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:

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Classical Realist Art.

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Week of January 3 - 9, 2022.

Facial features. Understanding facial anatomy, studies of the eyes, nose, lips, and ears. Pencil, color pencils, drawing paper.
 

Week of January 10-16, 2022.

Leonardo (Fan Art): Painting a human-like character portrait, looking straight at us - starting the project. Acrylics on board.

 

Week of January 17-23, 2022.

Leonardo (Fan Art): Painting a human-like character portrait, looking straight at us - finishing the project. Acrylics on board.

 

Week of January 24-30, 2022.

Renaissance sculptural relief: Understanding proportions of a human face in profile, designing a relief/coin with a profile on it. Self-drying or oven-baked clay.

 

Week of January 31-February 6, 2022.

Durer. Drawing a portrait of an animal. Understanding anatomy of an animal face. Pastel pencils on construction paper.

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Week of February 7-13, 2022.

Renaissance Perspective. Learning to create an illusion of a 3D space on a 2D surface through size and placement. Pencil, drawing paper.

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Week of February 14 - 20, 2022.

Caravaggio. Painting a candle/ a still life with a candle. Learning to create an illusion of a 3D space on a 2D surface through light and shadow. Starting the project. Acrylics on board/paper.

 

Week of February 21 - 27, 2022.

Caravaggio. Painting a candle/ a still life with a candle. Learning to create an illusion of a 3D space on a 2D surface through light and shadow. Finishing the project. Acrylics on board/paper.

 

Week of February 28 - March 6, 2022.

William Turner. Painting a landscape with a sunset. Tips on painting a natural light source (sun), rendering sky, clouds, water, objects in front of the sun. Pastels on construction paper.

 

Week of March 7-13, 2022.

Duper. Drawing hands holding favorite student’s objects. Understanding hand anatomy. Color pencils on drawing paper.

 

Week of March 14-20, 2022.

Antoine-Louis Barye. Animal sculpture. Learning about the anatomy of the animals. Starting the animal sculpture (sketches, metal wire structure, sculpting). Sculpey, metal wire, foil.

 

Week of March 21-27, 2022.

Antoine-Louis Barye. Animal sculpture. Learning about the anatomy of the animals. Finishing the animal sculpture (baking and coloring). Sculpey, acrylic paint.

 

Week of March 28 - April 3, 2022.

Michelangelo. Quick gesture sketching, learning to draw figures in various poses from reference and imagination. Students posing for 5 minutes. Pencil on sketching/printer paper.

 

Week of April 4 -10, 2022.

Watercolor flower composition/easter card. Wet on dry technique. Watercolor, watercolor paper (cold press).

 

Week of April 11 - 17, 2022.

Watercolor landscape. Wet on wet technique. Watercolor, watercolor paper (cold press).

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Week of April 18 - 24, 2022.

History of costume. Drawing clothes. Pencil, color pencils.

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Week of April 25 - May 1, 2022.

Titian. Portrait of mom. Achieving likeness. Material of a choice. Starting the project.

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Week of May 2 - 8, 2022.

Titian. Portrait of mom. Achieving likeness. Material of a choice. Finishing the project.

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Week of May 9 - 15, 2022.

Drawing a Comic / Manga character. Pencil, markers.

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Week of May 16 - 22, 2022.

Master copy with the addition of new elements (2 classes, final project). Acrylics on canvas.

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Week of May 23 - 29, 2022.

Master copy with addition of new elements (2 classes, final project). Acrylics on canvas.