craft tutoring

let’s deepen

your craft

together

1-on-1 support to help you improve your skills, start a project, finally finish that sketchbook, or refine what you put out in the world.

Time with me, focused on your creative craft.

30 min sessions start at just $40

explore my options

what are my clients saying?

Mel has been my north star throughout my journey as an artist. Through their experience, expertise, and kind heart, I have been able to make art I could not have imagined three months ago—when we first began our sessions together. My lessons have all been tailored to my interests and goals as a creative.

- Payton (current tutoring client, drawing focus)

Mel is wonderful. They have so much knowledge and share every bit of it. They are enthusiastic, supportive, and a great teacher. I loved learning how to mix colors and draw using the grid method.

- Michele (former tutoring client, painting focus)

tutoring sessions typically take

one of two shapes

Direct Feedback

I’ll look at your existing art, music, writing, sketchbook, or project files in the session. You’ll get a live, compassionate critique where I you about your goals and intentions, sharing what I see in the work.

In these sessions, I’ll provide actionable specific feedback to help you improve.

I’ll also create some assignments or gentle tasks to move you towards your goals.

Craft Lesson

I’ll give you a demo in your particular area of interest to learn the skills you are wanting to build.

In lesson sessions, you’ll get hands-on with your core craft and be able to ask questions about techniques while sharing your struggles.

Craft lessons come with assignments and skill-building projects to work on so you can keep improving for months after our session ends.

book your first 20 min session

for just $19.

I just made it

way easier to book

the time you need.

sunday morning & thursday

evening availability just added!

scheduling and session payments now live in the same place. simply pick how much time you need, and then find the time that works for you.

show me my options
email me a question

what you’ll get:

With each session you’ll receive:

  • 30 min or 60 min with me via Zoom

  • a detailed follow up email recap

  • a tiny library of links related to what we discussed

ai-free guarantee

at no point during any of your sessions with me will I be utilizing any form of generative AI. Human creativity is too precious to offload to a chat bot. Everything I create for you will be crafted through my 13 years of teaching expertise with your human-centered creative growth in mind.

ai policy
why I'm ai sober

what can we work on

together?

I’ve been professionally teaching art as a craft since 2012 and spent several years at Apple as a tech-literacy and creativity educator. During my time at Apple, I got really good at learning how to solve a wide breadth of individual tech and creative problems.

Want to see my experience first? My full resume is here!

Over the last two and half years I have supported clients with wide variety of projects in the skills you see below!

    • Do you dream of working with oils or watercolors but have no idea where to start? We can cover basics and practice introductory to intermediate techniques to get you on track in the studio.

    • Does the idea of drawing while you travel excite you? Do you want to make art journals? I’ll teach you how to start drawing what you see in a style that feels like you.

    • Want to learn to paint in a certain style youve been admiring but dont know how? We can take apart different inspiration to find and practice techniques to get you there.

    • Struggling with getting color right? You and I can take a look at the pallete and pigments you are using and use some mixing exercises to get you on the right track.

    • Trying to find your art style? We can spend an hour looking through your sketchbook to notice what you should be focusing on in your practice sessions, and other artists you can be looking at and studying.

    • Need help setting up your sketchbook as a learning tool? I would love to help you build your intentions and goals

    • Are you wanting to go deeper and use your sketchbook as a place for truly finding your voice or going through a process of creative recovery? If so, my retreats might be the perfect thing for you.

    • Want to learn your digital camera? We can explore simple settings and create easy assignments to help you practice composition, exposure, and shutter speed.

    • Longing to use your phone camera more creatively? We can explore the different shooting modes and editing to get you making with the camera you already carry everywhere

  • Need some support refining your camping setup organization, locating dispersed spots to setup, or just want help getting more confident at hiking? I am your guy. Lets chat!

    If you do want to have support in building an adventure in the woods with creativity in mind, consider booking a creative retreat with me.

  • Do you have a chaotic computer? Its ok, me too, but I have systems to tame it that I’d love to show you.

    • File management is a tricky task, especially if you are self employed. Yes, your downloads folder needs a tidy. We can work on finding a system and a schedule for maintanance that works for you.

    • Want to use an organization system for your todo lists, strategies, and 2am thoughts? I can walk you through using Notion, Obsidian, or just using your Notes app more effectively

    • Do you need a general overhaul of your creative systems? Let’s take a week together to design a system and put it into practice. Book a Creative Retreat with me to get started.

    • Got an iPad but have no idea how to use Procreate? Want to learn how to paint in Photoshop or Affinity?

    • Let’s spend time together diving into basics or more advanced settings to get you closer to the vibe you’re aiming for.

    • We can spend our session on anything from layers and textures to custom brushes. If you have questions, I’ve got answers!

  • Want a little support in making music? I play guitar, synth, and have deep knowledge of Ableton, Logic, and GarageBand. I’d love to help you get setup with templates and tools to hone an intuitive practice.

  • Want to learn the ins and outs of editing together a video for a social platform or short film you want to make? I can walk you through the editors on TikTok/Instagram, or step it up a notch and explore iMovie or Final Cut on a Mac. Once you know a few key processes, you’ll be flying through your editing workflow.

book your session

FAQ

  • All of my sessions include a meeting and a follow up email with notes, links, and ways you can keep going with your project or practice.

  • We will start by talking through your current work, getting direct feedback to me to support your goals.

    Then we will discuss a potential demo or hands on practice, and spend the rest of our session on that.

    I will send you clear human-written recap notes after the session for what to remember, and what to take action on in your practice.

  • This is entirely the point of my YouTube channel! You should check out this video and this video to get a sense of the vibes I’ll be bringing to the classroom.

    If you are still unsure, book a 20 minute sample session here.

  • No. I do not consent to the use of AI assistants on our Zoom calls. I am taking notes for you during our sessions. I record the feedback part of tutoring so I can transcribe notes to you after the session.

    You can read my full AI Policy here

  • No! While I try to be gentle and understanding as an educator, the practice of improving your art goes beyond me. Your progress is based on the time you’re willing to put in. Practicing the techniques I teach you is how you’ll get results over time.

    I’m neurodivergent and have struggled with demand avoidance. I have also witnessed this in my students. If I notice we aren’t making progress or life is getting in the way, I will gently recommend rescheduling our session.