Often I hear people say they can't draw, but what is amazing is how many kids create art and confidently speak of their abilities! What changes between the free artistic expression of childhood and an art free adulthood? As children, we do what comes naturally, and drawing or doodling is a very common pastime... Colorful drawings or paintings that mom hung on the fridge - free creation, free expression of thought, a soothing release of our inner visions. Then we mature and our view of the world clarifies and becomes three dimensional; our stick people and their colorful, flat worlds are forgotten relics of childhood. The crayons are left to collect dust and that creative outlet is closed. But wait, creating art is so valuable to us, to the world! The soul soothing release, both profound and simple in terms of the tools needed is left behind in a time we need it most! The chaos of modern life takes us in multitudes of directions, inspiring many of us to find moments of stillness... Yoga, meditation, prayer, sketching; take a few moments for you and your soul will smile.
You can very quickly learn to sketch the world as you see it, as an adult, with depth, life and light. The works of art my students are producing after just a few hours of instruction are quite often, amazing. The teaching formula I've developed is based on decades of sketching and painting along with brilliant insights given to me by my late, beloved teacher, Libby Berry. The courses I teach are a distillation of knowledge, easily digestible and effective. You will be quickly producing art you are proud of! Perhaps your artistic dreams are more surreal or abstract; that's cool, just remember every great artist needs a foundation in realism. Before you can paint a clock melting over a camel with candy cane legs you need to be able to accurately draw a camel, a clock and a candy cane!
Before this class my drawing skills were laughable, I couldn’t draw much better than a child. I learned perspective and techniques in your class that enabled me to create this sketch. I’m speechless and forever indebted to you. Thanks, Abraxas!!!
Nancy Horan