About
I work with adults in oil painting only. I provide all the materials. Classes are four lessons each and are limited to 4 students so you can get more guidance, and each of the four lessons runs between 2-3 hours or so. (This can be adjusted for individual needs). You get to paint whatever you want, and we work together to help you create your work. I let you guide me as to when you’re satisfied with the section you’re working on.
I particularly enjoy working with artists who are new to oil painting and artists who have experience in other media and are new to oil painting. After a couple paintings, there is usually an “Ah hah!” moment where things begin to come together, and you begin to discover your own inner artist.
Reviews
Mel J.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Students can bring in a non-portrait picture of something they’d like to paint in oil. Or, we can discuss various options during your first class and search ideas online together. We then lay out you picture on the canvas and begin painting as time permits. Each student gets to paint what they want, and I offer assistance in techniques, etc. as requested. The students get to express their own inner artists and make the oil painting look the way THEY want it to look.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I pursued classes and workshops in Chicago, Door County (WI), and Saugatuck (MI) since 1993. I opened my studio & gallery in 2006 when I came to Kansas City and began teaching oil painting classes part-time in 2013, then full-time in 2014.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Each class is $120 and has 4 sessions, each session running between 2-3 hours each. They meet one day per week on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday and are offered morning, afternoon, or evening.
How did you get started teaching?
Kansas City has a wonderful First Friday event. Over the years I’d been in my studio and gallery, many people were saying they’d love to learn how to paint. I was also getting students saying they’d love to paint what THEY wanted to paint and not what the intructor wanted.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked mostly with students who have never painted before, students who had some previous experience years ago and wanted to get back to it, or students who were new to oil painting.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I was just curated to be the first artist in a new program at Museo, a premier provider of classic modern mid-century furniture and lighting.
3021 Main St., KCMO 64108.
Hours: 9 -5 Mon-Fri.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
A student new to oil painting should look for a small class like I offer that can offer individual help. The focus should be on what the student wants to create and how they want the piece to look rather than over-influence by the instructor.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
As long as potential students have the desire to take the class and learn the skills, questions can center around how the class is taught and what kind of individual attention they can expect to receive.