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Oil/Acrylic Painting
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Fast and Unfussed Figure Painting
with Roger Chavez
Tuesdays, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Instructor: Roger Chavez
Six-Week Condensed Course (30 Hours)
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 $65 models fee.
Image: Roger Chavez
Registration Still Open!
Materials List
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.
The Portrait in Oil
with Jill A. Rupinski
Thursdays, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Instructor: Jill A. Rupinski
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. 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: Jill A. Rupinski, The Gardener, 2022, oil on linen, 30 x 24 in.
Registration still open!
Materials List
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.
Figure Painting: The Extended Pose
with David Wilson
Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Instructor: David Wilson
Six-Week Short Course (18 Hours)
Paint from a life model in a multi-week-pose format to develop and refine your figure painting compositions. Extended poses will allow students to adjust and resolve issues of surface, color, and composition. Instruction will cover a variety of topics including glazing, broken color, surface texture, composition and design, the relationship of the figure to the environment, the creation of atmosphere and color harmony, disrupted realism, and open- versus closed-form painting. All levels welcome. Instruction will be geared toward oil, but students are welcome to draw-only, or use other appropriate media, if they wish. Note: Tuition includes a $35 models fee.
Image: David Wilson
Registration still open!
Materials List
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.
Palette Knife Painting
with Shushana Rucker
Mondays, 1 - 4 p.m.
Instructor: Shushana Rucker
Six-Week Short Course (18 Hours)
Explore the possibilities of palette knife painting in this six-week course led by artist Shushana Rucker. Designed for painters of all levels, the course introduces students to a range of knife techniques for applying oil paint to create bold lines and strong texture. Through demonstrations, guided exercises, and individual feedback, students will learn how to mix bold color and use texture to heighten expression and atmosphere. Working from observation and reference imagery, participants will complete several finished paintings and develop a personal approach to working with the knife. No prior palette knife experience required.
Image: Shushana Rucker
Registration Still Open!
Materials List
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.
Color Temperature in Oil Painting Workshop
with Shushana Rucker
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Instructor: Shushana Rucker
Weekend Workshop (One Day, 7 Hours)
This one-day workshop introduces the fundamentals of color temperature and its role in creating depth, light, and mood in a painting. Through demonstrations and hands-on exercises, participants will explore the relationships between warm and cool colors and how temperature shifts can be used to model form, suggest atmosphere, and unify a composition. Working from simple references, students will practice mixing and applying color with intention. This workshop is suitable for all levels and emphasizes both observation and experimentation.
Image: Shushana Rucker
Register by: July 24
Materials List
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.