There?s good news ahead for adult artists: well-known local artist Emma Ingham-Dounouk will be offering an eight-week drawing course at the Kaleidoscope/Interim Gallery, on the corner of King and Reid Streets, beginning on April 18. The weekly sessions will cover a number of topics, involve working in the studio and on location, and include a five-minute critique/discussion segment at each session.

?Artists will receive my personal attention, an opportunity to improve their skills, hone new techniques, and have some fun while doing it,? the instructor says.

Classes will be held on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Since ?adult? covers a broad spectrum, Mrs. Ingham-Dounouk further defines the course as an ?intermediate/refresher for the sort of artists who haven?t picked up a pen or charcoal since they left school?.

?While the course is eight weeks long, each lesson will be one ?capsule?, and participants will have every opportunity to draw a wide range of subjects: people, nature, architecture and so on ? an enjoy doing so,? Mrs. Ingham-Dounouk says. ?The object is competence and enjoyment in the art of drawing.?

The course will begin with two warm-up sessions when the focus will be on the basics artists might have forgotten, or which have been collecting ?creative mothballs?.

?They will help artists to capture the emotion, energy and feeling of truly expressive line work,? Mrs. Ingham-Dounouk says. The next two classes will be ?observation? sessions.

?Good strong drawings are the result of careful observation. This is a skill that is acquired over time; it takes practice but artists can learn to be observant. They will appreciate the importance of drawing what they see and not what they think they see,? the instructor says.

Two ?composition? sessions will follow, when the emphasis will be on thinking before drawing, and learning how to compose each drawing on the page so as to create a pleasing and interesting image ? one which appeals to the artist and the viewer.

?Design? sessions will address the question: How much is too much?

?Often the ?white space? conveys more than a drawing,? Mrs. Ingham-Dounouk says. ?Artists will learn when to stop so a drawing is a work of art rather than a page of indecipherable scribbles. These two sessions will focus on a better understanding of balance, weight-mass and white space.?

Finally, there will be a ?wrap-up? based on the theme, ?It is beautiful out here?.

While the amount of time allocated is not yet determined, it is anticipated wrap-up will be en plein air.

?Drawing is a wonderful, portable pastime,? the instructor concludes. ?With sketchbook in hand, artists will ?describe? what they see on location and, weather permitting, we will work outdoors in various locations,? the instructor says.

The cost of the eight-week course is $375. Artists will be required to supply their own materials. For further information/materials required, and to enrol please ( 297-2468, cell 331-1946, or e-mail emmajdounoukyahoo.com