Wednesdays, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.  
Instructor: John Horn 
Six-Week Short Course (18 Hours) 

Develop your ability to render the human form through the time-honored combination of anatomical study and life drawing.  Learn the methods and technical skills of traditional figure drawing, such as measuring, capturing gesture, anatomical structuring, and tonal rendering. Through lectures and demonstrations, and work from the life model, learn the structural aspects of the human form: bony landmarks, simplified volumes, and proportional relationships. Progress to the skeletal framework and superficial muscles to identify their surface effects and how they influence mass and movement. Incorporate your knowledge of figure anatomy to capture the fluidity, vitality, and subtleties of the human form while working from the life model in short and extended poses. Note: Tuition includes a $35 models fee.

Image: John Horn

Register by: July 1
Materials List
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.

Wednesdays, 6 - 9 p.m.  
Instructor: Rosae Reeder 
Six-Week Short Course 

An Artist Book is work of art in the form of a book and can encompass a wide variety of formats and sculptural qualities. If you are interested in making your own Artist Books and don’t know how to begin, or if you have bookmaking experience and want to learn more, this concise course will take you through the process from beginning to end. Starting with a discussion about the history, formats, and unique qualities of Artist Books, instruction will guide students through choosing the best book structure, creating mock-ups, and methods of finish to bring each participant's ideas to life. Ways to create imagery and various book forms will be addressed through discussion, demonstration, and individualized guidance.

Image: Rosae Reeder

Register by: July 1 
Materials List
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.

Wednesdays, 7 - 8:30 p.m. (Interactive asynchronous Canvas content supported by weekly Zoom meetings) 
Instructor: Frederic Kaplan 
Six-Week Condensed Course (30-Hour Equivalent) 

This comprehensive oil painting class presents a wealth of information for students at all levels. Weekly instruction in the form of online video demonstrations, illustrated lessons, and live Zoom sessions is available in the student’s choice of beginner, intermediate, or advanced modules. Students can stay with a single level to progressively build their skills, or they can explore all the levels to pick-and-choose the lessons that best fit their interests or specific needs. The beginner’s module covers basics of alla prima and direct painting. Intermediate instruction focuses on color and the introduction of a wider range of painting methods. Advanced students learn to produce a tonal under-painting, glaze, scumble, and apply a velatura.

Register by: July 1 
Materials List  
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering. 
Information for PAFA CE Online Courses

Thursdays, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 
Instructor: Al Gury
Five-Week Condensed Course (30 Hours) 
No class on July 16

*Instructor and information for this course have been updated. 

Explore the art of portrait painting through an in-depth approach from Al Gury, noted PAFA instructor and author of Alla Prima: A Contemporary Guide to Traditional Direct Painting and Color for Painters: A Guide to Traditions and Practice. Investigate the structure and basic anatomy of the human head through drawings and painted studies. Progress to finished paintings and address issues of likeness, composition, space and texture. Instruction will focus on alla prima (direct) painting techniques, practical use of materials, and color palettes for effective portrait painting.  Learn to better see and understand color to mix it more successfully – a useful skill for painting any subject matter.  All levels welcome.  Note: Course tuition includes a $65 model fee.

Image: Al Gury

Register by: July 2 
Materials List  
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.

Thursdays, 1 - 4 p.m.  
Instructor: Rebecca Gilbert 
Six-Week Short Course (18 Hours) 

Printing from a drawing carved into wood block is the oldest and most straightforward form of printmaking. Artists of all levels enjoy its potential for intricate detail and graphic impact. Learn the basics of relief printmaking, including carving techniques, care of tools, types of wood and paper, registration, and how to use mark-making to translate ideas into dynamic black and white images. Instruction will cover printing by hand and on an etching press, using oil-based inks. This workshop is most suitable for folks that have some experience with printmaking, but all levels are welcome. Tuition includes a $20 lab fee.

Image: Rebecca Gilbert

Register by: July 2
Materials List
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.

Thursdays, 6 - 9 p.m.  
Instructor: RA Friedman 
Six-Week Short Course 

The portrait can extend beyond the head and shoulders as a depiction of the likeness, mood, or character of the individual subject. Learn to capture the fascinating possibilities of the half-length portrait, examining not only the functional and expressive anatomy of the human head but also the gesture and structure of the torso, arms, and hands. Experiment with creative questions such as handling light and composition. Content includes study from anatomy references, drawing clothed models, and working in a range of media. Instruction will lay the groundwork for creative explorations that lead to professional quality work. Tuition includes a $20 models fee.

Image: RA Friedman

Register by: July 2 
Materials List
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.

Fridays, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 
Instructor: James Toogood 
Six-Week Condensed Course (36 Hours) 

Enrich your knowledge of painting with an in-depth look at watercolor. Thoroughly investigate a wide range of watercolor materials and techniques while working from your choice of landscape, still life, abstraction, or personal source material. The course is designed to equip each participant with the knowledge and skills necessary to make accomplished, personally rewarding watercolor paintings. Open to watercolorists of all levels and to acrylic/oil painters looking to broaden their skills.

Learning Objectives

• Students will learn about color theory as applied to watercolor.
• Students will receive a comprehensive explanation of watercolor materials and tools, with particular focus will be paid to the properties of paint and pigments as they interact with the paintbrushes and paper.
• Through both discussions and demonstrations, first-time participants and beginners will learn a variety of techniques that are fundamental to watercolor, presented in a systematic step by step method.
• Participants with experience will receive individual instruction for their current skill level.
• Students will acquire the skills needed to achieve a richness of color and a feeling of light.
• Participants will be exposed to a variety of watercolor styles and encouraged to discover their own personal aesthetic.

Image: James Toogood

Register by: July 2  
Materials List 
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.

Fridays, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.  
Instructor: Frederic Kaplan 
Six-Week Short Course (18 Hours) 

The simple pencil is an economical medium readily accessible to students at all levels, including beginners. It can produce drawings that range from poetic delicacy to energetic and bold expressiveness. Working from still life arrangements, interiors, window views, and other subjects, students will explore a variety of approaches for using pencil to shade and model form convincingly and with beauty. Instruction will review basic drawing principles and observational skills such as evaluating shape, gauging proportions, and employing perspective effects like foreshortening. Previous drawing experience is recommended but not required.

Register by: July 2 
Materials List
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.