Art Lessons

Thank you for your interest in art classes! My name is Emily Anderson, I am an artist with an undergraduate degree in Studio Arts from Rutgers University.  I have been making art in various formats through the years with a focus on portrait painting in oils. If you’d like to see the type of artwork I make, check out the "Work" page of this website. 

I offer teen and adult art classes in drawing and oil painting in my home studio in North Chatham County, NC (off Mann's Chapel Rd.).  Classes are small in order to tailor the instruction to individual student interests and needs.  Supplies are not included, see supply lists and current class offerings listed below.  

Drawing skills are essential for any artist to carry out their creative vision. My classes focus on drawing from life (still life, portraits, plein air, figure drawing) with the additional use of photos for reference. Life drawing and painting are skills that will train the brain to look at the subject and translate that image to our own personal expression of seeing. Classes are a combination of structured instruction based on the fundamental principles of drawing/painting and self paced working time during which I provide individual support.  I keep things very flexible and take cues from the students to tailor the class to their interests and skill levels. As with all of the arts, practice improves skills!  Much of the work we do in class is practice work and not necessarily meant to be finished pieces suitable for framing.  We will, however, have classes devoted to working on subject matter of the students’ choice.  

2024 SUMMER

Teen Art: Wednesdays 1pm-3pm, June 12, 2024 - August 7, 2024 (no class July 3).  We will work in a variety of mediums, including graphite, charcoal, pen and ink, chalk pastels, and watercolor/gouache.  See class supply list below for basic material (Drawing Class), I will provide any other supplies.  No need to purchase these exact items, we can work with whatever your student has.  This is a drop-in class, no need to register for the entire summer.  If your student has a specific project in mind, they are welcome to bring reference material.  Summer is a great time to experiment!  Happy to also offer intro to oil painting during these summer sessions, no need to purchase supplies. Please send me a text or email by Tuesday of that week if your student plans on attending so I can be sure to have enough space for everyone (kandeanderson@gmail.com, or text 919-923-9944).  Class size limited to 6.

Adult Oil Painting: Fridays 10am-noon, ongoing (no class July 5 and August 16).  To enroll, email me at kandeanderson@gmail.com, or text 919-923-9944.  This is a drop-in open studio format with students working on different projects while I rotate around the studio for one-on-one instruction.  If you’re not sure what to paint, I have planned exercises for both beginners and experienced artists.  Beginners typically start with black and white studies, moving on to a limited palette when ready.  Please send me a text by Thursday of that week if you plan on attending so I can be sure to have enough space for everyone.  Class size is limited to 5.

2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR (September - May)

Teen Oil Painting: Tuesdays 4pm-6pm.  For beginners through advanced students. Class size is limited to 5 so I can work with individual students at their level.  See class supply list below (Oil Painting Supply List).  I will provide supplies for the first trial class (see Tuition info below regarding trial class).

Teen Drawing/Mixed Media: Wednesdays 4pm-6pm. For beginners through advanced students.  Class size is limited to 6 so I can work with individual students at their level.  We will work in a variety of mediums, including graphite, charcoal, pen and ink, chalk pastels, and watercolor/gouache. See class supply list below for basic material (Drawing Class), I will provide any other supplies.  THIS CLASS IS CURRENTLY FULL (AS OF SEPT ‘24), CONTACT ME TO BE PLACED ON THE WAITLIST.

Adult Oil Painting: Thursdays 6pm-8pm OR Fridays 10am-noon.  This is an open studio format with students working on different projects while I rotate around the studio for one-on-one instruction.  Class size is limited to 5 so I can work with individual students at their level.  If you’re not sure what to paint, I have planned exercises for both beginners and experienced artists. Beginners typically start with black and white studies, moving on to a limited palette when ready. See class supply list below (Oil Painting Supply List). I will provide supplies for the first trial class (see Tuition info below regarding trial class).  Studio is equipped with easels for student use, both standing and table.  

Please contact me for more information. Text @ 919-923-9944 or email kandeanderson@gmail.com. All classes have rolling admission with new students welcome at a time (class sizes are limited, if class is full I can put you on the waitlist).

TUITION

Summer classes (June, July, August) are drop-in, $40 per 2 hour class. 

Tuition from September through May is the same price every month for 4 classes (a “month” may run over into the following month when a calendar month ends mid-week).  Current tuition is $160 per month.  December 2024 tuition will be $120 since only 3 weeks of class.  Discounted rates for college students!  There are 3 built-in holiday blocks per year (see below).  Any additional time that I may need to take off will be deducted from the tuition (see Make-Ups/Missed Lessons below).  By paying the monthly tuition, I will regularly reserve a spot for you in class.  The first “trial” class can be paid as a one-off $40 fee which will be deducted from that month’s payment.  I accept cash, check, or Venmo (@Emily-Anderson-614) as payment methods.

2024-2025 Holiday (non-lesson) Weeks/Days

Thanksgiving Break:  11/25/24-11/29/24

Winter Break: 12/23/24-1/1/25 (December tuition will be $120 since only 3 classes)

NO SPRING BREAK: Because I have students from different school districts with conflicting spring break schedules, I am not taking a week off in March or April.  If you plan on traveling for your student’s spring break, they are welcome to attend a makeup class on the last Sunday of each month from 1-3pm (see Make-Ups/Missed Lessons below).

May Vacation (daughter’s graduation from Univ of Wisconsin!) : Likely May 8-14 (The last week of April will count toward May tuition, resulting in 4 classes each month)

                                                                                                  
MAKE-UPS/MISSED LESSONS

Please note the holiday schedule above.  

If YOU need to cancel: Please try to provide notice if possible.  The last Sunday afternoon (1-3pm) of every month is reserved as a make-up class day.  Painting, drawing, and adult classes are all combined and I will provide individual instruction.   If you are not able to make that month’s make-up session, the missed lesson will need to be forfeited.  Please be understanding about this.  As much as I love my students and making art, I do need to treat my teaching as a business and run it in a sustainable manner. 

If I need to cancel: You are welcome to either come to that month’s make-up session (the last Sunday of each month, 1-3pm) or I will deduct the cost from the next month’s tuition (or provide reimbursement).

DRAWING CLASS SUPPLY LIST

I’m including a supply list with Amazon.com links only to give an example of the type of product. Feel free to get other brands or use what you already have at home. The paper sizes are suggestions, no need to buy a new pad if you have one at home in another size. It is nice to have the large newsprint pad for our warm up exercises. You can find many of these items in Walmart.  Jerry’s Artarama is also a great place to purchase supplies, often with the lowest prices. They have a retail store in Raleigh and an even more extensive online shop with quick shipping.  

A set of graphite pencils, including 2B, 4B, and 6B. 

A set of compressed charcoal, soft or mixed set.  Nitram brand compressed charcoal would be a step up in quality (variety pack mixed set)

1 package of willow charcoal (also called vine charcoal), any brand.

1 or 2 kneaded erasers

Hi-Polymer eraser or Pink Pearl eraser (or any other large eraser)

11x14 (or larger) Drawing Paper

14x17 (or larger) Newsprint Pad

sandpaper sharpener or just regular sandpaper.  I have pencil sharpeners in the studio, but if you have a little handheld one you may as well throw it in the supply bag.  Helpful when we are working outside.

Optional: bound sketch book, 9x12 or smaller

Optional: Drawing Clipboard. This is great to have, you can find them for $20 at Michaels (search for Field Sketch Board and use that 20% coupon!). They seem to be more expensive on Amazon though you can get a range of sizes to fit your largest drawing pad.  A simple piece of Masonite is also great (Home Depot will cut to size for free); you can add your own binder clips.  I have several in the studio to use during class but students may want to have their own to transport work to/from class and to use at home.

OIL PAINTING CLASS SUPPLY LIST

You can find many of these items on Amazon.com. Jerry’s Artarama is also a great place to purchase supplies and often has the lowest prices. They have a retail store in Raleigh and an even more extensive online shop with quick shipping.  I also recommend Utrecht brand Professional Oil Paint (see below under “Oil Paints”) which can be purchased through Utrechtart.com or DickBlick.com.  It is an affordable high quality paint but you do have to purchase it online.

12x16 (or larger) Primed Canvas Pad (not canvas paper!)….about $27 at Jerry’s Artarama.  If you have stretched canvases at home or would prefer to use them instead of the canvas pad, that’s ideal, you'll just be paying a bit more for them compared to the primed canvas pad.  Primed boards are also a good option and are (depending on brand) less expensive than stretched canvas.

16x21 cut piece of corrugated cardboard and masking tape to tape the canvas pad sheets onto…not needed if using stretched canvas or canvas board.  If you bought a larger canvas pad, you'll need a larger sheet of cardboard.  I often have some cardboard precut in my studio but can’t always guarantee it.   A thin sheet of plywood also works well.  

9x12 paper palette pad (suitable for oils, you can buy larger if you prefer)……about $10 at Jerry’s Artarama.  These come in white or grey toned.  Either is fine.  You can also use a wood or glass palette.  Wood palettes must be coated with several thin coats of linseed oil (drying between coats) before using.  The ultimate palette set-up would be an air tight system such as Masterson Sealed Palette with a New Wave glass palette to fit inside.  This helps keep your paint from drying out between sessions, works even better when stored in the freezer. 

Gamsol, 16 oz or larger…..$14.25 at Jerry’s Artarama.  Gamsol is Gamblin brand’s Oderless Mineral Spirits (OMS).  We’ll use this to clean brushes and thin the paint for under-paintings.  There are other brands of OMS (such as Turpenoid), but Gamsol is widely viewed as the best and most definitely has the least odor.  I’ll show you how to reuse your Gamsol so a bottle will last longer.

Gamblin Galkyd or Galkyd Gel, 4 or 8 oz…..$10 for 4 oz, $17.25 for 8 oz at Jerry’s Artarama.  This is your paint “medium” which loosens the viscosity of the paint, speeds drying time, and creates glazes.  If you have an oil painting medium from another brand, that’s fine, but make sure it is for oil paint, not acrylic.  Linseed, walnut, or stand oil (mixed with Gamsol) can also be used but will not speed drying time, which may be preferable to you.

A container with a tight sealing lid to store your Gamsol solvent and clean your brushes.  I use this one from Amazon:  Brush Cleaner Prices range from $10-$25.  A simple recycled glass container with screw top lid will also work but having some type of screen or metal to wipe the brushes on at the bottom is ideal.  For a homemade version, you can flip over a tuna can, poke holes in it, and place it  on the bottom of a metal coffee container (such as the old school Folgers cans).

Oil paints, 37ml tubes.  I recommend Gamblin 1980 Series for an affordable student grade paint (which I’m basing the pricing on in the supply list), but any others brands can be used.  Professional grade paint will be more expensive because they contain less filler.  Utrecht sells their own brand of professional oil paint which is of excellent quality.  Purchase from their website Utrechtart.com or DickBlick.com.  If you have other brands of oil paint, definitely use them!  No need to buy new paint for this class.

    Titanium White, 150ml tube (you’ll go through white more than the other colors so buy a big tube)…..$13.50 at Jerry’s Artarama

    Burnt Sienna or Transparent Oxide Red…….$6 at Jerry’s Artarama

    Cadmium Red Medium….$9 at Jerry’s Artarama

    Alizerin Crimson Permanent….$9 at Jerry’s Artarama

    Cadmium Yellow Light……$9 at Jerry’s Artarama

    Cerulean Blue……$9 at Jerry’s Artarama     

    Ultramarine Blue……$7 at Jerry’s Artarama

    Yellow Ochre…..$8 at Jerry’s Artarama

    Ivory Black…..$6 at Jerry’s Artarama

.   Raw or Burnt Umber (optional)…..$6 at Jerry’s Artarama

Palette knife…..inexpensive, choose one about 1 or 1.5 inches long

Paint Brushes: Can be natural hog bristle or synthetic, or a combination.  These shapes and sizes are a recommendation.  If you already have others, by all means use them.  Please don’t feel obligated to purchase ALL these brushes.  You’ll want to experiment and see which types and sizes you prefer using.  Creative Mark ProStroke is a good synthetic brush, available at Jerry’s and often on sale.  I also recommend the Ivory Synthetic collection from Rosemary and Co.  (Rosemaryandco.com).  

    Flats (also called Brights) #2 (1/4 “) and #6 (3/8”)…..optional #4 and #8

    Filbert (rounded edge) #2 (1/4#) and #6 (3/8”)……optional #4 and #8

    Round #4 synthetic 

Disposable Gloves if you would like to wear them.  I always have a box in the studio and am happy to share.