Online Class: Drawing Trees

Inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe’s drawings and paintings of trees, this class will focus on capturing the lines, forms, textures, and expressive characteristics of trees through observational nature drawing.

Through interactive demonstrations and a structured overview of tools, techniques, and concepts, teaching artist Sudeshna Sengupta will cover the basics of drawing—starting with how to correctly hold a pencil to create bold and expressive lines and strokes. Sudeshna will also teach participants how to create descriptive textures and tonal shading for added depth and dimensionality.

Reference photos for the in-class project will be provided in advance, but students are welcome to use their own reference photos of trees and shrubs during the class.

Supplies needed for this class: 

• Strathmore 400 Series or Canson Mixed Media drawing pad or Strathmore 400 Series Hot Press Watercolor pad/block or Bristol pad or mixed media drawing pad or any other brand in any size between 9” x 12” and 12” x 18”. Thicker paper (140 lb or higher) is always better.
• A set of 2B, 4B, & 6B graphite pencils
• Carbon Sketching Pencil (better for avoiding charcoal dust) or Charcoal Pencils: Medium (2B) and Soft/Dark (4B or 6B)
• Blending stumps (AKA Tortillons, often comes with drawing pencil sets) and/or Q-tips and tissues or cotton rags (clean pieces of old t-shirts work well).
• Metal sharpener
• White plastic eraser
• 1/2″ to 3/4″ Off-white (not colorful or patterned) Masking Tape or multiple clips to keep the paper flat.
• Optional: Nitram Charcoal sticks (less dust) or Vine charcoal or Willow charcoal sticks, 1 to 2; compressed charcoal stick or black conte stick; water-soluble graphite pencil; watercolor round brushes; a container of water; or water-soluble graphite pencils; color pencils or conte to add a hint of color.

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This class is suitable for youth ages 12 and up. Children are welcome to participate alongside their adults.

This program will take place via the video conferencing app – ZOOM. Details for accessing the Zoom meeting will be with your receipt upon registering and again sent via email the day prior. Please register in advance in order to access the program.

Note that all program times are in Mountain Time.

About the Instructor:

Sudeshna Sengupta’s career as a teaching artist spans multiple decades, continents, and cultures that inform her pedagogy for decolonizing studio art. She earned her Master of Fine Arts degree in 1985 from Visva-Bharati University, founded by the first non-European Nobel Laureate (1913) and humanist poet Rabindranath Tagore.

After teaching art and design at the college level in New Delhi, Seattle, and California, she taught at New Mexico State University-Alamogordo, where she established its first intaglio printmaking studio in 1995. Besides the O’Keeffe Museum, Sengupta teaches credit courses with the School of Art & Design of the Santa Fe Community College.

Her etchings and lithographs from the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi have been featured in a landmark exhibition on Women Printmakers of India at the NGMA-New Delhi in India. Her work is in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi; Association Musée d’Art Contemporain, France; Kala Institute, Berkeley, and more.

Sengupta also conducts workshops, short courses, lectures, and community-based art events focusing on multicultural and intercultural experiences that emphasize human, cultural, and environmental connectedness through creativity.

To learn more, please visit notes-and-doodles.com and visit her Instagram @santafe_online_art_studio

Registration

This class is being offered on a sliding scale. Your class fee helps to sustain the variable costs associated with hosting this program. We appreciate your support.

$15 minimal fee.

$25 covers the cost of the class.

$40 covers the cost of the class, plus a contribution to support educational programs.