New Spring Semester Classes Beginning in January

Skill-Builders 2: Let There Be Light
Creating the Illusion of 3-Dimensions with Line, Shape, and Value

Ages 10 years and older (or with instructor permission) *Best for students from Skill-Builder 1 or beginning students - young and old - with an interest in art* `
Tuesdays 3:00-4:15 beginning January 24^th (8 Meetings)

This class will continue to explore the “ABC’s” of drawing through hands-on exercises, observation, and discussion. Concepts presented will include 3-D forms and their relationship to everyday objects/figures, the study of light and its effect on objects, shading options, creating a full range of values with graphite and charcoal pencils, and cast shadows. Like the Skill-Builders 1 class, students will create a skills sketchbook, recording their discoveries throughout the session. They will also create their own “value scale” to take and use on their own .

EARLY BIRD RATE: $50 per 1^st student (register by December 31st); $35 per additional sibling
$60 per 1^st student (January 1^st and beyond); $45 per additional sibling


(New) Faces in Time

Ages 6-11 (or with instructor permission)
Thursdays 2:30-3:30 beginning January 26^th (8 meetings)

Kids will enjoy traveling through time on this journey through history and the study of portraiture. Our journey will include Ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and Greece, the Italian Renaissance, and 20^th Century modern. We will study how the face was depicted in these different eras AND how to draw the basic features in their proper places. Besides drawing, we will also use materials such as air-dry clay, collage, paper mosaic, and paint!

EARLY BIRD RATE: $55 per 1^st student (register by December 31st); $40 per additional sibling
$65 per 1^st student (January 1^st and beyond); $50 per additional sibling


(New) COLOR BLAST!

Ages 11 years and older (or with instructor permission)Skill-Builders 3: Basic Color helpful, but NOT required - new students welcome
Thursdays 3:30-4:45 beginning January 26^th (8 meetings)

This class picks up where Skill-Builders 3: Basic Color left off, taking a turn toward the wild side. There will be some review of basic color theory as needed, but the focus will be on the psychological, emotional, and expressive use of color. Topics in this class include looking at the color wheel in terms of “value,” practice working with a limited color palette, and the historic use of expressive color, particularly early 20^th century painting.

EARLY BIRD RATE: $55 per 1^st student (register by December 31st); $40 per additional sibling
$65 per 1^st student (January 1^st and beyond); $50 per additional sibling

The First Round of Art Classes Comes to a Close...

Today was the conclusion of my first round of art classes for kids offered through the Horizons Extension Program at Pine Grove Baptist Church.  I began by offering two classes to homeschoolers - Skill Builders Basic Drawing for ages 9+ and Skill Builders Jr. for ages 5-10.



My Jr. Skill Builders

 My Jr.'s rode on the "Art Express," exploring different types of artwork from abstract to realistic and discussed the work of key artists.  Along the way, we studied the portrait, landscape, still life, and multi-media collage, and we worked in a variety of media including pencil, ink, oil pastel, watercolor, and torn paper.




The big kids created a reference sketchbook of important basic concepts and skills in drawing.  Topics covered included basic lines and shapes, composition, sketching, contour and cross-contour, proportion, and positive and negative space.  Again, we discussed a variety of famous work by artists throughout the centuries.  The goal was to learn about and practice various skills - NOT to end up with a stack of frame-worthy art pieces.  However, I think there were definitely some pieces created by each of the students that have earned that honor.



The Skill Builder Basic Drawing Kids get Silly!