Mindy provides individual guidance, discussion and demonstrations. This is not taught as a beginner class; however, beginners are welcome to join this relaxed instruction. Many of our drawings are exercises. We look to modern and abstract artists to direct creative minds. Participants register for each month and supplies and materials are on their own. A supply list is included as an attachment with your emailed receipt.

April
4/1 - Design Your Imaginary Spring Flower: We learn much about the 3-D Look of circles, triangles and squares as it applies to our imagination. The angles of various perspectives are explored as they raise eyebrows. Play with pens and pencils today.
4/8 - City Street: We draw a city street using contour lines. Paul Klee did a drawing of a town in Europe; I was inspired to try his approach. These linear lines create a whimsical feel as they move the unbroken line from object to object. Examples and demonstrations allow the students unfamiliar with the technique to see how it is done. Black Sharpies fine point. Prints provided.
4/15 - Water Droplets: On the petals of any April flower, a raindrop can become the focus of a colored pencil drawing on colored paper. The reflections of the magnifying glass show images of the world around it. Details in drawing can be found in the smallest places. View the technique in a demo. Prints provided of various spring flowers with raindrops.
4/22 - Catch-Up Day: Bring in the unfinished pieces to work on today. A printout of past lessons is available if you are already caught up.

May
5/6 - Lily of the Valley: Our spring bell shaped flower for birthdays in May is the lily of the valley. This bell-shaped beauty requires us to learn the value of shading the color white to create the 3-D look. Artists want to show the many subtleties of white. Soft edges meld into the pure light void. The intense color creates the form without leaving a hard edge.
5/13 - Walking: We paint a person walking. The figure is based on photo prints provided by the instructor. This includes demonstrations of slow contour lines vs. simple quick sketch approaches to capture the gesture.
5/20 - Irises: This is a glorious flower to draw with colored pencils on blue pastel paper. Enjoy the sensual petals, the sturdy bold stems and majestic colors. The focus on the parallel lines lead you through the petals. The dry brush sparkles on the stems, and the mixing of lush purples, golden ochres or pink blushes, celebrate life.

June
6/3 - Think Outside the Box: Where are you? Inside the box or outside? Take a basic box and see how many ways you can stretch it into various shapes using only straight lines, then design from your imagination, a new texture on certain select panels. Watch them become transparent and then opaque.
6/10 - What is in a Name?: Using the letters of a name, such as our own, we design an abstract arrangement on white paper. Erasers, pens and colored pencils aid us. We are recreating their shapes moving into flat areas, recreating new textures such as snakeskin, or herringbone. You can even author a favorite story into the composition, using geeking letters. (*using scribble writing)
6/17 - Animals Gone Wild: Dress up your favorite animal with human clothes. This is a chance to enjoy life through the world of humor. Cows in pajamas, for the winter, birds wearing hats in the summer, you get the idea.
6/24 - Catch-Up Day: Bring in the unfinished pieces to work on today.

July
7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22 - Birds: Select any bird from this list or pick your own: pelican, hummingbird, blue jay, woodpecker, toucan, McCaw. Try a drawing skill you wish to develop. It could be pointillism, cross-hatching, scribble art or smoke drawing. Apply it to your birds, one per week over the next four Mondays of July.
7/29 - Catch-Up Day: Bring in the unfinished pieces to work on today.

August
8/5 - Sunny Days: Draw a sunny day landscape. It could be a cow lying in a field of flowers. A bee buzzing inside a hibiscus or a butterfly landing on a dog's nose. Be upbeat and bring yourself that sense of joy. Ask the instructor if you want to know how to draw a particular subject. Your imagination helps organize skills by using simplified shapes. Graphite pencils help you think! Bring in your favorite sunny day pictures.
8/12 - Roses: Whetstone Park of Roses has great photo opportunities. However, just a walk through the garden stores do the same. Look at your photograph to find blissful roses and enjoy the way they fold into each other, overlapping and circling.
8/19 - Tips for Seven Great Compositions: With your next drawing, decide to focus on the composition rule you most feel you need and that I am giving out in class. You can redo an old drawing by merging this lesson into it if you choose. There are lots of prints available to choose.
8/26 - Catch Up: Your Sunny Days may need tweaking. Again, bring in any former sketches done in this class or other classes, and I will help you see it in new ways. Hold on to your work 24 hrs. minimum, to fix it. Never just throw it away. I have reworked my art, years later, many times.