"Real People Have Curves (...)" - Summer Session starts this coming Tuesday, June 15

(Things can really get down to the wire when you forget how many places there are to post online...)

This time I have two sessions with half a month in between....they are contiguous, but you can choose just Session A if you need just a foundation, and just Session B if you already have a foundation but want to focus more on projects and feedback. Either way - students wanted, no experience necessary. Evening classes, teens and adults, convenient for summer scheduling.



#07 Real People Have Curves (& Bulk & Tension & Shading)
Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Kagen Aurencz Zethmayr

Session A: 6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/6
Session B: 7/27, 8/3, 8/10, 8/17

Time: 6:30 – 9 pm ground floor gallery

Whether you’re a beginner in art or a continuing student of the human face and form, this multi-medium drawing class will jumpstart and challenge your powers of observation and conveying what you see onto the page. Anatomy and proportion, shading and color 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, personal project options & critiques. Supply list available at registration (media include crayons, coloured pencils, charcoal and oil pastels, as well as pencils and pen/ink if interested).

Session A is 4 weeks $60 m / $68 nm
Session B is 4 weeks $60 m/ $68 nm

http://www.lagrangeartleague.org/Classes.html
(full listing and registration info)

La Grange Art League
122 Calendar Ave
La Grange, IL 60525
708-352-3101

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KAGEN AURENCZ ZETHMAYR has taught at the La Grange Art League since 2006, and has been active as a freelance artist for over twenty years, doing everything from concert/theatre programs to commissioned portraits of pets and people, fantasy art/illustration, set paintings for stage productions, elaborate Halloween décor of lifelike (deathlike?) dummies and masks, and even period-accurate costume design for a courtier at the Bristol Renaissance Fair. With both performance and technical experience in live theatre, he focuses on the conjunction of human face, form and character, emphasizing both the psychological and the physical aspects of capturing a convincing likeness. 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.

http://www.lagrangeartleague.org/Teachers.html

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.]

__________________________________________


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!



http://aurey-the-art-teacher.blogspot.com/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aureantesrealm

Teacherly correspondence...

...in which I elucidate my current highly-psychological angle and methodology for my class in response to a prospective student:


I'm responding to your request for more information on my portraiture/figure-drawing class -- also attached as supplement is last quarter's syllabus, from before I changed the title, and a full list of concepts and activities to be addressed during the course of the quarter.

Basically, what we'll be doing is initially going to be aimed at loosening up and disinhibiting from the way that we normally tend to look at things and worry about how they're going to look on the page. Things like working in crayons and all in colors, without reliance on outlines, without looking at the page (much), without seeing the subject right-side-up, and working on non-white backgrounds, while focusing in on light and shadow, gesture, bulk/weight and balance, and apparent mood and character. The most "technical" aspects of the class will be in learning and working with the standard proportions of the human body and face, which change considerably from birth through adulthood, and in learning how to use page space most effectively in forming a composition. Activities are both accessible and challenging at the same time, because there is no single right or wrong way for one's artwork to come out -- the emphasis is on strengthening your instincts and making the most of the conscious artistic process.

Drawing will mostly be from life (posed modeling or partner drawing), from statuary (usually just the first and second sessions) or from photographs (either yours or from my extensive collection), though some projects will call for drawing from imagination based on a verbal character description, or on changing the subject of a pose. The overall idea is to "unlearn" stylistic assumptions and habits, opening the way for clearer observation and awareness of how one sees and how to get it onto the paper most effectively and realistically. This is particularly important when it comes to drawing (or painting, or sculpting) people, because (as people ourselves) how we typically see each other stops with personal recognition, evaluation of attractiveness and interpretation of emotions and intent, rather than actually observing the qualities of the human face and form as a physical object in space and as an individual person.

I hope this succeeds in clarifying my class content and methods, and do feel free to contact me directly with any further questions.


Sincerely,


Kagen Aurencz Zethmayr

Visual ad for my class, Fall 2009

I'll post the fullsize flier later today, to show everything that it has....

Art Students Wanted - No Experience Necessary

[Crossposted from http://aureantes.livejournal.com/130184.html
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Just one week left to register......

How to Draw Real Live People

Fall Session starts September 15 - Tuesday evening classes!

Instructor: Kagen Aurencz Zethmayr

Learn how to portray anyone you want to, with firm technical knowledge and feedback to help you develop your style and portfolio. We’ll cover basic anatomy and proportions, light/shadow rendering, creative use of color (crayon, colored pencil, pastels and oil pastels), arranging and extracting poses, conveying personality through visual details, and creating dynamic portraits using live sittings, photographs, imagination and everyday character observation. This is an ideal course for young students who want to focus on ‘drawing people’ realistically, as well as for older beginners and practicing artists seeking to hone their skills and focus on the finer points of getting a convincing likeness.

Bring a large (at least 11” x 14”) sketchbook, drawing pencils, art eraser and two-pocket folder, plus own colored pencils, crayons, soft/oil pastels and pens if desired — in-classroom supplies will be provided; full/optional supplies list available in gallery.

September 15 through November 3 (8 weeks) - Teen through adult

Time: Tuesday 6:30 pm —9:00 pm - Fee: $120M $136NM

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Classes are held at the La Grange Art League
122 Calendar Avenue, La Grange IL 60525
708-352-3101 http://www.lagrangeartleague.org/ _____________________________________________
To download a class registration form (PDF):

www.lagrangeartleague.org/Classes

or call above number to register by phone —

class is #8 on the Fall 2009 schedule

To contact instructor directly for private lessons/commissions:

708-579-0787 - aureantyev @ yahoo.com

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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 intended 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.


Of course, this will be thoroughly crossposted everywhere online that I have IRL contacts or audience....and yes, I'm working on the logistics of online instruction too -- just keep nudging me there.


_

Well, perhaps this is a change in the weather....

It will be a new thing, to have just teenagers and/or adults in my class when it starts on Monday. I've always had a principle of letting anyone into my class who was seriously interested in the subject, and I dislike leaving anyone out on purely technical grounds -- especially since I myself would have hated to be excluded from a class based solely on my age. Yes, I was precocious, and not every child with an interest is capable of sustaining it through specialized training. But I'd rather give someone a chance to prove themself if they're determined than tell them to wait until they've met some arbitrary requirement...and even if they're not yet capable of the finest hand-eye coordination or appreciation of scale or shading, it's still possible to plant the seeds of solid technique and see them start to sprout, and know that if that mental and practical trajectory continues then yes, the student will progress and one will have done one's part.

And on the other hand, sometimes there are older students who have become so self-consciously attached to what pleases others and suffices well-enough for them that they have a dire phobia of taking risks and exploring, of letting go of the safety that's served them well -- even greater than the young child's fear of letting go of the circle heads, round eyes and triangular noses that everyone understands as adequately shorthanded information to decipher a human face. This stylistic rigidity is a frustrating (for the teacher at least) plateau, even though it's far easier then to grasp and understand the naturalistic and dynamic techniques once one dares to let go and actually do the experimentation.

When it comes to having an evening class, though, there's a lot less room to bend the age limits. Whether for the sake of a regular bedtime or of social protocols or of studio management, it's hard to countenance having unaccompanied 8-11 year-olds in a class that runs from 6:30 to 9:00 at night -- especially when older students are all too easily neglected in favour of nurturing and supporting the younger artists in their fledgling phases.

I do have some apprehensions about teaching solely to a teens-plus audience this quarter. I hope that they aren't too jaded to see the value of foundational and refreshing, mentally-jumpstarting artistic exercise. I hope that they have enough of a capacity for the fantastic and fascinating to not regard my eclectically-rambling lectures and examples as too childish for their attention. I hope that the energy and flexibility that I've had to develop in dealing mainly with children (and their overburdened schedules) has not deprived me of the firmness to guide and set standards and expect visible results from those who are better able to direct their own time. I hope they have enough originality to not just slavishly copy from my vast morgue of photographs...but I also hope that they've got enough self-discipline to see the value in working from both ends and all ends of media vs. live 3D sittings.

And of course, I certainly hope that enough of them sign up for the class to make up a decent number for partner-drawing activities, as I don't know where I'm likely to find an art model with reasonable rates on this short notice....