Be inspired to experiment with the ideas and techniques of the Modern Masters in this art appreciation/hands-on studio course. Zoom lectures and discussions will examine the historical context, techniques, aesthetics, and emotional content of several art movements in Europe and America from the 1880s to the 1950s, including Impressionism, Cubism, Dada and Surrealism, the Ballet Russe, art of the Harlem Renaissance and the WPA, and Modernism. Out-of-class assignments will build off the lectures, allowing students to experiment in the style of the movements in the drawing, painting, or collage media of their choice.

Zoom meetings will focus on art historical discussion and critiques of students’ assignments, but will not offer how-to drawing/painting instruction. Prior drawing/painting experience is recommended, but experimentation is welcome.

Registration Still Available

Materials List: Samworth Art Appreciation in Practice Impressionism to Modernism

CE Policy Guide Spring 2021

Zoom Technical Requirements

Explore the expressive potential of collage for producing both aesthetic imagery and philosophical statements. Experiment with a variety of materials including drawing and painting media, paper, cardboard, fabric, metal, photographs, and found objects; and combine them using assorted fastening techniques such as gluing, nailing/screwing, or sewing. Stimulate your creativity by responding to assigned problems and prompts, and critically examine the resulting compositions as well as the implied ideas. Realize the tentative or "trial and error" nature of the collage process as a means to discover and learn, and ultimately affirm, your unique and individual aesthetic assertions.

Registration Still Available

Materials List : Nocella Collage 1

CE Policy Guide Spring 2021

Zoom Technical Requirements

Image:

Steve Nocella, House Construction, mixed media

Explore the principles of animation through stop motion, pixelation (animating people), and drawings. These principles will be incorporated into a flipbook and then a final collaborative animation. Each student will create an animation in their own home that will be woven together with their peers to create an extended magical movie universe.

Through brainstorming, students will create unique story ideas, storyboard their vision, then animate their movies using a variety of materials. The course will utilize the online learning platform Canvas, and includes video demonstrations and viewing of animations to get inspired. On Saturday, group discussions and critiques will be conducted via Zoom.

 Learning Objectives: 

• Students will use the principles of animation to bring their art to life 
• Students will practice the principles of design by creating a flipbook
• Students will incorporate their own ideas into a storyboard
• Students will transfer the storyboard into an animation by using a variety of materials and found objects 
• Students will learn how to create a set or area to film in and illuminate it for filming.

Required materials list here.

Lindsay Kovnat is multimedia artist and animator with a BFA from University of the Arts. She has curated art shows, run an art studio space, is a certified art teacher and currently a UX designer for an education publishing company designing digital applications.  

Students may apply for full and partial scholarships here BEFORE registering: https://pafacademy.slideroom.com/#/permalink/program/58850

Students have the option of taking this class for 1.0 college credit or no credit. The only difference in experience is that "for-credit" students will receive a grade for their work.

International students are welcome! However, the registration process is different to support international payment systems. Please reach out to precollege@pafa.org to register as an international student.

An in-depth approach to portrait painting from the Chair of PAFA’s Painting Department and noted author of Color for Painters: A Guide to Traditions and Practice. Investigate the structure of the human head through drawings and painted studies. Progress to finished paintings and address issues of likeness, composition, space and texture. Learn to better see and understand color to mix it more successfully – a useful skill for painting any subject matter. Includes weekly step-by-step painting demonstrations, assignments that target each important issue of painting a portrait, critiques and weekly Zoom meetings every Sunday, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.  All levels welcome.

Learning Objectives

This dynamic online course will address all aspects of portrait painting and drawing, including:

• Students will learn the traditions and history of portraiture

• Students will learn portrait structure and anatomy

• Students will learn how to achieve a good likeness

• Students will learn alla prima (direct) painting techniques

• Students will learn to use the materials and color palettes for effective portrait painting

• Students will learn to use the materials for effective portrait drawing inlcuding pastel

• Students will learn to paint portraits from both life and from photo reference

Note: This course is available for 1.0 undergraduate credit for $525

Registration Still Available

Image:

Al Gury, Portrait Painting and Study, oil on canvas/charcoal on paper

Materials List : Gury PT 602E_ON

Zoom Technical Requirements

CE Policy Guide Spring 2021

Under the positive guidance of illustrator Kate Samworth and children's author Molly B. Burnham, develop a mock-up book based on a familiar folk or fairy tale. Examine the role of voice, tone, audience, and plot while developing illustrations through guided experiments in mixed media. Classic and contemporary treasures written for adults and children will serve as examples and inspiration. This serious and yet playful class uses inquiry and investigation to build students' skills and confidence.

Registration Still Available

Materials List: Samworth & Burnham IL 600ES_ON

CE Policy Guide Spring 2021

Zoom Technical Requirements

Perspective is at the heart of good drawing and painting, allowing us to translate the observable world into believable two-dimensional images and create invented spaces. Learn the fundamentals of linear perspective in clear, easy to-understand language, and apply these principles to still life, interiors and cityscape views.  This course will utilize the online learning platform, Canvas, and include videos, lectures and assignments with regular instructor feedback, plus weekly live sessions via Zoom. Basic drawing experience recommended.  

Learning Objectives

• Improve observational and interpretive skills, including the ability to gauge proportions, orientations, and relative positions of objects and their parts.

• Achieve understanding of the core principles of linear perspective.

• Develop skill in applying the principles of linear perspective to real-world situations.

Note: This course is also available for 1.0 undergraduate credit for $525

Registration Still Available

Materials List: Kaplan DR 716OP_ON

Zoom Technical Information

CE Policy Guide Spring 2021

Image: 

Thomas Eakins (1844-1916), “Drawing 1 (The Law of Perspective),” ca. 1884-87, Pen and ink over graphite on cream wove paper, 15 1/2 x 22 1/4 in. (39.37 x 56.515 cm.), Collection of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, ACCESSION #1985.68.3.1, Charles Bregler's Thomas Eakins Collection, purchased with the partial support of the Pew Memorial Trust and the John S. Phillips Fund

Cultivating mindfulness, or wakefulness, allows you to be fully present and aware of your actions, without feeling distracted and overwhelmed by other thoughts or outside influences.  Art-making is a natural way of practicing mindfulness, and is especially important in these challenging times. Mindful art-making has been shown not only to reduce stress and improve communication skills, but also to benefit those suffering from memory loss, depression, or PTSD.  Discover how creativity can enrich your daily life.  Under the guidance of Dona Duncan, artist and registered Art Therapist, practice light mediation and relaxation techniques to cultivate mindfulness, and express your thoughts and feelings through drawing and painting projects in a non-judgmental atmosphere.  Projects will be assigned in each class and discussed the following week.  No artistic experience necessary.

Registration Still Available

Materials List: Duncan IN 750EH_ON Part 1

Zoom Technical Requirements

CE Policy Guide Spring 2021

Design is the application of the formal elements of aesthetics to an artwork to enhance its strengths.  The first seven classes of this ten-week course will explain the formal elements of design:  composition, space, value, light, color, line, and texture/pattern.  Course content will include art historical discussions using artists past and present to exemplify design, short video demonstrations of the applications of each principle, and time to experiment and apply what you learned to your own work. In the final three classes, students will apply these elements to their work, with formal critiques at the end of each class. This class will be team taught by Shushana Rucker and Charles Muldowney, allowing students to benefit from varied input during critiques and different points of view during lectures and discussions.  

A weekly, live Zoom meeting will be held every Thursday, 6 - 7 p.m.  

Course Schedule

Composition – This class will discuss the arrangement of forms, rhythms, colors, values, and lines in a work to create an interesting image. Principles like the Golden Ratio and other concepts will be made simple. Students will be able to identify these elements in the work of classical and contemporary artists. The works of Hopper, Bartlett, Vermeer, Millet, Poussin, and others will be discussed.

Space – This class will investigate the creating of a sense of depth in a work using size, position of forms, value, saturation, edge and perspective. Atmospheric perspective, linear perspective, intuitive perspective will be discussed and demonstrated. The class will look at the work of Alberti, Masaccio, Durer, Leonardo DaVinci, Giacometti and others.

Value – This class will examine the creating of a range of dark and light in a work. High key and low key value will be discussed and demonstrated. The class will look at work of Prud’hon, Klee, Lorrain, Rigaud, Hassam, Degas, Monet, Manet and others.

Light – This class will study manipulating the value and texture to create a sense of illumination and drama. The class will look at the work of Innes, Seurat, Rembrandt, Rubens, Hopper, Caravaggio, Vermeer, Goya and Whistler.

Color – This class will examine principles of color to create mood, space and harmony. Artists studied: Van Gogh, Matisse, Piper, Diebenkorn, Rothko and others.

Line – this class will explore the use of line in creating planes, volume, mass, gesture and space.  The class will look at the work of Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Kline and others.

Texture and pattern – this class will look at creating a rich visually interesting surface that provides contrast, variety, and decoration. Artists studied: Escher, Close, Mondrian, Pollock, Klimt, Essaydi and Fish.

Learning Objectives:

• Students will recognize and apply the seven basic elements of classical design.
• Students will become familiar with several important art historical figures, and their influence on design.
• Students will experiment with a variety of techniques and materials to gain an understanding of how mark making influences design.
• Students will develop and discuss concepts and image development in the form of structured critique.
• Students will gain confidence in their ability to create interesting design within their own artwork.

Note: This course is available for 1.0 undergraduate credit for $525

Registration Still Available

Materials List: Rucker & Muldowney DR 700ED_ON

Zoom Technical Requirements

CE Policy Guide Spring 2021

Image:  Shushana Rucker, "The Upside Down," oil on panel, 20 x 20 in.