Students work on their drawing skills at Drawn2Art in Leander. (Courtesy Drawn2Art)
Fine art studio Drawn2Art is dedicated to teaching drawing and painting as concrete skills, driven by the philosophy that “creativity follows mastery,” director Anna Sheklow said.
What they offer
Students in Drawn2Art’s classes begin with drawing and eventually move on to painting, manager Tatiana Gorunov said. Classes are available for children, teens and adults. The studio’s youngest students start at age 4.
Students are taught using individualized programs that allow them to move at their own pace, Sheklow explained.
The studio’s step-by-step method of teaching traditional techniques ensures that any student can become a skilled artist, regardless of what level of experience or ability they start with, she said.
“The way we teach is the way the masters were teaching centuries ago,” Sheklow said. “This is how Rembrandt and Picasso and all the other great artists learned to draw.”
A student poses with a drawing of a cat at Drawn2Art in Leander. (Courtesy Drawn2Art)
Why it matters
Art classes help improve fine motor skills, especially for young children, Sheklow said. They can also teach students the focus and patience needed to concentrate on a task for long periods of time.
“It’s not just about the art, but it’s about teaching them other skills that can help them in life,” she said. “... Detaching from technology for an hour and a half for an 8- or 9-year-old and being off a TV, tablet or computer is pretty important in this day and age."
Drawn2Art teaches students ages 4 and up, director Anna Sheklow said. (Courtesy Drawn2Art)
About the company
Drawn2Art is a family-owned company that was started by Sheklow’s parents, Ed and Sher Warren, in 1986 in California. The company is led today by Sher Warren and her two daughters.
“For 40 years, we’ve stuck to who we are,” Sheklow said. “And I think that’s a real testament to what my parents have done.”
Drawn2Art operates 17 studios, mostly on the West Coast. The Leander location is the company’s first in Texas.
Being family-owned helps the company to create a welcoming environment that keeps students and teachers alike coming back for years, Sheklow said.
“I love seeing [my students] every week and seeing how they grow,” said Gorunov, who has been with the company for 22 years. “When a teacher loves what they’re doing, they pass that passion along to their students and the students feel that.”
