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Introduction to Drawing

  • Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center 2410 Wickham Ave Newport News, VA, 23607 United States (map)

Take your sketching skills to the next level with Emily Christoff-Flowers

Students with beginning skills will learn traditional drawing techniques on paper using graphite or charcoal utensils. The focus of each class will be on Materials, Technique, Design, Subject Matter and Personal Expression. Students may work from their own original photographs, still life set up, drawings, or draw along with the instructor using the same reference photos. This is a four class session.

Class Details:

  • Class Dates: Thursdays, April 8 - 29, 2021

    • April 8

    • April 15

    • April 22

    • April 29

  • Class Meeting Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

  • Class Location: Available In-Person and Online at in Art Room B at Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center or via Zoom Video Conferencing Software, respectively.

  • Cost: $75 - $100

    • $75 for online participation

    • $100 for in-person participation; Registration will be available at an early bird discounted price of $90 before March 12.

    • Classes not sold separately

  • Ages: 16+

  • Registration Deadline(s): Sunday, April 4, 2021 at 11:59 pm

  • Instructor: Emily Christoff-Flowers

 

Additional Details:

Supplies will be provided for in-class students. Online students must acquire their own materials. Supplies include:

  • A drawing board or foam board

  • Masking tape

  • Ruler

  • Kneaded eraser

  • Pencil sharpener

  • General’s Getting Started with Graphite Set (Recommended Option)

  • General’s Charcoal Pencil Set (Recommended Option)

  • Sketch pad, 14” x 18” (Recommended Option)

  • Sketch diary or notebook for taking notes.

About the Instructor:

Emily Christoff-Flowers received her Bachelor’s in Fine Art from Bowling Green State University in Ohio where she focused on life drawing. While still in art school she began selling portraits as a career.  She has taught portraits since 1984 and continues to support herself with portrait commissions and teaching privately. She currently teaches pastel classes at the Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, teaches pastel workshops and teaches privately from her home studio in Newport News, Virginia. 

Emily’s Awards 

  • Best of drawing at the Port Warwick Art and Sculpture festival in Newport News, VA 2015 for the full body of work 

  • Recipient of the French Canvas award at the international Pastel Society of America’s 44th Annual Open Juried Exhibition, 2016 for “Listening to Mozart” 

  • First place winner, Occasion of the Arts in Williamsburg VA, 2016. For the full body of work. 

  • Second best in show at Art at the River, in Yorktown, VA 2016 for the full body of work. 

  • Honorable mention at the Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Virginia all media show for “Listening to Maynard Ferguson” 

  • First place in pastel at the Momma Juried Art Competition, 2016 for “Listening to Mozart” 

  • Honorable Mention at Hampton Arts League Open Members Exhibition 2017 for “Listening to Amazing Grace” 

  • Second place at the Mid-Atlantic Pastel Society for “Listening to Maynard Ferguson.  2017 

  • Second Place at the 2017 Women Painters of the South East competition for “Listening to the Grateful Dead” 

  • Honorable Mention at Crossroads All Media Show, October 2017 for “Listening to John Lennon". 

  • First place in drawing at the all Virginia show at Charles Taylor Arts Center, 2018  

  • Honorable mention at the Hampton Roads Art League for 2018 "Orange Slice". 

  • Best of show for body of oil paintings at RVA ART 2018 

  • Best of Drawing for "Listening to Widor", Charles Taylor Art Center, 2018 

  • Listening to Mozart" published in the Strokes of Genius 10, Best of Drawing" 2018 

  • Award of Merit for "Strings 1,2, and 3"  Charles Taylor Art Center Miniature show, 2019. 

  • ​Best of show for MAPS, The Virginia branch of the International Association of Pastel Societies, "Elly"  2019