Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Regarding the class title change....

...I almost asked for it to be switched back before the Winter brochure went out, but it was such a minor and apparently-frivolous request to make that I let it stand as I'd revised it. And later received a favourable comment -- thanks, even -- for having changed it.

As you might recall if you've followed my class-promo posts here or elsewhere, my original class title was "How to Draw Real Live People" -- which works aptly enough as a general description and makes no confusion as to the subject. It is a bit simplistic, though, and more suited to kids' classes than to ones courting older and more self-directed attention, so when the idea came to me I basically recomposed both the title and the course description within an hour at most. It's more witty, more knowing, more concrete....not quite so spelled out, but then, if I had had a class title from the start that was (as most instructors' are) simply denotative, it'd have been a rather dry "Dry Media Figure Drawing and Portraiture I/II" or something of the sort.

Most fine art classes, outside of college, are either life drawing or portraiture, rather than trying to address both at once. But when you have both the need for accurate foundational anatomy and the emphasis on characterization overall within the face and body and gesture, to call it just one or the other would be inaccurate. And, as I always point out, what we think we know about the way people look is often a bare shorthand reduction (and effectively a distortion) of what is actually there to be observed and conveyed. Real people have curves -- not straight lines for legs and spines and arms and mouths. Bulk, not stick-figure leanness/paper-doll flatness or weightlessness against the ground...tension, not blankness or total passivity (even in repose)...shading, not just lines and fillings-in of the most-apparent colour, relying upon the telegraphing of detail to take the place of real rendering of detail.

In order to see what is there, we must break down the assumptions of what has always been enough to go on in the usual mostly-subconscious way of recognizing and "reading" people, and bring our thought-processes forward so that we actually can see what we are seeing, perceiving it on the physical level as well as the plane of psychological and emotional interpretation whereon we interact as persons -- and illuminating the latter more clearly as well.

Which is all a bit complexly analytical-sounding, no doubt (typical for me, if not unavoidable)...but it works, it really does. And hopefully this change of name gives a good upfront idea of the gist of my deeper-developing method.

How flies the time - just one week left to register for my Winter class!

Winter Quarter for my portraiture/life drawing class starts January 12 at the La Grange Art League Gallery & Studio, and is open to teens (8th grade+) and adults of all experience levels with an interest in naturalistic (i.e., non-cartoon) human depiction and characterization.

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REAL PEOPLE HAVE CURVES
(& Bulk, & Tension, & Shading)
Level I & II

Instructor: Kagen Aurencz Zethmayr

Dates: 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23, 3/2

Time: 6:30 – 9:00 pm ground floor gallery

Whether you’re a beginner in art or a continuing student of the human face and form, this drawing class will jump-start and challenge your powers of observation and conveying what you see onto the page. Anatomy and proportion, shading and colour rendering, capturing gesture and likeness from both live poses and media resources – stretch your artistic muscles, gain confidence and amaze your friends and family. Weekly assignments and critiques; supply list available in gallery. Fee: $120M/ $136NM 8 weeks

[Supply list includes: large drawing pad (at least 11"x14"), pencils & drawing eraser, pocket folder for handouts and photos, and (recommended) own sets of oil pastels, crayons and colored pencils, any size. Newsprint pad optional but very useful. Brown and colored construction papers will also be used in assignments. Recommended stores: Carlson's, Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's, Michael's and/or the office & school supplies aisle in any general-purpose store.]

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KAGEN AURENCZ ZETHMAYR has been active as a freelance artist for over twenty years, doing everything from concert/theatre programs to commissioned portraits, fantasy art/illustration, set paintings, elaborate Halloween décor and even period-accurate costume design for a member of court at the Bristol Renaissance Fair. His education includes Columbia College Chicago (BA) and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, with prior experience as a staff artist for The Lion and Menagerie at Lyons Township H.S. As an instructor, he emphasizes the importance of “unlearning” assumptions, dismantling mental blocks and strengthening observational skills, and in personal practice he believes in creating/showing character and mood as effectively as possible, whatever the scene and whatever the medium.

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You can download a PDF brochure+registration form at http://lagrangeartleague.org/Classes.html and mail it in, or register in person at the gallery or over the phone (w/ credit card) at 708-352-3101 -- "Real People Have Curves" is class #8 this term. The La Grange Art League Gallery & Studio is located at 122 Calendar Avenue in downtown La Grange, and map and directions are provided at http://lagrangeartleague.org/Directions.html .


Note: Although I'm also available for private lessons or special-occasion workshops, this particular class needs an absolute minimum enrollment of three students by next week to go on as scheduled in the LGAL brochure, and I am personally looking for at least five-six students to make sure of a good number for group and partner studio activities. Couples and child/parent combinations welcome!



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