When Bucks County native Amanda Layre opened her fine art studio 12 years ago, she wanted to share her passion with her neighbors and children in the community. “I love art and being creative,” she says. “I felt there was a need for a place that students could go and receive art instruction in a positive environment.”
Today, as owner of Amanda Layre’s Fine Art Studio, located at 33 Union St. in Doylestown, she teaches the fundamentals of artistic creation to over 100 eager students.
Layre works with both adult students and teenagers, but the bulk of her clientele is made up of elementary-aged children pursuing art outside normal school programs. “Most children love art and are open to learning new things,” she says.
Teaching two to three classes a day on a flexible Tuesday through Saturday schedule, each session lasts 90 minutes, which, according to Layre, is usually enough time for students to get settled and accomplish something they’re pleased with. “Once the kids get going, it’s totally quiet,” she says. “It usually surprises a lot of parents.”
A typical class consists of 10 to 12 students, all of whom work on independent projects, often in different media. “This allows the students to go at their own pace,” she explains. Layre offers each student individual instruction and as much positive feedback as she can. “The children are all different ages and possess varying skill levels,” she continues. “I’m constantly changing gears, which is part of what keeps teaching interesting for me.”
As a mother of two young children, Layre knows the importance of a kind word and a gentle touch. Her teaching focuses on developing each student’s confidence, along with style and technique. “A lot of people call what I do art therapy because of the unique environment,” she says. “My goal is to instill self-esteem in my students by creating an atmosphere where they feel comfortable expressing themselves. In my opinion, there’s no such thing as ‘bad’ art.’”
As an instructor, Layre describes her methodology as “linear.” Once a student enrolls, the learning process is continually moving forward. She begins with an explanation of how the brain works during the drawing process and assigns age and skill-appropriate activities to each student. The students start in pencil and then transition to charcoal and chalk pastel. Layre believes it’s important to give students as much choice as possible in terms of subject matter and color palette.
“I find that if children are allowed to work in one medium for an extended period of time, they will develop skills in that area,” she says. “This is something that isn’t always possible in a more structured school environment.”
During the school year, Layre offers her “Pencil, Charcoal and Chalk Pastel” class, which emphasizes drawing and visual skills, in both afternoon and evening sessions. Students typically work from photographs and still-lifes and produce original works of art as the class progresses. Her summer offerings include classes focused on acrylics, watercolors and life drawing. Ceramics classes are taught year round by Amy Palmer, the art teacher at both Jamison and Cold Spring Elementary schools.
As a means to take her students’ work outside the studio, Layre’s hosts two art shows a year. “The shows are chance for the kids to show off their work to a wider audience,” she says. “Parents are usually pleasantly surprised by the quality of their children’s work.”
Layre says she looks forward to each show as a chance to engage with the community that has sustained her business and fostered her unique teaching philosophy. “Bucks County is a very artsy area,” she continues. “People are very supportive of their children having this kind of experience. I’m just lucky to be able to share my gifts in this way.”
Layre’s next show will be held at the Doylestown Presbyterian Church on April 17 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Go online at www.alfineartstudio.com