Classes Overview

“Hi, I just wanted to thank you for yesterday’s class. Casey kept drawing for hours after to finish his drawings. Between school lessons today he’s been drawing. He showed his friends his art and told them he “can draw now”. Rather than getting frustrated, he’s relaxed. You did that! Thank you.” –Cara M

For 2024 and 2025, there are LOTS of exciting new classes on the schedule, something for everyone, and new classes in new places:

Oldsmar Recreation Center (Cypress Forest Complex) Wednesday Evenings

Cartooning & Drawing – Ages 7-12: 5:30 – 6:30pm

650 Pine Avenue N, Oldsmar FL 34677 Phone: 813-749-1152

Morean Arts Center Saturdays

Drawing & Illustration For Teens – Ages 11-16: 10am – 11:30am

719 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Phone: 727-822-7872

An Important Note About How Classes Are Conducted

The drawing classes are intended to address what each student wants to get from them. Unlike traditional classes in school, the teacher does not lecture students about a particular subject from the front of a classroom or insist that students keep up or produce results. Each student is on a different level, and therefore has different interests during the drawing class.

For some students, this is their “drawing time”; a time during which they can be free to draw without distraction, learning from other students, and do not want instruction. Other students are interested in improving their skills in certain areas. No student is pressured to learn, or to draw; creativity cannot be forced (this is not algebra class). It is the student’s responsibility to communicate what benefits they would like from the class.

As always, classes are tailored to each student’s needs in a judgement-free setting where there is no pressure to keep up with other students, with an emphasis on self-acceptance and nurturing the creative spirit. With humor and a relaxed environment, students are guided to move beyond their comfort zones to try new techniques and learn about other noteworthy artists (note all class times are Eastern Standard Time). Click on the class name to take you to the registration page.

Online Art Workshops

(Workshop availability subject to demand; for questions, call/text 727-492-0135 or email magnumcreate@gmail.com)

Drawing Star Wars – Use the Force to draw your favorite Star Wars ships and characters! This fun workshop will teach Star Wars fans how to draw the Millennium Falcon, Star Destroyers, X-Wing and TIE fighters, Darth Vader and more, all in a fun, relaxed environment sprinkled with interesting, little known Star Wars trivia by the instructor, who has been a member of a global Star Wars costuming organization for over 12 years and owns movie accurate Star Wars costumes. There is no pressure to keep up with other students; everyone learns at their own pace. All that is required is a sketchbook, drawing pencils, and a desire to defend the galaxy. Students learn to improve their drawing confidence while having fun at the same time. (Times TBD)

Creative Cartooning For TeensKa-POW! Get your cartoon on with this fun workshop in which students draw a three to five panel comic strip, learning everything from creating cartoon characters to panel shapes. With lots of visual references and examples, students learn the easy way the art of cartooning. As a bonus, students receive a free visual reference e-book designed specifically for the class. (Times TBD)

ICE Homeschool Drawing Class – Magnum Arts has created a standalone drawing class for home-school students, unaffiliated with other home-school co-ops: The ICE Creative Classes program. Plenty of visual references are used to inspire and engage students, bringing their skills and confidence to the next level, all in a fun, relaxing environment in which students also learn from each other (call or text for details)

Below: using a (now unfortunately defunct) comic strip generator called Bitstrips, I created a fun comic starring Sharonda, who explains why sketching is important and how to approach it. I put in a cameo at the end.