Make-Up Classes
MISSING AN OCCASIONAL CLASS is unavoidable. It may be weather, illness, or that vacation on the Cape, but somewhere along the way you may be wishing you could make-up a missed class. We don't offer dedicated make up classes because few students can attend an off-schedule class! Regardless of the day or time, only a handful of people will be able to come to an dedicated make-up class. It's the nature of the overbooked, busy lives we lead.
At ActonArt we have always believed that we should allow students to have access to a make up class whenever possible. As we've grown however our classes have filled and it's become more difficult to provide make-ups. It is our long standing policy that we will not overfill classes to provide make up classes. We do this to ensure that each student has access to the teacher, an uncompromised view of the drawing board and equal access to supplies. When classes are overfilled this may not be the case.
THE QUALITY OF OUR PROGRAM is directly tied to the small sizes of our classes and the time and attention that instructors are able to commit to individual students. Because of this we cannot grant requests to make-ups when it requires overfilling any class.
Online Video Make-up Classes
At this time — Fall 2011 — we are trying new way for students to obtain a single make up class. We will be providing videos of special stand-alone make-up classes that can be viewed online via the internet. The classes are pre-recorded instructional presentations of projects that are not part of the current schedule. They will be similar to current projects but not identical. There will be projects appropriate for each level of drawing class. Any student who misses a class can request a SINGLE video make-up class during a trimester. We will provide a password for the correct project level. The passwords will be time-limited and will expire weekly. Many projects will not require special materials and can be completed on any plain sheet of paper, however wewill provide paper to anyone who requests it and picks it up at the studio. We will NOT provide any pens, pencils, markers, pastels or other materials to be taken out of the studio. Students may finish the completed drawing with their own supplies or come to a scheduled Open Studio time to use our supplies to finish the project artwork.
WHILE A PRE-RECORDED VIDEO PROJECT is not a perfect solution as a make-up, it's generally quite good. Students obviously can't ask questions, but it does create an environment that encourages independent problem-solving.
To Obtain a Video Make-up Class:
• CONTACT THE STUDIO via phone (978-266-1600) or email (email should be sent to makeup@actonart.com). Tell us the student name, date that your student missed, or will miss class, plus the class level (Beginners, Basic-A, etc.).
• ActonArt will provide anyone who requests in advance, the drawing paper that we used during the recording although any sheet of unlined paper will often work nicely. We can not provide pens, markers or any other supplies to be taken out of the studio.
• We will provide a password needed to access the video. You can see the list of available videos below.
• Each online project has a reference image available for download on our web site. Read the project description on the individual project pages to find the download link. You can either view the reference image in a separate browser window or print it out on paper. The reference image is what is actually drawn in each project.
• Instruct your student to watch a small portion of the video, then pause to draw their own artwork, then play again, pause and continue drawing through the entire project. The video will probably run too fast for most students to keep up without pausing while they draw.
• The video class will be a general subject and learning objective of our choosing. It will NOT be any of the projects that are presented during the current trimester.
• Students are welcome to attend any Open Studio and use our supplies to finish the drawing if they choose.
PLEASE NOTE: These projects each require a password. If you've missed a class and would like to draw the online project, call 978-266-1600 and we'll provide the needed information. Or you can email us.
• Fast internet service —FIOS, DSL or Xfinity Cable (Dial-up is NOT going to work!)
• Updated, current browser — (we recommend FireFox, Safari or Chrome)
• Password — (this is provided by ActonArt upon request)
A fast internet connection is needed for good results. Dial-up or lower speed service will not be adequate to play the video without pauses or erratic behavior. You should also quit any other applications that may be running in the background or they are likely to compete for your computers memory resources.
• ActonArt will provide anyone who requests in advance, the drawing paper that we used during the recording although any sheet of unlined paper will often work nicely. We can not provide pens, markers or any other supplies to be taken out of the studio.
• We will provide a password needed to access the video. You can see the list of available videos below.
• Each online project has a reference image available for download on our web site. Read the project description on the individual project pages to find the download link. You can either view the reference image in a separate browser window or print it out on paper. The reference image is what is actually drawn in each project.
• Instruct your student to watch a small portion of the video, then pause to draw their own artwork, then play again, pause and continue drawing through the entire project. The video will probably run too fast for most students to keep up without pausing while they draw.
• The video class will be a general subject and learning objective of our choosing. It will NOT be any of the projects that are presented during the current trimester.
• Students are welcome to attend any Open Studio and use our supplies to finish the drawing if they choose.
PLEASE NOTE: These projects each require a password. If you've missed a class and would like to draw the online project, call 978-266-1600 and we'll provide the needed information. Or you can email us.
Requirements:
• Fast internet service —FIOS, DSL or Xfinity Cable (Dial-up is NOT going to work!)
• Updated, current browser — (we recommend FireFox, Safari or Chrome)
• Password — (this is provided by ActonArt upon request)
A fast internet connection is needed for good results. Dial-up or lower speed service will not be adequate to play the video without pauses or erratic behavior. You should also quit any other applications that may be running in the background or they are likely to compete for your computers memory resources.
Video classes currently available
• Class #1 — Meerkat — Basic A/B level
A Basic A(+) or B level drawing featuring symmetry, light and shadow and texture.
• Class #2 — Black Cat - Neg. Space — Intermediate-A level An Int.-A level project done as a pure negative space drawing.
• Class #3 — Odie the Dog (cartoon) — Basic B to Intermediate A
A Basic B, to Int.-A level drawing incorporating symmetry, retracing, coloring on marker paper and variable line width.
• Class #4 —Manga Drawing — INTRO
This project is a basic intro drawing that covers all the "core skills" students need to work on for Manga character faces. Roxanne begins with building a face on a "skeleton" and developing eyes, facial features and hair. The image is transferred from the original paper to marker paper and retraced. Then skin and eye color are added with Copic markers. Finally the character is outlined and hair color is laid in and blended. Students can adapt this project to any kind of character they wish...male, female, young, old, etc.
• Class #5 — BEGINNERS
This project is a process drawing. It designed to help Beginner students learn how to look at a subject and choose a "path" or sequence through the drawing which produces more proportional and accurate results. The youngest students cannot do this by themselves but the simple act of following the process as led by the instructor helps students begin to think in a similar fashion. And, the Tree Frog is a really fun drawing!
Video classes coming soon...
• Intermediate B
The text below is an excerpt from the complete policy statement on our web site regarding make up classes.
ActonArt Make-Up class policy: Missed Classes — ActonArt does not offer credits or refunds for missed classes. If a student is unable to attend a class, a family member or friend may take the student's place (they must be age appropriate). Alternately, STUDENTS MAY REQUEST ACCESS TO AN ONLINE VIDEO PROJECT AS A MAKE-UP PROJECT, OR THE STUDENT MAY ASK TO ATTEND A DIFFERENT CLASS DURING THE WEEK OF THE CURRENT LESSON PLAN. THE MISSED PROJECT MUST STILL BE THE CURRENT WEEKLY PROJECT. MAKE-UPS ARE AVAILABLE ONLY IN CLASSES WHICH HAVE OPENINGS DUE TO AN ABSENCE OR ARE NOT FULLY ENROLLED. This is a limited, first-come, first-served arrangement and once a class is full it is closed for additional make up students. ALL FULLY ENROLLED CLASSES ARE CLOSED FOR MAKE UPS. We have surveyed a number of local organizations and find that our policy is among the most flexible. Most art and music organizations offering group classes simply state that there are NO make-ups available. ActonArt students MUST receive permission to attend a different class day from the school director. Please DO NOT simply show up at a different class.