Drawing: The Basic Elements Class

Here are just a few photos from tonight's class, Drawing - The Basic Elements.  This was the first class and we worked on developing our observational skills, understanding line and how our different pencils work. It was a very pleasant evening of gesture drawing, contour line drawing and creating thumbnail sketches.

Blind contour line drawing of a plant - I think.

Working hard

Working large on gesture

Not too late if you want to join us. 

Jack-in-the-Pulpit Studio Final Update

Here is the final update on the class space before classes begin on Tuesday.

Here are two of the chairs. Colorful wooden Windsor chairs.Very comfortable.

This is the eastwall that you enter through. Here are the old original window and slice of siding. And the clock, small bookcase and bulletin board. The bright green room down the hallway is the bathroom. Yes, our own private bathroom!

This is the north wall with tables.

And finally the south wall with closet and a view of the hallway. And the small but growing plant collection. Soon there will be a second set of shelves with more plants I am very excited to be teaching in this space!

There is still time to register for a class! Check the schedule here.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit Studio - Studio Update

With less than a week before classes start, here are some pics of the teaching art studio almost done.

Here are two shots of the two sides of the teaching studio. It has a very pleasant feel to it. Tomorrow I will be installing one more set of tracklights and finishing a couple of electrical things.  I am working on creating a pleasant balance of warm lights for ambience and bright cool lights for seeing and making art - just part of making the best private studio in the Twin Cities for learning techniques to create fine art and botanical art. In the daytime, the windows let in wonderful sunlight.

Another wall of the studio. Here you see the door (sans knob - soon to come), a small bookcase, an original window in the original exterior wall of the house and a slice of the exposed original siding to the house (built in 1900). The bookcase will have art and botanical books. Above the books will be a bulletin board and clock.  Here people can find information about the groups and businesses Jack-in-the-Pulpit Studio is partnering with: Minnesota State Horticultural Society, Terrace Horticultural Books and Dreamland Arts Theater. The clock, well, that will be to tell time.

This is the door to the teaching studio (sans knob - soon to come).

 

I have a matching door to my private studio off the same hall (sans knob - soon to come).

We re-stained the stairway and will hopefully paint the walls this weekend.

Yes, there is a lot more work to do, like stripping and painting some trim. Here is an in-progress shot.

There has been much work done to make this studio a great place to teach and to learn. Several people have volunteered their time and help.  One former student (and future student, I hope) is donating some cabinets and a microwave. This weekend I will be picking up chairs and tables. This spring, we will be getting out into the yard and making gardens to paint in. I hope you can be a part of this fun adventure to provide quality art instruction.  Classes start next week - click here for info.

Teaching Studio Update

 

Changes are happening in the teaching studio as I am getting closer to the first class beginning. Above you see the general room so far.  Floor is painted, and walls and ceilings are being patched, too. It is interesting how the room seems to grow or shrink in size with each change.

 

The teaching studio is part of a newer addition to the home. A unique feature is the original window in the former exterior wall of the old house. The first image is of looking into the window from the stairway and the second is looking from the studio out into the stair and hallways. 

 I need to patch the ceiling.

 

I removed a closet wall and underneath one of the studs was the original siding from the house. I am leaving this strip to show the old siding, which is near the original window shown above.

This is the present stairway.

This is the current hallway floor.  The floor, when I bought the house, was covered with masonite and linoleum tile.  I will be fixing this up and painting it to match the studio floor, along with fixing trim, etc. I'm looking forward to the first students who will use this space starting January 7. 

Art Lesson: Contour Line Drawing Video

Here is a short contour line drawing video.

10 Minutes 'Til Sleep: Red Onion

Red onion?!  Why am I drawing a red onion from my bed.  Well, it was sitting on my nightstand.  I was looking at it for another project and somehow I left it on my nightstand.  I can be forgetful and I misplace things often. There was a red onion on my nightstand - so I drew it.

10 Minutes 'Til Sleep: Glasses and Pen

10 Minutes 'Til Sleep is a series of drawings I create from my bed just before falling asleep.  This image is of sunglasses and a pen on my night stand.