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Drawing the Urban Environment (Outdoor)
with Frederic Kaplan
Wednesdays, 10 am - 1 pm
Draw Philadelphia’s picturesque historic and commercial architecture, using fundamental observational drawing techniques to capture the world around you. Learn simple methods for applying the principles of linear and atmospheric perspective to your drawings, giving them dimension and depth. Students at all experience levels are welcome, with instruction designed to appeal both to those who enjoy portraying landscape subjects in the open air and to students seeking to hone their basic drawing skills. This course takes place in easy-to-access Central Philadelphia and University City locations. Restrooms are available near all sites. Note: Students are responsible for their own transportation.
Important: All students enrolling in on-campus courses must submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and booster (or documentation for a medical/religious exemption request) upon registration. Open the Agreement form during checkout to upload an image of your vaccination card or exemption documentation, or submit vaccine and booster documentation below.Onsite card display and card images emailed to the CE office cannot be accepted. Registration for any on-campus course is pending without vaccination documentation or exemption approval. See the CE Policy Guide below for complete COVID-19 safety requirements.
Register by: Registration still open!
Figure Modeling
with Morgan Dummitt
Thursdays, 9 am - 5 pm
Sculpting from the life model is the foundational skill of traditional sculpture. Learn to model the 24-inch full figure in clay, from armature construction to finished sculpture. Topics of study will include proportion, gesture, and simplified sculptural form. All levels are welcome. Tuition includes a $20 lab fee.
Learning Objectives
- Learn to focus on large, simple shapes
- Gain a basic understanding of the major forms and rhythms of the figure and portrait
- Understand the building blocks of artistic anatomy
- Consider the goals of a study versus a finished sculpture
NOTE: This course is available for 1.5 undergraduate credits for $770.
Important: All students enrolling in on-campus courses must submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and booster (or documentation for a medical/religious exemption request) upon registration. Open the Agreement form during checkout to upload an image of your vaccination card or exemption documentation, or submit vaccine and booster documentation below.Onsite card display and card images emailed to the CE office cannot be accepted. Registration for any on-campus course is pending without vaccination documentation or exemption approval. See the CE Policy Guide below for complete COVID-19 safety requirements.
Register by: Registration still open!
Plein Air Painting in Valley Forge (Outdoor)
with Charles Muldowney
Thursdays, 10 am - 2 pm
Enjoy open-air painting in beautiful Valley Forge National Historical Park, the encampment site of George Washington’s Continental Army in 1777-1778 and now home to a painter’s delight of lush scenery and historic architecture! Located in Montgomery County, 35 minutes northwest of Center City Philadelphia, the park features great views of the Schuylkill River, Valley Creek, the Valley Forge Farm, Mt. Joy, Mt. Misery, and many valleys, cabins, and colonial houses, with ample parking and access to restrooms. Working from diverse landscape subject matter, students will learn the essential materials, tools, techniques, and strategies for painting on site. Instruction will cover a variety of plein air approaches, including painting with a knife and brush, painting from an imprimatura, Macchiaioli painting, and working from sketches to block in local color. Note: Students are responsible for their own transportation.
Register by: Registration still open!
Etching in Color
with Tony Rosati
Fridays, 9 am - 5 pm
Explore single-plate simultaneous color printing techniques, as well as multiple-plate methods with the use of shaped paper forms and acetate stencils. Monotype and chine colle additions can offer further color embellishments. All levels welcome.
NOTE: This course is available for 1.5 undergraduate credit for $770, including lab fee.
Important: All students enrolling in on-campus courses must submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and booster (or documentation for a medical/religious exemption request) upon registration. Open the Agreement form during checkout to upload an image of your vaccination card or exemption documentation, or submit vaccine and booster documentation below.Onsite card display and card images emailed to the CE office cannot be accepted. Registration for any on-campus course is pending without vaccination documentation or exemption approval. See the CE Policy Guide below for complete COVID-19 safety requirements.
Register by: June 24
Figure Painting (Summer Session 2)
with David Wilson
Fridays, 9 am - 12 pm
Painting the human form from observation is one of the cornerstones of PAFA's long tradition of rigorous instruction. Working from the nude model, investigate color mixing, proportion, and composition using oil paint as a medium. Intended for all skill levels, this course offers foundational instruction on building form and mixing flesh tones for beginning-level students, as well as the the valuable opportunity for more advanced students to continue to hone their skills to deepen their understanding of the language of painting.
Please note: Students may draw-only in this class, if they wish. This course will feature a one-week pose, a two-week pose, and a three-week pose. The first day will start with short poses and focus on the gesture, proportion, and measuring, making the content accessible to beginners in any media. Students need not have participated in Summer Session 1 of this course to enroll.
Important: All students enrolling in on-campus courses must submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and booster (or documentation for a medical/religious exemption request) upon registration. Open the Agreement form during checkout to upload an image of your vaccination card or exemption documentation, or submit vaccine and booster documentation below. Onsite card display and card images emailed to the CE office cannot be accepted. Registration for any on-campus course is pending without vaccination documentation or exemption approval. See the CE Policy Guide below for complete COVID-19 safety requirements.
Register by: Registration still open!
In-Depth Watercolor (Summer Session 2)
with James Toogood
Fridays, 9 am - 5 pm
Enrich your knowledge of painting with an in-depth look at watercolor. Thoroughly investigate a wide range of watercolor materials and techniques from your choice of landscape, still life, portrait, and figure subjects. 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 can expect to have regular individual instruction, given at their current skill level.
- Focus also will be paid on acquiring the skills needed to achieve a richness of color and a feeling of light.
- Participants will work from direct observations from the still life and model, as well as from one’s own source materials.
- Those not taking the class for credit will have the option to work on landscape, still life, portrait and figure or abstraction, as they wish.
- Participants will be exposed to a variety of watercolor styles, and encouraged to discover one’s own personal aesthetic.
- The course is ultimately designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to make accomplished, personally rewarding watercolor paintings.
NOTE: This course is available for 1.5 undergraduate credit for $750.
Half-Day Option: For greater flexibility, this course is available for half-days (non-credit only), 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. or 1:30 - 5 p.m., for $325. Note that courses are designed for full-day attendance: information and demonstrations presented in one portion of the day may not be repeated in the other half. Students wishing to add the remaining portion can pay the balance by calling the CE office at 215-972-2029.
Important: All students enrolling in on-campus courses must submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and booster (or documentation for a medical/religious exemption request) upon registration. Open the Agreement form during checkout to upload an image of your vaccination card or exemption documentation, or submit vaccine and booster documentation below. Onsite card display and card images emailed to the CE office cannot be accepted. Registration for any on-campus course is pending without vaccination documentation or exemption approval. See the CE Policy Guide below for complete COVID-19 safety requirements.
Register by: Registration still open!
Foundry: An Introduction
with Morgan Dummitt
Saturdays, 9 am - 5 pm
This course will cover all aspects of the foundry process. Demonstrations and hands-on instruction will be given in wax modeling and casting, ceramic shell techniques, bronze pouring, metal chasing, TIG welding and patination. All levels welcome. Tuition includes $65 lab fee.
NOTE: This course is available for 1.5 undergraduate credit for $815.
Important: All students enrolling in on-campus courses must submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and booster (or documentation for a medical/religious exemption request) upon registration. Open the Agreement form during checkout to upload an image of your vaccination card or exemption documentation, or submit vaccine and booster documentation below.Onsite card display and card images emailed to the CE office cannot be accepted. Registration for any on-campus course is pending without vaccination documentation or exemption approval. See the CE Policy Guide below for complete COVID-19 safety requirements.
Register by: Registration still open!
Portrait Painting Basics Workshop
with Theodore Xaras
Saturday & Sunday, 9 am - 5 pm
This comprehensive workshop covers all aspects of painting a traditional portrait. Topics include achieving a likeness, modeling light and shade, mixing flesh tones and applying paint through various techniques. All participants will produce at least one finished portrait. Includes demonstrations and portrait history. Valuable information for all levels.
Learning Objectives
- Students will learn to analyze and construct a portrait using clearly defined steps.
- Students will be able to achieve a likeness through the careful observation of shapes and their color/value equivalent, which together, form the “topography” of the face.
- Students will learn how to mix and adjust colors to produce accurate flesh tones.
- Students will be able to produce one completed portrait, either a head and shoulders or the entire torso and hands.
- Students will be able to paint a recognizable portrait from life.
- Students will gain an appreciation for the art of portraiture from their own work as well as becoming acquainted with historical and contemporary examples as a basis for further study.
Important: All students enrolling in on-campus courses must submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and booster (or documentation for a medical/religious exemption request) upon registration. Open the Agreement form during checkout to upload an image of your vaccination card or exemption documentation, or submit vaccine and booster documentation below.Onsite card display and card images emailed to the CE office cannot be accepted. Registration for any on-campus course is pending without vaccination documentation or exemption approval.
Register by: July 1