WCC Offers Rare Atelier Art Course

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When thinking of Hawaii in general terms, classical art and western-style art schools are not what come to mind. For the past seven years, however, Windward Community College has offered an intensive summer course called an atelier (ah-tell-yay), which means “artist studio” in French.

The program incorporates styles and techniques meant to help artists draw and paint what they see through intense training and varied techniques.

“This is what a lot of people want to be able to do,” said program director Snowden Hodges. “Most people would like to be able to draw their wife, their mother, their husband or somebody and have it not just look like them, which is challenge enough, but also be a beautiful representation of them.”

The only one of its kind offered in the Pacific and one of few offered by an accredited organization in the country, atelier focuses on shading, anatomy, etc.

WCC offers the course for two reasons, Hodges explained: It’s his primary interest and background, and he’s found that - after teaching drawing and painting at WCC since 1981 - it’s what the students want.

Students who take atelier walk away with a greater understanding of their skills, he said, and also find friendship and camaraderie with instructors and classmates.

“When you’re with the same people for six weeks, they become family,” said UH-Manoa student Steph Molders, who took the class in 2006. “And there’s a lot of motivational aspects when people give suggestions and help each other out. I appreciated that very much.” She still keeps in touch with many of her classmates from the program to this day. Molders also said it inspired her to become a full-time art student.

The program has 25 seats and is team-taught by three professors: Hodges, Norman Graffam and guest artist Jonathan Busse. The atelier is small because the instructors want to give as much attention as possible to each student.

“It is kind of a mentorship,” said Bonnie Beatson, WCC spokeswoman. “If your class gets too big, you lose that personal touch. That’s why they keep the class small.”

The class is not for beginners, as a portfolio is required, and seats fill up fast.

The course will be held 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, May 27-July 3. Tuition is $1,050 for the six credits, or $950 without class credit.

For more information, call 236-9148 or visit www.wcc.hawaii.edu/atelier