Classes and INstructors

Head Drawing Fundamentals
Emphasis will be placed on gaining an in-depth understanding of the skull, the planes of the head, and
the abstraction or rhythms of the head. Students will also work from casts and photographs to prepare
for study from life. Individual facial features and how to study them will be addressed. Frequent
instructor demonstrations and critiques are routine.
20 Minute Head Lay-ins
Lay-ins are the first 20 minutes of a drawing. A lay-in represents the initial plan over which the
rendering will be placed. Without a good lay-in a great finish is impossible. Students will concentrate
on drawing 20 minute head lay-ins as we work on concepts such as the abstraction, edge mapping
and dynamics. Great fundamental class. Beneficial to all levels.
Head Drawing
Stressing proper placement of features and strict value control, this class will work on executing an
accurate portrait from the live model.
The focus will be placed on proper planing out of the head, and spacing and placing the features using
a rhythmical lay-in system called the "Abstraction."
20 Minute Figure Lay-in
Lay-ins are the first 20 minutes of a drawing. A lay-in represents the initial plan over which the
rendering will be placed. Without a good lay-in a great finish is impossible. Students will concentrate
on drawing 20 minute figure lay-ins as we work on concepts such as the abstraction, edge mapping
and dynamics. Great fundamental class. Beneficial to all levels.
Figure Fundamentals
This class is an introduction to concepts that are necessary to understand for the successful drawing of
the human figure. The fundamental principles of gesture, structure and mass will be applied to the
figure through the use of the Reilly rhythm and abstractions, basic anatomy and the study of form.
Class work will be done from handouts and the live model, using both short and long poses. Instructor
demonstrations and critiques are standard.
Figure Drawing
Emphasis will be placed on gaining an in-depth understanding of the body’s underlying geometry and
anatomical structure. We will work in a tonal fashion to interpret the live model. The eye will be
trained to observe, analyze, and execute edges, values, anatomical nuances, and ultimately
calligraphy and idealization. Instructor demonstrations and critiques are standard.
Sketchbooking
Expert guidance in creating a more professional book, with improved drawing style and creativity that
is a showcase for your work!
Artists have long kept sketchbooks for everything from idea development to traveling diary. In this
class we will explore the sketchbook as a tool for freehand perspective, anatomy, animal sketching,
figure invention, landscape studies and more. We will learn to freehand sketch with ballpoint pen,
graphite, ink and ink wash as well as a bit of gouache. We will spend several weeks on specific
disciplines and subjects as described above. This class is great for all levels. Instructor demonstrations
and critiques are standard.
Instructor -- Jeff Watts

Jeff Watts studied at The California Art Institute where he was soon invited to teach as he began his
illustration career in the movie industry. However, Jeff’s desire to become an easel painter would draw
him back to San Diego where he started a small life drawing and painting studio which has evolved
into Watts Atelier of the Arts now managed by Jeff and his wife, Krista.
Jeff's oil paintings have won numerous awards including First Place Portrait category and Second Place
Landscape category from the Artist's Magazine, two consecutive Second Place Awards at the Salon
International Exhibition, three Honor Awards from the Portrait Society of America, 3 Awards of
Excellence from Oil Painters of America and 3 Top 100 Awards from Arts for the Parks. Watts's work
has been featured in Southwest Art , American Artist, Art of the West, Western Art Collector, American
Art Collector, Drawing and Workshop magazines. He holds Master Signature member status from the
Oil Painters of America and is a Signature member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association and an
artist member of the California Art Club. Jeff participates in the prestigious Prix de West Invitational at
the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City and was recently honored with a
Solo Exhibition at the Taos Art Museum and Fechin House. He is represented by Trailside Galleries in
Scottsdale, AZ and Jacksonhole, WY and Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio, Texas.
Instructor -- Erik Gist

Erik M. Gist received his B.A. from SDSU in 1998. He began studying with Jeff Watts in 1996, three
years later he began to teach and has done so for the last seven years. Erik has worked in the video
game industry as a concept designer and 3-D artist and is now working as a freelance illustrator.
Erik's clients include Wizards of the Coast, Upperdeck, DC Comics, Boom! Studios, Palladium Books,
Blizzard Entertainment, Viking Childrens Books, Monkey Brain Books, Quart Publishing, and Chiat-Day.
His work can be seen in Spectrum: the best in fantastic art for the last four years and Aphrodesia: art
of the female form 1 . For more information about Erik's art please visit his website at
www.erikgist.com.
Instructor -- Lucas Graciano

Lucas has been attending the Watts Atelier since 2001. He has worked in the video game industry
working in Visual Development. Some of his game credits include: SOCOM 2 and 3, God of War, Alien
Hominid, and Twisted
Metal: HO. Lucas now freelances as an illustrator, some of his clients include: Sony Computer
Entertainment, SOE, Wizards of the Coast, Reef, Upper Deck, Blizzard, White Wolf, and Quarto
Publishing. His work can be seen in “Spectrum 15: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art”, “The Art
of World of Warcraft TCG” as well as “Drawing and Painting the Undead”. Lucas was also a finalist in
the 2008 Cover Competition for "American Artist Drawing" magazine. For more information on Lucas’
art, visit his website:
www.lucasgraciano.com
His work can be seen in “Spectrum 15: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art”, “The Art of World of
Warcraft TCG” as well as “Drawing and Painting the Undead”. Lucas was also a finalist in the 2008
Cover Competition for "American Artist Drawing" magazine.
Instructor -- Jim Hahn
Jim has studied at Watts Atelier since 2004. He is currently one of a handful of artists in the student
teacher program who is working towards a full-time career as an artist and teacher. He has worked in
the sign and outdoor advertising industry for more than 25 years as a journeyman painter and graphic
designer. Jim has done a number of large commissioned murals including the one that currently
displays above the entrance to to our own San Diego Zoo.
Instructor -- Matt Smith

Matt Smith, not to be confused with the Plein Air painter, or the actor, began studying at at Watts
Atelier in summer of 2005. Prior to Watts, he received his BFA from RIT in 2003 and briefly attended
LCAD afterwards.
Matt began his career creating horror and fantasy illustrations. He later moved onto creating detailed
art work for high end apparel companies. Matt wrote and created the anatomy section for 3DTotal's
book "Art
Fundamentals: Color, Light, Composition, Anatomy, Perspective, and Depth".
He has started his own pet portrait business, where he creates drawings of peoples beloved pets. His
work can be seen in Spectrum 17.
For more information about Matt's art, please visit his blog,
http://www.mattksmith.blogspot.com/.
Instructor -- Robert Watts

Robert Watts is the consummate professional. His credits include lead illustrator for Ryan Aeronautical,
Navy Combat Artist during Vietnam and founding President of the Society of Illustrators of San Diego.
His awards include, but are not limited to, ‘Best of Show’and Franklin Mint Awards at the American
Society of Aviation Artist exhibitions in 1992-93. Mr. Watts attended both Pratt Institute and Art
Center. With over 30 years of experience, Robert Watts has worked for varied clients including NASA,
American Airlines, General Dynamics, and the U.S. Navy. Mr. Watts is currently one of the premier
architectural illustrators in San Diego and a signature member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters
Association.
Instructor -- Brian Knox

Brian Knox has studied at Watts Atelier since 2012 and is currently working toward a career in
illustration. After spending his first 2 years at the atelier focused on drawing fundamentals, he
developed an intuitive understanding of basic shapes and the underlying forms of the human body.
This makes him well suited for teaching the fundamentals of figure drawing. As a student he is
currently focused on composition and painting while participating in the Watts Atelier student teacher
program.
Instructor -- Meadow Gist

Meadow Gist has studied at Watts Atelier for the past six years, and has taught there for the last
three. She began her art career in the corporate field painting displays and murals for a major retail
chain. Her work has been exhibited as a finalist in the International Artist Magazine's Still Lifes and
Florals Competition 2006 and as a "Top 50" selection at Salon International 2007. Meadow is
represented by Willow Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ. You can find more information on Meadow's work at
www.meadowpaint.com
Instructor -- Catherine Bobkoski

Catherine Bobkoski began studying at Watts Atelier in her early teens as part of the Future Masters
program. She returned to taking classes full time at the atelier after studying fine art and photography
at New York University. In 2014, she began teaching at the atelier and is also an integral member of
the online program's critique team. In addition to teaching at Watts Atelier, she is a lead instructor of
children's art classes at the award-winning Carlsbad Art Farm. Catherine is currently pursuing a career
in fine art.
Instructor -- Tom Babbey

Tom Babbey has studied at the Watts Atelier for the past 5 years. An active naturalist, Tom's love for
wildlife led him to discover his passion for animal art and creature design at an early age. Tom
currently works as a freelance illustrator and concept artist, with clients including Upper Deck
entertainment, LCD Dreams, and Ignitus Innovations Inc. For more information on Tom's artwork,
please visit his website and blog at Tombabbey.com/sketchblog

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Classes and INstructors

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Head Drawing Fundamentals

20 Minute Head Lay-ins

20 Minute Figure Lay-in

Instructor -- Jeff Watts

Instructor -- Erik Gist

Instructor -- Lucas Graciano

Instructor -- Matt Smith

Instructor -- Robert Watts

Instructor -- Brian Knox

Instructor -- Meadow Gist

Instructor -- Catherine Bobkoski

Instructor -- Tom Babbey

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