Journey Into Drawing For Young Artists

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Gualala Arts is proud to present Journey Into Drawing for Young Artists, a five-day summer workshop led by acclaimed realist artist and instructor Gabriel Coke. Held Monday through Friday, July 6–10, from noon to 4 pm at the Gualala Arts Center, this immersive program invites students ages 12 and up to explore the essential foundations of drawing and oil painting. Tuition is $500 for Gualala Arts members and $550 for non-members, with registration available online at GualalaArts.org or at the Gualala Arts front desk through July 1.  There is a $75 materials fee to be paid directly to the instructor which will cover the cost of art supplies and for the portrait model to pose for the class.

Designed to nurture imagination while building technical skill, the workshop guides young artists through a progression of creative exercises. Beginning with form drawing in charcoal and chalk, students will learn perspective, light, and shadow before advancing to life drawing with a portrait model. Subsequent sessions encourage original work from curated references, imaginative exploration, and ultimately, the flow state of creativity where students refine or begin new projects. Throughout the week, participants will receive generous instruction, demonstrations, and encouragement to develop confidence in both realism and imaginative expression.

Instructor Gabriel Coke has been teaching teenage artists since 2012, with many of his students going on to attend prestigious art schools and universities across the United States. A dedicated realist painter and draftsman, Coke studied at renowned ateliers including the Gage Academy in Seattle, the studio of Anthony Ryder in Santa Fe, the École Albert Defoise in France, and the Grand Central Atelier in New York City. He served as Atelier Program Director at New Museum Los Gatos, curating the exhibition On the Shoulders of Giants, and later founded Art Students’ Atelier in Saratoga in 2021, where he continues to mentor artists of all abilities. His current exhibition, Unlimited Imagination – Gabriel Coke & The Art Student’s Atelier, is on view at the Triton Museum of Art through August 11, showcasing his work alongside that of 34 current and former students.

“Making art comes from your soul,” says Coke. “When you lay your heart out in a drawing or painting, you leave a trace of your consciousness…. Don’t be afraid to practice, explore, and step outside your comfort zone.”

For more information about the workshop or to view Gabriel Coke’s work, visit www.gabrielcoke.com or stop by Art Students’ Atelier in Saratoga