December Issue 2000
A New Location for the Art Studio that Encourages in Charlotte, NC
In this
election year, we have all heard about the strength of the private
sector and its effect on our booming economy. Well, at the Braitman
Studio in Charlotte, NC, you can see the effect a private studio
can have on the booming Charlotte art scene.
Three and a half years ago, artist Andy Braitman, started his studio with 11 students in a small warehouse space. On Dec.1, he will open his expanded studio at a new location. With over 3,200 square feet, three separate teaching studios, a staff of three, and a team of over 7 instructors, Braitman Studio teaches over 111 students each week. Above the primary teaching studio, Braitman works on his own paintings in a studio loft. On a weekly basis he and his team of instructors teach classes in oil painting, watercolor painting sculpture, figure drawing, illustration, portrait painting, landscape painting, color mixing animation and comic book art.
Andy Braitman, born in 1950, earned his BA from the University of Maryland, and in his MFA from the New York Studio School in Manhattan. In 1988, he moved to Charlotte and began painting and teaching classes in his studio downtown at 1024 North Tryon Street. He has exhibited his work widely throughout Charlotte and the United States, including: Jerald Melberg Gallery, Shain Fine Art Originals Gallery, Canyon Road Contemporary Art in Santa Fe, NM, and Carol Schulty Gallery in Millburn, New Jersey.
Braitman's contemporary oil paintings are heavily textured. He uses an encaustic technique to create the texture in his work.
When you ask Braitman to sum up his teaching philosophy he says, " Encourage and educate the artist. I first determine where my students are in their creative journey and their skills, then I provide the tools, challenges, and encouragement allowing them to grow as artist. While much of the academic world is based on critique and criticism, in contrast, encouragement is the watch word in my studio."
Beginning
painters are welcome at Braitman studio. A full array of classes
is available for the novice, as well as the person who just wants
to try something fun. The beginning painting class takes place
on Tues. night at 7pm.
Intermediate to advance painters are also welcome at Braitman studio. Braitman offers three classes that he likes to call 1 on 1 studio sessions. In these 1 on 1 classes each student works on their own project, at their own pace, but with guidance from the Braitman studio instruction team. During a typical 1 on 1 class: a student may be working on a clay bust, another on an oil still life, and yet a third on a watercolor landscape.
Professional painters feel at home at Braitman studio, too. Regional artists Ingrid Amols, Dru Warmath, and Wil Bosbyshell participate in Braitman's advanced artist program. Distinguished alumni of Braitman studio include: Michelle Kingery, Joe Rankin, and Connie Winters. Braitman's advanced painting class meets three times a week for a total of eight hours of painting and instruction. For these painters he also offers a color mixing class and a contemporary painting class.
In March
of 2001, Braitman plans to offer an Exhibition class for advanced
and professional painters. This class, designed to hone marketing
skills, will be taught jointly between Braitman and Wil Bosbyshell.
Each artist will be guided through the development of their portfolio
and marketing strategies, culminating in a group or solo exhibition
at the end of class.
Each year in June, Braitman hosts a painting trip in Provence, France. For two weeks, his group of beginner, intermediate, and advance painters soak up the French countryside and paint.
Watch out! From 4-6pm teenagers take over Braitman studio. During most afternoons Curt Butler offers three different levels of teen art classes in addition to comic book art and animation. Butler takes the lead in Braitman's teen classes. Butler, originally from Warren, Ohio, earned his Bachelors of Fine Art from Kent State University and his Masters degree from the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD). Butler's teaching philosophy is variety! " I bombard the teenagers with as many different techniques as possible for maximum exposure," says Butler. " Teenagers pursuing artistic career paths, have so many avenues open to them. I want them to know all their options."
In addition to teaching at Braitman studio, Butler also does freelance sculpture work for the John Lennon clay animation studio in Charlotte. For teenagers preparing their artwork to gain college admission, Braitman Studio offers a teen portfolio class on Thursdays.
" I teach my students to fish, I don't give them the fish." Andy Braitman runs Braitman Studio with an encouraging atmosphere for adults and teens to explore and grow their artistic potential.
For further information call the studio at
704/846-1369.
Mailing Address: Carolina Arts, P.O. Drawer
427, Bonneau, SC 29431
Telephone, Answering Machine and FAX: 843/825-3408
E-Mail: carolinart@aol.com
Subscriptions are available for $18 a year.
Carolina Arts
is published monthly by Shoestring
Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc.
Copyright© 2000 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston
Arts from July 1987 - Dec. 1994 and South Carolina Arts
from Jan. 1995 - Dec. 1996. It also publishes Carolina Arts
Online, Copyright© 2000 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved
by PSMG, Inc. or by the authors of articles. Reproduction or use
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Arts is available throughout North & South Carolina.