Emma Paints Colorado

First lesson is a "get to know you" meeting to learn my client's goals and what sort of experience they have. I like to offer many different processes for their lessons and talk about different mediums that they are interested in working with.  

I have been teaching acrylic painting classes at Canvas and Cocktails for almost 6 years and have done private lessons on the side. I taught preschool for 8 years and mentored college students, so I am very good at giving very clear instructions and making sure that my client understands what we are doing and grasps the concepts before moving on. I have been painting for 20 years. I also started my own program within Canvas and Cocktails in 2015 taking the show on the road. I travel to various bars, breweries and restaurants and host classes there. I am an instructor, an event coorindator, manager, teacher, and most of all, an artist.

I typically charge $50 for a 1.5-2 hour lesson. The client provides the painting materials, or I am happy to purchase  materials and be reimbursed. We can also use the Canvas and Cocktails studio where the material and studio cost is $25, so $75 total for the materials and the lesson. The studio is location in Centennial, but I generally travel to the client's home. 

I have a degree in Family Studies from CSU with a focus in early chidlhood education. I started teaching pre-K right after graduating in 2009. I worked at a lab school so I was training the college students in the program. In 2014 I decided it was time for a change and I wanted to use my art skils, so I applied at Canvas and Cocktails in the summer of 2014 and started teaching public painting classes in the fall. I have been teaching and instructing in some form since 2008.

All types. Our classes at Canvas and Cocktails are open to people of all ages and experiences. I work with students who have some painting experience already, but mostly I work with people who have never painted, or haven't done it for many years. Some of my private lessons are with children - I typically suggest no younger than 6 years of age for lessons.

I recently had a class at a brewery with about 15 people and we were painting a beautiful mountain lake scene. For some reason, the people in the class just clicked. They were all talking and being super supportive of one another and their art. Many of them exchanged phone numbers to spend time together outside of Canvas and Cocktails. It was such a fun class, and the energy was so upbeat and positive. It was a great night!!

I would let them know that no experience is required. Any student that I work with should be interested in acrylic painting lessons. I can also do watercolor lessons, but acrylics are my specialty. I would advise them to let loose and just enjoy our lessons. It is more about the process than the product.

Students should think about what they are interested in learning. What media they are most intereseted in using and what types of art they are most interested in creating. For example - would they like to work on portraits, landscapes, abstract art, etc.