Jacquline Calvert-Lane

My classes are directed. Children learn to draw from objects and still life and occasionally photographs. There is no tracing! No projected images! We learn to move from Line and Form into Tone. We learn about Composition. We learn about Perspective. And we have fun doing it! Learning to draw is like playing an instrument. It takes time and perseverance. Its not just about making a mark- knowing how to hold a pencil- its about observation- and when you understand that its also about showing your vision of the world to the world. Drawing isn’t just having a skill- its a place you go to.

For a long time, these skills were not taught, due to the feelings of some of the artistic and academic community early on in the last century, who considered   the "old "type art schools that drilled line and tone,  a block to creativity. However, more recently with the expansion of ateliers teaching drawing skills, both here and overseas, there is a growing  feeling within some of the artistic community, that these skills form a structure of understanding in order for creativity to grow. For children this means a return to honing fine motor skills, as well as cognitive skills.

DRAWING ROOM For KIDS supports the spirit of creativity at RQAS and Hands on Art, in which sound principles and practice support the ability for children to learn and appreciate drawing skills. This requires a certain maturity and understanding that these skills do not come over night. Drawing and painting are something which will continue for as long as a person wishes to expand their creative horizon, just in the same way as music or the performing arts.