Two weeks ago I gave the kids a rather complicated assignment: I tried to recreate a 1920 still life of Juan Gris. The idea was to use the similar objects and composition the artist had painted almost 100 years ago. The original painting is highly stylized and very expressive. Only a very limited number of colors was used. My students seemed to be excited and have embraced the idea with enthusiasm. Here is the work in progress. We’ll continue working on it this week.

Starting on week 4 the kids were assigned to work on a portrait of the people who are the closest to them – their parents, siblings, grand parents and pets.

Before they started we’ve  talked about the most ancient art on earth cave paintings and how they represented the world view of their creators. The ancient artists have pictured what was most important for them – the animals they hunted for survival and their tribesmen and children they were the closest to.

I’ve asked the students to think of a composition that would express their relationship with the members of the family in the strongest way and to use grotesque and exaggeration if necessary to make a strong point.

Here’s what came out of it!

Last night the kids had to deal with a very complicated task: creating four different color stories based on the same drawing of a still life. They produced a realistic color version, a multi color one of their choice, a tonal and a black and white ones. The result was beautiful and surprising.

It’s been a while since I’ve visited this blog – holidays and the winter break – too much fun and excitement! Now when everyone is back to school and work and the New Year of the Fire Rooster is rolling in it’s time to return to the studio and start the new semester at Downtown Art School. We are having the firs class of the 10 weeks course tonight at 6:15 PM at my studio at 284 Barrow Street (in case someone forgot how to find it :).

I am so much looking forward to seeing you all tonight!

10 WEEK ART COURSE FOR CHILDREN 5 TO 15 YEARS OLD

I believe it’s important to explore one’s creativity early on. Doing so, teaches young people how to think independently, so that they can develop a fresh and unconditioned way of looking at the world and learn to make their own decisions.
In this 10-week class, we’ll be working on various projects that involve learning drawing and painting techniques, understanding principles of composition, and most importantly, what it is to be an artist.
During the course, I’ll be talking to the children about art history. That should help them begin to see their own work in an art historical context, and see the connection between various styles and artists throughout time.

This is the second semester of this school year and I’m planning to continue working with my students on the topics we’ve started in the fall. I see big progress in children’s artwork and I plan to keep working on more and more involved and interesting projects.

For the new students I’m offering a trial class that will be scheduled when they express their interest in the course.

The preliminary outline of the classes (the order may change):

1. Learning the correct and sophisticated way to mix paints in order to achieve the fine distinction between shades of colors and hues.

2. Painting with colors using the understanding of the correct mixing technique.

3. Live drawing of a still life, 3D objects/models. – Learning to observe and compare sizes. shapes, textures, colors. Practicing realistic rendering. Understanding of the importance of quiet and extended observation of objects and nature.

4. Learning different approaches to composition. Creating multiple options in the same piece. The topics based on the studies of still life and interior paintings of famous artists.

5. Abstract composition. Learning about the relations between colors, shapes, negative spaces, lines and marks. Making the work dynamic or static.

6. Composition on a specific theme – possibly using a text (a story), or a scene from memory – city or country, sea side, mountains, etc. Learning how to express a message or a feeling using visual means – composition, color, dynamic without becoming too literal.

7. Experimenting and playing with scale of images. Learning about the symbolism and power of relation of sizes in a work of art.

8. Learning from the masters – copying a great work of art by one of the famous artists. By doing it the students will be getting into the artist’s thought process.

9. Development of the final personal project.

10. Development of the final personal project.

The classes will take place in my studio in downtown Jersey City. The length of a class will be 1 hour 15 minutes. I’m planning to teach on Thursday and Wednesday evenings from 6:15 to 7:30 pm.

The schedule will be determined once I know how many kids are signed up.
The price for the entire course per student is $300 including the art materials.

Bella Marskaya is an experienced art teacher and a practicing fine artist currently showing her work at I B Clark Gallery in Hew Hope, PA and at MORA in Jersey City, NJ.

She’s graduated from NYU with MA in Studio Art. She works as a textile designer in New York City.  She is living in Jersey City.

You can get in touch with Bella by calling or texting at
862-764-6245 or emailing at bmarsky@yahoo.com

Please visit our blog at downtownartschool.com

Hunters in the Snow by Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Elko Lake

This Thursday, December 1st we are having the 8th lesson of this course which is the last one in this series. The new session will begin shortly and I’ll be announcing the new program soon. Please stay tuned! Enjoy this beautiful painting – Hunters in the Snow by Pieter Bruegel the Elder and also the last weekend’s view of the wintry Elko Lake of Sullivan County, NY.

This week we are having a holiday break. No class this Thursday – celebrating Thanksgiving Day 2016! Our week 8 class will be next Thursday, 12/1/2016.

Please have a great celebration, eat lots of good food and have fun. Gather your best impressions and come back refreshed and full of new creative ideas. See you all soon!

Last night we have continued working on the still life. Ibrahim and Sydney were ready to paint and they started right away. Other kids have spent more time on finishing their pencil drawings. Kara, who missed the previous class had to catch up with the rest. She did it with the amazing speed and skill and has started working with paints together with the rest of the group. Still there is more work to do. Will be finishing after Thanksgiving Day. Have a great weekend everyone!

I’m so much looking forward to continuing working with the kids on the still life tonight. Where will they take what they started last week? Everybody’s pencil drawing was a great beginning. The kids created surprisingly interesting compositions. And there were not the two same ones! More later.