New England

[N D Hill]

It's worth a shot.

Come on. There's got to be at least a couple Bostonians.

[staylor]

Not a bostonian, but I'm from WOOSTAH!!!
Or worcester if you want it spelled correctly.

[N D Hill]

Woostah? I been to Woostah once. I had some Chowdah. It was a wicked good. :D

[bwkeough]

I suppose I live in New England, but it sounds like you guys would be as far away as the NYC group :P

[Anaphiel]

I'm in Slummaville, but I usually just say Boston.

I'd think there has to be more than a couple of us around, there's about eighty art schools.

Oh, and bwkeough, you're actually almost exactly halfway between NYC and Boston, but we're WAY cooler ;) Then again you can take the commuter rail into NYC pretty cheap (used to lwork in New Haven).

[bwkeough]

anaphiel- true, but I work in Hartford, which puts me about 30 minutes closer to Boston during the week.

I'll probably have to monitor both groups for activity :)

[Osmus]

i'm in New Milford, CT. close to hartford. you going to the austin workshop?

[N D Hill]

I know mass has a couple of great schools. what's the art education scene like at CT?

[Osmus]

i'm attending WCSU. western state. it's the only college i've attended so i can't compare it to an art school. they claim to have a good art department. so far i haven't really learned much other than introduction to new materials. i've learned that my art education will be more of a self-teaching experience.

[bwkeough]

osmus- that's rough, but it's almost better that way...by the time I had finished my BFA at Syracuse Univ. I thought I knew what I was doing but I didn't. ..crap my lunch break is almost up, I'll have to finish my thought later.

single most important advice: take lots and lots of life drawing classes and study old master figure drawings.

to answer your question, yes, I'll be in Austin for the workshop.

[N D Hill]

That's similar to what I'm doing at USM as after you finish a certain ammount of foundational work, the student along with their advisor maps out the best course which can consist of almost anything. Technically art students are only considered BFA candidates before this foundation program is completed. After that, they need to submit a portfolio demonstrating their body of work in those given classes before they're accepted. The core classes are.

Art history 1: Prehistory to medievil
Art history 2: Rennaissance to present
Fundamental Drawing 1: Technical development
Fundamental Drawing 2: Composition
Design 1: 2-D
Design 2: 3-D

I was only just now admitted as an official art student and I'm almost through with my sofmore year! Art students are also required to take standard core classes as well (hystory, math, science, english etc.) so I only took two art-foundation class a semester. Because it's a state university, i guess they're trying to keep everyone grounded.

[bwkeough]

ok, I'll be departing Bradley Int'l at 6pm on the 17th. Anyone else flying to Austin at the same/similar time?

Brendan

[Osmus]

ah, i'm leaving out of bradley at 6AM. i'm coming back on the 22nd at 5:15pm central time.

[bwkeough]

yeah, that sounds like a more civilzed way to travel. :D I know I'll be a wreck on tuesday morning, never mind having to return to the job.

I'll see you in Texas then!

[staylor]

So it seems that most everyone here is from CT or Boston, does anyone know of any decent art schools around Worcester? I'm going to Worcester Polytechnic to be an engineer but I want to do my sufficiency in art. And WPI art classes are jokes, just history of art and art criticism, nothing about how to make art! So I'm hoping to get my art stuff done somewhere else. Any suggestions?

[Anaphiel]

staylor, I don't think Worcester has a dedicated Art School anywhere nearby, but Clarke has a pretty good program. They offer undergrad degrees in studio arts and graphic design I believe. Might be worth checking out.

Clarke College Art Program (http://www.clarke.edu/academics/departments/art&arthistory/index.htm)

[grand]

hey guys, whats everyone up to

[Barti89]

Ill be in Ma over the summer :P

[pconsidine]

Wow – I was so sure I was dropping off the face of the culture map when I moved from Boston to West Hartford. It's good to know y'all are out there.

bwkeough – just curious. What's your gig in Hartford? Right now I'm a production manager at a little ad agency in Cheshire (near Meriden), but I'd totally love to get a city gig (just in case something crosses your eyes at any point).

Hang loose, gang.

[mb27]

Hey I'm in mansfield ma. anyone around here?

[bwkeough]

pconsidine- haha, you're in a better position to help me! I work at a truck leasing company doing typical office drone stuff. I'm here mostly because I won't likely find a non-art job that pays more than this.

[farley13]

just south of Boston here, Hingham.
Gotta be a few more folks arround!

staylor - got a few freinds @ wpi ! - have you checked out the comunity colleges, I know a few have at least summer programs for art.

[eljay]

Hi everyone! Im in Enfield CT (northen ct)... but I travel up to easthampton MA every monday night for the open life drawing sessions. does anyone else attend these? maby ive seen ya there :D

[staylor]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I think I'll attend art classes at worcester state because it's cheapest. I'll also check out the worcester art museum to see if I can get credit there.

[Sheepy]

Since I finally delurked in the DSG forum, I figured I should post here, too. 3:)
I'm also from Wistah.. well, actually a tiny town called Hudson about 20 minutes away, but I doubt anyone's heard of it.

[Rkhon]

Hey just came across this...I'm a Masshole, Bellingham area. So is there an active sketch group going on or what?

I would definately like to get a sketch group thing together on a regular basis. I draw at a local cafe, Cafe Espresso. Or at Barnes and Nobles. :P
Anyone seriously interested give a shout...here, aim, email, or whatever.

[bwkeough]

ok, so who else here is jealous of the sketchgroups in seattle and cleveland? I know I'd like to get together every now and then with the locals.

The trick here is that many of us a pretty spread out...I'm up for travelling a couple hours if we can get ourselves organized on a weekend. Failing that, I'm fine with travelling anyplace within CT or nearby MA or RI on any other day of the week, provided we don't go super late.

what do you think?

[Osmus]

it would be cool to get a CT group going with you bwekough. i'm in New Milford but can't travel too far. how many people live nearby?

[grand]

i live very close to waterbury ct, im up for some type of sketch group, we should set something up

[mikel]

Nice to see some people who are thinking of organizing. I'm definitely interested.
Since I'm just south of Hartford, I am pretty much in the center of the state.
Any time except Monday night could work since I go to figure drawing at U of Hartford.

[eljay]

Ok, im deffently jealous of the seattle and cleveland sketchgroups. Looks like they have alot of fun.
Im in enfield, Its about 20min outside of Hartford. Im down for a sketch night anywhere in or around the Hartford area if anyone has any iedas where. Realy though I wouldnt mind driving an hour or so if you all have somwhere that stays open late. I dont realy have any idea where we could meetup as I spend most of my time in western mass, but im down for one. :nod: I have a few friends who would probly be interested aswell

mikel - Where could I find out more info about monday night figure drawing at uhart? For the last few months i have been driving up to Easthampton MA on modays for open figure sessions, its kinda far though :)

[bwkeough]

cool, so there's some def. interest! It looks like most of you guys are in the central to northwestern-ish areas of CT, so that'd work fine...I live in New Haven, but I work in Hartford, my in-laws live in West Suffield and my wife is involved in theatre groups in Waterbury, Torrington and Thomaston; so I'm familiar with most of the areas you folks live in!

so in the interest of picking a specific town, does anyone know of a good place to meet? Denny's restaraunts are all over and are usually open really late (or 24hours).

[grand]

mikel - Where could I find out more info about monday night figure drawing at uhart? For the last few months i have been driving up to Easthampton MA on modays for open figure sessions, its kinda far though :)

I think its from 7-10 pm and is open to anyone, im not definite, but i remember seeing a poster on the wall at hartford art school about monday night figure drawing upstairs.

I would be up to meeting somewhere in hartford or west hartford, i go to hartford art school during the day for a pre-college workshop so im pretty familiar with the area

[mikel]

Here is the info for the figure session.

University of Hartford
Hartford Art School/Taub Hall room 203
Monday 7-10pm
Open to anyone but there is a fee of $7.00 (not sure but students might be able to pay less)

Manchester Community College use to do these as well, but since I haven't herard anything it's possible they break for the summer.

[johanson]

If anyone’s interested, RISD also has open drawing on Tuesday nights, Thursday nights, and Saturday mornings. The schedule is all screwed up for the summer, but it will be back to normal in September. It’s free, and I’ve never seen any non-student get questioned for being there (just don't show up in huge numbers).

Also, if anyone ends up in the Providence area, drop me a line, maybe we can sketch it up.

Later,

-Andrew

[Partialartist]

Boston in the house!

[eljay]

grand, mikel - Thanks for the info! I think ill be there for next mondays session.

Im down for a meetup at a Denny's restaraunt. Theres one down the street from me. Its probly a little far for everyone else though (about 20min north of Hartford). Any one else have any suggestions? Come on, I know there has to be some sort of chill coffee shop around here somewhere. I think theres also a dennys in vernon, not too shure though. Downtown Hartford theres probly somthing. Isnt there a coffee shop across the street from the civic center? (on the back side)
What day (or night) would be good for all of you? For me, probly tuesday, wednesday or sunday. But i can work around anything realy.

[bwkeough]

the Enfield Denny's was cooler before they modernized the interior. I think that it might be too out of the way for most folks... I don't want the interest here to fizzle but it seems like everyone is kinda spread out.

I might be up for that Monday night life drawing class in Hartford sometime, I'll just have to sort out my schedule. Let us know how it goes tomorrow night.

[grand]

I should be at monday nights drawing session at uhart

[eljay]

the Enfield Denny's was cooler before they modernized the interior.
yea, now it looks like friendly's or somthing :nod: bastards

Ill try to make it for tomorows figure session,
If you see a kid with "ConceptArt" stenciled on his shirt, thats me.

[Ptree3]

Hi All,
I live in Hampton NH, on the beach. Its good to know there are other peeps out there.

[mikel]

If the Monday drawing session at UHart is a problem for people I found out The New Britain Art League has one on Thursdays 7-10pm.

Helzon, as far as I can tell, CCSU doesn't do anything as far as figure drawing sessions. But this shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.

[Rkhon]

Seems most of you serious about it are from CT, which sux for me lol. Any special events coming up that could be fit for a meeting spot? There is a turbine nation thing in providence coming up, all i know, and its related to art stuffs, just to meet at, then hit up a cafe and ruin the sketchbooks. http://www.turbinegames.com/index.php?page_id=79

edit: didnt see some of these responses....

I'm down for RISD doable for me.

[mikel]

With my schedule being the way it is, making it out to Providence is definitely impossible for the near future. However, labor day weekend(Sept 1-6) I'll be up in Boston for the Art Show at Noreascon. Figure a convention might be a good excuse to get a meet up organized.

A couple more ideas for the guys willing to meet up around Hartford. There is the New Britain Diner and Washington Diner both open 24hrs. N.B. Diner may not be the best setting, but at least the odds of getting mugged are a lot less than the Washington Diner (though this place is a bit more interesting). Another thought is keeping a bit of the Austin tradition alive with the IHOP in Elmwood(don't know what time they stay open to). I am basically suggesting and keeping an eye out for places near highways so as to make traveling for everyone a bit easier.

Anyways I should be at The New Britain Art League for figure drawing this Thurs unless work keeps me too late.

[pconsidine]

If folks are going to be in my area (West Hartford) for the open drawing at U of H, there's always the Goldroc Diner on Kane St. It's open 24 hours and it's right off I-84 at exit 44. It seems that would the nicest to the folks who have to get on the road afterwards.

Rock on, artist people!

[grand]

does anyone here go to the open figure drawing at univ. of hartford, i was wondering how is the turnout for it, do many people show up? i am thinking of going this week to it.

[mikel]

In regards to U of H, as far as know, I am the only one from this forum who has been attending.

There is a pretty good turnout of people though. Last week was the smallest group since I started going (about 10 people). The week before had around two dozen show up.

Anyways, I should be there on Monday. The basic rule for me is it depends on how late I have to keep the presses runnning at the shop.

[Rkhon]

Whats going on Bostonians? or close enough. are there any get togethers going on?

[Muttonhead]

Welp. I guess I am now officially a resident of Mass-a-Two-Shits...... oh boy.

Its easier when I pretend that Boston is NOT part of Masschusetts.....

Oh well.

So whats going on here? ANything interesting, or are New Englanders even MORE apathetic than New Yorkers? Haha.

[Anaphiel]

Hey, welcome to Boston... as a getting-to-be long time resident myself, I can assure you that Boston is a little world unto itself. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is up for debate.

And as far as I can tell, unless you live in Connecticut, things are a little slow around here. Maybe not as bad as the New Yorkers (I mean, at least we have geography to excuse our lack of activities) but still slow.

What brings you to our fair city?

[bwkeough]

nah, not more apathetic, just more spread out!

I still think about meeting up with folks at the U of Hartford on Mondays, but I haven't yet settled my schedule enough.

Muttonhead- when do you become a full-time MA resident? Are you still driving home on the weekends?

[Muttonhead]

What brings you to our fair city?

Took a full-time position with Turbine doing concepts for Dungeons and Dragons Online.

BW - Been so busy I really havent had time to stop by on my way up and back. I am going back down next weekend to finalize the move, but again I probably wont be able to stop by.

However, I will probably be back down the 3rd weekend of October, so I might stop by then. I will let you know. Sorry, its just been crazy...


-Sean

[bwkeough]

heh -s'ok I expected as much. You're likely in a hurry to get home on Fridays and leaving for Boston late on Sundays anyhow.

Possibly we'll be able to organize a grand New Englander get-together heheh ....yeah.

[Rkhon]

Are we all still alive? A grand New England get together would be awesome, but are there enough of us active?

[Partialartist]

There are still some of us around.

[Rkhon]

Haha okay, so some still twitch. Lets start working towards making something happening...particularily in the Boston area.

Not sure if you guys know about this (probably) but, I thought this could be a way to get a regular meet up ...

www.bostonpostmortem.org has monthly get togethers. Its more about the game industry, but then again so are alot of us. Its a start.

[Anaphiel]

The PostMortem meetings are a good excuse to get together, and for those of us with game industry aspirations they're a good place to network or just to learn more about the business. Not a great place to meet and talk art or sketch per se, but at least we'd meet.

They'll have to go back to holding them in Boston proper though before I can make them with any regularity; I'm one of those no-car-ownin' urban mofos ;-)

[Muttonhead]

Postmortem things sounds cool. I may join you guys on Tuesday if I can.

Otherwise I am totally game for some get-togethers. Hopefully I will be finished unpacking sometime within the next month and I will hopefully have alittle more free time to do things like go out and, say, post on CA more often!

[Ptree3]

I'd really like to meet up with you guys at a Post Mortem meeting, I've been thinking of attending one for awhile now.
Sean grats on the new job, hope your move goes well, hauling stuff from point A to point B can be a real pain.
I just put up a simple website with some of my work on it, take a look.
http://homepage.mac.com/peterreedart
Let me know what you guys think, and hopefully we can get together soon.

[Sheepy]

I wouldn't really call myself an "active member" (I'd planned to be, but I've had a misbehaving computer for months.) but I'd still be game for a get together :)

[grand]

Hey guys,
If anyone is interested in Torrington CT they have open figure drawing at the artwell gallery. It is $5 for students and $7 for adults. It is from 7-10 on tuesdays. It is in downtown Torrington and if anyone is interested i can give you some directions. I have started to go to it, I am the young guy with a shaved head if you happen to show up. If you do go its probably wise to bring some type of drawing board. Hope to see some of you connecticut guys around. Also I might take a ride up to Univ. of Hartford on mondays, is anyone going to that now, i hear they hold it in a different place in the fall then in the summer. Do you know if it is still in taub hall or is it in the Gray center. Any help will be appreciated. Hope to see some CA members sometime.

artwell is on 19 water street in torrington if anyone is interested.

see some of ya around
:teeth:

[bwkeough]

hey, that's a possibility. It's out of the way, but 7-10 makes it easy enough to go home for dinner before heading out again. Plus, there's that 24-hour diner just off the route 8 exit where you can get fries with cheese AND gravy and wash it down with a rum & coke after the class-- yeah a greasy spoon with a greasy bar!

How are the models, good at holding poses/finding interesting poses or are they twitchy elderly women and street people? How big are the classes?

[grand]

Tonight was only my second time going but from what i can tell there is like 10-12 regulars that come and maybe more some nights. The models are not bad, at least the ones that have been there the nights I went. Jim is the moderator and he is pretty good at drawing and is nice. The models seem to have some experience. I am probably going to start going to university of hartford on mondays. I hear they have life drawing in the gray center building in room 303 ?? i think. I have also heard there is life drawing at New Britain art league thursdays 7-10. I am in the process of applying to art schools(still in high school:nohope:) so I am trying to get a lot of life drawing under my belt. So you might see me at some of these places.

I live in southbury so it is like a 35-40 min drive to torrington(they have some construction on route 8 ) and 45-1 hour drive to university of hartford(84 traffic makes it worst most of the time)...takes quite a lot of gas and time but it is worth it.

[mikel]

What you will find is there is a group of people who go from one figure session to the next. After a while you spot familiar faces and it shouldn't be too long before you start knowing people by name. I'm planning on being at the Art League as well tomorrow night. All depends on what time I get out of work.

Rumor has it CCSU is planning on getting a figure session started in the next few weeks so I will let everyone know once I hear anything.

[SeattleThunderdome]

hey! get ready for a challenge!

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=348115#post348115

[ProjectZeppherv2]

Im from west medford- just 1 bus ride away from boston- Id definitly be interested in a sketch group thing, and could probly come almost every other day. lemme know whats up.

thanks
- Chris

[shs92645]

Good Morning to you all!

Found this forum while surfing and, as I am a life drawing model, found some good information about what is going on in Connecticut. I will add some additional information for those who may be interested:

Holcomb Farm, Granby, CT: Wednesday 7-9P Open Life Drawing
AS220, Providence, RI: Tuesday 7-10P Open Life Drawing ($5.00)
Art Center of Southboro, MA: Tuesday 10A-1P: Open Life Drawing

I also have an acquaintance that has opened a small art school in Swansea, MA who is trying to get Life Drawing going there. She is having difficulty settling on a particular night, but may also start a weekday group and provide a place where high school students can come and draw, since schools do not provide nude models to help them put together a decent portfolio for college. If this happens, I will model for that group.

I am an experienced model and have posed for schools, drawing groups, and individuals - both paid and unpaid. I am a male in my late 50's and am considered a good model. If there are any of you reasonably close to RI, please be in touch...

Have a good holiday...look forward to hearing from some of you!

Steve

[blankslatejoe]

hey everyone. Looks like I may be moving to the boston area... can anyone reccomend some good places to look for housing among the outlying areas slightly west of the city?

Right now I'm look at waltham... but I don't know much about the area. Ideally I'd like an area that has more people around my age (early-mid twenties) so I'm not bored in the off hours, and is somewhat close to the subways so I can head into the city too (although work would be located in the opposite direction) Any advice?

Basically, if anyone can tell me where NOT to live (bad areas, nothing to do, horrible traffic) than please give me some pointers!

Also, once I get there, I'm more than down with meeting up and drawing with some of you boston peoples!

[pconsidine]

Joe,

Boston has gotten really expensive all over, so I'm not really considering price in these recommendations. As far as finding people your age, there's Arlington, Camrbidge, Somerville on the northwest side, Jamaica Plain and Roslindale on the south side. There are a lot of blue-collar neighborhoods around where you can find cheap housing (Revere and neighboring towns), but they probably aren't as young or as accessible as you might like.

As far as neighborhoods in Boston proper, I lived in Allston/Brighton for 6 years and really enjoyed it (it's out between Boston U. and BC). But the area has gotten really gentrified, so housing is scarce. There's also Mission Hill, near Northeastern, but you'll get varying reports on the safety of that area. I've never known anyone who's had trouble, but other people have, so you'll just have to do your own research.

Areas like Dorchester were once pretty sketchy, but there's been a movement afoot to revive those areas. I'm not sure where it's at these days, but it might be worth checking out.

When it comes to Boston, just about anything within a certain distance from the subways will be nice - expensive, but nice.

As far as neighboring towns, they're much more family-oriented (meaning people your age), so you have to judge them in person. Waltham is nice enough. So are Woburn and Reading. But with all of them, you run into accessibility problems.

My suggestion? See if you can download a transit map from www.mbta.com. That will probably give you a ton of help as far as where you want to look.

Good luck!

[Ptree3]

joe,
I lived in Beantown while going to school, and I agree with everything PJ said, my first apt was right on mission hill and although its reputation for being a bad area is worse then its bite, I would'nt recommend it. Alston is loads of fun, lots of college students and plently to do at night. If you like things a little more quiet, I would recommend Brighton, although its best if you have your own transport. Roslandale and Jamacia Plain are great too but quite far out if you plan on spending alot of time downtown. A couple of other suggestions might be Porter square in Cambridge or Colidge corner which is south of alston. Goodluck finding a place.
-Pete aka Ptree3

BTW anyone from N.E. going to head to S.F. for the workshop, I'm going to be making the trek.

[Rkhon]

Yeah, I'm going to the workshop. Not sure when I'm leaving exactly yet, because I have yet to purchase tickets.

[blankslatejoe]

thanks guys for the response... what do you guys know about the moody street/main street... area...? it seems to come up frequently on apt. searches as a spot with lotsa restaurants and between a bunch of colleges..

Anyway, I'll be at SF too, so I'll be sure to say hello to you guys!

[bwkeough]

I don't know how wide-spread the Ocean State Job Lots discount stores are, but they have a small art supply section. Some of the stuff is undoubtedly generic or re-labled junk, but I did notice a very inexpensive plein air easel. It has a "marseille studio" label (which I've never heard of an was unable to google), is wooden and folds relatively small. It might also have storage compartments, I don't remember. I do know that it costs $50.00, which is a ton cheaper than anything at Utrecht or Dick Blick. It might be pure crap which will fall into a stack of kindling the moment your oil masterpiece is complete, but I figured I would let ya'll know about it.

[cp_manat]

maine represent!

[bwkeough]

hey guys, those of you in CT-area might want to check this thread:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=401208#post401208

a couple of us are firming up plans to meet at the Gold Roc diner in Hartford.

[bwkeough]

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