Private Art Lessons
~ Would you like to do a bit of painting but the time just slips away?
~ Have you always wanted to make a block print? ...write and illustrate a story? ...understand perspective? ...draw with charcoal?
~ Were you good at art as a child, but then you "grew up"?
~ Do you know someone who loves art and draws on everything all the time, and might benefit from guidance?
I teach private art lessons for kids or adults, in the Middletown, Myersville, Boonsboro, Jefferson, Burkittsville, or Frederick, MARYLAND area. Home-schoolers welcome!
Classes are usually one hour, every other week, and I will come to your house for class. I'm also happy to meet somewhere else for plein air work or if it's more convenient .
Usually all we'll need inside is good light and a sturdy table in a quiet location, with occasional access to a sink.
Cost is $50/hr with occasional special project fees.
Art Class With Kesra focuses on process rather than product, and interest-exploration rather than a teacher-driven syllabus. Students practice perseverance and creative problem solving skills through exposure to a myriad of mediums ranging from craft to fine art. My classes provide a time for creativity in a supportive environment with an experienced professional artist.
Over my 25+ years of teaching I've had short term students (some as gift certificates, just 2-4 classes) as well as students for 12+ years.
I'm proud that some of those no-longer-kids and adults go on to feature art & creativity prominently in their lives.
Some of my students:
After-school Art Mentor
Elementary & Middle School Art Teacher
Art and Jewelry Small Business Owner
Professional Graphic Designer
Sport Photographer
Pratt Institute Graduate with a degree in Critical and Visual Studies
Design Sets and Stage Manage
Ace and TA Art Classes in college
Work my sales table at my art shows (a paid gig)
Contribute their paintings to local charity fund raisers
Enjoy painting and drawing well into their retirement years
The Scoop About Classes:
A carrot's transformation into Super Cat!
How long?
Some students begin art lessons and continue taking classes with me for years, while some just take a few classes. Some people take lessons during the summer, some only during the school year, and still others continue all year long. Class length depends on the student and the budget, but usually classes are 1 hour long, every other week, although some classes are 1.5 or 2 hours long, once or twice a month.
I understand that life, time, interests and budgets change, and if and when the time comes to move on from art lessons with me, I will not be offended or angry. Just talk with me about it!
Where is class?
I teach at my student's homes/yards, in my own shady yard or on location for plein air projects. Covid got me teaching outside a lot, and I've actually loved that. So if we can incorporate doing art outside, and the weather cooperates, I'm game!
If we're inside, we'll need a quiet location with good lighting, a sturdy table with adequate work space, and occasional access to a sink.
If we're inside, we'll need a quiet location with good lighting, a sturdy table with adequate work space, and occasional access to a sink.
Scheduling:
I teach Monday-Friday. I try to schedule students who live near each other on the same day, but clearly, taking into account everyone's committments, sometimes it's quite a puzzle! During the school year, I also try to reserve the 3:30-6:30 time frame for public school students, so it's great when homeschoolers or those with more flexible hours can fit in around those with more limited options.
Cancellation Policy:
If a student cancels a class for any reason, barring illness, less than 48 hours before the lesson,
I still require payment for that class.
If a class is scheduled and I show up but the student has (heaven forbid) forgotten, whether or not we are able to have it that day, I still require payment for that scheduled class.
One of my adult students working on a charcoal drawing.
"When you read, you begin with A, B, C...":
For students who are intending to continue with me for some time, I begin with the basics: introduction-to-drawing and introduction-to-painting/color mixing, unless it is obvious to me that they are beyond that in their skill level. I teach "intro" because it provides simple building blocks and fundamentals so students have the skills for subsequent drawing or painting projects, a bit like a quick 101 class. Students can skip these classes initially, but they may not be as prepared for the projects afterward and they'll need to learn it eventually. Intro-to-drawing and intro-to-color are 3-4 hours each.
Incidentally, I am willing to teach these "intro" classes to more than one student at a time.
Incidentally, I am willing to teach these "intro" classes to more than one student at a time.
Beyond Intro:
After intro, the field is wide and broad, and our class direction depends mainly on what and how the student is interested in learning. Some projects are quite involved and lengthy (and may require an extra supply fee) while others are one-class activities. Projects range from painting with watercolor, gouache or acrylic, to drawing with colored pencil or charcoal, block printing, mono-printing, practicing perspective or portraiture, exploring abstract art, and sculpture with sculpy or magnets. I have numerous short units focusing on famous historical artists and art and drawing games to keep even the most active student engaged. Some students have designed fabric and executed simple to more complex projects with the printed material, including a pillow case, satchel bag, and a table cloth with matching napkins. I have also co-written and co-illustrated, done computer-layout and handbound storybooks as well as invented games with numerous students. Truly, the options are endless!
A backpack sewn from specially designed fabric.
Why Private Lessons?
I teach private art lessons, not public school art class, for fairly specific reasons:
My Time:
In most cases, I come to you. Please respect my time. I have worked hard to schedule students efficiently, throughout my day, and will bring most supplies we will need for whatever project we are working on, but if there are things you know we will need, please get them out before I arrive and prepare our art area appropriately.
Cost:
I am $50 per hour. Sometimes there are special projects fees. A backpack sewn from specially designed fabric.
Why Private Lessons?
I teach private art lessons, not public school art class, for fairly specific reasons:
I don’t want to teach-to-the-test (or to the curriculum set out by the county or state) requiring “checking things off the list” when someone’s “learned” something. I think we get enough of that in life, and to me, that’s not what the practice and exploration of art is about.
I don’t want to place a grade-value on a student’s work. I don’t feel that’s what art is about, either. Everyone is different and therefore everyone’s creative expression is different and valid. I believe art class should be about “process,” more than “product” and I feel it’s my task to provide a fertile atmosphere for a successful creative experience. Both the student and I can tell if it’s “working” or “not working” without “grading”.
I want to teach one-on-one simply because everyone works at a different pace and gets interested/curious/excited about different things at different times. It is my goal to capitalize on each student’s interests and leanings to make class as fun, stress-less, success-filled, and interesting as possible. I strive for my students to experience “Ah ha!” moments often!
I also teach one-on-one because I want to be able to flex the activity to the needs of the student. My desire is to work with each student on what they want to practice or explore, and decide between the two of us what next project would best fit where they are in their own interests and artistic development at the moment. My project-option repertoire is ever-expanding and is quite often student-driven.
Window painting: 3 squares painted by my student, 3 squares painted by me.
Here is what I think about the "doing" of art:
Finally playing the game we invented with my student's mom.
Window painting: 3 squares painted by my student, 3 squares painted by me.
Here is what I think about the "doing" of art:
I believe it is intrinsically important for people, no matter the age, to be able to learn, dabble, play, and create, without a financial agenda or deadline, simply for curiosity’s or pleasure’s sake... To explore and experiment. To take risks and to find comfort with ambiguity. To succeed and sometimes “fail”, and move beyond it to the next step. To spend more time in the process than the product, without the pressure of producing a masterpiece, no matter where the person is on the continuum of experience. I believe that our current culture puts too much emphasis on creating a particular fabulous outcome for a grade or pay-check. I think we often miss the journey because we’re focused on the destination.
I believe art is therapy, and that the-doing-of-art is healing. Making art is both powerful and empowering. It’s a creative problem-solving activity with the added incentive of creating a thing of beauty or sharing ideas through images. It has been known to successfully assist PTSD victims after returning home from war zones and I have seen it calm and inspire the most agitated teenagers. Doing art is also great practice for older individuals who want to keep engaged and focused - like yoga for the mind/eyes/hands. In addition to providing the consistent opportunity for doing art, during class I also want to create an atmosphere that is open and safe for discussion and conversation. Very often, students connect with me particularly because I am not their parent or spouse and don’t come with all the baggage that a parent/child/spouse relationship carries with it. If a student feels the need to talk about “important life stuff”, I cherish not feeling like I have to squelch that moment because of an impending deadline.
Finally playing the game we invented with my student's mom.