In this class we will explore how to portray clothed figures and different materials. Learn about underlying anatomy and how it affects folds, characteristics of fabrics and folds, and ways to use your artistic license to select folds and edit what you observe to serve your picture. These are useful things to consider when you need to invent or recreate the look of a costume for a picture. Students are encouraged to explore their imaginations and creativity to embellish their studies with imagined details or a scene.

This 9-week class will be broken into two segments, each with a different costume and pose. Using a combination of sight-size and comparative methods, students will develop a minimum of two costumed figure studies. Depending on experience, students are welcome to work in pencil, charcoal, or oil paint.

Students begin by drawing a plaster cast or still life in charcoal, developing their ability to render accurate proportions and value relationships. As students progress, they are introduced to the fundamentals of oil and/or pastel techniques, composition and color.

Students will work from a live model in order to produce finished drawings and/or paintings. Students will work in pencil, charcoal, pastels or oils. Capturing a likeness is emphasized. Color and techniques in oil and pastel are covered.

Students begin by drawing a plaster cast or still life in charcoal, developing their ability to render accurate proportions and value relationships. As students progress, they are introduced to the fundamentals of oil and/or pastel techniques, composition and color.

Students begin by drawing a plaster cast or still life in charcoal, developing their ability to render accurate proportions and value relationships. As students progress, they are introduced to the fundamentals of oil and/or pastel techniques, composition and color.

Life drawing is at the core of any serious program of fine arts. In these classes, students draw from the figure in pencil, charcoal, including an option of painting. Each drawing or painting is created over a period of sessions, developing the student’s eye for accurate gesture, proportions, and anatomy. With a single sustained pose, students will have the option of either taking one drawing/painting to a high degree of finish or completing several drawings from different positions around the model.

This course follows the Atelier curriculum and is designed to help students further develop both technical and creative skills. Introduction to Still Life builds upon the foundations established in Basic Drawing and Painting, guiding participants through the process of creating a still life in oil.

Students may choose to paint a still life arranged on a flat platform or a trompe l'oeil displayed on a stand. Working through a structured sequence, including a color study, a value study, and a final painting, students will gain practical experience and confidence in bringing a still life to completion. Instruction will emphasize process, composition, lighting, and the effective use of color.

This class provides supportive guidance for painters at all stages, offering step-by-step direction for those new to still life and opportunities for more experienced students to refine their technique and expand their artistic range.

One-day figure studies

Students will paint a new study each week working from the figure. Working from a new pose each week will give students many opportunities to study gesture, anatomy, proportion, value and color! Instructors will guide the student to achieve a complete figure, starting by drawing and progressing to blocking in with paint while striving for accuracy in proportion. All students will begin in black-and-white value for the first two classes progressing to color based on skill level and student preference. Throughout the class topics to be discussed will include value structure/form, some anatomy, color mixing/ relativity, and understanding temperature. Different exercises will be presented throughout the class to focus on these topics.