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This lecture and studio painting course introduces basic color theory. Explore color relationships based on positions and principles of the color wheel and learn how to apply them toward compositional effects. Students will produce color studies and still life paintings to explore grisaille, earth and prismatic palettes to bring theory into practice. Includes practical information on different paint manufacturers and methods of pigmentation. Note: This is a 10-week SHORT COURSE.
Register by: January 20
Investigate the structure, proportions and anatomy of the human head through drawings and painted studies. Progress to more complete paintings, addressing color and color mixing, composition, space, texture and likeness. Students may draw, paint or both.
Register by: January 23
An opportunity to sharpen your drawing skills, share ideas and meet new friends and faculty! Work from a life model in your medium of choice. A CE faculty member will be available for assistance or discussion. Must be a current Continuing Education student, or have been previously enrolled in a CE class and show a PAFA student ID, for admittance. Note: No class on March 7 (Spring Break).
Pay only $5 at the door or pre-register for $50 for the entire session.
This course is designed for students seeking to enrich their overall knowledge of painting with an in-depth look at watercolor. Topics will include a thorough investigation of watercolor materials and a wide range of techniques, with subjects ranging from landscape and still life to portrait and figure poses. Open to dedicated watercolorists and to acrylic/oil painters looking to broaden their skills. Note: This is a 10-week CONDENSED COURSE.
Register by: January 27
Students will explore traditional and contemporary materials and techniques of sculpture, and learn to think critically and creatively about turning abstract ideas into reality. Students will model with clay, carve, and work with found objects and assemblage.
The group critique is an extremely valuable format to receive insightful responses to your artwork. Each participant will receive feedback and advice and benefit from listening to the critiques of others in the group. The atmosphere is always constructive and supportive, never judgmental or confrontational.
Kassem Amoudi is a graduate of Helwan University in Cairo, Egypt, and received an MFA from PAFA. An award-winning painter with an extensive national and international exhibition record, Amoudi is a faculty artist-in-residence in the MFA program at Vermont College/Union Institute and University.
Michael Moore holds a BFA degree in Printmaking from Syracuse University and an MFA degree in Drawing from the University of Washington. He taught in Scotland, 1972/73, traveled to China and Japan, and taught at the University of Southern Maine before coming to PAFA in 1992 where he is a member of the Graduate Faculty, and Chairs the Post-Baccalaureate Program. He has exhibited his work in many solo, group, and faculty exhibitions during the past 40 years.
Register by: February 8
Sharpen your drawing skills through perceptual drawing exercises. Learn clear approaches to drawing forms in perspective, drafting ellipses, measuring proportions, sighting relationships, using positive and negative shape, controlling composition, and seeing groups of forms as a whole. A solid introduction for beginners, or an effective refresher course for more experienced artists looking to refine their craft.
Register by: February 3
Tired of spending a small fortune at framing shops? Learn how to matt works on paper archivally, with a few simple, inexpensive tools. There will be a demonstration of all the procedures required to properly prepare your work for framing, from cutting and hinging mats to fitting and final assembly (students may bring a readymade frame). You will then be able to work on your own project under the supervision of the instructor. Discover the ease and confidence to matt works for home, exhibition, and gifts. A great preparation for the CE Annual Student Exhibition in April!
Newspaper & magazine cut-outs, fabric swatches, and photographs are just a few of the materials artists use to “glue down” and make art. Explore the various adhesives and tools designed for artists as well as some of the more popular non-artist commercial products available. Composition, color, texture, and content will be discussed. Personal vision and development will be encouraged. Open to all levels.
Register by: February 10
Artists throughout the centuries have relied on composition, color, value, and other design principles to amplify their artistic expression. Study classical compositional devices including the golden ratio to help in understanding paintings and strengthen your artistic expression. Other design concepts will be examined include: color theory, value, space, line, gesture, economy, pattern, and light.
Discover or enrich your skills in watercolor landscape painting through direct observation. Learn about watercolor materials and a wide range of watercolor techniques. Topics will include composition, linear and aerial perspective, creating a felling of depth, space and light.
Register by: February 17
This workshop is designed to enhance your color mixing skills and heighten your color perception. Focus will be on accurate color analysis, mixing highly specific color relationships, and modifying minute intervals of color. The practical issues of palette organization, storing mixed color, and remixing colors will be addressed. You will encounter the highly relative nature of color through focused exercises and painting in oil from carefully constructed still life arrangements.
Gain confidence in approaching portraiture with acclaimed portrait artist Paul DuSold. This workshop will be conducted in a step-by-step manner via lecture, demonstration and hands-on practice, with focus on understanding light and color in portraiture. The mornings will be dedicated to drawing in charcoal, pencil and contéon toned paper to define directional light, texture and the illusion of space through line quality and shading. Students will paint in the afternoon, focusing on seeing color in terms of warm and cool. Designed for students of all levels.
Paul DuSold is a PAFA graduate who has completed numerous commissioned portraits both institutional and private. He lives and works in Philadelphia and his work can be seen at pauldusold.com.
Explore the versatility of terra cotta sculpture which requires neither an armature nor casting. Learn various techniques and tools through demonstration and hands-on sculpting from the life model, without an armature. Anatomy, proportion, design, and personal growth will be emphasized, and both representational and abstract approaches to the figure will be addressed.
Register by: February 23
The illusion of realism in still-life painting is incomplete without a convincing sense of space and light. Learn to see and translate the effects of light—its color, intensity, directions and focus—into your painting to achieve more authentic and vibrant results.
Register by: February 24