Tuesdays, 6 – 8:30 p.m. (Zoom with posted Canvas content)
Instructor: Susan Sullivan
Ten-Week Course (30-Hour Equivalent)
Credit: Non-Credit or 1.0 Undergraduate Credit (See Below)

Abstraction in art can look like a variety of different things, from the painterly glow of a Turner seascape to the flattened patterns of a Matisse interior to Pollock’s nonobjective drip technique. But how does one get from painting realistically what one can see in the real world to translating it into invented color and shape or to abandoning form altogether? Learn from master artists throughout modern art history by trying on their techniques to find your own personal style! Explore different paint application methods, color interactions, and compositional tactics as you take on a variety of subjects, including still life, interiors, landscape, and the figure or self-portrait…using the examples of Helen Frankenthaler, David Hockney, Mickalene Thomas, and other master artists to guide you. Each session will include lecture and artist examples, in-class painting time, and one-on-one feedback from the instructor. Whether you are seeking to drive your current work to a new direction or simply experiment with different ways of generating imagery, this is a great steppingstone to making abstraction – in whatever form it may take – personal, expressive, and satisfying. Open to all media and levels but drawing experience recommended.

Optional: This course is available for 1.0 undergraduate credit for $595. Select credit option with price adjustment when registering.

Image: Susan Sullivan, B-52 (detail), oil on canvas.

Register by: May 22
Materials List

Summer 2024 CE Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies
Information for PAFA CE Online Courses

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

Note: The dates of this course have changed to June 4 - July 9, reflecting a two-week delay.  Alternate scheduling options available for July 2 and 9, via individual arrangements with the instructor: rwyffels@pobox.pafa.edu. 

Printing from a drawing carved into wood or a linoleum block is the oldest and most straightforward form of printmaking. The direct nature of this process makes it an ideal introduction to printmaking for beginners, while artists of all levels enjoy its potential for intricate detail and graphic impact. This six-week course is the perfect condensed exploration into this striking technique. All aspects of the process will be covered, including drawing on the block, carving your design and printing black-and white and color prints. All levels welcome. Tuition includes a $20 lab fee.

Learning Objectives

• Students will gain a basic understanding of the relief printing process.
• Students will acquire technical experience in preparing woodblocks & linoleum blocks to receive their drawn images.
• Students will learn safe and smart cutting techniques for making their printing blocks.
• Students will acquire technical expertise by proofing and printing their black & white and color relief prints, including skills in ink brayer use & press operation.
• Students will learn printmaking professionalism including printing editions on clean registered printmaking paper and signing and numbering editions appropriately.
• Students will learn the importance of image development by exploring various possibilities with the process.
• Students will develop critical visual and verbal skills through individual discussions with the instructor and with their peers.

Image: Ron Wyffels.

Registration still open!

Materials List

Summer 2024 CE Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies

Tuesdays, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 
Instructor: John Horn
Six-Week Condensed Course (36 Hours)
Credit: Non-Credit or 1.0 Undergraduate Credit (See Below)

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 traditionally associated with beautiful figure drawing, such as measuring, tonal rendering, anatomical structuring, and establishing the effects of light on the figure, using graphite on white paper, charcoal and chalk on toned paper, and reduction techniques. Through the instructor’s in-depth anatomical drawing demonstrations and work from the life model, learn the structural aspects of the human form: basic landmarks, essential volumes, and proportional relationships. Progress to the main muscle groups to identify their surface effects and aesthetic characteristics, and how they influence mass and movement. Learn to incorporate your knowledge of figure anatomy to capture the elegance, dynamism, and subtleties of the human form through drawing from the model in short and extended poses. This course is ideal for anyone interested in strengthening their figure drawing, painting, or sculpture skills, as well as for those interested in future medical illustration.  Note: Tuition includes a $50 models fee. 

Optional: This course is available for 1.0 undergraduate credit for $745 (including models fee). Select credit option with price adjustment when registering. 

Image: John Horn.

Register by: June 24
Materials List
Summer 2024 CE Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies 

Tuesdays, 6 – 8 p.m. (Zoom with posted Canvas content)
Instructor: Alicia Mino 
Six-Week Short Course (18-Hour Equivalent)
Credit: Non-Credit Only

Learn strategies to translate your photographs into drawings that both retain the photo’s realism and promote your personal expression. Using colored pencil (which combines the possibilities of color with the ease of dry media), explore tactics for accurately translating your imagery to your drawing surface; identifying, mixing, and layering color to achieve vibrant effects; creating realism through the study of texture, light, and contrast; and employing addition and subtraction techniques to expand your range of mark-making. Work from your choice of photographic subject matter – a great option for students seeking to make art from personal experiences, capture family and friends who cannot pose for portraiture, or expand their interests and skills in landscapes, animals, or other subject matter not easily accessible.  This course is excellent for beginners or those interested in colored pencil or photorealistic drawing techniques. 

Image: Alicia Mino.

Register by: June 24
Materials List  
Summer 2024 CE Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies
Information for PAFA CE Online Courses

Tuesdays, 6 – 8:30 p.m. 
Instructor: Frederic Kaplan 
Four-Week Short Course (10 Hours)
Credit: Non-Credit Only

Learn to paint the unique effects of evening light and activity of Center City and University City, Philadelphia. Discover techniques for managing the shifting light and shadows of the setting sun as it plays across the city’s historic architecture. This plein air option is perfect for summer painting, allowing artists to take advantage of cooling evening temperatures and the subtle or dramatic palette of sunset and dusk.  Previous painting experience required. Restrooms near all locations. Note: Students are responsible for their own transportation to painting locations. 

Image: Sybille Zeldin, Street Scene, Courtesy of student. 

Register by: July 1
Materials List  
Summer 2024 CE Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies