Approach
Olivia Booth has taught art at the college level for over two decades. Her approach is based on meeting students at their level of experience, encouraging experimentation, exploration and inquiry, persistent trial and error, and linking drawing to philosophies of being. Her classroom aims to be lively and collaborative, organized but supple, and to nurture a broadening sense of belonging and range of dialogues.
Students
- students who are beginning or returning to drawing
- working artists and art students who seek a communal venue to practice and develop drawing and ideas around it
- high school, young adult and adult students building the skill and distinct point of view required for compelling portfolios
- application-based middle school students with developing portfolios
Poetry Drawing for Layli Long Soldier, by Danielle Yang
Ethos
The studio celebrates the ever-broadening range of drawing’s expression as it does the ever-broadening span of identity expression, and strives for all students to feel seen, heard, and valued. We take technical skill seriously while staying tuned to variations in pace and approach from student to student. We favor rigorous and embodied exploration over idealism and perfection. We’re looking to speculate and be surprised at how drawn elements allow for new messages, and to maintain a sense of awe for drawing’s dimension-busting and world-building powers.
Time-Based Drawing by Kevin Loera
Founder
Olivia Booth is a practicing artist with an active exhibition history. Her work is a longtime exploration of transparency, predominantly pairing glass and drawing. She focuses on how glass in our digital age speaks to us about personal and collective self-reflection. Born and raised in New York City, she moved to Los Angeles in 2000. She received her MFA in Visual Arts from ArtCenter College of Design and her BFA in Painting and BA in Comparative Literature from Cornell University. Her complete CV can be found here.
Reviews
I took Olivia’s parent and tween class and it was eye-opening! I learned a lot of new styles and ways to draw like still life drawing and gesture drawing. Olivia was so fun to work with; she provided yummy cookies for the class, she let us work outside in her beautiful backyard and she even let us draw her dog, Vella. Olivia’s class made Saturdays the best day of my week!
I absolutely loved this drawing class! The lessons were digestible, interesting, and not too hard or intimidating to do. I learned valuable lessons about lines and shadows, and I loosened up my attitude about drawing in general to take a more intuitive approach. Olivia is a great teacher—she gave me a lot of specific tips to help with my own style, which I will use for the rest of my life! I also really loved coming to the cute studio (and getting delicious cookies).
I was a bit nervous about returning to art class (it had been decades!), but turns out I had nothing to worry about: Olivia’s class was the perfect balance of re-discovering the “fun” of drawing while learning useful techniques to make your drawings more compelling — both to yourself and the viewer. Her class was welcoming and supportive and I always felt refreshed and excited about what I learned. The best part is now I am looking at the world with new perspectives (literally!) and am eager to keep drawing with my new set of tools! An easy and enthusiastic recommendation for new and experienced artists alike.
Each week I felt myself enter the closest thing to a meditative state that I ever have. I felt my mood lift, my shoulders drop, and my throat literally open more. Olivia created a space that was focused and serious without being rigid, anxious, or pretentious. I learned so much about seeing, noticing, mapping, gesturing, erasing, and hand-to-brain connection.
Olivia can unlock the true artist in anyone! Having studied under her greatly increased my knowledge and vocabulary of design principles that continue to influence my work in fashion design and photography. Don’t hesitate to sign up!