How this course works, what to expect, and what you do/don't need to have on hand to get started.
Most people who want to "make art" never do, not because they lack talent, but because they don't know where to start and maybe feel a tiny bit intimidated by Real Art People.
This is the every-person's bridge into the world of art.
How each module works
Every module follows the same simple shape, so you always know what to expect:
A short overview of the medium โ what it is, what it's good for, what it takes to get started
A hands-on video lesson โ me, doing the actual work, so you can watch technique instead of just reading about it
A one-page handout with a practice exercise and a tools/supplies list, so you know exactly what to buy and what to do with it
A short companion art history lesson โ enough context to understand where the medium came from and why it still matters
These are short, accessible lessons. They require no prior experience and no fancy supplies.
No lecture halls. No art-school jargon. Just the version of this class I wish more people got to take.
We'll cover 5 different art-making media + 1 lifetime practice
Drawing โ Pencil ยท Pen and Ink ยท Charcoal ยท Pastel
Painting โ Watercolor ยท Oil ยท Acrylic
Printmaking โ Block Print ยท Gelli Print ยท Printing Press Processes
Photography โ Film ยท Digital ยท Alternative Process
Mixed Media โ Collage ยท 3D
Closing module โ Making Art Part of Daily Life: how to keep a practice going once the course ends
Who this is for
Art 101 is built for beginners who've always wanted to try, and for enthusiasts who already have a favorite medium and want a real reason to try more. If you've been circling a hobby you've never let yourself start, or you keep meaning to pick up a paintbrush "someday," this is the someday.
About your teacher
I'm Jennifer Balink. I hold what my father called "the world's most useless college degree," a bachelor's in art history/visual art. I started my career in art education, and stumbled into 3+ decades in marketing and strategic planning work. But art is, and has always been, the root of how I help people and organizations find the clear idea inside the complicated one. Art 101 is where those my two lives intersect: real technique, taught simply, with enough history and context to make it stick.
How this course works, what to expect, and what you do/don't need to have on hand to get started.