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Drawing in Joy

March 8 @ 5:30 pm 7:30 pm

Date:s March 8th – April 26th
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Sessions: 8
Instructor: Michael Bartlett
Location: Room 208
Ages: Adult, 18+
Skill Level: Beginning – Intermediate
Sliding Scale: $140 / $230 / $330
Financial aid available below


Class Description

This is a course for anyone that wants to relax and draw better than you ever thought possible, loving the journey and joy of accomplishment. Even if you have trouble drawing stick figures, you will enjoy discovering how mindfulness can help you draw naturally and with confidence. We will look at drawings from history and discuss the myriads of expression and ways of seeing for drawing. By using mindfulness practices, blocks and obstacles that prevent us from seeing and drawing will be adapted into new creative opportunities. You will use different drawing media, starting with charcoal and pencil, working on a variety of surfaces, then move on to more advanced media. In class, we will use a series of guided exercises to balance the mind and sharpen eye motor coordination. Outside of class you will be able to continue this process through simple drawing and meditation exercises to complete in your sketchbooks each week.

Please view the supply list to learn what materials will be used in this class. For the first class meeting, bring only the following: compressed charcoal, soft pencils, newsprint pad, sketchbook, and soft eraser.

About the Instructor

Michael E. Bartlett

Instructor / Artist

Michael E. Bartlett – an artist of the west. Has practiced fine and commercial arts for over 50 years. An award-winning oil painter of landscapes and coastal scenes, master craftsman and innovator, from Montana, working now in Northern California, lives paints and teaches in Sonoma, California. Member of the California Art Club and Oil Painters of America.

Sliding Scale Guidance

When you register for a class, you’ll be offered three price tiers. The middle tier comes closest to what our registration fees used to be, and covers about 50% of the full cost of your participation in the class – with the other 50% covered by community donations. The first tier creates accessibility for people with limited income, while the third tier covers the full cost of participation – so that we can use community donations to support other people’s registration costs. When you choose to register at the third tier, you directly help support the Center’s efforts to remove financial barriers for others.

Class Policies

The Sonoma Community Center (the Center) strives to create an inclusive, safe community where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. The Center is committed to creating such an environment because it brings out the fullest potential in each of us, which, in turn, contributes directly to creating a community of belonging. In order to ensure a positive, safe, and welcoming experience for everyone, all program participants are asked to abide by the following policies, community agreements, and restorative safety protocol.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is handled on an individual basis. If you think you qualify, follow the link below to apply.


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