Classes
Located at:
THE GREAT FALLS SCHOOL OF ART
THE GREAT FALLS SCHOOL OF ART
1144 Walker Rd., suite D
Great Falls, VA 22066
ARTIST STATEMENT AS A TEACHER
Through my art I see and understand the world around me and feel closer to understanding the meaning of life. For me the meaning of life is to acquire knowledge about what it means to be human and live in today’s world. As a teaching artist I lead students to a deeper understanding of their place in the world.
In my practice, I engage in recording observations of my surroundings, through journaling, a part of my idea development process, to inform my drawings and paintings. I am inspired by every day encounters with nature and interactions with the human condition.
Through my art, I share my observations of the world with young artists which leads them to see the creative possibilities in making new connections to their environment, and to develop their artistic skills.
By demonstrating my approach to drawing and painting, I am able to inspire students to embark on their own creative journey and, at the same time instill within them confidence in their artistic abilities.
Registration for Fall 2017 Classes at = http://www.greatfallsart.org/youth-classes/
MANGA FIGURE DRAWING WITH LIVE MODEL, DURING THE HOLIDAY BREAK, 2016
register here = http://www.greatfallsart.org/manga/
PAST CLASSES AT THE GREAT FALLS SCHOOL OF ART
INTERMEDIATE PAINTING
-series/
First Spring lesson= value calibration in black and white oil paint
First Fall class, Bargue Drawing Course, hands
register here = http://www.greatfallsart.org/manga/
PAST CLASSES AT THE GREAT FALLS SCHOOL OF ART
INTERMEDIATE PAINTING
-series/
First Spring lesson= value calibration in black and white oil paint
First Fall class, Bargue Drawing Course, hands
SUMMER CAMP 2014 (Ages 7-18)
Twas a great summer and now I'm getting ready for the Saturday "Fine Arts Workshops" at The Great Falls School of Art
Twas a great summer and now I'm getting ready for the Saturday "Fine Arts Workshops" at The Great Falls School of Art
SPRING 2014 ADULT PAINTING WORKSHOP June 23 and 24
The Alla Prima Floral Still Life Intensive from 10 AM to 3PM $150 + $5 materials fee
http://www.greatfallsart.org/adult-workshops-summer/
All Levels Welcome, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced
"Alla Prima" means 'at first hand' in Italian. It means that the painting will be completed in one session. It also means that the painting will be paintied wet into wet. We will be painting from individually lit small still lifes of roses, daisies, lillies and props like bottles, dishes, and fruits on colorful drapery. You may bring your own props or work from the ones I set up. Our goal, then, is to go through three important steps in the process of drawing and painting the flowers in full lusciuos, vibrant color, in one session. Of course you may take photographs and finish the painting at your liesure, but the objective is to get as close to finished as possible in one day. Bring your lunch. We have coffe, tea and a microwave.
Supply List, including small canvases emailed upon registration
pictures of some of our set ups
and pictures of some of our floral still life paintings
http://www.greatfallsart.org/adult-workshops-summer/
All Levels Welcome, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced
"Alla Prima" means 'at first hand' in Italian. It means that the painting will be completed in one session. It also means that the painting will be paintied wet into wet. We will be painting from individually lit small still lifes of roses, daisies, lillies and props like bottles, dishes, and fruits on colorful drapery. You may bring your own props or work from the ones I set up. Our goal, then, is to go through three important steps in the process of drawing and painting the flowers in full lusciuos, vibrant color, in one session. Of course you may take photographs and finish the painting at your liesure, but the objective is to get as close to finished as possible in one day. Bring your lunch. We have coffe, tea and a microwave.
Supply List, including small canvases emailed upon registration
pictures of some of our set ups
and pictures of some of our floral still life paintings
PREVIOUS YEARS
Mondays, Progressive Drawing Class, from 2:30 to 5:30 pm
Ages 7 - 12.
In this after school drawing class for serious young artists, we will be drawing with charcoal and pencil and painting with acrylic on paper. Periodically we will also be modeling with clay. This Spring, students will draw from master drawings, still life objects, drapery, mannequins and casts in five structured and progressively oriented classes. Mondays, March 25th to April 29th. You may opt-out the first class, which is during Spring Break.
2:30 - 5:30 PM Price $191 Supplies Fee $25
Photo Credit Jay Pigeon
Photo Credit: Jay Pigeon
AN ADVANCED CASE OF MANGA - 2013
WEDNESDAY EARLY EVENINGS 5:30 - 7:45 PM
EIGHT LESSONS $305 + MODEL FEES EXTRA
STARTS March 13th to May 1st
This easy to follow course in Manga Drawing will teach you how to draw your own Manga Characters. We will practice drawing the figure from life and from mannequins, from the gesture to the structure. Practice hands and hair drawing techniques and develop perspective. You get step by step guidance in various drawing techniques, developing a storyboard, and using motion and emotion to bring your characters to life.
Students draw from live costumed models
Students occasionally sculpt. Here they are making wig stands and learning
anatomy at the same time.
Color exercises are done from fabulously lit and colored objects and drapes
THE BARGUE DRAWING COURSE WORKSHOP
Beginner and intermediate drawing.
Now on the fourth Sunday of each month, private lessons Fall 2014
We meet once a month for a two hour lesson. Work at your own pace and bring the finished drawings in for a critique. Charles Bargue designed this drawing course for beginner students nearly 100 years ago. He created 60 plates of the features of the human face, arms, legs, the foot, the hand and full figure studies meant to be copied from his drawings. In copying his drawings we can learn a clear, effective method. We learn a process that takes us from con- struction lines to the envelope, from the block-in to the finishing contour lines and modeling of the form, preparing the student to work from life in the classical approach. All of the drawings will be done on paper in charcoal from enlarged reproductions. Each student receives a disc with the images on it.
First Sunday every Month starting September 7th, ends June 2014
please email me to see availability
Fee $50 per hour
supply list emailed upon registration
Now on the fourth Sunday of each month, private lessons Fall 2014
We meet once a month for a two hour lesson. Work at your own pace and bring the finished drawings in for a critique. Charles Bargue designed this drawing course for beginner students nearly 100 years ago. He created 60 plates of the features of the human face, arms, legs, the foot, the hand and full figure studies meant to be copied from his drawings. In copying his drawings we can learn a clear, effective method. We learn a process that takes us from con- struction lines to the envelope, from the block-in to the finishing contour lines and modeling of the form, preparing the student to work from life in the classical approach. All of the drawings will be done on paper in charcoal from enlarged reproductions. Each student receives a disc with the images on it.
First Sunday every Month starting September 7th, ends June 2014
please email me to see availability
Fee $50 per hour
supply list emailed upon registration
Painting From The Plaster Cast, coming in the Fall
More Advanced students work directly from complex models, like this 4th Century Greek Cast
One of my cast drawings=
In the French Academies of the not so distant past, students were encouraged to paint from plaster casts that were replicas of sculptures. The instruction was designed for students to build confidence in the handling of paint. We will recreate the lesson. Each student will work from an individually set up and lighted white plaster cast of a part of the human figure or head. We will focus on value, proportion, and the edges using just three colors on an oil painting ground. The student will stay with the same cast for eight weeks and will be expected to produce a finished, highly polished study, which can then be used as a measure of success. A short supply list will be posted. Teens and Adults.
NEW!! The Elelments Of Tuscan Landscape Painting
Private Lessons, contact me for an interview at michelamansuino@yahoo.com
Supply List for Tuscan Painting Course
Supply List For Plein Air Painting
Private Lessons, contact me for an interview at michelamansuino@yahoo.com
Supply List for Tuscan Painting Course
Supply List For Plein Air Painting
THE ELEMENTS OF TUSCAN LANDSCAPE PAINTING
This course is structured around practicing landscape painting techniques. Using the olive trees, cypress trees, vineyards and the colonial farm house on the hill as our subject, we will engage color harmonies that represent Tuscany in aerial perspective and the magic hours of the day. Let’s practice year round and go to Italy in August 2013 to paint in Tuscany in the medieval town of San Gimignano en plein air! We will be looking at distinguished artists past and present, working from lithographs, photos and projections.
Lessons are for two hours, i can come to your studio. $45 an hour
Photography in Tuscany is very rewarding!
RECENT EVENTS AT THE GFFFTA SCHOOL=
STUDENT SHOW AND JURIED PRIZE COMPETITION 2013
Call For Entries and Student Artist Prospectus=
Call For Entries and Student Artist Prospectus=
Juror: To be determined
Show Schedule Friday, January 6th, 2014, 7:00 - 9:00 PM Opening and awards reception Gallery Open: Wednesdays and Saturdays, 12-4pm throughout the month
Tuesday, January 29th, last day of show 
End- of-show pick-up: Tuesday, January 29th, 12:00 - 4:00 PM
Student Artist Prospectus= All work must be framed or gallery wrap canvas ready to hang. Drawings must be mounted on black card stock available at Michaels.
Requirements= Students must have been enrolled in a class at the Great Falls School of Art in the 2012 calendar year.
Work displayed should not have been entered in a previous student exhibit in the GFFFTA gallery.
TWO entries per student Two categories, one for YOUTH and one for ADULT (18 and older)
All work must be labeled on the back as following
1). Your Name
2). The title of the piece
3). Your Category
4). Your instructor and the class name
5). The media, i.e. oil on canvas, charcoal on paper
6). The price, if you would like to put it up for sale
Show Schedule Friday, January 6th, 2014, 7:00 - 9:00 PM Opening and awards reception Gallery Open: Wednesdays and Saturdays, 12-4pm throughout the month
Tuesday, January 29th, last day of show 
End- of-show pick-up: Tuesday, January 29th, 12:00 - 4:00 PM
Student Artist Prospectus= All work must be framed or gallery wrap canvas ready to hang. Drawings must be mounted on black card stock available at Michaels.
Requirements= Students must have been enrolled in a class at the Great Falls School of Art in the 2012 calendar year.
Work displayed should not have been entered in a previous student exhibit in the GFFFTA gallery.
TWO entries per student Two categories, one for YOUTH and one for ADULT (18 and older)
All work must be labeled on the back as following
1). Your Name
2). The title of the piece
3). Your Category
4). Your instructor and the class name
5). The media, i.e. oil on canvas, charcoal on paper
6). The price, if you would like to put it up for sale
THIS YEAR'S FIRST PRIZE WINNER, RENEE SCHMIDT, "MARIONETTE"
LAST YEAR=
Judge: William Tuthill, master lithographer, Great Falls, VA www.wrtuthill.com
FIRST PRIZE YOUTH CATEGORY WINNER = DELANEY JONES, DIGITAL DRAWING, "HIGH TECH GIRL"
SECOND PRIZE - VICTORIA WANG, GRAPHITE ON PAPER, "EYE STUDY"
THIRD PRIZE - KATIE LEDFORD, LIFE SIZE CLAY BUST, "CALEY"
HONORABLE MENTION - CORMAC GOODWIN, OIL ON CANVAS "HEN"
HONORABLE MENTION - AMRITA SAHU, PLASTER AND INK, "CAT MASK"
STUDENT SHOW AND JURIED PRIZE COMPETITION 2012
Awards Reception Saturday January 4th from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, in the GFFFTA Gallery
1144 Walker Rd. Suite G, Great Falls, Va, 22066
Delivery of artworks Wednesday, January 4th, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM
CATEGORIES = Youth, from 7 - 18, and Adult
ENTRIES = Three per student. The art work must have been done in class or done as a related exercise or extension of study.
STUDENT SHOW AND JURIED PRIZE COMPETITION 2012
1st Prize = full tuition for one class at the Great Falls School of Art
2nd Prize = half tuition for one class at the Great Falls School of Art
3rd Prize = one third tuition for one class at the Great Falls School of Art
Read more about the school in the Great Falls Connection