Ellsworth Adult and Community Education

Learn to capture the human figure as it naturally moves through urban spaces. In this class, students will develop skills in quick sketching, capturing movement, and conveying mood and atmosphere by observing people in public settings—parks, cafés, streets and work sites.

In addition to live observations, we will also draw from online resources, personal sketches, and photos to further enrich our study. We will explore how to incorporate figures into compelling compositions that reflect the energy and narrative of urban life.

This class welcomes artists of all levels, offering a supportive environment to enhance your figure drawing abilities.  This an in-person class

Urban Sketching Materials List:

• Pencils and eraser 
• Portable sketchbook: A pocket-size or medium sketchbook. You can find a 9x11" mixed media pad at Reny's for $6.99 (optional). I use either a pocket-size sketchbook or I divide a 9x11" into four sections. 
• Newsprint or any paper : Newsprint for quick sketches (12 x 18) , or 8.5x11" printing paper works fine.  
• Fineliner 0.2 or 0.3: Waterproof ink preferred. A pen and ink can also work, but fineliners are easier to carry. We’ll discuss other options like fountain pens.  
• Portable stool.  
• Weather gear: Hooded sweater (for wind), cap (for sun), sunscreen.  
• Watercolors: Reny's has a $2.99 student-grade watercolor set, which is good for washes (see below). 
• Palette or plastic plate (You can use recycled plastic containers as well)   
• A container for water   
• Brush: The larger the better. Watercolor synthetic brushes #10 or #12, or a Chinese calligraphy brush works as well.   

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. I'll also bring extra materials for you to try and decide what works best. Reny's Art and Craft section carries the brand "Sargent" watercolors for $2.99—make sure it says "watercolor."

France Hilbert has taught classes at College of the Atlantic since 2018. She is a professional artist and art educator with an extensive resume of training and experience including major commissions and installations. Her artistic education began at the age of seven, when she was taught by her grandfather, the late artist Jaro Hilbert. From him, she received a thorough education in the classical tradition. She pursued her formal education at the National Fine Art Academy of Paris, France, (ENSBA), was an artist in residence in Copenhagen, studied German Expressionism in Berlin, and traveled extensively to paint and study around Europe and abroad. At the Art Students League of New York, she received a Merit Scholarship to master portraiture in painting and completed a Certificate in Sculpture. She was selected for “Model to Monument”, a sculpture program at The Academy of Art, Newington Cropsey Foundation, Hastings on Hudson, NY and received an Edward G. McDowell Travel Grant from the Art Students League of New York. Of her many public and private commissions, some are permanent installations. “Talma”, a 7-foot bronze sculpture is installed in the public square of the Theatre of the Valley of L’Yerres, in Brunoy, France. A pair of 4-foot bronze relief sculptures entitled ”The Calling” are installed at the Georgetown University Medical School building in Washington, DC.