An Expansive and Inclusive New Drawing Class at Summertime, in 2027

Summertime is thrilled to announce a new art class: Digging with a Pencil! 

This offering will teach the basics of drawing (composition, light and shadow, still life and portraiture) alongside the techniques of visionary, experimental, and self-taught artists (repetition, maximalism, tracing, text as image, trance drawing, and more.) 

The purpose of this class is to familiarize students with drawing traditions from within and beyond mainstream culture, valuing the contributions of folk and outsider artists that are often overlooked. We will combine exercises and workshops with guest teaching sessions and excursions, ensuring that all artists feel inspired and prioritized in the experience. This class is open to artists of all levels who are 18 and up. 

The class is led by Miriam Abrahams, multimedia artist, puppet maker, performer, and art facilitator with extensive experience supporting adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Miriam’s work has been featured in The New York Times, New York 1, Hyperallergic, and more. 

Class meets Mondays 10 am - 1 pm at Summertime Gallery. $150 per session. 20 weeks. 

Syllabus: 

Weeks 1-4: Exploring Your Inner Landscape

Artists will explore intuitive and imaginative modes of drawing. We will explore activities including contour drawing, automatic drawing, abstract drawing, and mind mapping. 

We will study artists including Madge Gil, Hilma af Klint, and more. 

Weeks 5-8: Drawing 101

Artists will return to the basics… with a twist! We will lead artists in portraiture, life drawing, anatomy, still lifes, architectural drawing, and botanical drawings. Traditional exercises will be spiced up with unconventional subjects and a spirit of play. 

We will study artists including William Scott, Nicole Appel, Lauren McArthur, and more. 

Weeks 9-12: Getting Psychedelic

Artists will explore artists working outside the mainstream, focusing on psychedelic arts movements such as the Hairy Who, as well as Underground Comixxx. We will encourage activities such as storyboarding your life, turning word into image, defamiliarizing the familiar, and deconstructing cartoons. 

We will study artists including Robert Crumb, Aline Kominsky-Crumb, Jim Nutt, Gladys Nilsson, Susan te Kahurangi King, and more. 

Weeks 13-16: Cartoon Network

Artists will explore cartoons and various subgenres including anime, comics, and more. We will draw cartoons from the 1920s to the present, exploring how to convey emotion, action, and narrative through images. 

We will study Marvel comic books, Disney films, anime books, and more. 

Weeks 16-20: Finding Your Voice

Artists will compile their knowledge and experience to sharpen their own visual style and mode of storytelling. We will create a drawing portfolio that will culminate in a shared artist crit and celebration at the culmination of the session. 

We will study artists including Helen Rae, Adolf Wolfli, Martin Ramirez, Hilma af Klimt, Niki De Saint Phalle, Dorothy Iannone, and more.