I asked Shruti Ghatak, one of our instructors at the League, if there were any interesting books she was reading.
Shruti: “Currently I am reading ‘The Shape of Content’ by Ben Shahn.”
“Love the first paragraph! Shahn wrote about the practice and purpose of art with such clarity!”
“This reminds me of my mentor Graham Nickson. He once told me to always think of the role of a mark. He used to say ‘If you are putting a new mark on your drawing and if there is already a mark on that page, think of their relationship, think of the role of the new mark. Think of its purpose.’ I think it was quite a life lesson for me. So true for life itself!” – Shruti Ghatak, Teaching Artist at the League
Shruti Ghatak is a teacher who fosters intuitive creativity, and personal voice. I watched her lead her day one beginning drawing class in a series of exercises for form, mark-making, creative expression, and perspective. She didn’t tell her students how to draw. Instead, she created an environment that encouraged them to look, and to trust themselves. She gently fosters intuition and discovery, quietly growing the artist from inside out.
New Deadline for Submissions: January 31, 2021 The first annual Seattle Artist League Portrait Awards are aimed at encouraging artists to focus on and develop the theme of portraiture in their work. The competition is open to everyone aged sixteen and over, in recognition of the outstanding and innovative work in drawing, painting, printmaking, and mixed media. 1st Prize: …
[image_with_animation image_url=”7600″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Ralph Steadman Draw, paint, collage a reproduction of a famous artwork in history with your pet’s head replacing the figure’s. As much as you can, stay true to the original composition (unless you have a pet giraffe and have chosen the Mona Lisa). The original masterwork can be sculpture, …
Take a class with SAL – anywhere! As difficult as it is to get painters to apply enough paint, it’s even harder to get them to take it back off again, unless they’re trying to rub out a mistake. The “Lift Up” or “Wipe Out” method is not for obliterating mistakes, it’s a fast way to …
The Seattle Artist League is opening a clay studio and will be offering IN PERSON pottery classes in South Seattle this summer. In addition to our drawing and painting classes both online and in person, we will be offering classes in wheel throwing and handbuilding clay forms. I am tremendously excited about this. When I …
Shruti’s Book: The Shape of Content
I asked Shruti Ghatak, one of our instructors at the League, if there were any interesting books she was reading.
Shruti: “Currently I am reading ‘The Shape of Content’ by Ben Shahn.”
“Love the first paragraph! Shahn wrote about the practice and purpose of art with such clarity!”
“This reminds me of my mentor Graham Nickson. He once told me to always think of the role of a mark. He used to say ‘If you are putting a new mark on your drawing and if there is already a mark on that page, think of their relationship, think of the role of the new mark. Think of its purpose.’ I think it was quite a life lesson for me. So true for life itself!” – Shruti Ghatak, Teaching Artist at the League
Shruti Ghatak is a teacher who fosters intuitive creativity, and personal voice. I watched her lead her day one beginning drawing class in a series of exercises for form, mark-making, creative expression, and perspective. She didn’t tell her students how to draw. Instead, she created an environment that encouraged them to look, and to trust themselves. She gently fosters intuition and discovery, quietly growing the artist from inside out.
If this sounds like an approach you’d enjoy, take a class with her. Shruti teaches beginning drawing, and watercolor painting. We have broken the classes down to 2, 4, and 8 week sessions so you don’t have to plan too far ahead. You can just take it a couple of weeks at a time. Classes start next week, so now is the perfect time to sign up. Click here to find your online art class.
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Related Posts
Portrait Awards
New Deadline for Submissions: January 31, 2021 The first annual Seattle Artist League Portrait Awards are aimed at encouraging artists to focus on and develop the theme of portraiture in their work. The competition is open to everyone aged sixteen and over, in recognition of the outstanding and innovative work in drawing, painting, printmaking, and mixed media. 1st Prize: …
SAL Challenge Day 8: Pets in Art History
[image_with_animation image_url=”7600″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Ralph Steadman Draw, paint, collage a reproduction of a famous artwork in history with your pet’s head replacing the figure’s. As much as you can, stay true to the original composition (unless you have a pet giraffe and have chosen the Mona Lisa). The original masterwork can be sculpture, …
The “Wipe Out” Method
Take a class with SAL – anywhere! As difficult as it is to get painters to apply enough paint, it’s even harder to get them to take it back off again, unless they’re trying to rub out a mistake. The “Lift Up” or “Wipe Out” method is not for obliterating mistakes, it’s a fast way to …
Ceramics Classes: Basic Vocabulary
The Seattle Artist League is opening a clay studio and will be offering IN PERSON pottery classes in South Seattle this summer. In addition to our drawing and painting classes both online and in person, we will be offering classes in wheel throwing and handbuilding clay forms. I am tremendously excited about this. When I …