Approach
The Drawing Studio was founded by artist Olivia Booth in 2024. An alumna of the MFA program from Art Center in Pasadena CA, she has been in Los Angeles from her native New York City since 2000. Her work has been shown at esteemed institutions and galleries nationally, and counts drawing, and the act of drawing, as an integral part of her practice. She has taught art at the college level for over two decades, and her approach is based on meeting her students at their level of experience. She encourages experimentation, exploration, inquiry, and the concept of trial and error - which she sees as linking the act of drawing to the philosophy of being.
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 Drawing Studio celebrates the ever broadening and elastic range of drawing’s expression, mirroring expansion of the expression of identity. The Studio sees, hears and values all students, regardless of age, skill level, gender, race, or any other quantifier. We feel that drawing is rigorous, but also feel that pure exploration and improvisation are valued above any idea of ‘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. Born and raised in New York City, she moved to Los Angeles in 2000 where she received her MFA in Visual Art from ArtCenter College of Design. Her work currently explores concepts of transparency, predominately pairing glass and drawing. She is a recipient of the COLA-IMAP Grant 2024 from the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and has recently exhibited work at the Neutra VDL House, The Armory Center for the Arts, The Pit, and others. For more about Olivia, please visit her site.
Reviews
As an artist who has been drawing and painting many years I took Olivia’s drawing class to learn about teaching art, thinking the actual drawing part would be a breeze. Wrong! it was quite challenging. I struggled and learned and noticed my drawing improved - it shook me out of some of my drawing habits and forced me to engage with dimensionality. I regularly use her “sketch method” and use of broken line and especially loved the gesture drawing exercises. Olivia interweaves techniques with philosophical musing, positioning drawing as a type of philosophy.
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!