General Class Description

Experimental Drawing emphasizes the artistic importance of drawing.  We’ll explore a range of drawing methods: both traditional and nontraditional techniques.  We’ll focus on increasing visual sensitivity, cultivating technical skills, and understanding the steps of building a drawing.  Please note there is a $30 model fee paid in class.

Upcoming Experimental Drawing Art Clinics

Session 1: “Experimental Drawing Art Clinic: Portrait,” Friday, January 13 – February 3, 10:00 – 12:30pm – Register HERE

Session 2: “Experimental Drawing Art Clinic: Out of Your Comfort,” Friday, February 24- March 17, 10:00 – 12:30pm – Register HERE

Drawing on Toned Paper Description

Fridays, October 28th – November 18

There is a tendency for artists to forget that paper comes in all shades and colors. Typically for artists, the paper is white, and we only draw line and/or shadow. With a toned paper, you have the opportunity to draw line, shadow, AND light!  Experimental Drawing Toned Paper celebrates the toned surface. Regardless of whether you create the toned surface yourself, or if you begin with paper that has a tone or slight color, we’ll make incredible artwork drawing both shadow and light. Please note there is a $20 model fee paid in class.  

Class 1) June 24- Warm on Warm – working from still life

            Exercise: Sepia and Sanguine Conte on Warm Paper

Class 2) July 1 – Cool on Cool – working from still life

            Exercise: Use the tone of the paper for the “cool” light

Class 3 July 8 – Grey toned – working from the model

            Exercise: Canson Mi-Teintes Steal Colored Paper, White and Black Conte Crayon

Class 4) July 15 – White on Black – working from the model

            Exercise: Canson Mi-Teintes Black Colored Paper, White Conte Crayon

Supply List for Experimental Drawing: Toned Paper

Conté Crayons Set of 12 – Portrait

Conté à Paris Sketching Pencils Set of 6 Assorted

Extra Large kneaded erasers

White Plastic Eraser (vanish erasers available for $3.00 in class)

Bull Dog Clips

Canson Mi-Teintes Assorted Colors Pad 12×16”

Bull Dog Clips

Experimental Drawing: Portrait – Description – REGISTER HERE

Fridays, January 13 – February 3

What’s in a likeness?  Is it the eyes? The mouth?  Recent studies of face recognition have shown that the way we remember faces is by cataloguing the ways they deviate from the norm.  This session of Experimental Drawing looks at both the “norm” and how to recognize the deviations away from it.  Please note there is a $20 model fee paid in class.

This is an intermediate to advanced level Art Clinic.

Schedule of Classes:

Class 1) January 13 – Introduction to the Loomis Method

            Exercise: Drawing Partners, 10 min poses – generalizing the head shape in graphite powder

Class 2) January 20 – Continue with Loomis method

Exercise: Drawing Partners, 10 min poses – focus on features in graphite powder

Class 3 January 27 – Working from the live model

Exercise: Conte Crayon Sanguine, tri-color portraits

Class 4) February 3 – Working from the live model

Exercise: Conte Crayon Sanguine, tri-color portraits

“Materials Pass” is an optional fee that covers all the materials you would need for this Art Clinic class.  For “Experimental Drawing” the materials pass is $10.  Please note that with Material Pass, you keep your artwork but are leasing the drawing/painting tools (like brushes and palette).  If you select to pay the Materials Pass, please email Jordan Bruns, to let him know.  You can always email with any questions.

Supply List for Experimental Drawing Portrait

Pencils 6H, 4H, 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B

Cretacolor Graphite Powder

Conte Crayon, “matchbox set”

2 Extra Large kneaded erasers

White Plastic Eraser (Vanish Erasers are available in class for $3.00)

12×16” Canson Mi-Teintes Pastel Pad

18×24” 400 Series Drawing Pad, 24 Sheets Medium (Strathmore brand or similar)

Experimental Drawing: Out of Your Comfort- REGISTER HERE

Fridays, February 24 – March 17

This Experimental Drawing Art Clinic session is the anti-autopilot.  There will be no chance for you to just “zone out” in class.   The amazing news is that you’ll find incredible mark making in your “Out of Comfort” drawings, a line so interesting you’ll wonder if you even drew it, and a new appreciation for creating distance between you and your work.  You will be familiar with the drawing mediums, but how we use them will be anything but comfortable.  Please note there is a $20 model fee paid in class.

This is an intermediate to advanced level Art Clinic.

Schedule of Classes:

Class 1) February 24 – Drawing by the Brail Method

            Exercise: What kind of linework can we create when we cannot see the paper?

Class 2) March 2– A Line is A Dot that went for a Walk

Exercise: Explore the relationships between foreground, middle and background

Class 3 March 9 – Working from the live model

Exercise: “Non-Dominant Hand and Blind Contour”

Class 4) March 16 – Working from the live model

Exercise: “Non-Dominant Hand, inside out, energy drawings etc.”

Coming in Spring and Summer 2023

“Experimental Drawing Art Clinic: Linework,” Friday, April 14 – may 12, 10:00 – 12:30pm

“Experimental Drawing Art Clinic: Edges,” Friday, May 19 – June 16 17, 10:00 – 12:30pm