The Seattle Artist League has moved all adult and teen classes in painting, drawing, photography, and printmaking ONLINE. We are dedicated to keeping our artistic community active, connected, and safe.
Previous to this week, I haven’t done a lot of video conferencing. I don’t Skype or Facetime more than once every two years, and I cultivate a curmudgeonly view of tech in general, so the video/text/talk experience was all pretty new to me. This week, with necessity as my inspiration, I found my way through the video portal and discovered it’s actually quite fun. So far I’ve led two Thursday classes with slideshows and lectures about how to produce effects of light in drawings and paintings, one abstract painting class in which each artist received 1:1 support with their questions, then we shared a slideshow and discussion about how to cultivate what engages you as a painter, two critique groups in which each artist shared and received feedback on their recent work, and two figure drawing sessions, in which a live video feed of a model provided artists with a drawing reference (and no one had the bad angle!) with slides and critiques along the way. It has been great to see everyone’s face, connect, share ideas, and see the artworks created. What a joy!
These recent days have been so strange I find it’s easy for me to feel lost, but the online classes immediately helped me feel more connected to people, and it held my attention to positive endeavors. Invaluable! The League is built on friendship, with a student responsive curriculum. All of us together make the League what it is. This is what I love about us, and it is working, especially in these strange and unsettling times.
A letter from Lendy
I wanted to experience conferencing in for a class, so I attended a Seattle Artist League Critique group from home. I was surprised at how connected I felt to the group and how easy the platform was to use – I am not that tech savvy (anyone who has received 3 of the same class notification from me know that). Here is what I loved:
1. The commute – very fast. 2. Not worrying about giving or receiving COVID 19. 3. Having Katy deliver a delicious coffee to me during the class. 4. The opportunity to give feedback on the work of my peers (they emailed images. It was easy.) And receive feedback on my work. 5. Feeling connected and keeping my regular life going while practicing some distancing.
We didn’t paint or draw in this time, but I could have. It would have been easy to watch a demo or listen to a lecture while viewing a slide show. I could see how simple it would be to check in with the teacher during studio time for feedback and how I could still see the work of fellow students and chat with them.
It is not perfect, but I think it is an elegant solution for imperfect times. I have learned a lot at the Seattle Artist League, most importantly, that we are better together. See you on a tiny screen soon.
Lendy Hensley, Provost
Critique Group. Painting (left) by Ellen Lam.
Spring’s online classes are listed on our website, and you’ll find a $100 credit with each class. Sign up, and we’ll bring our community, lessons, and inspirations all the way to your home. Ex patriots and distance commuters welcome!
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I was surprised by the online classes
The Seattle Artist League has moved all adult and teen classes in painting, drawing, photography, and printmaking ONLINE. We are dedicated to keeping our artistic community active, connected, and safe.
Previous to this week, I haven’t done a lot of video conferencing. I don’t Skype or Facetime more than once every two years, and I cultivate a curmudgeonly view of tech in general, so the video/text/talk experience was all pretty new to me. This week, with necessity as my inspiration, I found my way through the video portal and discovered it’s actually quite fun. So far I’ve led two Thursday classes with slideshows and lectures about how to produce effects of light in drawings and paintings, one abstract painting class in which each artist received 1:1 support with their questions, then we shared a slideshow and discussion about how to cultivate what engages you as a painter, two critique groups in which each artist shared and received feedback on their recent work, and two figure drawing sessions, in which a live video feed of a model provided artists with a drawing reference (and no one had the bad angle!) with slides and critiques along the way. It has been great to see everyone’s face, connect, share ideas, and see the artworks created. What a joy!
These recent days have been so strange I find it’s easy for me to feel lost, but the online classes immediately helped me feel more connected to people, and it held my attention to positive endeavors. Invaluable! The League is built on friendship, with a student responsive curriculum. All of us together make the League what it is. This is what I love about us, and it is working, especially in these strange and unsettling times.
A letter from Lendy
I wanted to experience conferencing in for a class, so I attended a Seattle Artist League Critique group from home. I was surprised at how connected I felt to the group and how easy the platform was to use – I am not that tech savvy (anyone who has received 3 of the same class notification from me know that). Here is what I loved:
1. The commute – very fast.
2. Not worrying about giving or receiving COVID 19.
3. Having Katy deliver a delicious coffee to me during the class.
4. The opportunity to give feedback on the work of my peers (they emailed images. It was easy.) And receive feedback on my work.
5. Feeling connected and keeping my regular life going while practicing some distancing.
We didn’t paint or draw in this time, but I could have. It would have been easy to watch a demo or listen to a lecture while viewing a slide show. I could see how simple it would be to check in with the teacher during studio time for feedback and how I could still see the work of fellow students and chat with them.
It is not perfect, but I think it is an elegant solution for imperfect times. I have learned a lot at the Seattle Artist League, most importantly, that we are better together. See you on a tiny screen soon.
Lendy Hensley, Provost
Spring’s online classes are listed on our website, and you’ll find a $100 credit with each class. Sign up, and we’ll bring our community, lessons, and inspirations all the way to your home. Ex patriots and distance commuters welcome!
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