They are curious and self-confident, open to new ideas, and certain about what they like. They are what many adult artists dream to be.

 

We find it very important for young artists to know that Fine Art is not about just following step-by-step instructions. We teach them to create something brand new, using the endless resource of their imagination. All they need is encouragement and advice, which we are always happy to provide.

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Each lesson covers an important art concept, needed for fluent representational drawing and painting. It is combined with a short intro to a cultural phenomenon: a style, and epoch, or a single artist. Students get to create their original artworks from scratch within the guidelines of the topic. Each topic can be adjusted to a variety of skill levels.

 

We start a lesson with a short lecture and demonstration (live in studios, pre-recorded for online lessons). Teachers provide advice, help, correct the digital image of a student's work, explain what works in particular cases and what does not, and why.

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This class is ongoing, students can join anytime. Important concepts like drawing humans and animals, nature, and architecture are repeated every 1-2 months, each time associated with a new topic and art material. Topic rotation is 2-3 years. Art materials we master: acrylics, watercolor, pastels, pencil, markers, clay.

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* Your child is ready for an in-person instructional class when:

1) feels comfortable when she's left in a new place with a new person, without a parent;

2) is ready to follow teacher's directions;

3) while drawing at home, draws recognizable figures and objects (not abstract shapes), and colors within the outlines.

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Sample instructional video:

SUMMER 2022 CURRICULUM:

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Week of June 1-5, 2022

Painting fruits (learning to obtain a desired color by mixing, master various aspects of brushwork). Acrylics on thick paper/cardboard.

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Week of June 6-12, 2022

Sketching favorite toys  (learning to obtain proportions and achieve likeness). Pastels or color pencils.

 

Week of June 13-19, 2022

Making a Father’s Day card (collage) 

 

Week of June 20-26, 2022

Drawing a favorite cartoon or video game character (understanding simplified human anatomy)

Pencil, markers.

 

Week of June 27 - July 3, 2022 

Drawing a wild animal (studying animal anatomy, and learning to shade using color pencils). Color pencils, drawing paper.

 

Week of July 4-10, 2022

Painting fireworks, and people watching them. Pastels on paper.

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Week of July 11-17, 2022

Painting a landscape. Acrylic on board.

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Week of July 18-24, 2022

Painting a scene from the summer vacation, day 1 (students learn to use compositional sketches, areal and linear perspective, incorporate figures into the landscape). Acrylics on cardboard, sketching paper, pencil, eraser.

 

Week of July 25-31, 2022

Painting a scene from the summer vacation, Day 2 (students learn to render their idea and make final touches. ) Acrylics on cardboard.

 

Week of August 1-7, 2022

Drawing / painting a bug of a choice (butterfly, ant, scorpio, etc). (students learn to see and represent symmetry, understand insect anatomy, use flat washes and (optional) thin brushstrokes. Watercolor paper, watercolor, markers.

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Week of August 8-14, 2022  Drawing/Painting a reptile/ dragon (learning about the anatomy of reptiles, tips on drawing scales). Material of a choice.

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Week of August 15-21, 2022

Use of contrast. Drawing two objects or characters based on the principle of contrast. Subject of a choice. (Students learn to use contrast in their work). Material of a choice.

 

Week of August 22-28, 2022

Making a composition based on monochromatic or complementary color palette. Subject of a choice. (Students learn to use color as a tool that helps to convey a particular emotion). Material of a choice.

 

FALL-WINTER 2022 CURRICULUM:

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.Week of August 29 - September 4, 2022.

Mexican Circular Designs. Understanding Symmetry. Watercolor/markers on paper.

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Week of September 5-11, 2022.

Imaginary animals of Babylon. Learning about animal anatomy. Clay on cardboard or pastels on paper.

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Week of September 12-18, 2022.

Egyptian murals. Understanding human proportions. Acrylics on cardboard.

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Week of September 19-25, 2022.

Chinese Clay soldiers. Sculpting a 3D human figure. Clay.

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Week of September 26 - October 2, 2022. 

Greek gods and monsters, practicing drawing human and animal figures in motion.  Watercolor/pencil.

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Week of October 3-9, 2022.

Facial Features and emotions. Sculpting a Greek Mask. Clay.

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Week of October 10-16, 2022.

Faum (Roman) portraits. Making a self-portrait.  Larning about facial anatomy and likeness. Creating a realistic portrait. Color pencils and pastels on toned paper.

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Week of October 17-23, 2022.

Fall/Halloween/ Day of the Dead inspired still life on a large cardboard. Starting the project. Making compositional sketches and the full-size  drawing, starting the painting. Acrylics on cardboard.

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Week of October 24-30, 2022.

Fall/Halloween/ Day of the Dead inspired still life. Finishing the project. Learning to make final touches. Acrylics on cardboard.

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Week of October 31- November 6, 2022.

Medieval manuscripts. Painted initial, acrylics. Learning basics of design thinking, mastering watercolor. Watercolor and ink on paper.

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Week of November 7 - 13, 2022.

Gothic architecture. Sculpting a chimera. Clay.

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Week of November 14-20, 2022.

Drawing a turkey or any other bird, learning about the bird anatomy. Pastels, construction paper.

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Week of November 28 - December 4, 2022.

Medieval knights. Creating a composition with a human and an animal in gothic style. Starting the project: compositional sketches, making a finished drawing, starting the painting. Acrylics on cardboard or stained glass paint on plexiglass.

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Week of December 5 - 11, 2022

Medieval knights. Creating a composition with a human and an animal in gothic style. Making the final touches.  Acrylics on cardboard or stained glass paint on plexiglass.

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Week of December 12-18, 2022. Sculpting a christmas ornament/ small clay figurine.

Oven-baked sculpey, paint.