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if you want to drwa, this is the professor... he definitely loves drawing and teaching it... hes a good guy i think

He's pretty easy if you want to spend ALOT of time on your drawings. I'm talking weekends for hours and hours. It's okay though because he makes it fun, and so does his wife Karen. They are both REALLY amazing people! He's one of my favorite professors!

he expects a lot out of you, but he doesn't ask anything he's not willing to do himself. he'll sit with you 'til midnight on a sunday coaching you for a project that's due the next day. i've never met any teacher more dedicated than he is.

great class

Just an awesome guy. He understands what level you're at and grades based on that and not the overall level of the class.

Professor Rise is Godsend. A lot of time needed for projects, but not overwhelming. Most patient and understanding Professor (and maybe even person) I have ever met. I asked him for help almost every class and he always was patient with me. He is always there on Satuday and Sunday for at least two hours to help you out. Amazing Professor, take him!

Rise is an amazing teacher. He gives little to no homework, but you have to work on projects outside of class alot. He's there on the weekend helping you. He's very helpful, very clear, interesting, approachable and understanding. He hates lazy people. He's seen and done so much, he's always got great stories and is a great guy. You'll learn alot.

good teacher. very helpful and enthusiastic.

Prof. Rise is the greatest! He's VERY helpful, and recognizes your level and grades you based on that. He's very clear and helps you believe you can draw even if you've never drawn anything in your life beyond a stick figure. He's always there on the weekend, and you can tell he loves his job. He's very funny, not bad to look at and very talented.

Rise is by far the best prof I have had here at SCAD. He is extremely helpful and even comes in on weekends to offer extra help and input on the projects. I learned SO much about drawing in this class and my art is better for it. He is very personable and funny. He is also very understanding and supportive of your time and work.

For the love of all that's holy, pick him for drawing 1 AND drawing 2. When he said he was the greatest teacher, I thought he was kidding around. But he was right.

Hands down the best teacher I have ever had. Even if you are not interested in drawing or painting, take one iof his classes. you will really enjoy it. its nice to have a teacher who knows what they are talking about and has a lot of talent in their field instead of empty arrogance

Professor Rise is the greatest teacher I've had yet at SCAD. He is down to earth, simple, funny, passionate about his work, a great guy all around. He explains assignments very well and gives you lots of creative room in your projects. If you haven't taken drawing before, or even if you don't like it, you will love this professor and this class.

I had him for Life Drawing. He's a bit formal in the beginning of the quarter, but after that he's amazing. You will improve a ton. He really understands the human form, and has a TON of experience drawing it. And it's not even that much work compared to other classes. Go to the extra help sessions, they're great.

He is extremely laid back and grades based on your personal abilities. You spend 2 weeks on each large still-life drawing to produce portfolio quality work. You need to spend 10-15 extra hours in the studio to finish each drawing, but he comes in every weekend for extra help. no tests, no homework. Definitely take him, best drawing prof!

I took Prof. Rise this Summer semester for Drawing 100 class (morning but changed to 11 o'clock class later on), and he is the best professor I had in my whole college life (3 different colleges so far). Let me repeat. He is the best professor in SCAD! He'll make you so much better. I could write so many positive thing but limited to 350 letters

He is a fantastic Drawing 1 teacher. He is fair in his grading, and if you put the time in outside of class on your projects, your grades will reflect it.

Great teacher. Your art in Drawing 1 will be 10x better than any other class, regardless of prior experience, talent, etc. No homework, no lectures, just requires that you come in and draw outside of class. Materials are more expensive than in other classes, but it's worth it. There's no comparison for this class, take it if you can!

greatest class ever! hes so much fun to talk to in class and he really knows what hes doing. he cares alot about his students all he asks is that u work hard on your drawings. his class makes BYFAR the BEST drawings of any other class!

Great teacher. Really pushes you to do your best and believes in you.

Professor Rise is the best professor at SCAD! He is really nice and helpful if you need extra help on your drawing. Makes the class really fun, projects are tough but since he is so enthusiastic he makes you want to work harder and better. Actually teaches techniques and little tricks to help your drawings become waaaaay better than other classes

Most dedicated teacher. Very helpful and always has encouraging words. I am surprised at what I am capable of and I know it is because of professor rise. TAKE THIS CLASS!!!!!

Take Him! You're gonna gain a lot! He won't rush your drawing, he rather have it good and unfinished than the other way around. Fun Class too

I had him for drawing 1, it was really wonderful, I've learned so much in class. He is alwasy on the weekend to help everyone. And he grades on your level.

I had him for drawing 1, and I really liked so i took him for drawing 2 as well. Very helpful, he is always helping you. And I improved a lot in his class.

John Rise is by far one of the most dedicated and talented teachers I have ever had the privilege of learning under. He helps you learn and improve in your drawing abilities. I highly recommend him for Drawing I or II. He's that good.

He is a dedicated teacher and knows his stuff. That said, he tends to pick favorites in class. Mostly ladies. Females with less skill and effort than males tend to get better grades anyway. If you're a pretty girl, you'll do better in his class. Everyone will push their skill to new levels, but on paper guys generally get C's.

Demands commitment and very competitive. He has a reputation of students that turn out excellent work and upholds it. He works with you a lot on process and you'll be amazed what gorgeous stuff he can get out of you. He's committed to his students and very knowledgeable. He also organizes the annual trade show.

I have Rise for Drawing II. He expects that you spend many hours outside of class on projects. If you aren't good at drawing and want an A, take another teacher. He won't fail you, but you won't get high marks. He's always there after class/weekends for at least a couple hours every day to help. Great teacher, cool guy. Insightful critiques.

I had him for Drawing II and he was extremely helpful. He expects you to put in the hours. I put at least 30 hours into all drawings. Don't listen to people who say if you can't draw well don't take this class. I had the motivation to get better and improved significantly. He is a wonderful teacher and person. TAKE HIM!

John Rise is the best teacher at SCAD.

Awesome teacher! Basically before his class I could not draw and I hated it. Now I have some beautiful still lives I did in his class and I love drawing! He lets everyone use a bit of their own style and doesn't get too hung up on strict rules and measurements. His class is really fun and you will learn tons.

I enjoyed coming to class everyday even though it was at 8am. Rise is a very dedicated professor and offers extra help sessions almost every night. He's very inspiring and will invest time in you if you show your dedication. Great class!

I really enjoyed this class. Rise grades everyone based on individual effort and improvement, and trust me by the end of his class there was a lot of improvement. He puts a lot of emphasis on sketchbook drawing, and projects--at least 40 hours per project. Put in the effort and it will be worth it.

Professor Rise is excellent. His class is fun, but you're still expected to have a tremendous amount of dedication to working. Be ready to commit a lot of time (20-40 hours) to your drawings, but realize that it's worth it! Definitely try to take his class.

Best teacher by far. Clear, helpful, very humorous and fun to converse with, art topics or not. Takes your major into consideration and recommends you artists and techniques accordingly. However, you must be willing to pour in a HUGE amount of time into the drawings... EVERY weekend will be spent in that room, no less.

If drawing is most definitely you thing, this class is for you! He is an excellent teacher: smart, humorous! Time is very STRESSED in this class. Time is used in order to bring you drawings to PERFECTION!

This is perhaps the best advanced drawing class I have ever taken. I've never been pushed so hard. His teaching style really took my art to the next level with the amount of time you have to put into each project. Definitely not a class to take if you don't want to spend a lot of studio time (I spent 20-30 hours outside of class per project).

Great Professor, in my opinion one of the best at SCAD. He's not afraid to brag about his students being the best because usually they are. He grades you on strong work ethic so don't expect something for nothing. And what is best about him by far is his teaching style, he teaches you through your own style and expands it dramatically! TAKE HIM!!

Rise is an awesome professor! He encourages you to come in to draw, he provides incentive for you to create strong works, and he's funny. He'll definitely help you improve if you're willing to work, and he's almost always in the studio at night to assist you. Both of his drawing classes have been my favourites at SCAD so far!

Probably the best instructor I have ever had. Kind, funny man with a true love of art and teaching. You will get as much out of his classes as you put in.

He is awesome!! He loves art; He eats art 3 meals a day. The more effort you put in your works, the more you will get. You can get an A easily if you put your effort in there, even your works are not the best.

It was amazing, the only downside is that I didn't have him for my DRAW 101 class, whenever I meet new people I would recommend him. He's an amazing teacher and a really funny guy. And probably the only one that stays after class hours to help you with your work. Best teacher ever.

He is incredible. If you take any drawing professor take prof. Rise. I was not excited about drawing and he made it enjoyable and self challenging. he is the nicest man ever and shows up every night for extra help if people are there or not. Best professor at SCAD by far.

Amazing teacher. You do have to work and put in hours outside of class, but his room is a fun environment. He doesn't lose patience with anyone, and he realizes that some student (Sound Design, Film, etc.) have never drawn before.

he is awesome!!!!!!!!and handsome...his class is sooooooooo interesting~ and his classroom is like second home for me~~he will always tell u that ur work is beautiful to encourage u~~take his class for sure!

awsome teacher. he used to design easels. he had company building them to

He claims he's the best drawing professor at SCAD and I'm pretty sure it's true. INCREDIBLY EASY if you're into drawing and have past experience. May be a bit more difficult for people who hate drawing but he is passionate about his work and helps his students a lot. Jokes around a lot and plays old timey music in his class.

I'm not confident in drawing- Rise made me enjoy it and I actually WANT to keep a sketchbook. He inspires without pressuring or intimidating. Relaxed class, you can get as much out of it as you want, Rise will help you accomplish anything you want. Highly recommend if you're nervous about drawing classes, he will guide you to improvement

Be prepared to spend a lot of time on your drawings. Rise is a great teacher who wants to see effort, and in his words, "If you do not spend at least 20 hours on your drawing, you're not doing it right".

Magnificent. He's a lot of help, and he appreciates the effort you put into your work more than the quality of the work itself. If you come in overtime and work, even if it doesn't look too great, you can still make a good grade, but he's such a great teacher it'll probably end up looking great anyway. He makes you want to create good work.

BEST DRAWING TEACHER. He expects a lot from you, so it makes you want to give a lot. The only people who might not like him are ones who need to be taken by the hand and told specifically what to do- although if you ask anything, he will help. He shows as much interest in you as you show towards your work. Also, he's a great guy and super funny.

He is a great professor. Really dedicated to art and cares so much about the progress of his students. He gives the best advice about how to make your drawings better. You have to spend a lot of time (in and out of class) on your drawings but it's totally worth it. He takes into consideration the amount you work on your drawing when he grades.

Take. This. Class. Rise is the best drawing teacher at SCAD. It's true. I had no previous drawing experience and suddenly he taught me how to create beautiful pieces of work. It takes a lot of time outside of class to do well, but it is worth it. I spent weekend nights in the studio because it was that much fun. Great guy, amazing class.

Prof Rise is an awesome drawing teacher! He's very helpful and has great advice to give to students. We did three charcoal drawings and sevral water color and ink drawings in our sketchbook. If you put in some effort and listen to his advice you are bound to get an A. Prof Rise is easy to talk to and overall a pretty awesome guy. Take his class!

Mr. Rise is very personable and relates to his students individually. You will be doing a lot of drawing, but it's managable. I would recommend if you take him, don't take night classes both nights, that way you can go in and work the other day. He's the kind of teacher where past students stop by to say hi to him because they miss his class.

I had him for drawing I and II and he is one of the best professors! He understands if youre not an artist and grades you depending on your level of expertise. I got straight Bs through his classes but was extremely happy. Lots of work and time needed to be put in for and A in his class. Very nice and friendly person though.

Greatest professor ever. I love this man. He's wonderfully arrogant, highly intelligent, and ridiculously funny. He understands that not everyone is a fine artist, but if you show him that you are dedicated and put hours into the studio OUTSIDE of class time, you are guaranteed an A in his book. He will make you a better artist. Take his class!

Great professor. He has got a sarcastic sense of humor that not everyone will like, but his helpfulness is indisputable. He will take you step by step through every drawing and he gets involved with his students and their interests. Don't take if you don't like still life, because it's everything you'll ever do. Overall a fantastic class.

Awesome Professor! Had a tough time in Drawing I that I was concerned going into Drawing II, but then I got Rise as a Professor. He's great when you need help and he's usually always in class on the weekends aside from sundays. Class is laid back but you learn how to use watercolor, and charcoal while drawing from a still life.

Rise is probably one of the best professors at SCAD. He will make you a far better artist, and you will learn so much. That said, be prepared for a LOT of work. If you want an A, you'll be going to the studio 2-3 times per week outside of class, if not more.

Greatest drawing professor hands down. You want to be the best? You gotta learn it from him

Rise has the best drawing students in the whole foundation studies department. he expects great quality work, but it depends on your major and prior level of skill. He doesn't mess around, although he is funny and frequently cracks jokes. you will work a lot in class, and not much at all at home since every project is a still life in the classroom.

One of the best professors at SCAD. He's incredibly helpful, stays after class, and comes in on weekends to help you work. He's taught me ways to better my art that I would've never thought of otherwise. You'll need to spend 20-30 hours on each drawing, but it's worth the help you get. Fantastic professor. I can't recommend him enough.

Professor Rise was the best professor I've ever had. He is very understanding and willing to give extra help and attention if you can't draw. I'm a photo major and can't draw at all, but I got an A in his class. All you have to do is put in the effort and try. I highly recommend him.

One word. 4 letters. BEST

Professor RIse is by far the best professor at SCAD. I started off as a student who could not draw and now I can; this is my second quarter in his class and I have done nothing but improve. He likes to say "If you think you can't draw, then this is the class for you." He's super nice and extremely helpful.

He is hands down the best drawing professor. The materials you will use and the skills he teaches you will advance you no matter what. I don't care if you think you can draw already this man will make you better. He is kind genuine man and goes beyond to help his students. Take him if you get the chance. He's the best and I truly do mean the best.

incredibly cool dude. passionate and personable.

Best teacher by far. I cant draw to save my life but I produced some of my best work in his class. This class is really time consuming and you will do well if you work hard and put the hours in. It is expensive... totally worth it and if you get the chance take his class. Nice guy best teacher.

God of Drawing

He is awesome

Very expensive class. He constantly walks around and helps you with your drawings, but expect to put in a lot of time (20+ hrs per drawing) outside of class as well if you want a good grade. There wasn't really any structured critiques, but Rise was really helpful. FYI-you spend the whole class drawing still life setups, and nothing else.

He is simply the BEST you will ever get for drawing. Also he is a great person and extremely knowledgeable.

Professor Rise is the best of the best when it comes to Drawing. He's an incredibly chill guy, plays cool music while you work and gives great feedback. He is a tough grader but you get what you deserve, if he can tell you're putting work in your grade will reflect that. TAKE RISE YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!

Great teacher, it's no wonder that his classes fill up so fast! Grades based on effort and improvement, not skill. WARNING - Expect to come in outside of class to work on assignments!!! It sounds like a lot, but it becomes a part of your routine quickly and it's really worth it! Loved this class so much I made sure to get him again for DRAW 101.

Rise is one of my favorite professors as SCAD. He pushes you further than you thought you could go with your work. It is a very demanding class. I spend at least one day every weekend in the studio working, but oh my god was it worth it. Even students in other majors who hate drawing ended up with some really amazing work. He is also hilarious.

If you take his class be warned that he plays old school Western music that would be present in a Guantanamo Bay interrogation. Search "Motor Sickle" on YouTube for an example. If you suck at drawing, show effort and get a B. He changes how you view observational drawing for the better. You must go to class after hours to do well.

John Rise is the best professor you will ever have. No Kidding. I am a film major and thoughts of drawing TERRIFIED ME. I did things in that class I thought I would never do. I learned so much and John Rise taught me that as long as I set my mind to a piece of work I can accomplish it. AND I DID! LITERALLY TAKE HIM!!

He is the reason my minor is now drawing! He's so freaking hilarious, had for DRAW 100- prepare for still lives! He gets to know you, understands how you draw with consideration for you major as well. GOD OF DRAWING, he's a must take at SCAD! (Hope you like charcoal!)

Rise is the best drawing professor at SCAD. He really encourages you to work hard and pull the best work out of you. He uses expensive materials, but always let you borrow his. The works require many hours, but at the end, you will be proud of yourself. Taking this class may be challenging, but totally worth it!!!

Drawing 2 was a foundation class for me as a visual effects student. Rise was a great teacher and I really enjoyed my time in the class. He is a master at what he does and can talk about any piece of art at length in a very impressive way. He's very nice and expects a lot but I never felt like it was a difficult or scary class. Absolutely recommend

My favorite professor so far :) Rise's class always made me feel that my hardwork actually pays off (Unlike in some of my other courses..) if you get the chance I would definetly recommend taking him! He is also super understanding about whatever skill level you are coming into the class as long as you noticeably put forth effort.

Professor Rise is the "The God of Drawing." If drawing isn't your thing he takes that into consideration. He's incredibly cool. You will only draw still lives in charcoal, and he does expect you to put in time outside of class but it isn't necessary to put in as much as he says you should. The class is fairly simple and quite enjoyable.

He is a great professor! If you don't know how to draw, its alright, he will understand and will support you as you needed.

Professor Rise is one of the coolest, most relaxed teachers I've had thus far. His sense of humor is a little odd at first, but ya get used to it!! Most class time is spent working on projects and h.w. is fairly minimal. Be ready for watercolor painting, but don't sweat it too much ((it'll stress you out unnecessarily)). Highly recommended!!

RISE IS MY FAVORITE!!! he is an amazing teacher, always looking to help but also wants you to do well

He'll walk around the class and gives you feedback, but if you're doing great he'll just go "good job" or "keep doing that". If you really want a feedback, ask him. Also he provides very interesting reference books

This class is not as great as it was hyped up to be. He is nice and gives ok feedback, but he should have been way more in depth with critiques and how to approach certain drawing styles. He never posts on blackboard, so if you want to know your grade you must ask.

Rise is super laid back. If you do well, you'll get a good grade.

As a film major I was so nervous about taking a hard drawing class, but Rise made me feel comfortable and good about my artistic skills again. You have to put a lot of time into your work, 20+ hours per drawing. Just ask him what he thinks of your drawing at least twice per class and come in for two hours on Fridays and you'll be fine!

Fun guy but never suggest he play different music, he's funny approachable and very talented and knowledgeable and wants to help.

Rise is absolutely amazing! He'll ask your major and understands if you aren't a wonderful artist. As long as you put in tons of effort, he'll give the grade you deserve. If you need help, ask him specifically. I spent hours in his room because it was so relaxing and his music is great. Great req. class, especially if drawing isn't your major.

I really hated him at the beginning of the quarter. He expects so much of you. If you put in the work, he gives good feed back and you'll do ok.

My absolute favorite teacher ever! i went in really unsure about my drawing abilities and he helped so much and made me confident to draw. I took him for Drawing 1 and 2 and if I could take him again I would you just need to let him know you are struggling

Rise was my favorite professor. I'm getting a drawing minor just so that I can have him as a professor more!! if you put the work in you will get a good grade!

Absolutely love this man! At first I was skeptical because I heard that he was very strict, but being in his class, it's all for good reason. You can tell he loves what he does & he's very understanding & encourages you to go outside of the box rather than knocking off points based on your technical skills. I'd take him all 4 years if I could!

I've never gotten an A on any of his big projects, but he's the best drawing teacher i've had. Gives you tons of time to work, but if your work isn't 10/10, he won't give you an A. Sometimes goes on tangents about "your generation", but he's old so it's expected. He really takes into account whether or not you went to his help sessions.

Being a writer with no skills in visual art, I was terrified when I first came into this class. But after the first few weeks of difficulty, Rise allowed me to write descriptions of what I wanted to draw and then let me draw it out. He's very flexible and only looked for effort when grading my projects, I definitely improved in my drawing skills.

Very very caring professor I learned so much!! He is awesome lucky to have had his class

He's a really sweet old prof who wants his students to do well, and is very good at grading based on your own improvements as you go through the class. I learned so much and he will let you get away with being more creative on projects if you ask. 10/10 would take again. Very laid back class.

This man is an enigma. He's an amazing artist and knows a lot about the quality behind the art products you use, so when you buy his kit, it's filled with worthwhile supplies. Projects were not clearly specified and you have to ask to get more clarification. Be prepared to listen to country or jazz the entire class while he goes on "Boomer" rants.

AMAZING professor! He is so caring and will help you regardless of your skill level going in! He's hilarious and super caring. He grades off of how much work you are putting in and your improvement rather than how "good" your work is. 10/10 would take him again, I wish I had him for every class! He made this quarter so enjoyable! TAKE HIS CLASS!!!!

His way of teaching is very hands-on, not afraid to show you what he needs you to do. He's really just the sweetest professor who just wants the best for his students. Enjoys talking with his students and making jokes, and while a lot of his humor and taste is older, he's still an enjoyable professor.

Definitely the best professor I met in SCAD so far. Really nice and can always give students great advice to make you much better. No many assignments but all useful. Recommend everyone.

Rise is one of my favorite professors at SCAD. I had him freshman year and it was so much fun! Having him in person for a figure drawing class made the class with him made it so much better. He gives really good feedback and pushes you to practice skills that are out of your comfort zone. I improved so much throughout these past 10 weeks.

I really loved this professor. He really care about helping you improve you skills and how the skills learned in class will be applied to your major. This was one of my favorite classes/professors. Highly recommend!!!

Amazing professor!!He cares a lot about improving skills and gives individual critque and mentor artist recs.I recommended him to my roommate for the sae class and they agree that he was an absolute blast and we both saw a lot of improvement by the end of the course. Also love hearing about his stories and hes always super respectful to the models.

If you are looking for a class that will force you to improve an insane amount on your art skills then this is the class for you. But you better be prepared to sell your soul to the graphite gods. Jokes aside, this class fundamentally power boosted my production stamina. Also, if ur taking this class GO TO THE EXTRA HELP SESSIONS. life savers fr.

very chill guy! he seemed intimidating at first but i promise that hes an absolute sweetheart. i improved a lot through this class. only hw was weekly hand studies, he says he wants u to spend 8-10+ hours on them though, so the work definitely caught up to me a few times. easy to reach out to and respectful to models.

Love this teacher! He starts the class as a harsh grader to push you towards the best, but grades based on your improvement later in the quarter. Be warned, he has high expectations and you likely will have to come in for extra help sessions, but you can tell he loves what he does. He even bought the class pizza during a late night session once!

Professor Rise is a demanding but caring instructor. His teaching style is hands-on, and he really wants you to improve. Attend extra help sessions and use Unstuck AI for study prep - it pays off.