Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
Tuesdays, August 25, September 1, 8, and 15, 1:30–4 p.m.
Location: High Museum of Art, Yellow Workshop, Greene Family Education Center
Registration Required
Not a member? Join today!
The registration fee includes all materials, weekly access to world-class art on view in the museum’s galleries and special exhibitions, hours of expert instruction, and additional access to a Friday afternoon open studio during the run of the class.
The registration fee includes all materials, weekly access to world-class art on view in the museum’s galleries and special exhibitions, hours of expert instruction, and additional access to a Friday afternoon open studio during the run of the class.
Discover the joy of seeing and drawing the world with confidence. Through engaging demonstrations, observational exercises, and guided studio projects, you’ll build a strong foundation in the essential skills of drawing while exploring a variety of materials and techniques. Inspired by the methods of Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards, participants will develop their ability to observe line, shape, proportion, value, and composition through contour drawing, negative space studies, and direct observation. Work from museum artworks, still life arrangements, and photo references, and strengthen both your technical skills and creative confidence. This class is ideal for beginners and anyone looking to refresh their drawing practice.
- Week 1: Explore the expressive potential of line through mark-making exercises, contour drawing, and blind contour studies. Learn how careful observation and line quality can capture the character and structure of everyday objects.
- Week 2: Develop an understanding of one-point perspective, positive and negative space, and the fundamentals of value. Apply these concepts through observational drawing to create greater depth and dimension.
- Week 3: Strengthen your ability to model form using a full range of values. Explore reductive charcoal drawing techniques before applying them to observational studies inspired by sculptures in the museum galleries.
- Week 4: Bring together the skills developed throughout the course through completion of drawings. Participants will share and reflect on final artworks.
This is an introductory-level Studio Class; it is designed to accommodate all levels of skill and talent. If you have never taken an art making class before, this is a great place to start. You will learn new skills that you can use in your artistic practice.
Please note that in the event of a session being canceled, September 22 is reserved as a makeup date.
About Studio Classes
Expand your art-making skills through guided, step-by-step instruction with expert instructor. Over multiple weeks, you will learn alongside other creative adults and delve deeply into the artistic process, explore new techniques, and build your practice.
The registration fee includes all materials, weekly access to world-class art in the museum’s galleries, hours of expert instruction, and access to a Friday afternoon Open Studio during the run of the class.
About your Instructor
Jaffia Royes (she/her) is a multidisciplinary visual artist and educator with more than 17 years of experience in arts education (and more than two decades of studio practice). Originally based in New York and now working in Georgia, Jaffia’s art has been exhibited nationally. Art instruction remains a vital extension of her studio practice, and she works with learners of all ages and experience levels, providing instruction that spans drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Balancing technical rigor with creative exploration, Jaffia supports learners in developing both their skills and authentic visual voices. Through artist-led creative experiences, she encourages adults to engage with artmaking as an ongoing practice of discovery. Royes holds a bachelor’s degree in studio art with a concentration in painting from Florida State University, and she maintains an active practice across multiple disciplines while specializing in oil painting.
