Hi, I’m Sarah. Nice to meet you!

I am a perennial student. I adore the world of classrooms, museums, libraries, and learning.  My eclectic and diverse art education was curated for exactly what I love to do today – share my knowledge of classic principles that will elevate your work.  

Where and what did I study? I spent two years studying at a Pacific Northwest College of Art, a contemporary art school, four years studying with a classically trained Russian master who strictly broke my skills down and built me back up (and subsequently left me stressed out but with some decent drawing skills. We won't be doing that!) Then I studied painting in the French academic mode – in what’s known as the “atelier” method. I studied anatomy in the "Renaissance" method – as in – spent a lot of time in the Stanford morgue (yes, really) drawing and analyzing dissected bodies. Next up, kinesiology with medical practitioners, memorizing and testing how the joints and muscles look and move in order to convey what the human figure is doing. And not to be forgotten, I took a deep dive into landscape painting, learning the science of clouds and weather, geology, and natural history. Did I mention a lifetime of perusing museums and galleries? The Getty, the Louvre, the British Museum, and so many more- all are close to my heart and sketchbook.  

Which all leads to teaching. Being an art instructor is also a powerful learning tool.  Early in my educational process, I started teaching.  Over the years I’ve developed a body of signature classes that benefit students in both painting and drawing. Artists of all levels have a unique voice to express. My mission is to help guide and encourage that existing voice with a road map of time-tested art principles. I promise, when you know the rules you can paint as if there aren’t any.  Let me be your guide.

My teaching style is logical. I employ art history and sciences - from the way we see and perceive the world to kinesiology and meteorology. I teach people to draw and paint based on what we see. There are a myriad of ways to play creatively with this visual understanding, so learning the science of art never means we all make art that looks the same! On the contrary, it gives us tools and freedom to explore and express ourselves individually, but with competence and authority. My classes are fun, but they're not sip and paints! You'll be invigorated and challenged and be thinking about this material for the rest of your life!