Introduction to Classical Figure Drawing in Charcoal:

• This foundational studio course is designed to cultivate a rigorous and insightful understanding of the human form through the classical tradition of figure drawing. Using charcoal students will develop the essential skills of observation, analysis, and rendering of the human form.

  The curriculum is structured around core classical principles, beginning with gesture: the vital force that conveys movement and life. Students will then systematically study artistic anatomy and proportions, learning to construct the figure with structural integrity. A central focus is the mastery of tonal value, the deliberate organization of light and shadow to model volumetric form and create spatial depth. Through progressive exercises, students will practice the layered application of charcoal, from initial block-in to refined rendering, gaining control over both broad tonal statements and subtle transitions.

  Guided by demonstration and supported by instruction at the easel, this course emphasizes a disciplined, knowledge-based approach. Students will leave with not only improved technical skill but also a deeper comprehension of the timeless methods that inform representational figurative art.

Figure Painting in Limited Palette: 

• This intensive studio course delves into the foundational techniques of representational figure painting through the disciplined lens of grisaille. A historical method using a monochromatic palette, grisaille allows artists to isolate and master the core principles of light, form, and value without the additional complexity of color.

  Students will develop a rigorous approach to depicting the human figure, beginning with anatomical accuracy, proportion, and dynamic gesture. The curriculum focuses on translating this structural understanding into paint by expertly organizing tonal values to create a convincing illusion of three-dimensional form and atmospheric depth. Through dedicated practice, students will explore essential layering techniques, from thin underpainting to thicker, opaque applications, to achieve nuanced transitions and realistic texture.

  Emphasis is also placed on intentional composition and design, guiding students to arrange the figure within the picture plane to create balanced, engaging, and visually compelling paintings. By the course’s conclusion, students will have a strong, process-oriented framework for creating powerful and expressive figure paintings built on a mastery of tonal relationships and classical technique.

Foundational Oil Painting: Color & Still Life

• This studio course introduces the dynamic and foundational practice of oil painting through the focused study of the still life. Students will cultivate their technical skills and aesthetic understanding by implementing a direct painting approach, working from observation to translate the three-dimensional world onto a two-dimensional surface.

  The curriculum is built on two intertwined pillars: mastery of material and mastery of color. Students will develop essential oil painting techniques, including brushwork, paint application, and control, establishing a confident and responsive handling of the medium. Concurrently, the course delves deeply into color theory, training the eye to perceive and mix nuanced hues, values, and saturations. Students will explore the expressive potential of color relationships, temperature, and harmonies to build vibrant, cohesive compositions.

  Through a series of structured paintings, students will enhance their observational skills, learning to accurately depict the effects of light and shadow to model form and create spatial depth. The course encourages both disciplined study and personal exploration, guiding students to apply these foundational principles to develop their own artistic voice and create individualized, expressive paintings.

Portrait Drawing Study:

• This foundational studio course focuses on the anatomical and tonal construction of the portrait. Through direct observation from life, students will develop a disciplined, structural approach to building an accurate and volumetric portrait from the inside out. The course progresses from anatomical study and linear construction to a fully rendered tonal representation, establishing a rigorous foundation for all future portrait work.

   

  Students will begin with the essential study of the artistic anatomy of the head and neck, learning to understand the skull as the underlying architecture of the head. This anatomical knowledge is immediately applied to drawing, moving from quick studies that establish proportional relationships to longer, sustained poses. The core of the course is dedicated to translating this structural understanding into three-dimensional form through the masterful use of value. Students will learn to abstract and orchestrate the masses of light and shadow that define the planes of the face, neck, and shoulders, creating a powerful sense of volume and space.

Portrait Painting Study:

• This painting course offers a structured, progressive study of the portrait under controlled, artificial light. The curriculum is designed to build proficiency in the crucial beginning and middle stages of portrait construction, moving from foundational drawing to nuanced color application.

   

  The course begins with rigorous Bargue and cast drawing exercises, sharpening the student’s perception of abstract angle relationships and ingraining the classical proportions and structure of the head. This analytical foundation is then applied to working directly from the live model. Students progress through a series of gradually lengthening poses, from rapid one-hour studies to sustained two-day sessions.

   

  The initial focus is on capturing gesture and establishing accurate proportional relationships in the early block-in stage. Students then advance to a more complex procedure, integrating anatomical knowledge and structural analysis to develop the portrait. The core methodology employs a form-painting strategy, starting within a limited palette and skillfully modifying it into a full range of flesh tones to model light, shadow, and three-dimensional form. As technical skill increases, students learn to thoughtfully introduce and harmonize color within this structured approach, focusing on the accurate recording of light on the human face.