Taught by Nicole Bradshaw

Introduction to Art

About the Sessions

The studio is located downstairs in my home. In the first session, we will greet through the front door, after that, please walk to the back of the house and enter/ exit through the studio door (I will show students and families this at the first session).

One hour is not a long time in the world of art-making. I will hold time after sessions (15-20 minutes) to allow students time to create as long as possible and still be able to clean up before leaving. if you need a tight end time, please let me know and I will make sure your student is ready to leave promptly at 5:45.

The flow of each session will generally stay the same each week. We will begin with a guided lesson in the sketchbook. Students will take notes and practice the skill/ concept in the sketchbook and then move on to extend the studio space with high-quality paper, canvas, and materials. Students will create freely until 10-15 minutes before the end time in order to clean up and prepare to leave. Each student will have space to leave works in progress until the following week/s. sometimes students can take work home to finish, and sometimes they will remain in the studio, depending on the project. Some weeks we will move through a different lesson each week and some weeks we will continue on the same project, depending on the detail and depth of the work.

Nicole Bradshaw
About Me

I am a teacher, teacher educator, and artist. I’ve taught preschool, elementary school, and college/university students. My most recent position was at Auburn University, teaching teachers in the early childhood department. I am now focusing on raising our (five!) children and my art development. I am excited to be able to offer art lessons in my home as a way to continue to teach and have the flexibility needed to juggle the other demands that come with this season of life! My teaching philosophy centers around the idea that every human is competent and creative and that creating is a means of learning, communication, and expression.

Students are allowed to socialize and enjoy each other’s company while creating. Sometimes we will have music (at my discretion). I will encourage and gently insist each student spends time in focused art flow. If socializing interferes with the work, I will step in and assist. This studio is a place of respect and every child will have the right to create peacefully. I’m not in the business of “disciplining” children in any negative way and there will be no scolding, shaming, or admonishing artists in this studio. sometimes children struggle with or are not ready for focused art lessons. if a student is struggling to create in this environment, I will let parents know and we will problem-solve together potential solutions.

curriculum

  • Studio etiquette – care of materials and space, proper clean up, creating in community
  • Elements of art – line, shape, color, texture, form, space, value
  • Principles of art – balance, emphasis, movement, proportion, rhythm, unity, variety
  • Formats- portraits, landscapes, still life, abstract, etc.
  • Methods/medium-art journal, painting (watercolor, acrylic), drawing (charcoal, pencil, pen, marker, pastels), plein air studies, sculpture (found objects, clay, nature collage).
  • Artist studies- we will sometimes explore famous artists and create in their style (Monet, Cassatt, Moset, O’Keefe, Warhol, Ringgold, etc.)

cost and schedule 

Lessons are approximately $15 per session with tuition charged monthly. Please contact me for specifics on available dates and times.