1. I have had no experience with art or drawing and find it even difficult drawing a stick figure! How will the Learn to Draw lessons or Painting Workshops benefit me?
Our lessons are specifically designed to meet the needs of students like yourself. In fact many of our students have come to us for lessons because of our advertising "No Natural Talent Required!" logo. All lessons and workshops are taught with step by step instructions. Each student is given individual attention . We teach a special technique that enables you to build the pathway from your left side of the brain to the right. Not everyone has this pathway when they are born, but you can develop this pathway by using our easy to learn techniques, very quickly.
2. Art lessons I have been to at other art school put me off as I didn't get shown how to draw anything, I was literally left on my own to work things out and then the teacher would come along to critique it. What do you do that is different?
We work with each student on an individual basis. Both Richard and Diana circle the class, problem solving with more advanced students, and with beginners, giving them step by step instructions. Often we will be doing the same drawing or painting at the same time to show you how things are done.
We only have 10- 12 students at a time to ensure quality lessons.
3. Will I need alot of expensive art materials?
To start off with you will only need a few essential items eg: A3 Acid free paper, pencil, eraser, ruler and charcoal. As you progress you may need to add Oil Pastels. You only need to bring your lunch to the Painting Workshops & Drawing Workshops.
4. Do I have to do your Learn to Draw lessons before attending any of your painting workshops?
We recommend that if you want to continue doing the advance painting workshops, then you should learn some drawing skills first. Only because it makes it easier for you to draw what you are going to paint. However, alot of our beginners painting workshops are designed for those with no drawing experience.
5. I have a 6 year old who loves to draw. At what age do you enrol them?
We normally only take students that are 10 years old +. This is mainly due to the fact that from the ages of birth up to 10 years they are developing their creativity, which is spontaneous and experimental. A very important developmental stage they need to go through.
6. What sort of school holiday programs do you have available?
During the school holidays we often have painting workshops available for children ages 8 +
These workshops are extremely valuable to the high school student taking art.
We teach painting in acrylics and use modelling paste, retarding medium and flow control for special effects.
Only artist high quality products are used in our classes.
7. What style do you teach?
We teach Realism. Realism is the only style of art that you can build a pathway from the Left side of the brain to the Right Side of the Brain. The Right side of the brain is your "artistic" side. Some people are born with this pathway already established. If you are one of these people, you are very lucky. If not, you can use realism to build this pathway. All other styles of art will not create this pathway. If you can master realism, you can master any style.
Both Richard and Diana paint and draw in a variety of styles. However realism is mainly taught in the classes.
8. I hear you use reference. Isn't this just copying?
To build the pathway to the right side of the brain it is essential to have reference. It is easier for a beginner to have photo reference than drawing from life. Once you have built that pathway, we will encourage you to draw from life as much as you can.
After drawing a subject several times, often you will no longer need to have anything specific to draw from. But initially we highly recommend you use photographic reference. Most well known realistic artist will use some sort of reference.
9. How long does it take to be drawing pictures like I have seen on your website.
Every student is different. Some come with no natural talent and within 5 weeks they are drawing beautiful work on their own.
Others may take less time and some may longer. We work with establishing a pathway from the left side of the brain to the right. This process is enhanced by the specific way that we teach. So often results happen very fast.
We have taught over 2000 students here and Australia, and there hasn't been one student that hasn't improved 100%.
10. What sort of subjects do you cover?
During a year we try to cover most subjects eg: portraits, people, still life, landscapes, beach scenes,wild life, flowers, marine life.
Using pencil, charcol and oil pastel.
11. I would like to join your classes. Can I just turn up when I want or do I need to book in?
You need to enrol for the weekly lessons as there are limited spaces in each class. Often you will need to be placed on a waiting list. So it pays to enrol early. Classes are booked on a term by term basis. Once you are enrolled you will automatically be booked in for the following term unless you specify otherwise. Painting & Learn to Draw Workshops need to be booked into normally 2 weeks prior to the workshop, however there can sometimes still be spaces available, so just email and ask.
12. Where do you take your workshops?
We take 1-day workshops and weekend workshops in Auckland, Warkworth, Whangarei and Kerikeri.
If you are from another area and are interested in the workshops, please let us know, and when we get enough interest we will endeavour
to take a workshop there.
Weekly Learn to Draw Lessons are taken in Kerikeri and Whangarei starting in 2008.
