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Group-Lessons in Drawing - Seattle
The next series of group-lessons starts: Jan 26th, 2012.
To register, please send a message via the 'contact' page of this website, and request a registration form. Scroll down for more details.
Private Lessons in Drawing & Painting
Michael Shelby Edwards supervises student Kate Taylor in the creation of a life-sized self-portrait drawing during one of her weekly private lessons in the artist's studio.
You can arrange to study privately with Michael in her studio located in the Mt. Baker neighborhood of Seattle.
Lesson plans are based on university-level curriculum, and are tailored to address student’s specific needs and experience level, as well as their artistic and educational goals. Students are encouraged to develop the 'Philosophical habit of mind,' regarding the practice of drawing and painting as a vital component of the humanities and an important element of an individual's whole intellectual growth. Students develop as independent, thinking artists with the skills and knowledge necessary to fully participate in the personal, cultural and educational dimensions of drawing and painting.
-Anyone who wishes to improve their basic skills in drawing and painting, and to realize their vision for artistic, educational and career success with the help of an experienced mentor.
Rates: 30.00/hr for one student. Ask about duet or group rates.
Location: Michael Shelby Edwards' studio, Seattle, Washington.
Call (206) 383-9655 or go to the contact page to set up a FREE consultation and/or portfolio reveiw.
No portfolio? No problem. All experience levels, including absolute beginners, are welcome.
Group-Lessons in Drawing: Foundations
Students enjoy a supportive, small-group atmosphere as they study space, perspective, form and value with Michael at the Artist & Craftsman's classroom in the U-District.
In addition to private lessons, you can join other students and study with Michael in a small-group setting at the Artist & Craftsman's classroom in Seattle's University District.
Next Foundations Series:
"Classical Drawing in Pencil"
Building Form and Light Using Graphite
Probably the first drawing tool I ever picked up was a pencil. But it wasn’t until graduate school that I really learned how to use this classic medium to its best advantage. At the Pennsylvania Academy, my mentor, Professor Renee Foulks, took me under her wing and personally instructed me in ‘the subtle art of pencil drawing’. With this new understanding, I was amazed at how this familiar old tool came alive in my hands. Not only that, but learning to handle pencil properly revolutionized the way I approached other materials – even paint. Now I’m happy to share these valuable techniques with you.
In this four-week course, we will walk through the stages of a classically rendered pencil-drawing, building form and light through the application of subtle layers of hatching. By the end of this course, students will have had the means to generate beautiful pencil drawings from simple still-life elements, and will come away with new skills to apply to future drawings as well as valuable insights to bring to other material processes.
Location: Artist’s & Craftsman Supply, Seattle
Dates/Times: 4 Thursdays, Jan 26th - Feb 16th 2012, 5:00-7:00pm
Tuition: $125/ 4 weeks ($120 when you pre-register)
To register, or for more information, call (206) 383-9655 or message Michael through the 'contact' page of this website.
“Fabulous! I am so happy to be part of this. Your teaching is excellent, and the group is wonderful. I learned so much from just this last lesson, I was up until midnight drawing afterwords!"
-L.M. Walton, student
More About Foundations with Michael Shelby Edwards
Each four-week series of Foundations is based around a particular theme, material, technique or subject matter that changes periodically. What remains constant in every Foundations lesson is that we are learning to uncover the underlying principles that govern our visual experience. Thus, we can better understand what makes our work stronger, more visually compelling - even more beautiful. The more familiar we become with these underlying principles, the better we can achieve our poetic aims through the intelligent use of visual language.
The philosophy behind Foundations presents drawing and painting as form of truth-seeking; open to change and discovery, yet rooted in a venerable tradition spanning centuries of thought. In the practice of art, we come face to face with an enduring aspect of what makes us human.
Although the content is high level, the small-group setting and short, four-week-at-a-time format allows for much flexibility and spontaneity. Whether you are an absolute beginner, or a more experienced artist, you will benefit from the relaxed, yet studious atmosphere of Foundations lessons.
Who is eligible for Foundations?
Foundations is suitable for adults - this includes teens who are mature and motivated. Absolute beginners as well as those with experience in drawing/painting are encouraged to join. Foundations always returns to the fundamentals of visual language and is a great primer or supplement for any other art instruction you might try.
Who is the instructor?
Michael Shelby Edwards earned her BFA in Painting and Drawing at the University of Washington and her MFA from The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. Her work is included in both private and public collections, including the Linda Lee Alter Collection and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum Collection. Returning perennially to the human form, she often incorporates elements of her own body into her drawings and paintings. Her work combines naturalistic observation with invention and memory.
Is there anything else I should know?
Becoming a Foundations student is an opportunity for ongoing growth and relationship with an artist-mentor. While you are welcome to try just one series of Foundations, many students cycle through Foundations again and again, learning more each time and deepening their artistic vision as they uncover hidden weaknesses and overcome limitations. With its intimate size and flexibility, Foundations students receive a personalized learning experience comparable to that of private lessons at an exceptional value.
To register for the current Foundations series, or for more information, email Michael through the 'contact' page of this website or call (206) 383-9655.
Have a Theme or Topic Idea for a Foundations Series?
Send a message! Group lessons are offered based on teacher availablity as well as student demand. Contact Michael if you wish to inquire about a particular subject or medium related to painting and drawing that you would like to see offered as a group lesson. You may also arrange for private lessons with Michael if what you want to learn is not currently being offered as a group lesson.
Want Your Special Group to Take Lessons Together?
Customized lessons can be planned for groups of four or more. If you and three of your friends, guests, club or leauge members, co-workers, etc. wish to study a particular aspect of drawing and/or painting together, a special class or workshop can be designed just for you!
For more information on or to set up a free consultation/assessment, call (206) 383-9655 or message Michael through the 'contact' page of this website.
If you would like to stay informed about upcoming classes, events, exhibitions and information pertaining to Michael Shelby Edwards Fine Art, please go to the 'contact' page of this website and request to be added to her mailing list. Your information will be treated with the utmost respect and will never be shared with a third party.