Drawing   

Class Overview

Have you ever wished you could draw people and animals in motion? In this class, learn how to draw people and animals doing all of the fascinating activities they do on a daily basis, with satisfying accuracy.

Learn the techniques that will allow you to portray dynamic movement such as running, jumping, sitting, standing, swimming, flying, with your pencil. Discover how to draw people doing a wide variety of favorite activities such as: skiing, snowboarding, surfing, biking, gymnastics, dancing, figure skating, or rock climbing.

Explore the fascinating field of human and animal anatomy, as well as lighting, shading, proportions, and details. These skills will enable you to make your drawings interesting, dynamic, and lifelike.

Learn how to capture the amazing and diverse action of people and animals in this fascinating class!

Supplies Needed

• Drawing pad (70 lb. or higher)9x12” or 11x14”, whichever size you prefer
• Pencils: 2b, 4b, 6b, 8b
• Large white vinyl eraser
• Blending stomps
• Handheld sharpener (preferably one that can catch pencil shavings)
• Optional: Detail eraser (Tombow Mono Knock 3.8 is a good option)
• Optional: Electric Pencil Sharpener (i.e., School Smart, X-ACTO)

Learning Objectives

• Draw a wide variety of dynamic poses that people, animals, and birds exhibit when they are in motion, such as running, jumping, sitting, standing, swimming, flying, eating, etc.
• Understand the basic anatomy of animals and people, which will help you depict them in various active poses
• Be able to use a variety of the basic skills of graphite pencil drawing, such as blending, details, texturing, light source, shadows, and layering
• Explore the techniques of proportions

Who Might Enjoy This Class

• Anyone who would like to learn how to draw people and animals in motion
• People interested in the basics of drawing human and animal anatomy
• Anyone interested in expressing themselves through the medium of drawing
• Anyone who would like to learn many of the basic fundamentals of drawing such as shading, lighting, blending, shadows, details, proportions, etc.
• No prior experience needed; everyone is welcome!

Class Overview

Are you interested in learning how to write a book but need more information and support to get it done and make it a success? Learn the art of publishing your own book, from writing, to editing, design and final publication. This class will include two parts. In Part 1, focus on writing your book and consider all of the questions needed to create excellent content. What is the story you want to tell and how do you tell it? Who is your audience and how do you approach your audience and readers?
 
Learn about storytelling, refining your topics, the editing process, and all of the steps and considerations for writing your book. How do you want the final product to look and feel when it is complete and being held and read? Consider the visual aspects of your book, including layout, illustration, design and your book's cover.
 
In part two, work towards final publication, including choosing a publishing house, book promotion and online retail selling. You can publish your book in your native language, whether it is English, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, Mandarin, Hindi, Farsi and Amharic. Instructor Georgetta Gancarz, explains, "I want students to express themselves in their identity and culture. For me as an artist, freedom of self-expression, including cultural, is necessary to be true and creative."  She has written and published 20 books to date, and also teaches multiple art classes for Continuing Education.

What You Will Need

Students must have access to a laptop or computer and internet access for this class. You will need to install some free writing programs on your device.  

Learning Objectives

• Understand the steps needed to write a book
• Gain skills in thinking about your audience and future readers
• Acquire knowledge in executing your book, including topics such as: storyline, creating chapters, choosing a title, referencing and documenting sources, and editing
• Gain knowledge in creating the visual aspect of a book, including design, layout, illustrations

Who Might Enjoy This Class

• Anyone interested in publishing a book.
   

Class Overview

Have you ever wanted to draw in color? Colored pencils are a wonderful medium that combines the detail you can get in drawing, with the vibrant colors available in painting. In this class, learn the basic skills of the colored pencil, and apply them to create beautiful, finished colored pencil drawings.

By developing skills and techniques with colored pencils, you can add a whole new dimension to your art exploration. They are easy to use, portable, and these days you can easily find a wide and exciting variety of colors. Colored pencils allow you to capture the vibrancy, detail, and colors in your subjects, whenever and wherever you wish. Begin a creative and rewarding adventure in the dynamic medium of colored pencils!

Supplies Needed

• Drawing pad (70 lb. or higher): 9x12” or 11x14”, whichever size you’d prefer
• Graphite pencils: HB, 2B, and 4B
• Large white vinyl eraser
• Handheld sharpener (preferably one that can catch pencil shavings)
• Set of at least 36 colored pencils (set of 48, 72 or higher is recommended); Prismacolor colored pencils brand is recommended since they blend better than many other brands
• Colorless blender pencil (Prismacolor is a good option)
• Optional: detail eraser (Tombow Mono Knock 3.8 is one good option)
• Optional: electric pencil sharpener (i.e., School Smart, X-ACTO)

Learning Objectives

• Use a variety of the basic techniques of colored pencil
• Be able to use skills such as blending, details, texturing, light source, shadows, layering, etc.
• Understand many of the principles of color such as: color mixing, color relationships, use of complementary colors, warm and cool colors, light and dark colors, pure and neutral colors, etc.
• Be able to apply the basics of drawing such as proportions to your artwork as well.

Who Might Enjoy This Class

• Anyone interested in a beautiful, colorful, fun medium
• People who like to draw and would like to easily add color in detail
• Anyone who would love a great, portable color travel medium
• Artists who would like to learn the basics of color and value to bring an extra dimension to their artwork
• No prior experience or skill needed; everyone is welcome!

Class Overview

Have you always wanted to learn how to draw, or do you have you some drawing experience that you'd like to build upon? Join us!

This class is excellent for both beginning and intermediate students who want to improve their fundamental drawing and observation skills. Learn how to draw using a simple graphite pencil. Explore line, value, space, perspective and composition. Enjoy guidance of a professional artist and learn approaches to drawing that will help you get better with just a bit of practice.

Join a community of fellow art students and give yourself time to learn, practice and develop these rewarding skills that can give you endless hours of fun and satisfaction. No previous art experience is needed.

Supplies Needed

• Graphite pencil (HB or 2B)
• Sketchbook (no smaller 9 x 12", no larger 11 x 15")

Learning Objectives

• Explore fundamental drawing techniques
• Learn about different style approaches
• Practice and improve upon your skills under the guidance of an expert

Who Might Enjoy This Class

• Budding artists
• Working artists that would like to practice their drawing skills
• Designers who would like to improve their ability to sketch
• No previous art experience required

Class Overview

Drawing is the basis of all visual art, and it can provide a lifetime of enjoyment. In this class for beginners, increase your imagination, creativity, and perception through the practice of drawing!

Learn the fundamentals of drawing: light, shadow, proportions, details, perspective and three dimensionality. Practice drawing many subjects including animals, nature, people, and still life.

You’ll be surprised how quickly your skills will improve by observing and drawing along with step-by-step class presentation! This process will make it easy to understand and put these techniques into practice.

Once you learn these skills, you’ll find them becoming second nature. This practice will greatly increase your ability to represent the world around you with a pencil or pen.

Supplies Needed

• Pencils (graphite):
  • 2B pencil
  • 4B pencil
  • 6B pencil
  • 8B (Optional)
• Woodless Pencil (6B or 8B) optional
• Drawing paper pad - either 9"x12" or 11"x14"
• White vinyl eraser
• Mechanical eraser (optional, a Tombow Mono Knock 3.8 is best for drawing and erasing small lines- can be ordered online or places like Blick.) - or pink eraser on back of pencil (for detail erasing and drawing white lines on gray areas)
• 3-4 (variety sizes) Paper blending stomps (or paper towel/ tissues for blending, if you can't find these for first day)
• Pencil sharpener (preferably with shaving collector)
• 24 to 72 (or more) colored pencil set: Prismacolor Recommended- Because they blend much better than other brands (*** You don’t need it for this beginner’s class, but it's good to have a set if you would like to take a higher-level class in the future.)

Learning Objectives

• Learn the various uses for the tools and supplies of drawing
• Draw representational objects and scenes
• Represent 3 dimensional space through the use of light, shadow and detail
• Learn various blending techniques
• Draw 3 dimensional objects -- the building blocks of all other drawings
• Combine three-dimensional objects to make more complex drawings
• Expand your use and understanding of form and line
• Gain a good understanding an ability to use proportions
• Represent three-dimensional objects and scenes using simple perspective
• Utilize light and dark details
• Maximize the use of value, contrast, line, mark making, and details to draw with expression

Who Might Enjoy This Class

• Anyone interested in learning the joy of drawing
• People who would like to improve their drawing skills
• Anyone who would like to learn to express themselves through drawing
• Everyone who would like to gain the foundational skills of drawing to apply to any visual art medium in the future

Course Overview

Unleash your creativity through fantasy and science fiction art! Learn to draw and paint science fiction and fantasy creatures! Explore the anatomy and proportions of fantasy creatures in order to capture their essence.

Discover how you can depict creatures in action. We will also focus on learning how to draw three dimensionally, using light, shadow, detail, and color to make fantasy creature drawings and paintings come to life!

You’ll learn to combine these skills to depict a variety of creatures, such as: dragons, dinosaurs, mecha, kaiju, treants, robots, trolls, shape-shifters, cyborgs, mutants, insectoids and animal- and multi- creature hybrids! We will also explore how to depict all of the amazing things they do: running, flying, battling foes, rescuing heroes, breathing fire, and more!

Supplies Needed

(Updated: July 2022)

Drawing:

• Pencils (Graphite):
  • 2B pencil
  • 4B pencil
  • 6B pencil
  • (Optional) 8B
  • (Optional) Woodless Pencil (6B or 8B)
• 70 lb. or higher Drawing Paper Pad - either 9"x12" or 11"x14"
• White vinyl eraser
• Blending Stomps (or paper towel/ tissues for blending if you can't find these for first day)
• Pencil Sharpener (preferably with shaving collector)
• Mechanical Eraser, (Tombow Mono Knock 3.8) or pink eraser on back of pencil (for detail erasing and drawing white lines on gray areas)

Painting:

• Small collection of Brushes- a 1/4" filbert brush, a 3/8" filbert brush, and a 1/2" filbert brush, and detail brushes: Small #1 round, and/or a 1/4-inch angle brush
• Jar or large plastic cup or container (like Yogurt or Peanut Butter Jar) for water
• Paper Towels
• Watercolor Paper Pad (8.5x11", 9x12", 11x14", or 11"x15") (120 lb. or higher)
• Disposable paper palette pad (i.e., Strathmore, Canson, etc.)- 9x 12 or 12x16 (12x16 better because it has more room)
• If you'd like a palette that keeps the paints wet between sessions, (optional), you can get a 12x16 stay wet palette, or another good option which you can find online which is cheaper/ better is the: "Hipiwe a4 file box (recommended)" (i.e. on Amazon) (If you get either "stay- wet" type palette, you'd still need a "disposable paper palette" (above) to put the paints on, inside of the "stay wet palette")
• (optional) paper plates for additional paint mixing
• (optional) Acrylic Matte Medium 
• (optional) Spray bottle for keeping paints wet
• (optional) Small table easel (optional, depending on if you like drawing/ painting on the table, or drawing/painting upright)
• Paints:
  • Small Inexpensive set of Acrylic Paints 6-12 Colors (at least White, Yellow, Blue, Red, Green, Purple, Orange, Black) (i.e., Liquitex Basics)
  • If you'd like to get the complete range of Acrylics, (instead of the small set), these include: (optional): titanium white, light yellow, medium yellow, medium orange, medium red, magenta, purple, ultramarine blue, phthalo blue, phthalo green, black

Learning Objectives

• Depict fantasy creatures through 3D form through light and shadow
• Illustrate motion and action in fantasy creatures
• Have knowledge and skills in the depiction of anatomy and proportions
• Utilize light shadow and geometric objects to depict 3 dimensionalities
• Use color mixing and paint application to depict fantasy creatures in color
• Draw and paint a wide variety of fantasy creatures and characters in dynamic poses
• Illustrate a variety of fantasy creature subject matter 

Who Might Enjoy This Class

• Anyone who is interested in enriching their lives with the joy of fantasy creature drawing and painting
• Artists who would like to gain or improve their drawing and painting skills and apply those skills to the subject of fantasy creatures
• Anyone interested in fantasy and science fiction who would like to learn to portray characters and creatures
• People currently drawing fantasy art who would like to improve their realism
• Anyone who would like to gain the foundational skills of painting to apply to any visual art medium in the future

Class Overview

Get ready for winter holidays by learning how to create festive cards with colored pencils! Explore the colorful and expressive medium of colored pencils as you follow along during an engaging step-by-step demonstration in this hands-on class.

Learn a variety of basic techniques to bring out the best in your colored pencils and make use of the vibrant colors readily available. This is an opportunity to explore color and learn some fundamental drawing skills that you can build upon for future card making, drawing, and other creative endeavors.

You’ll be able to create cards for whichever holidays you would like. By the end of the class, you will have developed new skills and created art that you can proudly share with loved ones for the holidays.

Supplies Needed

• Drawing pad (70 lb. or higher): 9 x 12” or 11 x 14”, whichever size you’d prefer for your drawings
• Hb or 2b pencil
• Large white vinyl eraser
• Handheld sharpener (preferably one that can catch pencil shavings)
• Set of at least 24 to 36 colored pencils (if you plan on doing more colored pencils in the future, a set of 48, 72 or higher - Prismacolor colored pencils are recommended), but for this class, a set of 24-36 colored pencils (preferably 36) of any brand will work fine!
• Pad of 9 x 12” watercolor paper (smooth is better) 120 lb. or higher
• Scissors
• Optional: colorless blender pencil (i.e., by Prismacolor)
• Optional: detail eraser (Tombow Mono Knock 3.8)
• Optional: electric pencil sharpener (i.e., School Smart, X-ACTO)

Learning Objectives

• Basic techniques of colored pencils
• Colored pencil skills such as blending, details, texturing, light source, shadows, layering,
• Principles of color such as: color mixing, color relationships, use of complementary colors, warm and cool colors, light and dark colors, pure and neutral colors, etc.
• Basic drawing skills such as proportion

Who Might Enjoy This Class

• Anyone who would like to learn to use the beautiful, colorful, portable, fun medium of colored pencils
• People interested in creating winter- and holiday- themed cards
• Anyone interested in learning about and exploring color
• People with experience using colored pencils but would like to develop their skills
• No prior experience needed; everyone is welcome!

Class Overview

Have you ever wanted to be able to draw friends, family, or famous people? If so, this fascinating and satisfying class is for you!

Learn how to bring portraits of people to life by capturing expressions, facial details, and the interesting qualities that are unique to each person. Discover and practice essential techniques such as shading, blending, proportions, choosing details, using light source and shadows, layering, and texturing. Learn how to reliably portray proportions accurately.

Develop handy drawing skills that will allow you to draw beautiful and unique portraits that capture the essence of each person’s personality.

Supplies Needed

• Drawing pad (70 lb. or higher): 9x12” or 11x14”, whichever size you’d prefer
• Pencils: 2b, 4b, 6b, 8b
• Large white vinyl eraser
• Blending stomps
• Handheld sharpener (preferably one that can catch pencil shavings)
• Optional: detail eraser (Tombow Mono Knock 3.8 is a good option)
• Optional: electric pencil sharpener (i.e., School Smart, X-ACTO)

Learning Objectives

• Draw faces that capture details, expressions and the unique qualities found in every person
• Gain basic drawing skills, such as how to determine proportions accurately
• Develop graphite pencil techniques such as blending, details, texturing, light source, shadows, and layering

Who Might Enjoy This Class

• Anyone interested in drawing portraits of people
• People who would like to learn fundamentals of drawing
• Artists and people who like to draw, interested in developing their skills and focusing on a new subject matter
• People who’d like a creative outlet and learn to express themselves through drawing
• No experience needed; everyone is welcome!