Students ages 13 and older can work on their drawing skills and art portfolios in a series of classes on Saturday mornings at the Albany Museum of Art.

The workshop taught by Jordan “J.W.” Walker is 10 am-noon, starts Saturday, Feb 2, 2019, with subsequent sessions during the same hours on the next three Saturdays—Feb 9, 16 and 23.

Walker paints, draws and creates digital illustrations. He also is an art instructor who gives private drawing and painting lessons, and who teaches art appreciation on the college level.

“These classes will help students wanting to further develop a portfolio or to start their portfolios an opportunity to do that with one-on-one instruction from Jordan Walker,” said Chloe Hinton, director of education and public programming at the AMA. “It’s great for students who already have a grasp for some of the technical skills that go into drawing, but also helps those who want to learn them.”

Hinton said it is important for students who want to attend art school after they graduate high school to have a quality portfolio of their work.

“Creating a portfolio is something that students who want to apply to an art school need to have,” she said. “These are pieces that showcase what they can do as an artist and their technical skills and creativity. We’re providing them an opportunity to have that instruction here.

“It’s great really for all abilities, from the 13-year-old who’s not applying to college yet but wants to learn how to draw better and get that portfolio started, to the older teens who are getting ready to apply.”

The students will mainly use compressed charcoal and pencils in their work. Once a student has signed up for the classes, an email entailing the needed supplies for the class will be sent to the student, she said.

Students will work in a project-based format to create two- and three-dimensional drawings. The basic tenets/principals of drawing and rendering are incorporated within the process, and each project moves students further along in their development.

“Jordan’s going to go over value, shading, perspective—all those aspects,” Hinton said. “The teens will get a great deal of benefit from it, and they’ll be able to enjoy the experience while they learn.”

It is important to attend all four sessions—a total of eight hours, she said.

“It’s an ongoing class,” Hinton said. “You’re not going to be able to get the most out of it if you decide to just come to the last one.

“If you took this class last year, it’s perfect for picking up where you left off, and if you haven’t taken with us before you’re in for a treat. We had 12 teenagers (in the class) last year who all seemed to really enjoy it and asked us to do it again. And we have some coming back this time.”

Initially, the students will work mostly from photos– theirs or ones provided by Walker.  Beginner to intermediate students draft outlines with grids to better learn and create proportional perspective.  Participants will work in graphite/charcoal to build an understanding of value, then move to color.

The cost of the workshop series is $100 for AMA members or $140 for future members. There is no discount for those who do not attend all four classes. Students also are responsible for the items in the supply list. Students who complete the course will receive a certificate of achievement.

Sign-up for the classes continues through noon Friday, Feb 1, if openings remain available. To register for the class, contact the AMA at 229.439.8400.