Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Instructor: David Wilson
Six-Week Short Course (18 Hours)
Credit: Non-Credit Only
No class on May 24 (Memorial Day Weekend)

Painting the human form from observation is one of the cornerstones of PAFA's long tradition of rigorous instruction. Working from the nude model in poses of varying lengths, investigate color mixing, proportion, and composition using oil paint as a medium. Focusing on alla prima painting techniques and a limited flesh-tone palette, learn to model the human form through gesture, shape, volume, and temperature – excellent for painted sketches and preparatory studies, foundations for extended work, or an introduction/refresher to figure painting. Intended for all skill levels, this course also offers the valuable opportunity for more advanced students to continue to hone their skills to deepen their understanding of the language of painting.  Instruction will be geared toward oil, but students may draw-only, or use other appropriate media, if they wish. Note: Tuition includes a $35 models fee.

For continued or alternative study, see also Figure Painting: The Extended Pose with the same instructor.  Students enrolling in one class need not enroll in the other, and Alla Prima and the Limited Palette is not required for The Extended Pose.

Registration still open! 
Materials List 
Summer 2025 CE Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies

Fridays, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Zoom with posted Canvas Content)
Instructor: David Wilson
Six-Week Short Course (18 Hours Equivalent, Live + Asynchronous)
Credit: Non-Credit Only

Drawing is not only the starting point for artistic study in any medium, but also a unique and personal way of portraying people and places, expressing ideas, and recording experiences – accessible to anyone! Whether you are seeking to launch your artistic career or to capture the world with pencil on paper, this course is for you. Explore drawing’s fundamental materials, techniques, and principles through live Zoom demonstrations and posted instructional content. Learn to translate the three-dimensional world to the flat surface of your paper by working from still-life objects, interiors, and portraits in your choice of pencil, charcoal, or other media. This course is appropriate for all levels, from beginners to more experienced artists seeking to hone their core skills.

Learning Objectives:

• Strong designs and compositions
• Accurate shapes and proportions
• Believable depiction of light and space
• Dynamic use of tones, marks, and textures

Image: David Wilson.

Registration still open!
Materials List
Summer 2025 CE Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies
Information for PAFA CE Online Courses

Sundays, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Instructor: Keith Leitner
Five-Week Short Course (15 Hours)
Credit: Non-Credit Only
Includes Rain Date: July 13

Capture the colors of summer enplein air through vibrant watercolor! Become comfortable and confident with the practice of working outdoors at picturesque Lemon Hill, Laurel Hill, and other select locations around the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Fairmount Park. Instruction will cover means of accurately and expressively depicting outdoor sites, watercolor painting techniques, color mixing, and the history and capabilities of water media. All levels welcome. Note: Students are responsible for their own transportation to painting locations.   

Learning Objectives:   

• Learn to observe and depict landscape and cityscape enplein air with attendant materials and set up

• Learn color mixing and watercolor application techniques 

• Study of pigment history and development 

• Learn about watercolor history via short discussions of painters and their motifs

See work from instructor Keith Leitner's solo exhibition at Cerulean Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, April 9 - May 4, 2025!

Register by: May 23
Materials List
Summer 2025 CE Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies 

Wednesdays, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. 
Instructor: John Greig 
Six-Week Short Course (18 Hours) 
Credit: Non-Credit Only

This class will explore wood as a primary art-making medium, looking at its many types, techniques and uses. Students will develop a well-rounded foundation of wood-working skills including cutting, milling, laminating, joinery and safe use of wood-working tools. Contemporary, traditional and ancient art works made of wood will be presented for historical and contextual understanding. Students will be encouraged to find their own unique voice within the material while building skills. Tuition includes $30 materials fee.

Register by: June 18
Materials List - Coming Soon!
Summer 2025 CE Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies

Mondays, 1 – 4 p.m. 
Instructor: Roger Chavez 
Six-Week Short Course (18 Hours) 
Credit: Non-Credit Only

Energize and open up your approach to figure painting through rapid, loose oil painting studies from the life model. Learn tactics to avoid the tendency toward tightness and over-attention to detail too early in the process that can lead to work that lacks liveliness in gesture or mark and is difficult to adjust or correct. Through short, small-scale painting exercises from the model in one-day poses, learn new ways of approaching life painting with an emphasis on keeping compositions fluid, capturing the gesture and character of the subject before getting locked into its contours, and both initiating and retaining a sense of freshness in your color and brushstrokes. Instruction will address color mixing, painting materials and methodologies, and the importance of cultivating sustainable methods for growth in your painting practice. Note: Tuition includes a $35 models fee.

Register by: July 3
Materials List
Summer 2025 CE Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies

Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Instructor: Roger Chavez
Five-Week Short Course (20 Hours)
Credit: Non-Credit Only
Includes Rain Date: August 5

The oil sketch is a traditional way for painters to execute preparatory ideas and quickly capture initial impressions – perfect for plein air painting! Learn useful techniques for rapidly encapsulating color and form while working directly from observation. Locations with shade and restrooms include Bartram’s Garden along the Schuylkill River and the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, near Philadelphia International Airport. Note: Students are responsible for their own transportation to painting locations.

Register by: June 24
Materials List
Summer 2025 CE Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies

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

Strengthen and hone your foundational drawing skills through a series of one- and two-day projects. Topics of concern will be design, structure of space, perspective, and light and shade. Subjects will include interior space, single objects and still life arrangements, and the life model. All levels from beginner to advanced are welcome. Tuition includes a $15 models fee.

Register by: July 1
Materials List
Summer 2025 CE Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies

Tuesdays, 1 – 4 p.m. 
Instructor: Marguerita Hagan  
Six-Week Short Course (18 Hours)  
Credit: Non-Credit Only

Explore a custom sculpture experience in clay with veteran ceramicist, Marguerita Hagan. Learn various hand-building processes with an emphasis on abstraction. Create work that is either wall-hanging or free-standing, and focused on 3D qualities, surface treatments, or both. Whatever you imagine will be supported with experienced individualized attention and specific hand-building and painting techniques to manifest your intention. Gain exposure not only to hand-building directions but also to many surface treatment methods including airbrush, underglaze paints, pencils, masking, resist, glaze, overglaze lusters, and waterslide and rice paper transfer decals. Instruction will be tailored to serve the individual whether for learning basic hand-building methods or realizing a work or series. Come with no experience or translate your existing practice into the transformative language of clay. Note: Tuition includes a $30 lab fee.

Image: Marguerita Hagan, Swept, hand-built ceramic, 6.5 x 8.25 x 6.5 in.

Register by: July 1
Materials List
Summer 2025 CE Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies