Fall 2021 – Session 1 – Virtual Classes

Drawing Exploration
Michelle Champlin
9/13-10/4
Mondays 4-5 pm


Drawing Exploration is a fun and unique drawing class that gives students an opportunity to express themselves creatively while experimenting with representational and abstract concepts and techniques. Required supplies include pencil, colored pencil set, eraser, pencil sharpener, and paper.  No drawing experience necessary. This is an interactive class-participation is required.  To fully benefit from this class, you will need video and audio access.

Please contact sfrpdatthemix@gmail.com for any questions regarding the virtual classes.


Media Portfolio Prep Workshop
Barbara Pollak-Lewis
9/13-11/8
Mondays 5-6 pm

Planning to apply to Ruth Asawa SOTA or OSA (Oakland School of the Arts) for Visual Art? Need a portfolio but not sure where to start? This 8-class workshop will help you get a jump on your drawing portfolio, polish your skills, and boost your confidence.  We’ll focus on still life, figure drawing, portraits, proportions, hands, and faces. You’ll need:  8×10” or 11” x 14” pad of drawing paper, drawing pencils in assorted sizes (2H, H, HB, B, 2B, 4B), white eraser, kneaded eraser, vine charcoal, small sketchbook, colored pencil set, blending stump(s).  Optional: set of watercolors, acrylic paints and brushes. This is an interactive class – participation is required.  To fully benefit from this class, you will need video and audio access.


Please contact sfrpdatthemix@gmail.com for any questions regarding the virtual classes.


Painting Possibilities
Michelle Champlin
9/14-10/5
Tuesdays 5-6 pm

Painting Possibilities is a one-of-a-kind painting class that stimulates imagination and creative expression while teaching foundational painting techniques and using real world visual references.  No painting experience necessary. Materials needed: Water-based paint (acrylic or watercolor), watercolor paper (or prepped canvas, or another surface that can withstand wet paint), a few varied sized paint brushes.This is an interactive class – participation is required.  To fully benefit from this class, you will need video and audio access.

Please contact sfrpdatthemix@gmail.com for any questions regarding the virtual classes.


Digital Photography
Quincy Stamper
9/14-10/5
Tuesdays:  4-5 pm


This course will help the students become well rounded in the fundamentals of digital photography. Four areas of instruction will be emphasized: How you handle your cameras, how composition works, how lighting works, how to use photos in a creative way. Students will, generally, receive basic instruction, demonstration, and see samples of the desired outcomes, at the beginning of each period.  The majority of class time will be held outdoors for photographing. Perhaps the most useful part of classroom instruction will be daily reviews of photos students have shot the previous day(s). They will see what makes a successful photo and what does not.  Camera requirements:  DSLR, point-and-shoot, or smartphone camera can be used for this class.  This class can be repeated. This is an interactive class-participation is required.  To fully benefit from this class, you will need video and audio access.  NOTE:  You will need to check-in and show yourself in the video for us to take attendance.

Please contact sfrpdatthemix@gmail.com for any questions regarding the virtual classes.


Animation 1 in Blender
Allen Paul
9/15-10/6
Wednesdays 3-4 pm

Learn to navigate through Blender to create your own models, characters, and animations. Blender is the free and open-source 3D creation suite.  More information about Blender at:  https://www.blender.org/download
This is an interactive class – participation is required.  To fully benefit from this class, you will need video and audio access.
Please contact sfrpdatthemix@gmail.com for any questions regarding the virtual classes.
Week 1 – “Basic Controls” 
Learn how to navigate through Blender
Learn basic modeling technics
Week 2 – “Model a Character”
Take the modeling to the next level by modeling a character
Can be a car, human, prop, anything
Week 3 – “Rigging in Blender”
Take the Model and add bones to make it move
Add controllers to be ready to animate them
Week 4 – “Animate Your Character”
Take your new rigged character and learn to animate it

Please contact sfrpdatthemix@gmail.com for any questions regarding the virtual classes.


Animation 2 in Blender – Intro to Blender with Rigging
Allen Paul
9/15-10/6
Wednesdays 5-6 pm


Learn the basic building blocks to bring your models to life. Add in joints and controls to allow your models to be animated.   Must have taken Animation 1 in Blender course through SFPL at the Mix or have finished these two tutorials in Lynda.com.   Introduction to 3D by George Maestri Chapters 1 – 6 AND Sculpting a Game Asset in Blender by Darrin Lile. Student must have Blender already downloaded onto your computer before the first class. This is an interactive class – participation is required.  To fully benefit from this class, you will need video and audio access.
Week 1: Introduction to rigging basics
Project: Rigging an arm
Week 2: Rigging FK and IK
Project: Rigging Arms and Legs
Week 3: Checking 3d Models Topology
Project: Modeling a Character to Rig
Week 4: Object Parenting Spacing
Project: Adding Object spacing to rig built

Please contact sfrpdatthemix@gmail.com for any questions regarding the virtual classes.


Animation – Advanced Blender Workshop
Allen Paul
9/16-10/7
Thursdays 5-6 pm


Where do the teens go after learning how to model, rig, and animate in Blender?  Advanced Animation Workshop. We go over what teens are creating and all work together to help each other out.  We finesse building rigs, try new animation techniques, and model the next video game.  This is an all-level, open workshop for devotees. Student must have Blender already downloaded onto your computer before the first class. This is an interactive class – participation is required.  To fully benefit from this class, you will need video and audio access.

Please contact sfrpdatthemix@gmail.com for any questions regarding the virtual classes.


Cut!: Create SFX for Social Media and short films
Allen Paul
9/15-10/6
Wednesdays 4-5 pm


Learn how to use in camera techniques to create cooler videos for social media and short films.  Each class will feature a different topic.  This class can be repeated. This is an interactive class-participation is required.  To fully benefit from this class, you will need video and audio access.

Please contact sfrpdatthemix@gmail.com for any questions regarding the virtual classes.


How’d They Do That?: Behind the Scenes of Movie Magic & SFX 
Allen Paul
9/16-10/7

Thursdays 4-5 pm

Breaking down how camera crews and editors create your favorite special effects in movies.  Each class will feature a different topic.  This class can be repeated.   This is an interactive class – participation is required. To fully benefit from this class, you will need video and audio access.

Please contact sfrpdatthemix@gmail.com for any questions regarding the virtual classes.