“Thank you for enabling me to deepen and broaden my command of hybrid forms and come away with several great pieces and connection to other multi media/form artists.”
studioELL — professor, peer and online studio trifecta, Thank you for enabling me to deepen and broaden my command of hybrid forms and come away with several great pieces and connection to other multi media/form artists. I will look forward to coming back in the future.
Kadie, Oakland, CA / F455i Writing and Practice: Art-ing Across Genres / WINTER 2021
“We artists need this connection with each other and the vast world of influences and inspirations all around us.”
I never really considered organizing my inspirations and now I have a cozy place I can go to feel surrounded by ideas. This course provided exactly the right level of engagement and accountability I could handle at the time, and I’m so grateful to studioELL and Jodi Hays for putting this out in the world. We artists need this connection with each other and the vast world of influences and inspirations all around us.
— Nikii, Memphis, TN / F405i Special Projects: Creating Your Archive / Autumn 2020
“The course was amazing … The professors shared so much content that I’ll be using for my future work.”
The course was amazing, I have learnt so much. The professors shared so much content that I’ll be using for my future work and during these challenging times this was a great way to take time to learn something new — I hope these sessions continue!
— Amber, Essex, UK / F305h Critical Theories: Curating Interiors / Autumn 2020
“Most artists consider themselves lifelong learners and yet we rarely get the opportunity to hone our best practices. Having found studioELL is exciting because now I have a new tool to help me evolve as an artist.”
[The course] helped me think about fundamental aspects of my studio in a new way. The level of commitment from enrolled artists made me want to show up and give it my all each week. Having to explain my process as well as give feedback on other artists’ work helped me hone my verbal skills around visual language. The professor [John Ros] skillfully guided us through the course. They noticed aspects in my work that I hadn’t considered and made suggestions that opened new doors in my process. Most artists consider themselves lifelong learners and yet we rarely get the opportunity to hone our best practices. Having found studioELL is exciting because now I have a new tool to help me evolve as an artist.
— Melissa, Memphis, TN, F402i Developing Practice: Independent Study / Mixed Mediums / Summer 2020
“The best courses I have taken online or in person!”
The best courses I have taken online or in person! The quality of Professors and their engagement is very high. Thoroughly recommended for any student at any level but especially those who wish to engage with a peer group as well as an instructor/tutor.
— Emma, London, UK
F402i Developing Practice: Independent Study / Mixed Mediums / Summer 2020
F402i Developing Practice: Independent Study Intensive / Spring 2020
F405i Special Projects: Creating Your Archive / Spring 2020
F302i Workshop in Collage / Spring 2020
“Working alone in the studio can be an isolating experience … I gained greatly … as we each navigated our way on the journey this course charts.”
This course was incredibly enriching. Working alone in the studio can be an isolating experience. I gained greatly from our classroom conversations as we each navigated our way on the journey this course charts. I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to better understand their own unique studio and creative process, to see the sources of their inspiration/ideas with fresh eyes. I finished this course having created a bespoke source archive for myself, with numerous tools and resources to help refine and refresh my process over the coming months and years. I have a better understanding of myself as an artist & a deepened sense of self-confidence.
— Cary, Nashville, TN, F405i Special Projects: Creating Your Archive / Spring 2020
“When done well, a place of learning is based on respect, trust and openness and encourages participants to take chances and open themselves to new ways of seeing, thinking and doing — this was my experience being a part of ‘Curating the Domestic’ with Charlie Levine.”
This was my first experience with on-line courses and I appreciated the thoughtful prompts and lectures given by the professor that made the writing/response process enjoyable. It was nice to have so much interaction with the other participants who were incredibly attentive and insightful. It is always inspiring to be privy to the creative process of others and to have their feedback, especially if it is supported by a generous facilitator.
— Jeannine, Brooklyn, NY, F305i Critical Theories: Curating the Domestic / Spring 2020
“[A]s a curator, being in a class with artists was an excellent way to push my thinking in new creative directions.”
studioELL’s Critical Theories: Curating the Domestic was a terrific course! Professor Charlie Levine presented original, thought-provoking lectures and an array of useful resources, as well as engaging assignments and a platform for interactive feedback from the instructor and participants. For me, as a curator, being in a class with artists was an excellent way to push my thinking in new creative directions. The short course format and studioELL’s clear, well-organized online structure made this a great way to dip my toes into something new.
— Karen, Stony Brook, NY, F305i Critical Theories: Curating the Domestic / Spring 2020
“When John Ros is your instructor you know you are getting 100% of his focus and energy along with his invaluable guidance and advice.”
Each day I left the studioELL session, I knew I was leaving a stronger art professional. I would recommend this residency to every artist and art professional. I am an emerging artist and I knew that this was the best time for me to take a crash course on the professional side of being an artist. Being an artist and curator, [John Ros] has insights into the gallery world and has helped me transform my “artist packet” that I send to apply to opportunities. He provides unique support if you have an individualized question and has always been incredibly thoughtful in his feedback. I still refer to the materials shared whenever I have a professional practices question. When John Ros is your instructor you know you are getting 100% of his focus and energy along with his invaluable guidance and advice. studioELL, without a doubt, has been a knockout experience.
— Mallory, Harrisonburg, Virginia, (VA-AIM) Virginia Artists in the Marketplace, 2018 cohort
“The whole residency was a fantastic experience and helped tremendously with my practice, motivation and knowledge of the next steps I need to take.”
I participated in the VA-AIM residency offered by studioELL in 2018. We learned how to write artist statements and CVs and explored online identities and artist websites. We also discussed art business practices as well as applying to opportunities to enhance our practice. It was a wonderful blend of getting to know other working artists in the area and learning from John [Ros] and other presenters. He is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic and committed to helping his students learn and grow. The residency included a follow up studio visit and a group exhibition about six months later. We all helped install the exhibit, gaining valuable experience in hanging and displaying art of varied media — and the added bonus to showcase our recent work. The whole residency was a fantastic experience and helped tremendously with my practice, motivation and knowledge of the next steps I need to take. John is a very generous person and I whole heartedly recommend studying with him if you have the chance.
— Karen, Harrisonburg, Virginia, (VA-AIM) Virginia Artists in the Marketplace, 2018 cohort
“The class was personal and the instruction was thoughtful … I left with a treasure trove of information that was specific to my practice and put me on a more productive path that will help me achieve my goals.”
I am an artist who recently opened up a gallery space and although this is an exciting endeavor it is also overwhelming. I enrolled in the F401 Professional Practice Intensive in order to organize my art practice and learn more about the business of running my own space. I expected that I would gain some knowledge, but the fact that the instructor, John Ros, tailored the class with my needs in mind exceeded my expectations. The class was personal and the instruction was thoughtful and well organized. I left with a treasure trove of information that was specific to my practice and put me on a more productive path that will help me achieve my goals. John is the ultimate professional with a wide range of knowledge and skills that he generously shares. I would definitely follow up with an on-line studioELL course since I know the materials will be clear and well organized.
— Jeannine, Brooklyn, New York, F401: Professional Practice Intensive / Summer 2017
The course “pressed me to be more demanding of myself, I was encouraged to push the bar up in terms of artistic output.”
The course that I undertook with studioELL proved to be invaluable, in my current development as a novice artist. The support and encouragement, along with the concrete advice that I received meant that I accomplished more — and better — work than if I was working in any other situation. As studioELL were both instructive and constructive in their comments, and also pressed me to be more demanding of myself, I was encouraged to push the bar up in terms of artistic output.
The online format worked very well: a timetable of submission and response dates was agreed at the outset. This structure provided an ideal framework for creating stages of work and for clarifying expectations on both sides. At the same time the structure enabled a process of creative, open ended development so it was not overly fixed either.
I would enroll in another course and I would, without hesitation, recommend this to a friend or anyone who is looking for a similar type of direction and feedback. Certainly the process has assisted me in finding a direction in my next stages of development!
— Catherine, London, UK, P402i: Developing Practice: Independent Study / Mixed Mediums / Winter 2017
“I felt that we emerged from the course enriched by each other’s experiences, triumphs and struggles.”
This course exceeded my expectations in several ways. I wasn’t sure initially how well the online model could work for me, but being able to do the assignments in my own time, at my own pace really worked for me. The feedback we (the students) received on each other’s work was also much more personal and thoughtful than we might have received or been able to give during a face-to-face class, and there was a strong sense of encouragement and empathy for each other’s experience that was quite special. I felt that we emerged from the course enriched by each other’s experiences, triumphs and struggles.
The course was really tough at times, but rewardingly so – I felt completely immersed in the learning and this was challenging both in terms of what I was aiming to do in practice, and emotionally – the structure and way the course was designed encouraged us to draw upon our inner resources in a way that I had not done before, and we had to push through some uncomfortable moments. I felt that what we gained from this was immensely valuable. Had this been a physical course, I feel that there would not have been the same opportunity to reach as deeply.
Doing the course has in fact been a key factor in my decision to set up my own practice – and I am now in the process of making this happen. I would enroll on another course in the blink of an eye, and have already recommended studioELL to a number of people.
— Mina, Surrey UK, D302i: Drawing Intensive / Winter 2016
“studioELL created a strong online framework to encouraged positive interaction with fellow students…”
I recently completed the Drawing Intensive and I can definitely say the course helped developed my drawing and overall art practice. studioELL created a strong online framework to encouraged positive interaction with fellow students, provided comprehensive tutor feedback and created engaging exercises. I would certainly recommend the course to friends at whatever stage they are with their practice.
— Rebecca, London, UK, D302i: Drawing Intensive / Winter 2016
The drawing assignments “exercised my imagination and creativity.”
In the past several months as I struggle with my printmaking practice (requiring studio time outside of my home), I advocate to the arts community to try a studioELL online course.
The D302i drawing class allowed me to rethink the space I can be using right here in front of me. It is only limited by the tools I choose to use to make art. The drawing assignments grounded me to an earlier phase when I loved the smell and feel of charcoal and paper. They exercised my imagination and creativity. They pushed boundaries and emphasized that sometimes being uncomfortable makes much better images. I love the work I produced.
Through studio time — in the comfort of my own home, through helpful critiques (both from the lecturer and the others in our class), through the ease of computer technology making sharing accessible and exciting, through minimal supply costs, I would highly recommend an online class via studioELL.
— Helen, Binghamton, New York, D302i: Drawing Intensive / Winter 2016
“I was pleased to have completed the course which enabled me to take on further courses with media that I enjoyed working with.”
I enrolled in the Drawing 2 on-line course after completing a Drawing 1 class at a London College. The format of the on-line course was explained and appealed to me straight away. The other students and I would receive weekly assignments accompanied with video clips and clear explanations and directives as to our approach and we would have a week to submit it onto the Website. We would also see the other students’ drawings and we could comment on it if we wished so. We would also receive a useful comments by the lecturer, addressed to all as well as on a one-on-one basis. The challenge of this on-line course was to be disciplined and find the right subjects (according to the brief) from our own environment. Although our lecturer was not physically with us, we could email with any queries. It was exciting and we all felt that we could not wait to see everyone else’s drawings. I was pleased to have completed the course which enabled me to take on further courses with media that I enjoyed working with. I would certainly enrol in another on-line studioELL course should the opportunity arise. I have nothing but praise for studioELL.
— Marie, London, UK, D102i: Drawing 2 / Autumn 2015
“This was a brilliant online course — exciting, challenging and very well taught.”
This was a brilliant online course — exciting, challenging and very well taught. The weekly assignments, group and tutor feedback suited me as I could develop each project at my own pace. Sharing work online with the other students was straightforward. Each assignment was described in detail including demonstration video clips when necessary, so I never felt remote or out of touch with the tutor. The lecturer’s feedback was encouraging, always to the point and aiming to push you further. I would certainly enrol again for online courses with studioELL and recommend them wholeheartedly. Professional, enlightening and creative teaching!
— Jane, London, UK, D102i: Drawing 2 / Autumn 2015
“I produced works on this course beyond anything I could have expected.”
It was exciting to be in the first ever online studioELL course and I enjoyed the challenge of working in this novel way. I worked with the lecturer (John) in a physical class and found him to be an inspiring teacher, which was my reason for signing up to the course in the first place. I produced works on this course beyond anything I could have expected. I also felt that I had considerable help from the other students too, with online discussions of photos of our work working pretty well as a form of feedback. Having said that, this was the most difficult part — trying to give good feedback to others based on a photograph of their work rather than the real thing. I found that, when I saw some of the real works my views changed, they were always better in person! I have done another physical course since, which was easier because of the physical presence of the works and the artists, but less interesting because the inspiration and high expectations that John brings were not there. I would be happy to enrol in another studioELL course in order to work with John again and I’d definitely recommend studioELL to a friend.
— Andy, London, UK, D102i: Drawing 2 / Autumn 2015
studioELL courses “have given me the confidence to approach the next phase of my artistic career with courage and confidence.”
Courses undertaken in-person at studioELL have positively informed my artistic practice. The courses provided creative, practical and contextual knowledge, whilst addressing considerations of an artist with a non-traditional art background, in an enthusiastic, engaging and inspiring way. They have given me the confidence to approach the next phase of my artistic career with courage and confidence. I would like to enrol in other studioELL courses, in particular on-line, as am London-based. Further, topics offered address current international issues for artists. I would highly recommend studioELL, as attending their courses has had an ongoing influence on my approach and practice.
— Tracy, London, UK, F401: Professional Practice Intensive / Summer 2015