Frustrated?
Don’t Know What to do Next?
• Are you just beginning to draw or paint and don’t know where to start?
• Or have you been drawing and painting for a while now and have reached a point where you don’t know what to do next?
• Are you frustrated with trying to figure out a new technique or working with new materials?
Learn the Fundamentals
Learning the fundamentals of drawing and painting is often overlooked but starting with these always gives an artist a foundation to grow on.
Work with a Professional Artist
We all sometimes get stuck when trying to grow as an artist, and working with a professional artist as a mentor is something that students and artists have been doing for centuries.
Break Through the Frustration
Working with a mentor will help to break the frustration of learning a new technique or working with new materials.
Let Me Introduce Myself
I’m Robert Louis Caldwell, and I love to draw and paint. I have been painting since the late 1990s and have been drawing since I was two years old. I have the proof; my mom saved my first drawing of a Tractor Trailer.
My passion for creating art has evolved into sharing my knowledge with others through my weekly mentoring studios. Nothing brings me more joy than seeing that smile on a student’s face when they have created something new and spectacular.
I have been teaching since 2010, and now that I have this platform, I get the opportunity to teach from my studio into yours. During this weekly studio time, students work on their drawings and paintings in a virtual in-person studio. The class is a dedicated time each week for students to work, ask technique and compositional questions, and receive feedback through an open discussion. As a group, students learn more than just what their challenge is because all discussions/critiques are done on-screen; everyone learns from each other's challenges.
I am honored to be named an Associate Living Master with the Art Renewal Center, an organization promoting skills-based training, standards, and excellence in visual arts. All courses taught by me are ARC approved.
I love what I do, and I love sharing and helping students build their knowledge by working with color and brushwork!
Mentoring Studio - Thursday Mornings
Tuesdays, 9:30 am-12 pm ET.
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
*Two seats are available in this Mentorship Studio.
All classes are held via Zoom. It is extremely easy to use and very interactive.
Before enrolling, please visit the Technology Needs page to ensure you have everything needed to participate in the online class, ensuring a great experience.
What do you get with your weekly mentorship studio?
• A dedicated two and half hours a week to work on your drawings or paintings and receive feedback on your current project.
• A friendly and encouraging environment with fellow supportive students.
• Visual feedback and critiques show you in real-time what the suggested changes will look like, and then the altered image can be sent back to you.
• Artists of various skill levels learn from each other, being exposed to advanced artists and being reminded of the fundamentals.
Your tuition subscription gives you immediate access to;
- All of the courses I have to offer allowing you to sharpen your skills with my precise and clear real-time video instruction.
- All of my demonstration courses are where you can watch how I create some of my drawings and paintings.
- To all of my Artists Resources, these courses cover how to gesso a panel, photograph your art, access to my Color Charts, and many more as these continue to grow.
- To my growing reference library that you can use as you wish to create your unique compositions.
- And as long as you are a student in the mentoring studio, you will have early access to new courses I create.
Want to Know More?
Explore the curriculum in my drawing and painting courses, demonstrations, and artists’ resources below.
There is a free lesson preview in several of the courses' modules.
The courses, demonstrations, and artists’ resources will continue to build over the years,
and as a mentoring student, you will gain access to these as they are produced.
Ready to start working with me? Apply Today!
To apply for my Thursday Evening weekly mentoring studio, Click on the “Ready? Apply Today!” below and fill out the application form. I will respond to your application within a few days after receiving it.
Not sure, Need More Information?
Not sure if this will work for you or if you would like to know more information about my mentoring studios. Click on the button below and fill out the application form. If you want to schedule a video call with me, check the yes box on the application form. And if you would like to visit a class before subscribing to the class, check the yes button on the application form for that as well.
I work and instruct in graphite pencil and oil paint. However, I have artists working in various mediums, such as watercolor, acrylic, colored pencil, and pastel. Any student working with me is told up front that if you are working in a medium other than graphite pencil and oil paint, I may not always be able to answer your questions regarding materials and techniques of the medium you are working in.
The monthly tuition subscription is $145 per month
- The subscription renews automatically on the day of the month that you first joined the studio.
- The monthly subscription covers 40 weeks of instruction per 12 months averaging 3.5 weeks of instruction per month. This accounts for holidays and time off; you might have a month with five classes and another with only two classes.
- Most years, I end up scheduling more than 40 weeks.
- There are no refunds for any missed classes. If you miss a class, we can schedule a 15-minute meeting via zoom at a time that works best for you and me or attend another class on a different day.
- If you know, you will miss several classes. You can cancel your subscription until you are ready to resume.
A Dedicated Weekly Time to Grow as an Artist
• By joining a weekly mentoring studio, you'll be joining a nurturing community of fellow artists, all learning from each other questions from the comfort of your studios.
• You can break the frustration of learning something new by working with me and receiving weekly feedback on your projects.
• You will gain access to my growing course library, Demonstrations, Artists Resources, and Reference Library.
Testimonials
Students who have taken my Mentoring Studio want to share what they have learned and gained from this course.
"I walk into a class (and now “ZOOM” in) and know I will come out with a new piece of knowledge..."
I have been a student of Robert’s for almost 2 years. Even though I had taken art classes for a number of years before, I have learned so much in these years. I walk into a class (and now “ZOOM” in) and know I will come out with a new piece of knowledge about color, value, light and/or composition! Robert’s use of Photoshop during class is a fantastic tool in our new virtual environment. The whole class feels invested in everyone’s artwork as we trade input. Robert is a mentor to each student no matter your experience, medium, or style.
-Karen Knorr
Painting in oil and has been a student since July 2018.
"...using his wonderful grasp of technology with his obvious love of teaching has made the classes even better "
I came to Robert in 2014 shortly after I retired and decided to try drawing and painting. Robert started me from the very beginning with shapes and their values. I still use these basic concepts as I have grown as an artist and love both drawing and painting. The pandemic threw all of us into limbo...but not for long. Robert, using his wonderful grasp of technology with his obvious love of teaching has made the classes even better as we ZOOM along. To be able to send a photo of a piece I'm working on each week for help on compositing, composing, and value makes each week a wonderful learning experience for me. He will draw on my photo in Photoshop and pinpoint exactly where I need to work next. I also love the camaraderie we students have in our class. I think we have become even closer to each other through zooming than we were painting in his studio where it was easy to concentrate only on what I was doing. Now I can learn as he helps each student in the class. I can find a nugget that I hadn't thought of before. In addition, since I take all my own reference photos he has helped me combine various photos to make a better composition. I plan to take lessons for years.
-Mary Lee Wetzel
Paints in Oils and has been a student since 2014
"RLC has provided the structure and discipline I need to develop as an artist."
Working under Robert has opened my eyes to graphite drawing. While I knew a bit about drawing, I didn’t know how to bring true depth to the paper. Robert’s mentoring classes have equipped me with the tools of values, tone, and composition. What I continue to learn is that drawing is seeing and presenting what you see in a way that captures reality. RLC, artist, teacher, and school, have provided the structure and discipline I need to develop as an artist.
-Rich Turney
Works with graphite pencil and has been a student since 2018.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I need to take a break from classes?
If you want to take a break, click on your account button in the upper right corner and select the “Manage Subscriptions” option. Then click on the “Cancel” button to end your subscription; your subscription will end at the end of your billing cycle.
When you are ready to rejoin your mentoring studio, simply resubscribe.
What if I am sick or am going on vacation and I will miss a scheduled class?
There are no refunds for any missed classes. If you miss a class, we can schedule a 15-minute meeting via zoom at a time that works best for you and me or attend another class on a different day.
If I cancel my tuition subscription, will I still have access to the drawing and painting courses, demonstrations, and artists’ resources?
No, once you cancel your tuition subscription, you will no longer have access to the drawing and painting courses, demonstrations, and artists’ resources. They are directly linked to your Mentoring Studio enrollment.