Susan Singer Classes | Crossroads Art Center

Susan Singer Classes

New classes have only just begun, and here is the schedule for the next round of them starting May 5! These classes will be 6 weeks long so they don't intrude into summer vacations. (I'll be offering classes over the summer as well, no worries!)

I'm offering the classes I usually do along with one new one. There's Beginning and Intermediate Drawing as well as Beginning and Intermediate Watercolor. The new class is for folks who've had Beginning and Intermediate Watercolor classes and want some Continuing Education in Watercolor; they want to learn more skills, and don't feel confident enough to go out on their own yet. See below for more information. I'm also offering two sessions of Doodle, Draw, and

Drink because they offer such a lovely interlude from daily life - a chance to relax and hang out and have the pleasure of drawing too.

The Beginning Classes and the Doodle, Draw, and Drink classes tend to fill up very quickly, so if you think you'll want to take them, please sign up right away.

WATERCOLOR SKILL BUILDING FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS

Painting in watercolor can be quite complicated if you dive in headfirst and try to paint a complicated photograph, for example. That's way too overwhelming, in my humble opinion!

Instead of throwing you off that deep end, I break down the skills you'll need into clearly defined, fairly simple exercises which each teach 1-2 skills. Each skill is taught within the parameter of fun, interesting, and/or beautiful exercises like the one above.

By the end of the class, you'll have a set of skills which can be combined to approach a more complicated picture or to paint Urban Sketches, for example. You'll feel confident that you understand how to use the materials well and how to apply them to achieve your desired results.

Wednesday evenings, 6 – 8:30 pm, 5/8 – 6/12, 6 weeks, $210 plus $10 materials fee, maximum 10 students, minimum 4. Reply to this email to sign up or for more information. (This class tends to fill quickly, so you may want to sign up early!)

DRAWING FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS

Have you always wanted to draw but been afraid to try? Did you want to be an artist, but someone told you you had to do something practical instead so you could earn a living? Did an unskillful teacher crush your dreams of doing art? Or do you just want to have fun learning anew skill with like-minded beginners?

This class could be the perfect place for you!

I teach drawing in such a way that ANYONE can learn to draw. I offer lessons which are fail-proof, go step-by-step, and lead to an understanding of how to approach drawing in a way that helps you render increasingly complicated subject matter. I use mindfulness exercises to help you learn to SEE - really SEE - what you're drawing, thereby being able to render it accurately. AND we have FUN!!

If you think you're the one person on the planet who could never learn to draw, here's a testimonial by Robert Allen who assured me - in fact, he vociferously insisted! - I would NEVER be able to teach him to draw, yet he had the courage to sign up anyway. He wrote me this note the day after class ended:

Oh, Susan, Where to start with feedback and thanks?
     So I’ll start with a story: Last night, I emailed a photo of my pear to my daughter,
who responded, “YOU did that?!”
Yes, Sarah—I did.
      [...] thank you for the week. The noisy oh-you-know-you-can’t-draw tape that has
played in my head for 42 years, since my 4-yr. old daughter said, “That’s… real nice,
Daddy….” is now a remote hum. Not gone, but much more under my conscious choice
about listening to it.
      And, as you said yesterday, when I look back at the first blind contour drawings and
volume sketches, and then at the pear and the Friday still life, I’m pretty amazed.
     Thank you SO much!

I hope you'll join me and still those silly voices in your head as you learn a new, absolutely wonderful skill!

Thursday afternoons, 1-3:30 pm, 5/9 – 6/13, 6 weeks, $210. Maximum 10 students, minimum of 4. Email me at SusanSingerArt@msn.com to sign up or to learn more. (This class fills quickly, so you might want to sign up early!)

INTERMEDIATE WATERCOLOR

In this perfect follow-up class to Beginning Watercolor, you’ll have a chance to learn more advanced skills to add to the fabulous repertoire you’ve already accumulated! You’ll learn to paint trees and clouds in small landscapes. You’ll work with patterns in playful pieces. You’ll learn how to paint from a photograph – and more. Plan on lots of learning, lots of fun, lots of challenges, and wonderful classmates to do it all with!
Anyone who has taken a Beginning Watercolor class is welcome to attend.
Wednesday afternoons, 1-3:30 PM, 5/8 – 6/12, 6 weeks, $210 plus $10 materials fee. Maximum 10, minimum 4 students. Email me at SusanSingerArt@msn.com to sign up or to learn more.

INTERMEDIATE DRAWING: Adventures in ink, doodling and creativity

Beginning Drawing teaches you the basic skills and gives you the Fundamentals. Now, in Intermediate Drawing, you can build upon what you’ve learned and increase your skills. You’ll learn to draw with ink, with a fountain pen! You’ll learn some cool doodles and how to create and use patterns in your drawings. Perspective will be addressed, and you’ll learn how to draw a street scene like in Carytown. You’ll come to understand Value as a component of drawing. And,
most of all, you’ll steep yourself in the creative process and learn how to make it part of your life with confidence!

Thursday afternoons, 1-3:30 pm, 3/14 – 4/18, 6 weeks, $210. Maximum 8, minimum 4 students. Email me at SusanSingerArt@msn.com to sign up or to learn more.

CONTINUING EDUCATION IN WATERCOLOR

Are you in love with watercolors, but stymied about how to progress now that you’ve already taken Beginning and Intermediate Watercolors? Do you need a place to help you focus weekly on your art? Are you wanting to hang out with others who love the creative process? Do you want to keep learning skills and to be presented with lessons each week? This just might be the
perfect class for you!

Each week, through a series of fun exercises, you’ll learn or review a skill then will have an opportunity to spend time practicing it. The emphasis will be on helping you develop your own artistic practice so you feel confident to paint whenever, wherever, and whatever you want to!
Tuesday afternoons, 1 – 3:30 pm, 5/7-6/11, 6 weeks, $210 plus $10 materials fee. Maximum 10, minimum 4 students. Email me at SusanSingerArt@msn.com to sign up or to learn more.

DOODLE, DRINK, AND DRAW

Does it sound like fun to spend a weekend afternoon with like-minded folks creating simple, beautiful designs then painting them, while chatting, laughing, snacking, and perhaps imbibing in an adult beverage? These Doodle, Drink, and Draw afternoons offer just that opportunity! Grab a friend or come on your own and meet some other cool folks, and come on over to the studio to spend some time relaxing and creating with no pressure whatsoever, just the pleasure of each
other’s company while learning a new fun skill.

Two dates have currently been planned. Sign up for either one – or both!
Sunday, May 5, 2- 5 PM or Saturday, June 8, 2-5 PM, $60, includes snacks. If you need supplies, please add $10. 12 maximum, 4 minimum. Please email me at
SusanSingerArt@msn.com to sign up.

REVIEWS

“Susan exudes enthusiasm for any art medium she shares with others!”

“Susan is a fantastic teacher. She enthusiastically presents concepts in a way that is easy to understand and provides gentle critiques and advice to bring out the best in her students. I have taken two courses with her and greatly appreciate all that I have learned from her. Side note: she is one of the most optimistic, happy people I have ever met, and her enthusiasm is contagious.”

“Always upbeat and encouraging. She values the artist in each student!”

“Susan is inspiration. She makes you believe you can do anything.”