of smooth transitions between light and shadow, creating depth and realism through expert shading techniques using graphite and charcoal.
• Texturing techniques: From soft skin to detailed hair, I will show you how to render realistic textures that bring your drawings to life.

All of the above, and then some.

This is for people with some experience in drawing, especially portraiture, I suggest for beginners to do drawing 101 first.

In this one we will choose a more complex project, most likely a portrait or still life. You will focus on rendering and ideally challenging yourself.

You can also do a more complex Bargue plate drawing based on Greek characters like the Homer drawing below.

We will focus on likeness, value, form and precision. This will build on your foundation skills and raise your standards and quality of work where ever you may be in your art journey.

These courses are built to teach you a blend of old masters techniques as well as my own methods collected from years of experience in teaching.

My aim is to get you to refine good habits, and give you a solid skillset and techniques on which to build further explorations on.

Painting is just drawing with paint. This is for people who want to try painting for the first time, or may be return after a break, want to try their hand at a different medium, want to do a personal project or just paint for fun and playfulness without worrying about the results while building skillset.

You will learn techniques and skills that will help you become a better painter. Subjects and style can vary, from portrait and landscape to still life, from realism to abstracts.

This may be a class gifted to you. I will help you paint a nice painting to hang on your wall or to give away as a gift.

You can bring your own reference or I will help you choose one.

You can choose between acrylics and watermixable oils.

Painting Techniques

Here’s what you’ll explore:

• Color mixing and theory: Working from photos allows you to interpret color in creative ways. Learn how to blend and mix colors to create the perfect tones that match or enhance your reference image.
• Creating depth with layers: Acrylics dry quickly, making them perfect for building up layers. You’ll learn how to use this to your advantage, adding depth, texture, and vibrancy to your paintings.
• Brushwork basics: Each brushstroke can convey energy, mood, and form. I’ll show you different brush techniques to create smooth surfaces, textured backgrounds, and detailed elements like hair and fabric.
• Using mediums: Explore how to manipulate the texture of your painting by incorporating gel mediums and textured pastes, creating effects that go beyond flat surfaces. We also group hold beginner pour painting classes on request.
• Creating a dynamic composition: Learn how to use composition techniques to draw the viewer's eye to the focal point of your painting, making your artwork impactful.
• Working with light and shadow: Just like in drawing, understanding how light falls on a subject will be key to creating realistic and dramatic effects in your acrylic work.

By the end of each class, you’ll have the skills to translate photos into powerful, personal artworks, all while developing your unique artistic voice. You’ll not only learn techniques, but also how to see and interpret the world around you through the eyes of an artist, making your art a reflection of both technique and soul.

Building on basic skills this is for those who want to try something new or challenging.

Do you want to go looser or tighter in your paintings but are unsure how to break out into a new way of mark making and try an different visual grammar, or want to hone your current skills and paint a masterpiece taking time to really get it right?

Or you just want to come and paint your own personal projects in a studio environment with some friendly advice on tap.

What ever your stage, I will aim to facilitate and help you achieve your goals.

Projects can range from abstracts to realism. From tight rendering to loose brush strokes.

Advanced Techniques

• Advanced project: Reference selection and complex compositions.
• Glazing Techniques: Layering transparent paint to create depth, luminosity, and rich color effects.
• Impasto: Applying thick layers of paint to create texture and dimension on the canvas.
• Chiaroscuro: Mastering light and shadow to create dramatic, three-dimensional effects.
• Palette Knife Painting: Using palette knives to create bold, textured strokes and abstract effects.
• Color Theory in Practice: Advanced use of color harmonies, contrast, and balance to create mood and visual impact.
• Underpainting: Creating an initial monochromatic painting to establish tonal values before adding color.
• Wet-on-Wet Technique: Applying layers of wet paint over wet surfaces for smooth blending and fluid transitions.
• Sgraffito: Scratching into wet paint to reveal underlying layers or create intricate designs.
• Edge Control: Mastering soft and hard edges to guide the viewer’s eye and create atmospheric depth.
• Advanced Brushwork Techniques: Learning how to use a variety of brush strokes for different effects, from smooth gradients to expressive, textured marks.
• Mastering Mediums: Using acrylic mediums like gels, pastes, and retarders for diverse effects (e.g., crackle finish, bead gel textures).