DRAWING SUPPLIES

(You will only need these at first. Painting supplies are not necessary the first week, or maybe even at all-depending on several factors).

• Drawing board

• A pad of Strathmore 400 series drawing paper, 18 x 24

• For the “finished” drawing: (Don’t get this the first day-it will come into play later).

  • One sheet of Fabriano Artistico, Hot press 140 lb paper, bright white or natural white (optional). This is the best. (If you can’t get that, Canson makes a hot press, plate finish at 140lb that is pretty good.) Get whichever one is on sale. If on a budget, Bristol board is a reasonable substitute.

  • At least two of each: HB, H, 2H and 4H graphite pencils (I like the Staedtler brand that are painted blue and black at the back end...the ones made of real wood. Other brands are fine though).

  • Gray Kneaded eraser

  • Tombow MONO Zero Refillable eraser.Here’s a link if you are not familiar with them...http://www.dickblick.com/items/21576-9330/

  • One long skinny knitting needle or bbq skewer or bicycle spoke.Something long, skinny and straight like that which won’t bend.

  • X-acto knife or box cutter and extra blades for sharpening pencils (you can also bring sandpaper in addition to the blades).

PAINTING SUPPLIES: (don’t get these for the first day-they will come into play later)

• 9 x 12, canvas (smooth surface, or portrait grade pane or canvas) For the first class have one canvas, toned to a medium value #5, neutral tone. If we do other paintings together, we can go larger in size.

ROBERT ZELLER founded the Teaching Studios in 2009. Originally from New Orleans, Zeller received a BFA from the Boston Museum School and Tufts University and an MFA from the New York Academy of Art. He finished his education with atelier training from Jacob Collins at the Water Street Atelier and in-depth anatomical/ structural study with the sculptor Sabin Howard. Zeller is the recipient of two Posey Fellowships and a Pollock- Krasner Foundation Grant and has exhibited at galleries in Los Angeles, Houston, Paris, and New York.

He wrote a book about the figure drawing and painting for Monacelli Press, called The Figurative Artist’s Handbook, published in 2017. He has written essays on figurative art for The Brooklyn Rail and Drawing Magazine. In 2014, he was the subject of a feature profile in Professional Artist Magazine. He has been quoted or written about in several national publications regarding The Teaching Studios of Art, including American Artist, Studios and The Artist magazines.

He has co-curated two exhibitions at Booth Gallery in Midtown NYC: The New Baroque in November 2017, featuring 22 of the best contemporary figurative artists, and Not All Doors Are the Same, a survey of contemporary surrealism.

In 2018-19, he taught workshops internationally, in Rome and Ireland.

He has been the Director of the Teaching Studios of Art since it opened in 2009.