Weekly classes:
Stuart Street Atelier offers three options for classes: The Atelier Track, the Mentoring Track, and the Expressive Development Track. Registration for all tracks is now open on a first come, first served basis. Please email Jennifer Sims (Jsims2332@aol.com for the Expressive option) or Patricia Rice (patriciamcmahonrice@gmail.com for the atelier or mentoring option) and we will email a form and make arrangements for payment. Patricia Rice might be adding a class on Saturday mornings for teens – adults if you need a weekend time.
The Atelier Track
The Atelier approach lays a solid foundation in drawing and painting from life, as well as an understanding of the nature of light falling on a three dimensional form, with the close supervision of master artist, Patricia McMahon Rice. At Stuart Street Atelier, students will use a combination of Bargue plate drawing exercises, as well as working from casts and live models and still life. The student will practice first in drawing with a variety of media, and then, painting in monochrome, progressing from a limited palette to full color. Students will progress at their own pace as they gain mastery at each level. The goal is to develop the student’s ability to see, and to draw, accurately, within an intimate atelier setting, in small classes. Many artists, with real vision, lack the core skills to execute that vision adequately. With patience and dedication, this program will give you the skills necessary to bring your vision to life. (Note: students will not have to complete EVERY Bargue plate in order to progress to the next level. The goal is mastery, not forcing each student to complete every existing Bargue plate, or cast in the studio.)
This class will be offered Tuesdays 9-12, Sept 7, 14, 21, 28, Oct. 5, 12(make up class date: Oct 19 if Patty has to cancel a class for some reason). Cost: $280. (Casts and Bargue references included, as well as all drawing supplies. Painting supplies are the students’ responsibility)
Independent Mentoring Track
Patricia Rice and Jennifer Sims offer classes for those students who wish to draw or paint independently, using their own concepts, with frequent feedback from the instructor. Each class will be about 3 hours long, and meet once a week. Students will enroll and pay for a series of 6 weeks of mentoring.
Patty’s class will be offered on Wednesday, 9-12. Jennifer’s classes are Wednesday mornings 9:30-11:30 (with an additional studio hour) at the atelier’s Obannon Street location. Supplies not included. Cost: $270.
The Expressive Development Track
This track is taught by Jennifer Sims and Steven Parrish. These classes are for students who would like to develop their artistic skills while developing their own, unique style. These classes incorporate classical techniques, while encouraging experimentation in media and approach within the discipline of representational art. Students at all levels who are uncertain of their artistic goals or hungry for inspiration may want to start in these classes. A listing of the classes in this track follows.
The Elements of
Dynamic Drawing
Develop your skills in The Five critical elements of fine drawing: gesture, perspective/proportion, value, line and edges while creating beautiful compositions with them. Drawing is the foundation of all visual art, whether two or three dimensional. Do you have a drawing project you have always wanted to tackle? Come explore how to master any challenge using graphite, pastel, charcoal, silverpoint, ink, and more. Basic class involves lectures and demos as well as help with student projects. Draw-along sessions are for students in the regular class who are interested in working independently in the studio alongside the instructor. Tuesdays 12-2PM ($200 per month or 4 weeks); optional draw along class Tuesdays 2-4 for an additional fee of $25. Jennifer Sims instructor.
Expressive Portraits in Oils
All levels of painters are welcome in this class, which will cover composition, lighting, skin tones, mark-making, underpainting, value studies and other elements of painting fine portraits. We will cover painting portraits from life as well as from photographs. Whether you are an advanced artist or a beginner, this class is small enough to receive the kind of individual attention necessary to improve your skills. Limited to 5 students. Wednesdays 12-3. $350. Model fees not included. Unsure if this class is right for you? Introductory consultation is optional, free, by appointment, and without obligation. Instructor: Jennifer Sims
Still life Painting with Oils
The Dramatic Still Life with Steven J Parrish (Friday’s or Saturdays, rolling admission beginning July 2020 from 1-4PM through August. $225 for four classes. Fall semester for this class will run for eight weeks from September through October 2021. Winter class runs from January through February 2022.
Learn how to create vibrant and dramatic still life’s from a signature member of the Oil Painters of America.
Still life painting is a worthy subject in its own right, but it also provides skills for improving landscape, portrait, interior and figure painting. Through demonstration and one on one instruction, Steven will concentrate on mixing and applying color with expressive brush strokes to lead the viewer to the focus. Strong emphasis will be given to the painting process from concept to completion with an alla prima method.
Steven believes in learning to paint by painting. With a four week term, artists will be painting every class. A short 45 minute demonstration will start the first class each month. An assortment of still life objects and pieces of fabric will be available. If you want to bring objects of your own that you want to paint feel free to do so. These classes will be tailored to the level of ability of each artist in class. The goal is to help you where you are and move towards where you want to be as an artist.
All levels welcome.
The Expressive Landscape in Gouache and oils
Mondays 6-9PM. $350 for four weeks, beginning in the fall of 2022. Locations will vary. Jennifer Sims instructing. Paint plein air to simplify compositions and do color studies in Gouache, then transform your studies into a finished oil painting in the studio. This class is for all levels, but some experience with painting and drawing is highly recommended.
Workshops -2021–2022
Come back to see updates to this list!
Painting the Figure in Oils with Hollis Dunlap; April 21 (private dinner) to 24, 2022.
Drawing and Painting the Human Figure with Hollis Dunlap. Limit 8 students. $400 for three full days and private dinner. Model fee and supplies not included.
Draw and Paint the figure from life in this 3 day figure painting workshop. We will focus on light effects, proportions, edges, and various methods of application to create convincing and interesting drawings and paintings. Several techniques will be demonstrated such as how to plan the composition, drawing from large shapes to small shapes, paint application, interpreting color based on the sources of light, using anatomical landmarks in constructing the figure, and how to revise as you go. Painters will be encouraged to build the sense of form from the largest masses first to create a sense of finish before small details are added. Basic geometric shapes will be used to describe forms of the human body to give the painting a convincing sense of form, as well as giving the student more confidence in painting directly from the model. Over the course of the week the instructor will paint along with the group to demonstrate how to set up a composition, color mixing, revising the drawing, and application of paint. We will work with models over the course of the 3 days, with poses of at least 6 hours in length. Students are welcome to draw or paint or do both. Students may also choose to do several quicker sketches, or focus on 1 or 2 more detailed works. Some experience with drawing and painting highly recommended.
Three full days included. Limit 8 students.
DAVID SHEVLINO: Alla prima painting from life and photos. April 17-20, 2022
David is an internationally recognized master, with a reputation for superb teaching. He received rave reviews for his first workshop at SSA, where students painted from live models and photos using alla prima techniques (wet into wet). David talks about techniques for simplifying the subject and learning to paint with directness and economy. He teaches the basics of form, value, color and how we use our painting knowledge to interpret, rather than copy, photos so that they can become successful paintings.” 10AM – 4PM; $600. Model Fee not included. (Minimum 8 students; maximum 10).
Oil Painting on Copper with Patricia Rice — October 29-31, 2021.
Painting Birds or Fruit on Copper Workshop
This class is for both the beginning painter, as well as the experienced painter interested in exploring this Baroque Era surface. Copper is experiencing a revival among Contemporary Realist artists. Paint almost seems to float on top of this highly archival, glowing surface. October 29, 10-4, $140, copper panel included. Bring your own brushes and paints.
Sculpting the Horse and Hound with Kathleen Friedenberg (New Dates for 2022 TBD)
Kathleen Friedenberg will be returning to teach her annual workshop on sculpting the horse and hound, April 18-22, 2020, 10-5 PM. Kathleen is a master sculptor and signature artist with the American Academy of Equine Art. Her sculptures are exhibited around the world, including at the Middleburg Museum Of Sporting Art. $600 for five full days, materials extra. Pro-rated options are available for this workshop. Contact the atelier for details.
Inspired by Norman Rockwell II: Drawing Techniques for StoryTelling (TBD in 2022; 10-4 PM)
Instructor: Jennifer Sims
Norman Rockwell is often overlooked by those connoisseurs who believe illustration is not fine art. Such notions are misguided. Join Jennifer for an adventure into the art of Illustration! All levels welcome. Please note that this is a drawing, not a painting workshop.
Plein Air at the Farm
instructor: Sue Braswell
Plein Air workshop will be hosted by Sue at her farm in The Plains. Learn how to find and interpret interesting compositions in the out-of-doors with oils. Students will be sent a supply list by email. Limited to 8 participants. April 30 to May 1; 11 AM to 4 PM; $200
Registration for 2022 Workshops You may reserve spots in any workshop or class by contacting Jennifer Sims (see below for address). Please do not send a deposit until availability and dates have been confirmed and you receive a request for a deposit.
You may pre-register for any workshop or class now. To do so, please email JSims2332@aol.com. When you are notified that your pre-registration has been accepted, please register by sending a deposit check with contact information and written acceptance of liability waiver (see below) to Stuart Street Atelier, PO Box 319, The Plains, VA 20198. Deposits of $100 will secure your place and are, regrettably, nonrefundable unless the workshop is canceled or a substitute student is found to take your place. (For workshops less than $100, please send a deposit of 25%.) Full payment and all balances are due two weeks before the workshop begins. If workshops are cancelled for any reason, full refunds will be provided. All workshop costs are exclusive of meals, model fees and materials unless otherwise noted. Easels, taborets, sculpture stands and/or turntables, microwave, and water are provided. Free parking is plentiful adjacent to the studio. We have plenty of Air B&Bs in the area, including The Whistlestop (under separate management) just upstairs from the studio! There are plenty more in walking/biking distance. Come join us!
SSA WAIVER:
I understand that artistic activities involve paints, equipment, solvents, and other materials that may prove toxic or trigger allergic reactions. I also understand that art classes involve activities, such as transporting supplies, moving easels, lighting equipment, sculptures and the like that may cause accidental, personal injury. I agree to hold Stuart Street Atelier, it’s employees, owner and instructors, the Board and manager of the historic RR depot in the Plains harmless and not liable for any injuries sustained.