Saturday, December 28, 2013

January is Sculpture Month at Art Student Academy!

2014 art classes!
Our After School ART classes at Art Student Academy start back January 8 and 9 for ages 5-17 and we can't wait! We have dedicated January as Sculpture month where our students will learn about relief sculpture, armature building with wire, pottery glazing and a little art history about famous sculptors!
To sign your child up for the winter sessions, pop over to our sign up page and scroll to the bottom: http://www.artstudentacademy.com/After-School-Classes.html
Simply find the day and time for your child's age group. Any possible conflicts, give us a call!
Theresa 919-880-7431
Rolling clay

Relief sculptures

Making armatures

Some of the sculptures before firing!

T
Plaster casts!


Saturday, November 23, 2013

Watercolor Wednesdays! The Art Zone!

Feeling stressed? Well, we know of a beautiful solution! There is NOTHING like being lost in the "Art Zone" before, during and after the Holidays to reduce stress! Join watercolor expert, Stephen Filarsky as he takes you through a relaxing 2 week course in painting in watercolors. Follow the links to sign up today. Take a look at what first time students did below!



WATERCOLOR WEDNESDAYSwatercolor class

Wednesday December 4 and December 11,  6:00 - 8:00 Instructor Steve
Wake Forest Art and Frame Shop, 139 S. White St, Wake Forest NC 27567

student watercolor

First, I'd like you to take a look at the watercolors of barns in a snowy landscape. They were painted by first time watercolor students. Just to let you know that watercolor is not "difficult" nor is "harder than oils or acrylics." In fact all you need is a cup of water, a brush, a few watercolor paints and a piece of paper. That's it. Well, a pencil might come in handy, but none of the fumes or smells that you get from acrylics and oil paints. You can paint on your kitchen table without worrying. Simple.
Our first class will look at the types of watercolor paints, brushes and papers. (The water is pretty much standard, what you get from your faucet will work fine.)
We will experiment with the materials and try different techniques. And of course, we will create a painting, after all, leaving a class with a finished painting sort of makes it worth while.
I will provide you with paint and materials for this first class. I will also discuss and give you a list of recommend paints and brushes. If you have any paints and brushes at home, please bring them along. We will take a look at what you have and how you can use it.

Our second class we will continue by student watercolorcreating another painting the easy way, playing with our new toys.
Now a side note, a few years ago Theresa and I took some swing dance lessons. What I learned from those lessons was that when you go to the second class, you probably could use some review of the previous lesson before jumping into some new steps because I had completely forgotten them. And the practice we did at home, well it probably could have been better. (The instructors didn't seem to have any trouble, but boy was I lost in that second class when they began telling us to do steps that they assumed we not only remembered but were able to do.)  So our second painting will also consist of some time reviewing what we learned, and we will do that the easy way. by painting another watercolor.
Continuing Classes  We will be continuing these classes, sometimes working on a single theme and other times going in individual directions. There might be homework.
Please take a look at the bottom of this page, there as some examples of my watercolors for you to look at. After all, you do want to know what your instructor can do, don't you.
Only $50. for both classes in December.
 You can register on line with Paypal or Credit Card. Please select the option, then click the "Add to Cart" button. You can select the number of students you wish to register at the next step.
 

Watercolors by your instructor, Stephen Filarsky
steve watercolorsteve watercolor
steve watercolorsteve watercolor

Monday, October 7, 2013

How to draw a portrait

So what happens when a group of my young students spend 30 minutes with me learning to draw a portrait? 
Well-l-l-l...why don't I let the "before and after" photos  below speak for them? :-) Drawn by my students, ages 7-14, the change is dramatic and inspiring. Results create motivation and that's what we want to achieve above all else.  The most motivated will continue to practice and practice and learn to see on their own. But in the meantime they were all pleased with what they did in just one class!
 
One group, under 10

Over 10

Pretty dramatic, huh? The point is that sometimes simply showing someone tips and techniques is all it takes for them to go to the next level. It is with most things and Art is no exception!

Monday, September 2, 2013

School and ART and new studios are starting!

Wow, where did the month of August go? Kids are already back in school!
Panic mode-must get out newsletters!

So THIS week our after school classes begin, http://www.artstudentacademy.com/After-School-Classes.html  
We have some new and exciting programs for the kids, so sign up for September now!

The weekend of Sept 7 and 8 is the Wake Forest Artist Guild tour. I can't call it a studio tour as it will all be concentrated in downtown Wake Forest, but I will be there painting portraits and showing the art room to parents both days!

We're expanding  a few of our art courses to include a serious classical training course at our Franklinton studio. It won't be a course for everyone as it is does NOT involve creativity-it involves discipline...lol, the way it used to be taught actually back in the Old Masters Day. We'll keep you posted!

We've added a smaller studio to our mini-farm...or maybe I should call it an Art Compound? What with our large art studio, the 2 story woodworking shop and now the smaller studio (re-purposed 12 x 20 storage building!) we'll need to re-think our parking areas!  Read all about the studios on my other blog: (http://www.mtheresabrown.blogspot.com/)

Shed being positioned after moving
Fall is a time for  art shows for us as well so it's incredibly busy! But we always find time for your questions....new 2 hour classes coming up on the calendar on our webpage!


STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES and
Have a Safe and Great LABOR DAY!



Our working art studio

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Painting Mountains

Since my artist husband, Stephen Filarsky and I are full time artists, we must constantly coordinate our art schedules with our instruction schedules and it takes some serious organizing to do that!

Recently, we completed a show in the stunningly beautiful mountains of NC near Blowing Rock. It must be the cool weather combined with mountain vistas that is so inspirational but whatever it is we squeezed in a workshop for a group of ladies. Only one had painted before. The others were total beginners. Apparently a former group experience had not inspired confidence nor enthusiasm so it was fun to watch them not only create a beautiful painting but become enthused enough to later run out and purchase paint to continue their art studies!

Learning to paint is all about learning to"see". That was the missing component that no one had ever showed them. None of them will ever look at clouds or mountain vistas again without experiencing that "AHA!" moment when what we shared, clicked with them! And that is a good place to be for an artist of any skill level!  The tips and techniques we shared for painting mountain vistas is the same for ALL mountains whether it is the Blue Ridge, Adirondacks, Himalayas or the Rockies. Painting such a scene once and painting it well is often the inspiration needed for a beginner to become and enthusiast.  And painting is one hobby that can be enjoyed year round, at all ages and for minimal expense (compared to other hobbies!)

Happy Painters :-)
If your group would like us to to share our methods of instructing with them, contact us!
classes @ artstudentacademy.com  (just re-do without spaces!)

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Art camp-suitable for adults!

The kids are having a great time in my ART camp in Henderson, NC. In fact, I have 16 students!
Today we studied seascapes and landscapes-quick and easy-and it was designed to help them move quickly, use a brush properly (you would be amazed!) and each skill built upon the previous one and we'll use the same techniques tomorrow.....but it did occur to me that adults could use the same series of projects to heighten THEIR art abilities :-) Just think-two hours each day for 5 days-think of what they could learn! So maybe we've been going about this the wrong way-maybe we should have an art camp for parents? What could be better than looking at clouds with your child?






Friday, June 14, 2013

ART CAMP MAGIC

When you are 5 years old, a two hour camp, no matter how much fun, can drag.....so we solved that problem by turning our art room into a "magic room." After all, out theme was "where the wild things are!"
No adults could see the art unless the magic word was spoken. And the mysterious bumps and bangs that came through the walls or from upstairs were the work of the mischievous, and shy blobs that constituted some of our art. With the help of my able assistant, 16 yr old Maddie, we transformed art camp into imagination camp!


Next camp is for the older kids 11 and up the week of June 17-21...but they may not be able to see our mischievous "lil Pete!" 

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Art at 79...60....50....39.......oh my!

SO June 8 was our ART RETREAT and oh my, what a great time we had! And yes, one of our participants was a vibrant 79 years old and jumped right into the art zone with us!

Journaling is all about the journaler and what she wants to include on her various pages. So using  basic art supplies available to everyone, and incorporating some stress relieving tips and techniques, each participant spent the afternoon learning to become "one with her art."

Yep-it ain't that easy initially because we ALL want to be told what to do and especially in art-expectations are always based on one's previous art experiences and teachers! So step by step the ladies all learned to loosen up, let go and then-walla! They created.....and marveled at how easy it was after all!

Check it out! below:


See the woman in blue standing to the left and sitting and raising her hands in the air to the right? Patricia was our 79 years young student who, along with the others, reveled in the freedom of "no holds barred" art.










Each person took home the enthusiasm and techniques necessary to continue their art journey-there are a lot of pages to cover!


Our next art retreat is scheduled for Saturday July 27! Visit me on facebook to stay up to date on what's happening! www.facebook.com/MTheresaBrown or www.facebook.com/artstudentacademy 

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

JUNE 8 ART RETREAT!

LADIES ART RETREAT!



Join Theresa and her special guest, artist Ophelia Staton, Saturday JUNE 8 from 1:00-4:00 at our LADIES ART RETREAT and learn some new and exciting tips in creating or adding to your Art Journals!   Ophelia is a creative and carefree artist whose easy teaching  style will inspire and motivate you to step into the world of art journaling, expressionism and "no holds barred" art. 

http://www.artstudentacademy.com/Ladies-Art-Retreat-2.html


Read more about Ophelia here:http://opheliasart.blogspot.com
Read more about Theresa here: www.ArtsyJourneys.com


Saturday, May 11, 2013

Creativity with CRAYONS!

If you think that crayons are just for "coloring" you are partially right! But see what happens when you challenge a teen art class to take simple perspective a few steps beyond the basics and apply what they learned about shading techniques using paper, a pencil and crayons! Wondrous results!


 Shading and highlighting the contour shapes makes the piece seem to undulate on its own!

Crayons, used in this manner, are a simple, cheap and effective art tool for all ages!

Highlights are the white of the paper, uncolored!



Draw the pencil perimeter first, add the contour lines, then enhance with shading

Monday, May 6, 2013

JUNE SUMMER ART CAMPS in Wake Forest!


Summer Art Programs - 2013

studio porch art student academy 

MINI ART CAMPS for kids coming in JUNE!


Mini Art camps are designed for ages 5-7, 8-10 and 11 & up! These week long camps are 2 hours each day and each camp includes creative daily art projects that promote learning of the specified topic in a fun, creative and enjoyable way for your child. Since we are a multi-media Art Studio (for all ages!), we focus on some of the many different ways to create art- including painting, paper mache, textiles, colors, ceramics and more!

ALL supplies are included. Dress to mess!
Tuition: $95.00 per child per session.

June 10-14: "Where the Wild Things Are"
This mini art camp is designed to bring out your child's imagination by creating their very own "Wild Things!" A fun, imaginative and inventive class!
10:00 am-12:00 noon Ages 5-7and 1:00 pm-3:00 pm Ages 8-10

June 17-21: "Enchanted Forest"
In this mini art camp we'll combine the richness and beauty of lakes and forests in reality and in your child's imagination to help them create their own "Enchanted Forest!"
10:00am-12:00 noon Ages 5-7 and
1:00 pm-3:00 pm Ages 11 & upThe older group, will do a combination of both themes suitable for their ages and imagination. Superfun, super inventive!

Friday, March 29, 2013

Painting with acrylics

Painting Butterflies

 
Evening Stroll on Beach
So we were so busy with classes, art shows and new animals at the farm that TIME slipped up on me!

But not to worry! The following are images of what our painters have been creating and they have been busy!

Whether you are experienced, a total beginner, 5 years old or 105, you will leave with a beautiful painting in just 2 hours!





Piglet in Acrylics
Acrylics are water soluable, easy to clean off of you (not your clothes) and dry quickly. That means you can paint oiver areas you may not like or add to areas that you have already painted!



So from Farm animals to insects, to beautiful scenes, to abstracts.......well we are painting it all!
Southern Magnolia
Realistic flowers to Pop Art Pets!

Scroll down a bit further and you can ssee what ASA can been doing with the MIchael's Store on Caital Blvd. in Raleigh!

Want to join in? Email us at artclasses@artstudentacademy OR visit us on the web at www.ArtStudentAcademy.com and check out the calendar!



Pop Art Pets
Classes by ASA at Michael's!
 

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Kids and cats and abstract art!

What happens when you combine kids (ages 5-15) oil pastels and markers and give them the luxury of creating any type of abstract cat they'd like?
Why don't I let the results speak for themselves? :-)

Sunday, January 6, 2013

January art classes

OK, December was crazy!
Now we''re ending the first week of January and have already had our first series of Saturday painting classes.
The January calendar is up so be sure and check out the acrylic and watercolor classes that we have scheduled-one is bound to capture your imagination!
The winter children's classes continue with an emphasis on painting and sculpture so if you have a child between the ages of 5 and 16, join us!
Jan 5 classes