I'm not talking about the creative refrigerator art that we all treasure. I mean that someone actually taught you how to draw things that look like what they are - way back then. And you still remember how, but you don't know it.

That is the premise upon which this course is based. You do know how to draw. We just have to remind you how you know.

A completely new, unique and original, no fail approach to drawing.

We promise to have you drawing things that look like what they are the very first week - and having fun doing it! You will also discover, right off the bat, that you have your own style!

This is not like any drawing class ever offered. We are not promising to make you into a daVinci overnight, but every drawing, however elaborate, starts with the ability to put the representation of a thing on paper. You can go anywhere in art from there.

By using a very unique approach to recognizing shape and line, and a light-hearted attitude toward thinking creatively, we make it effortless to start drawing - and very hard to stop.

Within the safe confines of an art journal or sketchbook, you can learn the things people learn in art school - without a bit of intimidation.

Feedback is only given if requested, so there is no fear of criticism to be dealt with there either.

The workshop includes six Video Lessons with PDF support and practice material where appropriate and necessary, which are posted on Fridays for six consecutive weeks.

We use a closed, invitation-only Yahoo Group as our classroom.

You purchase the workshop from our Shopping Cart and you are registered. The evening before the start date, you will be emailed an invitation to the Yahoo classroom. Spam filters sometimes make trouble, so if you do not have that link by the morning of the start date, email me (instructor@cre8it.com) and I will send the link again. If you do not already belong to other Yahoo Groups, you will be asked to set up a user name and password.

You must be able to play our videos. Test this by trying this video (has nothing to do with this workshop). This is high end streaming video, so let it load for a few moments before hitting the Play arrow or it will start and stop.

http://gallery.me.com/jwesolek#100001

If you can run this video, you will have no problems with the class videos. You must have the the free Quicktime Player for Windows here (Macs have Quicktime already): http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html

Our videos are now downloadable, so you can keep a copy for yourself on your computer and watch it without being online. Our videos will play in Quicktime and iTunes - also free and available for PC and Mac (from apple.com).

After watching the video lesson, you do the assignment in your own time and upload the results to your own Album in the Group Photos section to share with the Instructor and the other students. This is voluntary and so is asking for Instructor Feedback.

Workshop Requirements. . . Enthusiasm and curiosity.

An Art Journal or Sketchbook
Must have paper substantial enough to take erasing and a little moisture.

Drawing Pencil:
#3H (can be found at all art and craft stores). This is not a mechanical pencil - just an ordinary one, but with a cleaner, harder, more erasable lead than the usual #2.

Eraser: Big, white, soft. Magic Rub is a great brand.

Indelible Ink Pen:
A Set of Black Pitt Pens (about $7-$8 at office, art, and craft stores). Pitt Pens make an indelible black line that can be painted over, and yet they do not bleed through paper. If you can't afford a whole set, at least get the Fine Tip and the Brush tip.

Black Colored Pencil: A regular colored pencil - not watersoluble.

Ruler and Template: A Circle template (like a stencil with different sized circles), and a 6 inch Ruler. These can be found in office and art supply stores.

Sign Up. . .
Click here to sign up for this workshop.

Our favorite brand is the Caran d'ache Supracolor II, but the Derwent, Albrecht Durer (by Faber Castell), and Stabilo, are also superior quality watercolor pencils. Avoid cheap brands like Rose Art, General, etc as the pigment load will not please you, and you will end up buying better ones anyway - out of pure frustration. If your local art/craft store does not have these, online sources do - at good prices.

A Waterbrush.
Niji is the best brand and is inexpensive online (Jerry's Artorama). Small tip is best, but medium is ok, if you can't get a Small. This is a paintbrush that holds clear water in its barrel.

Sheer Heaven.
Scraps will do - especially leftovers from transfers. This is a very good way to use those up.

Watercolor Markers.
Any brand, any colors. These are not labeled as "Watercolor". We just mean they are watersoluble, not permanent markers because the water soluble ones do not bleed through pages. Kid markers will do. These are used for fast and quick coloring of drawings.

What Previous Students Have to Say. . .

I really loved they way you simplified shapes and made them easy to recognize, as well as simply showing me the starting point in a drawing. I've been pleased with the way your lessons have stayed with me, so that I now see things in shapes and combinations of shapes. You have the teaching gift!  - Jody

I really enjoyed the drawing lessons--partly because I found that I looked at things differently after that, but also because I realized that it was OK to make "impressionist" drawings--that realism was not required, that a "cartoon-y" drawing was fine so long as it brought back the memories of where/when it was drawn.

I have taken drawing as a college course (most memorable when it had snowed and the instructor told us to draw marshmallows on a white pillow sitting in a north-facing window!) and not been happy with the results, but your lessons really "resonated"with me--now I just need to take time to practice. - Nan

By breaking the process down to the simplest, you really gave me the courage to try. I was amazed with the results. By starting with pencil -- making many gestures ,and comitting those gestures to paper (knowing they could be erased later)  helped me to get over the "plain white paper brain freeze". I couldn't believe I was making marks WITH A PEN, in that pricey little journal.

There is no stopping me now!

Thanks again, Jessica! - Carole