About
I have a number of different class offerings so that students can choose classes based on the skills they want to learn. Class size is limited to five students. So everyone gets instruction targeted to their individual needs. As a retired school teacher and established painter, I know how to get right to the heart of a student's needs.
I also offer individual critiques of a student's ongoing work as they put concepts into practice.
I love seeing someone grow and become more confident as an artist. Just as others have inspired me, I love to pass along the collection of skills and wisdom. My website, https://dalehousemurals.net/ offers a free newsletter that chronicles my work and gives insight about life as an artist.
Photos and videos
Reviews
Marc Z.
Elizabeth V.
Ryan C.
James J.
Christina G.
Marsha S.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
A student calls me at (313) 588-1542 and we chat about what they are hoping to accomplish. Together we decide which skillset to start with. Once they decide to go forward with lessons, they pay the fee for the first class in advance. The fee holds their spot on my calendar and pays for my planning time, and is therefore nonrefundable, even if they cancel later. If I cancel, I will refund it.
During the first lesson, the student paints or draws something of their own for the first 10 minutes while I observe, looking for ways I can help them improve and move toward their stated goals. Then we set that work aside and do a similar painting or drawing but with more effective techniques, better materials, or whatever is needed to improve the work. Lessons that come after build on that first one and the student can even decide to change their goal to something else as they grow and develop.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I am primarily self-taught. That means that I put in the blood, sweat, and tears to learn my art through observation, trial and error, joining artist groups, and participating in art shows. I've grown a lot and have won some awards in the process. I belong to the Artist's Society Of Dearborn, The International Guild Of Realism (IGOR), and Oil Painters Of America, all of which provide opportunity to learn from other professional artists. I have placed 1st for oil painting twice now and one 3rd place in the ASD competitions. A painting of mine was accepted into my first international competition last year with IGOR and two other works were chosen for the Fav15% in FASO's BoldBrush October 2020 competition. I learned what I wanted to learn when I was ready to learn it....and that's the approach I use when teaching others.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Lessons are $45 per one and a half hour session for one person, or $70 for two people together per one and a half hour session.
How did you get started teaching?
I've always taught. It was simply a matter of habit, as I grew up, to teach classmates. The first formal paid lesson I gave was in 1990 when I taught drawing/painting to a high school student in her home at the request of a friend. Now I have a well equipped studio in my own home.
What types of students have you worked with?
Mostly beginners, and some intermediate level aspiring artists. My specialty is introducing students to various media and using a guided exploration method to help them find what fits them.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I gave private lessons to a high-functioning autistic student who felt crowded and nervous in her art class at school and needed to learn at her own pace. She needed the one-on-one student-driven approach in order to let her creativity shine. Her confidence level has grown such that she is setting up an area in her home to teach her friends what she learned here.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Look for someone whose personal style of painting or drawing is similar to what you want to achieve. If you want to learn to paint more realistically, hire me because that's what I do best. If you want abstract, go to someone who paints mainly abstracts that appeal to you.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Ask yourself the following questions:
What do I like about my own work? What do I want to improve? Do I like the work of the teacher I'm considering enough to learn their techniques? How often will I want help? Am I willing to invest in lessons from this person? Do I want something highly structured or do I want some room to change direction along the way?