Art and painting lessons at home in South Orange, NJ

Start small, finish something

A first art lesson tends to be modest on purpose. A few pencil exercises, a simple still life of whatever's on the counter, a first watercolor wash. The teacher wants you to leave with something finished, even if it's small, because that's what makes people want a second lesson.

Many teachers bring supplies for the early weeks, so there's no need to stock up. Profiles say what each teacher brings.

Lessons move at your pace. If you'd like to spend three weeks on pencil before touching paint, that's fine. If you want color from day one, the teacher will set out a simple palette and show you how to mix without making mud. Most teachers write a few notes after each visit about what you worked on and what's next.

Looking at art in town

The Baird Community Center in Meadowland Park houses the Pierro Gallery, and it's an easy place to look at real work by artists working now. Some students like to visit, pick a piece they admire, and ask their teacher to show them how the artist might have done that texture or color.

Meadowland Park also has a sculpture park and a duck pond, both good subjects. Ducks are hard to draw, which makes them a good challenge.

SOPAC, by the train station, hosts plenty of performances and films, and some students like to sketch scenes from memory after a show. It's a fun exercise and a good way to practice drawing people.

Who enjoys it

Art lessons suit people who like quiet concentration, people who always said they couldn't draw and want to find out, and retired professionals who miss the feeling of getting better at something. Tremors and weaker eyesight aren't deal breakers. Bigger paper, bolder materials and good light help a lot.

Over weeks, a lot of students fill a sketchbook. It becomes a kind of diary.

Some students paint for themselves and never show anyone. Others mail a small watercolor to a grandchild every month. Both are good reasons to pick up a brush.

What it costs

Each teacher sets an hourly rate between $50 and $150. Lessons can be 1, 1.5 or 2 hours; 1.5 hours suits watercolor, which needs drying time. A $2.50 booking fee and a 10% service fee are added at checkout. Teachers who live 20 or more miles away add a $25 travel fee per visit.