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CLASS 295: EXPLORING CHARCOAL
When: Saturday March 3rd only, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (one meeting)
Where: University of Washington campus in Seattle
Course fee (tuition): General Public: $99
UW Students with current ID: $95
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COURSE DESCRIPTION: Some people are afraid of trying charcoal, but it's actually really fun, if you find the right kind and learn a few things about using it. It's quick, easy to use, and great for doing quick expressive drawings and sketches. In this class we'll start with some exercises to find out how charcoal "works," then spend the day drawing from photos and still lifes, using soft vine charcoal. You can either bring your own vine charcoal, paper and erasers, or buy a materials kit from the instructor in class for $10. (The kit includes 11 x 17 drawing paper, several sticks of soft vine charcoal, a kneaded eraser, a soft lead drawing pencil, and an art gum eraser).

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Nils Osmar has made his living in the arts since the 1980s, and has taught both accredited and non-accredited classes in Seattle for over twenty years, through the University of Washington's ASUW Experimental College, Antioch University's Heritage Institute, Shoreline Community College, the Wonder School, and Classesandworkshops.com. He has worked as a fine and commercial artist, and done book and magazine illustration, design, book covers and interiors. His artwork has been internationally published. To view examples of the instructor's artwork, click here

ABOUT THE SCHOOL:
This class is sponsored by the ASUW Experimental College, the Wonder School, and Classesandworkshops.com. It's open to everyone; you don't have to be a U.W. student to sign up. (If an enrollee is under 18, please contact us first to make sure the class is a good "fit" for the student)

STUDENT COMMENTS:
Thanks for the class.... I hated it for the first five minutes... then I loved it! - Sarah B., Seattle

I wanted to try charcoal because I was frustrated with pencil drawing and felt like there had to be something looser and easier. The class was exactly what I was looking for. I also liked having it all in a day. I would highly recommend Mr. Osmar as an instructor. - Jeff L., Seattle

Another good class, Nils. Thanks for offering. Fun times. - Gene J, Bothell

Making classes more affordable
We've been brainstorming ways to make classes more affordable in this crunched economy, and have found several things that can help:

• Providing art supplies to students to use in art classes. In some art classes, the materials cost almost as much as the instruction. Most of our art classes now include free materials, such as pencils, paper and charcoal (the instructor brings materials for students to use in class at no charge).
• In the classes in which we can't provide all materials (such as painting), we've arranged with the University Bookstore to put together inexpensive kits made up of low cost but high quality materials. Putting them in a kit also means the store can discount them. So you're paying less than the price of buying the materials individually.
• Providing printed handouts at no charge, which cover important lecture topics for all of our classes, so students don't have to buy textbooks.
• Schedule more classes on days when parking is free on campus. Parking is free after noon on Saturday and all day Sunday, so we're experimenting with scheduling more classes in these time slots.

Classes starting soon:

ACTING CLASSES
CLASS 110: Beginning Acting
CLASS 300: Let's Make a Movie
CLASS 120: Actors workshop: Auditioning

ART CLASSES
CLASS 210: Drawing for Absolute Beginners
CLASS 220: Figure Drawing
CLASS 225: Drawing clothing and drapery
CLASS 230: Drawing Faces and Portraits
CLASS 240: Perspective drawing for artists
CLASS 250: Acrylic Painting for Beginners
CLASS 270: Cartooning for fun and profit
CLASS 290: Drawing in pen, brush & ink
CLASS 295: Exploring charcoal

FILM AND VIDEO CLASSES
CLASS 300: Let's Make a Movie
CLASS 310: Filmmaking 101
CLASS 320: Documentary Filmmaking
CLASS 550: Start writing your screenplay

SOFTWARE CLASSES: PHOTOSHOP
CLASS 400: Photoshop for Beginners

WRITING CLASSES
CLASS 510: Writing fiction & short stories
CLASS 550: Start writing your screenplay