LAAFA - 6-Week Integrative Drawing Class | Reserved Drop-In Classes

[LAAFA]

This course has been designed for beginning, intermediate, and advanced students of drawing in order to explore the human figure in long pose.
The lessons will be reinforced by personal critiques as each participant develops a two day long pose drawing.
The resulting drawing should thus provide a window into a how the student may create a more seamless approach to the classical figure.

Click HERE to register.

[LAAFA]

This class will focus on developing character in depictions of the human figure.
Students will learn the secrets of creating good storytelling through drawing with a focus on expressions, action, and composition.
Click HERE to register.

[LAAFA]

LAAFA's UNLIMITED UNINSTRUCTED WORKSHOP PASS is a fantastic opportunity to develop your technique and build a portfolio while working from a live model. Click here to register. For only $185.00 for the entire Spring Quarter, it's the best deal for students who want to work from a live model outside of a class environment.
Choose as many workshops as you like from the following schedule:

TUE 7pm-10pm
WED 7pm-10pm
THU 7pm-10pm
FRI 10am-1pm AND 10am-3:30pm
SUN 10am-3:30pm

[LAAFA]

Rey Bustos is the wonderful kind of teacher who makes you feel like you are getting your money's worth out of his class - down to every last penny! Last Sunday, April 15th, Rey's Ecorche/ 3D Anatomy class at LAAFA started with students arriving 30 to 60 minutes BEFORE the start of class so that Rey could help us all get the main portion of our armature wire bent into shape.

Rey expertly turned yard after yard of straight wire into the basic frame for a 16" replica of a human statuette or ecorche. In French, ecorche means "flayed" and refers to the fact that a finished ecorche sculpture looks like it has had the skin removed so you can see the muscles and bones.

Our ecorches were only just beginning to take shape. All along the way, Rey guided us in measuring, bending, and wrapping our wire.

After the wire supports for the arms and legs were bent into place, the next task was bending wire to support the clay ribcage we will be building in future classes. Rey guided students through the first four ribs and assigned the remaining eight as homework for students who couldn't get them done in class.

Rey provided illustrations of the human ribcage from all angles to guide our wire wrapping and bending. Even though I thought I knew what a ribcage looked like, looking at the diagrams showed me the human ribcage in more detail that I imagined it could possibly contain.

I realized that there is a big gap between knowing enough to merely identify a ribcage, and the intimate understanding that comes from a tactile experience of its form. Like an eager student aboard Ms. Frizzle's Magic School Bus, I can't wait to see what part of the body Rey will introduce us to next week!

We finished class by securing our wire armatures to 12" wooden boards with double pointed tacks. Students with time to spare were able to start rolling their Super Sculpey into sheets to allow it to firm up a bit for next week's class.

Week 1 of Ecorche/ 3D Anatomy was a lot of work, but the results were satisfying.

We went from this: To this:

I'll be posting every week as the Spring 2012 Ecorche/ 3D Anatomy class with Rey Bustos progresses, so stay tuned for weekly updates!

[LAAFA]

Don't miss this upcoming one-day workshop with Nathan Fowkes at LAAFA!

The skills of drawing and color are critically important and yet they don't find their full expression until they're teamed with a strong composition. If you're going to make a great picture you have to have a great composition. That will be the topic of study for this year's one-day intensive composition workshop with DreamWorks studio artist and Fine Arts instructor Nathan Fowkes. He will present the fundamentals of pictorial composition for the creation of compelling images for artists of all kinds including landscape, figurative and entertainment arts.

The workshop will include:
• Lectures on the fundamentals of effective picture making
• Discussions on the creation of mood and environment
• Principles for organizing complex scenes into pleasing arrangements
• Strategies for solving compositional problems quickly and effectively
• Studies of Composition in history and the modern day
• Painting demonstration
• Compositional exercises
• Student painting time with instructor feedback

Register here: http://reg125.imperisoft.com/LAAFA/P...istration.aspx

[LAAFA]

This crash-course will teach you the classic approach to draftsmanship and animal anatomy. If you've ever wondered how drawing masters can depict a horse leaping or a bear dancing without copying photographs, these three days of intense instruction will take you through the process step-by-step. You will learn how to confidently draw animals from imagination as well as to interpret what you see when drawing from real animals. Those mysterious bumps on a lion's limbs will make sense when you know the underlying structure. Marshall will compare various types of four-legged animals with humans, always with an emphasis on how to master “form in space” so they look realistic, alive, and authoritative.

Register here.

[LAAFA]

This workshop offers an exploration of drawing and narrative film. Topics include visual composition and story moments. A class demo to follow. Register here.

John Nevarez has been an artist within the animation industry for over 14 years, first working at Disney Television as a storyboard revisionist and storyboard artist on such shows as Pepper Ann, Kim Possible and then transitioning over as a designer for DisneyToons, where he worked on Tinkerbell, Kronk’s New Groove and Brother Bear 2. John provided environment designs for Imagi’s Astroboy, and is currently a sketch artist for Pixar Animation Studios, where he just completed environment designs for Cars 2 and Monster's University.

[LAAFA]

Are you an art student wondering how to become a professional artist? Are you a professional artists looking for strategies to further your career?

In either case, Nathan Fowkes's 3-hour lecture "Student to Professional and Beyond" will provide guidance based on Nathan's extensive experience working in both fine art and the entertainment industry. Nathan will discuss where and how to focus your efforts as you work toward a more professional level of artistic ability. He will also cover essential skills, tools, workspace, attitudes and habits of a successful working artist (digital and traditional). Register here.

[LAAFA]

This is a 3-day workshop where the students will set up individual still life arrangements. The instructor will discuss sight-size drawing, technique, composition, object selection, how to determine the best canvas size and shape, etc. Students will first do a pencil drawing of the still life set up. After that they will transfer the drawing onto canvas and complete a thin underpainting, gradually moving to thicker paint over the next few days until they have completed a finished painting. The instructor will do daily demonstrations for the class to help them achieve a more thorough understanding of the process and techniques involved. Register here.

[LAAFA]

Check out the new summer schedule for LAAFA's Extension Program! Register now to secure space in these great classes!

[LAAFA]

Please join us on Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 for our quarterly open house. We are excited to offer complimentary demonstrations, light refreshments, registration perks and much more. The open house is free, but RSVPs are required for the demonstrations. Follow the links below to secure your space!

• Plein Air/Landscape Painting Demonstration
  by Sharon Weaver from 11am to 1pm.

• Tonal Drawing Demonstration
  by Vadim Zang from 1:30pm to 4:30pm

[LAAFA]

It takes time and effort to create beautiful, realist drawings. Ramon Hurtado reveals his step-by-step process on LAAFA's blog.
Impressed? Register for Ramon's upcoming Long Pose Drawing class at LAAFA here.

[LAAFA]

Image: The Librarian by Giuseppe Arcimboldo

Books Needed for Art Library

Please consider donating your art books to LAAFA's art library coming this fall! We are having a book drive. From now until July 1st, donate your art books to receive a raffle ticket for FREE summer classes! Each book donated gets you one raffle ticket. Raffle winners will be announced July 2nd.

You can drop off your books at the LAAFA office during business hours:

Mondays -Thursdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fridays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturdays - Sundays 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Raffle Items:

• One Free Instructed 8-week class (select classes)
• One Free Uninstructed Workshop Pass
• Three Free One Day Instructed class (select classes)

[LAAFA]

Going to be at Comic-Con? Come visit LAAFA at booth #5567. Special guests include Bluecanvas Magazine/Section Studio, Nathan Fowkes, Marcos Mateu, John Nevarez and Cecil Kim! We will be there starting from Preview Night tomorrow, July 11th! Hope to see you there!

[LAAFA]

Check out our blog at http://laafa.blogspot.com/ to find out more about these great workshops coming to LAAFA this August!

August 3rd-5th
3-DAY PORTRAITURE PAINTING WORKSHOP WITH SEAN CHEETHAM


August 11
1-DAY DRAWING AND FILM DESIGN WORKSHOP WITH JOHN NEVAREZ



August 18
1-DAY PORTRAIT DRAWING IN CHARCOAL WORKSHOP WITH NATHAN FOWKES

[LAAFA]

LAAFA is thrilled to announce the opportunity to pre-order
Nathan Fowkes's "Drawing the Portrait from Life" video.

The video is exclusive to LAAFA, and until August 31, 2012, you can take advantage of special pre-order pricing. Download will be made available by September 15th.

In this 2 1/2 hour full demonstration, renowned artist and veteran teacher Nathan Fowkes takes you through the entire process of drawing the portrait from life in charcoal. Nathan illuminates how to:

• construct and proportion the portrait clearly and accurately.
  
• interpret the values of light and shadow to create the illusion of life on a two-dimensional surface.
  
• design edges to create depth and artistic emphasis.
  
• render with the time honored medium of charcoal.
  
• create nuances of expression.
  
• design the portrait composition.

Nathan includes tips and techniques to make the challenge of portrait drawing accessible to all serious students.

[LAAFA]

LAAFA is proud to offer TWO $500 Contemporary Representational Art Scholarships for Extension Classes in the Fall 2012 Quarter. Contemporary Representational Art includes figures, still life, and landscapes. For more information on how to apply, look for "Extension Scholarships" on this page.

Enjoy this gallery of work by LAAFA Extension Program students.
Click here for image credits and to see more great work by LAAFA Extension students! Application deadline for Fall Quarter 2012 is August 15! Apply today!

[LAAFA]

You may now enroll in your fall quarter classes.

Fall Classes
We are pleased to announce our Fall Quarter Schedule (PDF) of classes starting October 1st! Please note: Register by September 16th, for best prices. Take advantage of:

High School Program
Work-Study Opportunities
Payment Plans
Discounts for New Students | Referral | Seniors | Multi-Course



Open House
You are invited to our Open House on September 9th, from 1pm to 5:30pm! We will have complimentary drawing demonstrations by Daniel Bilmes and Ramon Hurtado during the day's festivities. In addition, bring a book for our LAAFA Library Drive and receive one ticket per book for a chance to win an 8-week class and other prizes! RSVP for demos required.

[LAAFA]

Please join us for our Open House coming September 9th! You will have the opportunity to enjoy complimentary drawing demonstrations during the day’s festivities. Donate your art books to our library and receive an opportunity to win one FREE 8-week class, one uninstructed workshop pass or three instructed 3-hr class passes! (One book is equivalent to one raffle ticket. Select classes offered.)

Space is limited, so RSVPs are required for this special, free event. Follow this link for more information and to RSVP for either or both demos!

Both Ramon Hurtado and Daniel Bilmes will demonstrate drawing technique using live models in LAAFA studios. Don't miss out!

** Daniel Bilmes Portrait Drawing Demonstration from 1:00pm to 3:00pm

** Ramon Hurtado Figure Drawing Demonstration from 3:30pm to 5:30pm

[LAAFA]

Bergamot Location in Santa Monica - Building G8A




In this 8-week course starting October 17th, we will study the likeness and personality of a female portrait by interlacing the digital and traditional disciplines. Stage I: Life Drawing Study of Facial Landmarks and Likeness by using lines and curves; Stage II: Clay sculpture study of facial muscle and its form; Stage III: the application of the studies and observations to Zbrush, the digital medium.

Register and find more information here.

[LAAFA]

Fall Quarter Classes to Start in Santa Monica at Bergamot Station beginning October 16th! See below:




Tuesdays -
Long Pose Figure Drawing
Figure/Costume Quick Sketch

Wednesdays-
Portrait Painting
Head/Figure Drawing
Female Portrait Study (From Life Drawing, Sculpting, and ZBrush)

Thursdays -
Head/Figure Painting
Still Life
Figure Quick Sculpt

Fridays -
Alla Prima Head/Figure Painting

Sundays -
Fundamentals in Drawing
Fundamentals in Painting

Download full brochure here.

[LAAFA]

Come celebrate our 10-Year Anniversary!




RSVP Requested Here.

[LAAFA]

"Drawing the Portrait in Charcoal"
Online Course by Nathan Fowkes

We are thrilled to announce that Nathan Fowkes will be teaching a 9-week online "Drawing the Portrait in Charcoal" course starting January 21, 2013. Purchase Today / Learn More... Space is limited!

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"3D Anatomy/Ecorché"
Online Course by Rey Bustos

We are also ecstatic to announce Rey Bustos' "3D Anatomy/Ecorché" online course starting January 28, 2013. You can choose from a $995 Critique Course or a $495 Self-Study Course. Purchase Today / Learn More... Space is limited!

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Winter Quarter Classes in Van Nuys and Santa Monica

We also offer 8 and 10-week classes at our Van Nuys and Santa Monica locations starting January 7th! While we are in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, please remember to take time and view our Winter Quarter Schedule with classes starting January 7th. Treat yourself or someone you love with the gift of art this holiday season by giving LAAFA Gift Certificates. For those who may be a little strapped for cash, please take a look at our payment plan program.


Take a look at a selection of excellent classes coming soon:

Sean Cheetham, Portrait Painting - Mondays - Van Nuys Location
Ron Lemen, Figure Construction - Tuesdays - Van Nuys Location
Vadim Zang, Tonal Figure Drawing - Tuesdays - Santa Monica Location
Jon Messer, Perspective Basics - Wednesdays - Van Nuys Location
Ruo Li, Figure Sketching - Wednesdays - Van Nuys Location
Ramon Hurtado, Figure/Costume Quick Sketch - Thursdays - Van Nuys
David Simon, Figure Quick Sculpt - Thursdays - Santa Monica
Noah Buchanan, Figure Drawing/Anatomy - Fridays - Santa Monica
Kirk Shinmoto, Character Design (From Life Drawing) - Saturdays - Van Nuys
Rey Bustos, Ecorche/3D Anatomy - Sundays - Van Nuys
Sze Jone, Female Portrait Study (Drawing, Sculpting, Zbrush) - Sundays - Van Nuys
Ramon Hurtado, Figure Construction - Sundays - Van Nuys
Peter Han, Imaginative Animal Design/Drawing - Sundays - Van Nuys

[LAAFA]

Ron Lemen - Figure Construction - Starts Jan. 22nd

Figure drawing has many different temperaments and this class will travel down many a divergent path exploring many of these tool sets. From construction to massing, from line to pick out, and from powdered charcoal to graphite, you will explore different starts, different ways of measuring and different approaches to a satisfying finished figure drawing. And if that wasn’t enough, we are also going to focus on three points of interest within a pose, the portrait, the hands and the feet.



Vadim Zang - Tonal Figure Drawing - Jan. 22nd

Topics discussed include: the physical properties of light, the relationship between light and shadow, maximizing value range, observing 2-D shapes, edge relationships, and integrating the figure into its environment.



Ramon Hurtado - 3 or 5-hour Long Pose - January 24th

Following the footsteps of 19th century academic draftsmen, this class will focus on creating figure drawings that capture the specific character and energy of the model. Using 9-12 hour poses, students will have ample time to explore the beauty and intricacies of the human form.



David Simon - Figure Quick Sculpt - January 24th

The goal of the class is to increase the student’s ability to work with proportion, gesture, mass and movement.



Kirk Shinmoto - Character Design (From Life Drawing) - January 19th

This class will use the live model as a basis for introducing students to the concepts of character design. Topics will include proportion, shape, gesture, and costume with an emphasis on how these elements tell the story of the character.




Sze Jones - Female Portrait Study (Drawing, Sculpting to ZBrush) - January 27th

Students will study the likeness and personality of a female portrait by interlacing the digital and traditional disciplines. Stage I: Life Drawing Study of Facial Landmarks and Likeness by using lines and curves; Stage II: Clay sculpture study of facial muscle and its form; Stage III: The application of the studies and observations to Zbrush, the digital medium.

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ONLINE CLASSES



Nathan Fowkes - Drawing the Portrait in Charcoal
Starts January 21st for 9-Weeks

This course includes nine fully illustrated, jam packed audio/video lectures and twelve video drawing demonstrations showing a wide variety of subjects, techniques and materials, and weekly homework assignments that will build on themselves to teach you a clearer, better way to work from life. Nathan will work with you personally each week, as you receive a full audio/video critique of your work where he will talk you through what's working in your drawing and what can be improved upon. Plus, he will draw over your image to give you a personalized demonstration for every assignment you turn in. Only a few spots available!



Rey Bustos - 3D/Ecorche in Van Nuys or Online

Sign up for Rey's Ecorche course at our Van Nuys location or take his online course starting January 28th from anywhere! Enjoy 10-weeks of jammed packed anatomy action while you sculpt showing the muscles of the body. This is a must course for anyone interested in becoming a skilled draftsman. Come be a part of the classroom action!

[LAAFA]

Our spring classes are now available in our Van Nuys, Santa Monica locations and online. At your convenience, you may download our spring schedule (PDF) with hyperlinks to each individual class. We are lucky to have the best classes and instructors under two roofs in Los Angeles! We hope to see you in the Spring

[LAAFA]

Steve Huston Workshop

March 15th - 3-Day The Rendering of Gesture and Structure

Did you ever wonder how an exercise in a 5 or 10-minute figure drawing really help you get to a fully rendered figure painting? Well, this latest workshop by Steve Huston aims to answer just that question. The execution of a successful painting properly requires all of an artist’s skill. Spend 3 days with Steve honing those skills and walk away with your masterpiece. Tuition: $595.00

March 16th - Visual Story Structure Demonstration

Every story has a very dramatic structure. So just how did filmmakers learn to create a visual structure to support their dramatic one? The short answer is they stole all the best stuff from the Renaissance artists like Raphael and Titian. Join Steve as he dissects the theories of story structure, classic composition, and visual components in this engaging 3-hour Power Point demonstration. Tuition: $50.00



Spring Quarter Open House + Book Drive



We hope you will join us for our open house and the opportunity to see 4 complimentary demonstrations by our extremely talented instructors. We would also like you to consider donating your books (preferred art) to our library. It is only through your generous donations that we can have a wide selection of books for you and the art community. If you cannot make it to our open house, please feel free to drop off your books during our business hours. Your donation is greatly appreciated!

Van Nuys - March 16th

Daniel Bilmes - Portrait Painting Demo - Start time: 10:30am to 1:30pm
Ramon Hurtado - Figure Panting Demo - Start time: 2:00pm to 5:00pm

Santa Monica - March 16th

Michael Siegel - Portrait Painting Demo - Start time: 10:30am to 1:30pm
Kate Savage - Portrait Drawing Demo - Start time: 2:00pm to 5:00pm

Please click one of the links above to receive additional information and reserve your spot for the demo you wish to attend.

[LAAFA]

Spring Quarter begins next week! Sign-up for 8 or 10-week classes in our Van Nuys or Santa Monica Locations. Learn from top professional artists.



3D Anatomy/Ecorche by Rey Bustos



For more information and to sign-up, click here.

[LAAFA]

Are you a digital artist looking for a strong traditional foundation to enhance your digital work? Look no further! This quarter LAAFA offers two great opportunities for beginning drawing students to get their hands dirty and learn skills to take their artwork to the next level - whether working in traditional or digital media.

BEGINNING DRAWING FUNDAMENTALS

Beginning Drawing Fundamentals is designed to teach the student very elementary ideas that will continue to inform their art for the rest of their careers. Through various exercises and specific methods, the student will understand the fundamental language (value, shape, proportion, and form) of representational drawing. The student will then begin to understand a simple process of creating the illusion of a three dimensional object on a two dimensional surface.

Start Date: April 27, 2013
Duration: 8 Saturdays, with no class on May 25, 2013
Time: 11AM-2PM
Location:
16926 Saticoy Street
Van Nuys, CA 91406

REGISTER HERE

BEGINNING HEAD AND FIGURE DRAWING

The human figure is quite possibly the most enduring and relatable theme in the visual arts. The art of figure drawing has long been the means to measure one’s artistic ability and serves as a gateway to portraiture, illustration, and sculpture. This course will guide students through the complex subject of the human figure by utilizing concepts to help simplify and facilitate an understanding of the subject. Topics include gesture, proportion, basic anatomy, structure, value, and basic foreshortening.

Start Date: April 27, 2013
Duration: 8 Saturdays, with no class on May 25, 2013
Time: 2:30PM-5:30PM
Location:
16926 Saticoy Street
Van Nuys, CA 91406

REGISTER HERE

[LAAFA]

Kate Savage 6-Week Integrative Head/Figure Drawing | Starts May 7th [/SIZE][/B]

This class will focus on learning to see the WHOLE, clarifying the stages you need to go through in order to create a successful drawing, and learning to use what you already know more effectively. It is an excellent class for anyone who wants to fill in any gaps in their training and make sure they are not missing any important skills. There will be a demonstration and lecture during the beginning of each class as well as handouts and one-on-one instruction as you work at your easel.



Drop-In Classes | Starts Now!

For those who are unable to commit to a full session of classes or who would like to experience an instructor, we offer reserved drop-in classes. Students will need to call us directly at 818-708-9232 or email [email protected] at least 24-hours in advance of the class to reserve a spot. Only select classes and limited spots are available for drop-in day-rates.

Image by Sean Cheetham.