Courses

Within a supportive, friendly, and sociable atmosphere, we will approach drawing as a powerful method of expression involving physical dexterity, mental flexibility, and emotional courage. In this course, we will use pencils, erasers, and blending stumps to explore a variety of techniques such as crosshatching, gesture, gradation, contrast, and blending. We will also explore various kinds of subject matter, including still life, landscape, drapery, and abstraction, and we will cover the fundamentals of composition and layering. Special attention will be paid to managing the mental and emotional challenges that many beginners have, such as overzealous perfectionism and having a harsh inner critic. One-on-one and group discussions will touch upon the creative process, including embracing play and imperfection as well as the varying benefits of control vs. spontaneity. Technical demonstrations, slide lectures, and short writing projects will complement our studio work. The goal of this course is to give students the basic physical, mental, and emotional skills necessary to begin their own drawing practice.