Home   Gallery   What's New?   The Artist   Store   Contact

 

Art Lessons

I teach Nature Sketching and Plein Air Oil Landscape classes at Nature Centers, parks and schools.  I also offer art lessons at my home studio in Clarence Center. I have taught in the Continuing Education program through Williamsville and Clarence School districts and at the Burchfield Nature and Art Center.  Call me for more information or to set up a studio visit (716)741-4544.

 

Nature Sketching Classes

Visit my blog to read about my explorations of nature through sketching,     painting, photography and journaling.  I will post classes there and on this page as I plan them. http://marymcandrew.blogspot.com/

Join me in sketching, exploring, wandering and experiencing nature through art. We’ll take easy hikes with lots of sitting and drawing time at various local nature centers and parks!  I absolutely LOVE teaching this class!!

  • How to do studies of plants, flowers, birds, leaves, trees, rocks, clouds, bugs...you name it!
  • Experiment with different mediums– pencils, color pencils, watercolor and watercolor   pencils, pen + ink, charcoal.
  • Landscape drawing.
  • Learn to identify local wildflowers, plants, birds, trees and more while we explore.
  • How to create your own Nature Journal.
  • How to create your own Field Sketching Kit.
  • How to pack-up for working outside, tips and tricks.
  • Learn and review constantly, basic drawing skills– measuring, values, shapes, texture, gesture, shadows and light.
  • How to use sketches and take photos to work from in the studio for more detailed drawing and painting

You’ll awaken your senses– learn to see, hear, smell, feel and taste the natural world around us!
 

  

This is my Spring schedule, register early, classes fill quickly!  I’ll offer more in July and August.  All classes are for adults of ANY skill level and teenagers are most welcome!  If you'd like to have me teach my classes at a location with YOUR group, I'd love to!  Just email me or call to talk about it.

Please decide on the class you want then contact me to sign up or ask questions.

Session 1: (4 weeks) Reinstein Woods- Depew NY. 6-8pm Tues ~ 5/20-- 6/10 = $120

Session 2: (4 weeks) Burchfield Nature and Art Center- West Seneca NY 6:30- 8:30pm Weds ~ 5/28-- 6/18= $120

Session 3: (3 weeks) 3 Clarence Nature Centers- Clarence NY 10am-12noon Thurs ~ 5/22-- 6/5 = $ 90

Session 4: (3 weeks) 3 Clarence Nature Centers- Clarence NY 6pm- 8pm Thurs ~ 6/12-- 6/26 = $ 90

Workshop 1 Nature Sketching: (6 Hour) Location to be announced 10am- 4pm Sat. ~ 5/31 = $ 90 (if you have lots of bodies and somewhere you'd like me to teach this, Call or email me! I'm flexible with dates because it's a one day workshop)

Workshop 2 Nature Sketching for kids: (3 Hour) Burchfield Nature and Art Center- West Seneca NY- Time tba Sat.~ 6/7 =$45

Workshop 3 Fairies + Fairy Houses/kids: (3 Hour) Burchfield Nature and Art Center- West Seneca NY- Time tba Sat.~6/21=$45

 

    Plein Air Oil Landscape Painting  

Plein Air Oil Landscape Painting: (5 weeks) Burchfield Nature and Art Center- West Seneca NY 6pm- 8:30pm Weds. ~ 6/25-- 7/23 = $180 

In this class we'll start with drawing skills related to outdoor landscape painting, learn how to 'pack up' what you need in the field and every week a new oil painting technique or approach will be demonstrated and students will utilize this in their painting of the day.  We'll try to finish a small landscape each of the 4 remaining classes after the first intro class. This class is for beginners and experienced alike, if you oil paint but have never worked outdoors, then this is the class for you!  ( If you have a group of willing souls that would like to take this class at another location or time, just call or email me to talk about the possibilities!! )

 
Mary has been a zookeeper, raised countless animals, is a member of the Buffalo Ornithological Soc., the Buffalo Society of Artists and for years has been going hiking with a sketchbook, enjoying nature.  She has a BA in Art from Buffalo State College, has studied at the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto, Canada and has teaching experience in grades K-12 and Adults.  She’s illustrated for Nature Centers, books and a CD album cover.  She has a Nature Sketching Blog about her adventures in nature see it at: www.marymcandrew.blogspot.com  

 

Studio Classes

  My home studio classes have been very popular, I am flexible with week to week attendance and can offer a variety of drawing and painting techniques as I have tried many! 

  I teach beginner drawing and painting and also advanced students wanting to work with some guidance and learn new techniques.  Most popular have been lessons in oil painting and watercolor with mixed media.  Let me know what you want to learn, I have experience with watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastels, and many drawing materials, including pen and ink. 

  I teach adults and serious young adults.  Each class runs for 2 hours and costs only $30.  I'm flexible with days and times, just contact me to inquire.

Current Studio Times:   Open to new students at this time/ times flexible                             

Classes at my studio are laid back and fun, we listen to music and talk a little while we work.  Sometimes I paint along side students to show them how I work, and how I problem solve.  I always show how I approach my projects from start to finish and give as many tips as possible. Come and "lose yourself' away from it all in my studio or out nature sketching!

Williamsville oil painting class.

 

My studio class, doing comparative measurements.

Above is a finished drawing in Carbon pencil by a beginning student!  She learned how to use stiff and soft brushes for blending, and the importance of values. 

Right is a beginning student at Clarence Comm. Ed. learning how to use a grid to enlarge difficult subjects, like people!

 

Call (716)741-4544 to inquire about classes, ask for Mary!

Return to the Top