Guest artist Michael Damico joins Art & Soul for a special series. He will be teaching a drawing class once per month on Saturday afternoons. The class is open to all skill levels. Classes will be held during 2017 on Saturday, February 4, March 4, and April 1 from 4:30-6:00 p.m. in Nashville’s 12 South district. Come on your own or bring a friend for an early evening out! (Registration required.)

What You Will Learn

Learn methods of drawing specifically designed to strengthen both sides of the brain. Doing this will enhance your spatial awareness, conceptualization, artistic skill, strategy, and more.

All skill levels are welcome to this drawing class to help reshape brain function. Instructor Michael Damico is not a neuroscientist, but he is an accomplished artist who has spent most of his life studying art. He also practices art for increased focus, awareness, and comprehension.

Michael guides students through various drawing techniques by using some basic strategies. These strategies are for enhancing left and right lobe symmetry of your brain. You will warm up for class by learning contour drawing methods. These include blind, two-hand, and non-dominant hand drawing techniques. You will then learn how to apply those methods and the artistic understanding they develop through still life drawing activities. Specifically, you will learn what parts of still life to draw first and how to use string measurements to discover ratio for accurate drawing.

Students are encouraged to keep a journal or notes so that Michael can keep track of where you are in your journey and help you enhance strengths and remove limitations. While the information is most beneficial in a cumulative form, newly curious artists at all stages are welcome to jump in at any time.

Drawing Class Materials list:

• Charcoal pencils: soft, medium, hard (5 of each)
• Prismacolor Magic Rub Eraser (specifically this brand)
• Large newsprint pad (18″ x 24″ at least, but larger is better)
• Utility knife (box-cutter style with trapezoidal razor blade)
• Optional: compressed charcoal squares

About the Instructor

Michael Damico is the owner of Damico Frame & Art Gallery in Franklin, TN. He has 23 years of experience as a professional and highly accomplished artist. Michael acquired a 10-year career in graphic design before he ever attended college. This led to personal, academic, and professional studies of various aspects of art and design that instilled an attention to detail and strict discipline in his personal art productions. He applies the same characteristics to his custom picture frames, photo restoration, fine art, giclée prints, and even installations of cherished photos, artwork, and special projects.

Born in Nashville, Michael began displaying a natural talent for the craft at a very early age. What began with pencils and detailed illustrations later developed into representational figurative painting and fine art. Michael received a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies and an Associate Degree in Studio Art from the University of Central Florida in 2005. He continued independently studying art and human anatomy in order to calibrate his skills as a portrait artist, eventually favoring oils and acrylics on canvas. “I think the human face is an endless puzzle,” says Michael. “I love cracking codes and when I’m painting faces, the problem solving turns into a form of meditation. Everything in the world vanishes except for the highly complex code right in front of me.”

Exceptionally intuitive and socially perceptive, Michael has the unique ability to see through your lens in order to help you discover what you are trying to find or create with your artwork. He can sort through your confusion and interpret your needs to you. To learn more about Michael, send an email or contact him at 615-815-6015.

Registration here. No drop-ins, please.