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What a wonderful experience! The Atelier is a breeding ground for creativity. James provides excellent guidance through the art of drawing, sculpting and painting and highly encourages in depth study of human anatomy.
Our class was very intimate and I just loved being surrounded by likeminded intellectuals, discussing art, perspective and philosophy. I will be back
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The experience for my grandson was excellent! His progress was made all the better due to his professor who explained throughly where he could expand his knowledge. I’m looking forward to set up additional classes for him.
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Very informative and beautiful space, makes you motivated to draw and feel out your own skills. James the instructor was so kind and made my sister and I feel right at home and help with drawing pointers. Best art class by far with demonstrations and kind words thay push us to be better.
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James was among the best teachers I’ve ever had - patient, passionate, and devoted. Was such a pleasure to take his class!
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Incredible time! James genuinely works with each individual and meets them where they are at. I am an absolute beginner and felt comfortable leaning into the process and thoroughly enjoyed opening myself up to a new skill set!
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Amazing! The instructor is inspiring:) and givers one on one attention to you. Highly recommend
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Passionate teacher, generous with time, answered questions
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I can't say enough about how amazing my first class was. James was extremely friendly, intelligible, and genuinely dedicated to helping me exceed. I left the class feeling motivated and excited to learn more.
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James was amazing from the beginning of the class to the end. This is my first time taking drawing classes, I didn't know what to expect, but it was a small group and everyone was friendly and so talented working on their own pieces of art, I learned a lot. I was supposed to stay only two hours but James let me stay longer. I recommend this class, take it, you will not regret!
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I loved working with James - he is very generous with his time and clearly has a passion for both teaching and art. It is a very unique space and program that he has set up, simply a one-of-a-kind experience. I will be coming back!
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If you’re interested in learning how to draw- I’d highly recommend this class.
James is really good at creating a welcoming environment, is obviously super knowledgeable and most importantly for me at least- really good at giving targeted, transferable and immediately actionable feedback in a firm but positive way.
I really felt like he was looking closely at my work and really tailoring advice. The value honestly far exceeded the price and I’ve definitely paid more for less.
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The class was great! I am a total beginner with drawing and was able to learn a lot in just one class! Everyone at the school was kind and helpful
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Knowledgeable instructor and intimate and friendly environment.
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Really thorough informative class that is tailored to your skill level. I learned so much in the few hours of class and left energized and motivated to continue learning more. The instructor’s passion is contagious! Can’t wait to come back.
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A fascinating and informative class! James takes his time to cater to the needs of his students and is enthusiastic about sharing his vast knowledge. Overall, a wonderful experience!
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James was enthusiastic about the class. I told him what I want to learn, and he was trying to teach me as much as he could.
I could def tell he is so good and amazing at his artwork so I would def take another class going forward. highly recommended
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The class was beyond my explanations. Professor James is very knowledgeable and talented in his craft. Highly recommend!
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Fantastic class. I learned more in this one class than all my years taking art growing up. Highly recommend.
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What an amazing class! The space was so cool and the students were super kind to eachother. James (the professor) was incredible. He was so supportive and had amazing tips to gain accuracy in my portrait drawing class. I can't wait to go back. This place is way more than just an art class; it's a school, a community, and a safe haven for all those lovers of art. Highly recommend. ❤️
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I traveled from Denmark to take part in this class. It was a fantastic class with James. It was very inspiring and I learned a lot. I can absolutely recommend it.
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Absolutely for what I was searching for
James is amazing i can absolutely recommend anybody this drawings class it’s not just a class but you will find a person in front of you that loves what he does and that’s the most important thing for me 110% yes if you are searching for a professional teacher they can explain you everything about art
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This class was amazing! The space is really cool and relaxing. The teacher, James is super knowledgeable. Overall, would highly recommend to anyone into/ trying to get back into drawing.
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Outstaying class! Get lots of one on one instruction and learn a very structured way to learn how to draw. Will make me better at drawing for sure.
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Teacher was a very nice man, and good at what he does. Enjoyed the class, would recommend.
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High energy. Lots of material. Careful hands-on instruction.
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Wonderful and talented instructors (artists!). Who foster such a warm, welcoming and wonderfully creative environment. We are looking forward to the next set of classes.
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Amazing class! James is a gifted, hands-on teacher and we learned so much about our strengths & weaknesses as artists. This definitely helped build on our foundational skills and we showed great improvement by the end of the class. Will 100% be returning!
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An amazing class. James is an incredible teacher. I feel very lucky to have found this class. I feel like I’ve grown as an artist after just one session
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Excellent intro to drawing class - James was so kind and warm and made you feel excited to be there! He started with a quick tour and background of the school, then led us through some exercises that demonstrated so clearly the skill you’ve gained by the time the class was over. I definitely plan to sign up for additional classes.
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I took James class a few weeks ago. I had a great time and learned a lot just being there for a few hours . James is very talented and a great instructor . I felt a bit nervous at first but with his instructions and guidance made the experience feel a lot more comfortable. thank you !
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James is awesome and inspiring. His Atelier Method of instruction, was exactly what I looking for and I didn't even know it.
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Appreciate the masters of a craft. I give compliment to the attitude of master artist Jack Xavier Barber. I can compliment the instructions and information given by him that increased my knowledge. I determine that continuous occupation inside this Atelier facility will excel any persons ability at creating art. I love
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James is so passionate about creating and teaching art, and he is an excellent, attentive teacher. Not a lot of art studios around here so I really appreciate finding this one.
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Incredibly grateful to have attended this session. Such a dope inviting space, James is such a phenomenal artist so just being able to see a combination of both his finished and unfinished work was so inspiring. Despite such a short session I feel like I truly walked away changed by our interaction not just from the exercise and all the tips he imparted but the conversations and being in the space and presence of such seasoned and serious yet humble artist was very motivational. Im eager to explore more course options with him in the future and would definitely recommend giving this course a try.
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James was amazing as an art teacher - would definitely come to do this next time I'm here!
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I highly recommend James’ class! He is extremely talented, patient, generous and warm. James spent longer than the two hours allotted to teach my friend and me. He wanted to make sure it was a memorable experience for us. It was highly personalized. I left with much improved drawing ability. I am so glad I got to learn from such a wonderful instructor in James!
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The atelier was really a unique location and the teacher James is tremendously skilled tutor, & incredibly welcoming, with a vast knowledge base.Within the two hours I had learned so many techniques and it was great to see how much I developed & made progress in a few hours of the intro class.
Due to the small class size the course offers some one-on-one focused tuition & James tailored his tutorial to my skill level. Hearing him encouraging & working with other students was very inspiring. I would highly recommend the class.
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Great class, small class size with lots of 1 on 1 instruction!
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James was a very knowledgeable teacher. He was patient, offered great feedback, and guided me on how to improve. I would highly recommend this class for anyone wanting to be a better artist, including people like me who are just starting out!
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FANTASTIC intro class. James was an incredible teacher and helped me progress more than I thought possible in a few hours. I highly recommend this course and will be back for more!
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This experience surpassed our expectations. It was such high quality, engrossing, and worthwhile. Prof. James spent so much time and took great care to meet us where we are and to inspire us to integrate an artistic practice into our daily lives. He is genuinely committed to the craft of teaching. Very down to earth and comfortable studios.
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Hi, I learned a lot but was hoping for more people to be in the class. Overall though it was good
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Lots of fun. Learned a lot and made progress in my drawing.
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Prof. Barbour is very passionate about teaching all of his students his techniques to the best of his ability. I quite enjoyed picking up several new skills over the course of just a few hours! I was a bit nervous at first because learning a new skill is sometimes very intimidating, but he was kind and eager to teach me the basics. I would highly recommend visiting the Atelier for anyone interested in making art.
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This art class was very helpful. I learned a new technique on how to shade using cross hatching. The instructor was also very informative and provided good criticism. Also, he is a great painter. Have to check them out while you're there. Would definitely recommend!
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This class was an excellent plunge into the world of visual arts for someone with enthusiasm but whose skills are rusty. James did a great job of diagnosing patterns in my technique from the outset and giving me tangible advice for which aspects to focus on. I also appreciated his tour of the studio space and his explanation of different pieces and the styles they represent. I would recommend this class to anyone looking to get their feet wet in drawing and anyone seeking a welcoming yet serious environment in which to practice.
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We spent an amazing time with James. His passion for art is infectious and his skill at teaching his love of art is truly a gift. Our time with him flew by as if transported to another realm, having to be dragged back to reality when we had to leave. In just a few hours our drawings went from mere scribbles to what actually looked like an ear. Most importantly he instilled in us the confidence and desire to continue our path to Art. We visited the MET the next day with a new and valuable perspective. We will definitely visit again.
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The Barbours are excellent teachers, each with an extensive history of art-making as well as a current, modern body of work. The class sizes are small and provide individual attention. Anatomy is studied rigourously as well as technique. Homeworks are encouraged. If requested they will also discuss their history with art, how to make money creating art in the digital age, and different materials and implements. In later classes, live models are used, but usually you work from Barque plates, figures, and statues.
Great class, and worth your time if you're serious about drawing.
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James is a patient and encouraging teacher. His class is a great mix of beginners and advanced students. The class is small enough that everyone gets the individual attention they need. The studio has a great welcoming vibe. I would highly recommend any of his classes. - D
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Fantastic class. I really cant recommend it enough. James was attentive, experienced, and an all around excellent teacher. He managed to pinpoint the areas you needed the most help with and gave you feedback in a positive, motivating way. Everything from James's proficiency, warmth, and enthusiasm for art made me feel so lucky to have taken the class. It was a wonderful experience.
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James is a very charismatic and passionate person. I've never been good at art, but he has manage to teach me simple techniques to draw. Nevertheless, I highly recommend taking any of his drawing classes, for those who want to learn and experience something new.
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In short, this class was a revelation. When I signed up for this class I did not consider myself an artist, and certainly not a sculptor. James showed me otherwise.
He is as talented a teacher, as he is a fine artist. I learned so much in this course. It’s more than just sculpting, it’s anatomy, philosophy, drafting, studying light and shadow and more. This class was honestly an inspiration. It allowed me to pursue artistic abilities I didn’t know I had. Abilities we all have and maybe just haven’t nurtured enough. I am proud of what I made and proud to call myself a sculptor now.
I look forward to working with James again on another project and would highly recommend this class to anyone interested in sculpture. Two thumbs up. 10/10. 5-stars.
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James took great pains to get me to see that I was working towards a greater artistic goal. He was patient, informative and resourceful. He made form and anatomy a pleasurable subject to study. I would not hesitate to attend his classes.
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James is a wonderful teacher. I learned so many techniques for improving and making really great pencil drawings. Highly recommend this class!
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What a special experience! From the moment I walked in, I felt so welcome, and the level of personal attention and the overall vibe was truly other-worldly. I kept wondering what the catch was, but I left feeling as if I was welcome to come back, but not pressured to. I think that will actually make it so much more likely I'll head back very soon!
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Great class! Very patient and friendly teacher. Learned a ton
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Learning at Decorus has been an absolute pleasure. As I've spent more time there, I've seen how well and thoughtfully James adapts his teaching style to each new student. I've been amazed how much I've improved in the last month and could not recommend more highly.
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James is an excellent artist and teacher and all around great guy. He is inspiring to work with and seems to truly enjoy getting the best out of his students. This is a great starter starter course but also worth taking if you have some experience sculpting. James is very hands on, not afraid to criticize but also very motivational.
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Very explicit and simple.
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It was a great experience, James was a great artist and teacher and super nice.
The please from the inside was above my expectations, I thought it would be just a normal school but actually it was where James lives and it was full of great art pieces that was done by James, his wife and there students, there were a couple of rooms each one of them is for a different type of art.
It was a good experience and I totally recommend it.
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Hi!
This was a lovely class. James and Laura were very gentle and with a lot of patience to explain different techniques.
It has been a great experience.
Also they give me many tips to improve my skills.
I really recommend them! They are so profesional!
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In summary:
The instructor has a near encyclopedic knowledge and superb technical skill with the philosophy of a true artist to back it up.
In detail/My experience:
The location at a glance, especially when you first arrive, seems peculiar but it absolutely does not reflect the inside. Once you enter and get a tour of the place, you definitely see how skilled and masterful the artists residing in this location. The teacher there really will try to understand you then guide your craft from the simple foundation. As such you really have to let go of your grounded understanding of art. You have to start from the beginning, master that, then you can continue on to more of the fun stuff from there. So if you're looking for a teacher that will give you the proverbial tools from becoming a flawed artist to a master of craft then this is the right place.
Sign up, be patient, be willing, and be ready to learn.
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Brilliant - James is extremely meticulous and knowledgeable, as well as being a great teacher and communicator. Highly recommended if you would like to do something creative, instructive and different.
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Small class size, individualized care and attention. They meet the student at whatever level they are at and invested in helping them grow. Very genuine and kind teachers who helped me progress a lot in a short amount of time, thank you!
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Great instruction, extremely helpful and informative.