FAQ for Holt School of Fine Art

Children Classes
What to expect when you bring your child:

            During the child’s first month of classes they will focus on strengthening their drawing skills. Learning how to make corrections and gain the confidence to bring their drawings to completion whether they leave them as charcoal-pencil drawings or color with soft pastels. The pastels are used to better understand tone and value of color. They will learn to bring the drawings to life with shadows and tone. No more coloring book outlines for these kids!
            As the child continues with classes month to month they will move into the next levels, challenging themselves with each new piece they create. Depending on each child’s age and skill level they will move into more challenging drawings and be introduced to watercolors after a few months. Only after they have shown consistency in their work and good painting habits will they be introduced to oil painting.
            The ultimate goal for every student is to become an independent artist that can continue creating beautiful works of art for a lifetime whether professionally or just personal satisfaction.

Teen Classes

Teens will be taught much like I use to teach my Adults. We will start out with still life objects to draw from. We will continue to draw from life until they have a good understanding of basic shapes and proportions. We will move into tones studes using charcoal to understand lights and shadows, creating life like images. Then we move into oil painting. The teen classes are held during the normal children class times, but everyone works individually and at their own pace. When the student reaches painting with oils they may choose to attend classes for an hour and half instead of just an hour to give them more time to work. Contact Holt School of Fine Art to determine which class time is best for the hour and half classes.

Experienced Painters:
Holt School of Fine Art puts a strong emphasis on the early drawing requirements in the curriculum to ensure that each artist is developed properly and is equipped with the proper tools to become a skilled painter….However, if you have experience painting and would like to accelerate the schedule of drawing requirements, please bring in samples of past works so we can assess how your needs as an artist can best be met and developed.

Are these classes right for you?

Ever walk into a classroom and feel way over your head? The teacher just throws you in and doesn’t explain how or what to do? I have and I never went back. We are here to break it down for you, so you can wrap your head around what to do and be able to do the painting over and over again.

Have you ever felt like, why can’t I do this beautiful painting a second or third time? Well, that’s because you never fully understood what you had done the first time around. Again that’s why we break things down into steps and build ourselves up to painting and not start painting on the first day. We want you to understand the individual steps and processes that work together to create that beautiful piece of art, and allow you to recreate works of art over and over, for as long as you wish.

Everyone learns differently. Here we focus on the individual and start with the basics. Whether you are a seasoned painter or just a beginner, everyone needs to review. Which is why we start with drawing.

After all, painting is drawing with a brush! If you don’t feel confident with drawing, how can you paint?

If you feel this is what you’re looking for call or email to reserve your spot in class. Class size is limited to give more individual attention.

Location:
The light rail is just behind the Studio with the East/West Station stop less than a block away. Conveniently located next door to Campania Framers. I’m attached to the Crossland Studio’s which houses three floors of professional artist studios, interior designers, home décor, and an architect firm.

Dropping off the children for class:
Please plan to drop your child off for the one-hour class. There is not enough room for all parents to sit and wait during class. It's best to get the childs full attention without the parent present. The South End location is conveniently located near uptown and many area attractions around South Blvd. See Suggestions below for help....However I will permit the parent or guardian to stay if it's the child's first day to observe how class is conducted and help the child feel comfortable in the beginning. Thank you for understanding.

Suggestions of things to do around the area:

Just across the way is the Common Market and the hub of Charlotte Art League. Lark and Key is a block away and the Atherton Mills in the other direction have fresh markets during the week and weekends. Latta Park with playground and water park are only a few more blocks down E. Park and don’t forget Target and Trader Joes. They are easily accessible from south blvd to Kenilworth on to Charlottetown Rd.

These are just a few of the many options you have to do around the area before or after classes or just while you are waiting for your child’s class to end.

Didn't see a class time that works for you?
Some new classes will open given enough interest. Suggestions are welcome for new class times and a sign up list will be created. There must be at least 4 students interested to begin a new class time and day. *No Sunday classes

Didn't find the questions or answers you where looking for? Email Holt at info@holtschooloffineart.com