See Artwork by Drop-in Drawing Participants

The Denver Art Museum’s Community Spotlight is celebrating a decade of drawing with an exhibit in the Creative Hub that features the museum’s Drop-in Drawing program. Since fall 2013, Drop-in Drawing has been inspiring creativity and connection in our community. This program activates exhibits all throughout the museum by inviting participants to fully immerse themselves with the creative process. They get to draw their favorite artworks in the gallery using their choice of methods with provided materials. At the end of each session, participants come together to engage in meaningful discussions about their drawing experiences.

This program, which I organize in collaboration with the Lifelong Learning & Accessibility team, has provided the community with a fabulous way to experiment, explore, and discover more about art at the museum through drawing. This Community Spotlight highlights 14 artists who attend Drop-in Drawing on a regular basis, as well as collaborative artworks that include drop-in participants. It’s fun to rediscover artworks from the past 10 years at the museum through their renderings. The exhibit also includes art created during Drop-in Drawing’s free virtual programs in which participants are invited to create art while they listen to art historical presentations, guest artists, and technique demonstrations.

The exhibit includes interactive moments inviting you to scan QR codes to watch virtual demos and create a drawing onsite to add to the exhibit.

I look forward to the first Tuesday of each month with the anticipation that I will learn something new and that I will be challenged to create something worthy of being shared with fellow classmates. At the end of each session, I will be amazed at some of the work by fellow classmates. Most of all, it will be fun.

– Jim Golanty

people drawing in one of the galleries during a Drop-in Drawing class

The program has explored hundreds of themes and techniques—from pastel on the plaza, to perspective on the bridge, to drawing dance, and more! Drop-in Drawing creates a safe, supportive environment for attendees to learn, discover, and create. Over the years, each Drop-in Drawing participant has contributed to the growth and success of this program. In appreciation for a decade of drawings and dynamic discussions, we asked our group of participating Drop-in Drawing artists what they appreciated most about the program:

“Drop-in Drawing holds space for me to try something I want to do, but find difficult to do alone.” - Arryel Andraud

“Drop-in Drawing has allowed me to hone my skills, exercise my creativity, meet some lovely people who look at the world in wildly different ways, and just plain enjoy the process.” - Shaun Armour

”Since elementary school, I have had an interest in drawing, but most of the time I was able to find other interests to distract me. Because of Drop-in Drawing, I have become more passionate about art, refined my approach to drawing, and have gained a better understanding of art and its impact on society.” - Tim Garling

“I always learn something new—either about the process of creating, the history of a genre of art or as a role model in how to be encouraging and supportive of artists at all different levels of experience.” - Danica Larson

“Being in the Denver Art Museum once a month keeps me in touch with exceptional art. During the pandemic, and during the recent Zoom sessions, Anna has done a masterful job of putting together programs about art not available to us at the DAM. Her own and other artists’ demos have been especially interesting and helpful.” - Jean Sidinger

We always welcome new visitors to Drop-in Drawing! Check our website for program information.