The first thing artist Veralyn Harelson does to asses the ability of new students is to have them draw a person, a hand and a shoe. Deanna Pittman could only draw a stick figure and tried to trace her fingers in the style of kids making a Thanksgiving turkey drawing.

"I always wanted to draw but didn't think I had the skills," Pittman said.

Less than six months after taking Harelson's class at the Lebanon Senior Center, Pittman took home a champion ribbon for a pencil sketch of a bull elk at this year's Linn County Fair.

Harelson, the owner of Srch Designs (pronounced search) in Lebanon, has taught classes

at Linn-Benton Community College in the past and now teaches eight-week adult drawing classes at the Lebanon Senior Center. Many of her students, like Pittman start out thinking they lack the talent to be good artists. Harelson said while there are some people she hasn't been able to teach, they are "few and far between."

"Most people can learn to draw if they have the right attitude," she said. "All I ask for is that they come to class with an open mind."

Harelson teaches using graphite pencils. As far as hobbies go, drawing is relatively inexpensive to get started with. A number four pencil and a sketchpad cost about $5.

Harelson starts her new students out with the basics: forms, shadows, light and perspective, which she says are the basic building blocks of art, whether it is a drawing, painting or sculpture.

Pointing to a drawing of two wolves she is currently working on, Harelson explained how basic forms combine to create a complex drawing: The bodies and legs are rectangles, the heads are squares and the eyes are circles.

"A lot of artists get in trouble because they don't get those foundations from instructors," she said.

By the third week of class, students have chosen a photograph they plan to use as a basis for their drawing. In the following weeks, students work on drawing the individual elements in the photograph before putting it all together in a final project.

Some of her students have repeated the class three or four times and learn something new each time, while newer students are inspired by seeing how well those who started before them are doing, Harelson said. "It's a nice environment. Students feed off each other."

Harelson started taking private art classes as a child and has worked in a variety of mediums, including oil, acrylics and watercolors. She's happy to share her knowledge with students who want to do something different from pencil drawings.

Classes are two hours long. Harelson comes in early and stays after to work with students who need one-on-one instruction. It's not unusual for students to call her at home when they've run into trouble or are feeling just plain frustrated.

"Everybody approaches art in a different way," Harelson said. "I do my best to find a way to explain that they understand."

Although the classes are taught at the Senior Center, they are open to anyone at least 17 years old.

An accumulation of years shouldn't be an impediment for someone interested in learning to draw.

"As people get older they get less sensitive to criticism and are fun to work with," Harelson said.

Harelson has taught youth classes before and will schedule another if there is enough interest, she said.

And what does an experienced artist get out of teaching students who start out barely able to draw a stick figure?

"I like seeing the look on faces whey they finish a piece and it looks really good," Harelson said. "My intention is to help people realize abilities they wish they had."

New eight week drawing classes starting soon

Tuesday

9-11 a.m. Aug. 26 - Oct. 21

Thursdays

Noon to 2 p.m. Sept. 4 -Oct. 23

4-6 p.m. Aug. 21 -Oct. 16 (no class Aug. 28)

Fridays

9-11 a.m. Aug. 22 - Oct. 17

4-6 p.m. Sept. 5 - Oct. 24

A Monday 6:30-8:30 p.m. class starting Sept. 8 may be offered, depending on space availability.

Cost is $80. Additional two hour sessions after the eight-week class are $10.

Contact Harelson at 451-1348 or by e-mail: greystonegsd@gmail.com