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Continuing Education at PAFA

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Watercolor, Gouache & Tempera

in CE Courses by Medium/Discipline

In-Depth Watercolor, Section 1 (In-Person)

$625

with James Toogood

Calendar Current session started Jan 27, 2023 at 9 am, runs for 10 weeks

Fridays, 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

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. 

Optional: This course is available for 1.5 undergraduate credits for $995. Select credit option when registering. 

Please note:  All students enrolling in on-campus courses must submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and at least one additional booster upon registration. Registrations lacking vaccine documentation or approved medical exemption one week after submission are subject to withdrawal. Requests for medical or religious exemptions must be approved by PAFA’s head of security. Withdrawals for noncompliance will result in fees. See CE Policy Guide for complete COVID safety requirements and policies.  

Image:  James Toogood

Register by: January 20

Materials List 

CE Policy Guide Winter/Spring 2023 

CE Proof of Vaccination/Booster Form - SUBMISSION REQUIRED AT TIME OF REGISTRATION 

Full Course

In-Depth Watercolor, Section 2 (In-Person)

$625

with James Toogood

Calendar Current session started Feb 1, 2023 at 9 am, runs for 10 weeks

Wednesdays, 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

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. 

Optional: This course is available for 1.5 undergraduate credits for $995. Select credit option when registering. 

Please note:  All students enrolling in on-campus courses must submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and at least one additional booster upon registration. Registrations lacking vaccine documentation or approved medical exemption one week after submission are subject to withdrawal. Requests for medical or religious exemptions must be approved by PAFA’s head of security. Withdrawals for noncompliance will result in fees. See CE Policy Guide for complete COVID safety requirements and policies.  

Image:  James Toogood

Register by: January 20

Materials List 

CE Policy Guide Winter/Spring 2023 

CE Proof of Vaccination/Booster Form - SUBMISSION REQUIRED AT TIME OF REGISTRATION 

Full Course
The American Watercolor Tradition (In-Person)
Registration Unavailable

The American Watercolor Tradition (In-Person)

$295

with Richard Estell

Calendar Current session started Mar 13, 2023 at 12:30 pm, runs for 6 weeks

Mondays, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. 

Explore the painting techniques of the masters who pioneered the 19th and 20th century American watercolor movement, including Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Edward Hopper, and Charles Demuth.  Characterized by bright color and bold handling that includes accents of opaque watercolor and loose washes, work in this tradition captures subject matter with dazzling light-filled effects. Practice these classic methods and learn to incorporate them into your own artwork to achieve a greater freedom of expression as well as adaptability and control in the way that you paint. Demonstrations and art historical discussions will be combined with short and more extensive still life and self-portrait exercises. This course is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels. 

Please note:  All students enrolling in on-campus courses must submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and at least one additional booster upon registration. Registrations lacking vaccine documentation or approved medical exemption one week after submission are subject to withdrawal. Requests for medical or religious exemptions must be approved by PAFA’s head of security. Withdrawals for noncompliance will result in fees. See CE Policy Guide for complete COVID safety requirements and policies. 

Image:  Richard Estell, River Rocks and Fog, watercolor, 22 x 30 in.

Register by: March 10 

Materials List 

CE Policy Guide Winter/Spring 2023 

CE Proof of Vaccination/Booster Form - SUBMISSION REQUIRED AT TIME OF REGISTRATION

Alla Prima Watercolor Still Life (In-Person)
Registration Unavailable

Alla Prima Watercolor Still Life (In-Person)

$295

with Keith Leitner

Wednesdays, 6 - 9 p.m.

Embrace the beauty and versatility of watercolor through alla prima painting. Discussions and in-depth demonstrations will acquaint beginners and those with limited experience with the basic materials and techniques. Working from still-life subjects, students will be encouraged to engage with the medium to find their own personal means of expression. 

Please note:  All students enrolling in on-campus courses must submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and at least one additional booster upon registration. Registrations lacking vaccine documentation or approved medical exemption one week after submission are subject to withdrawal. Requests for medical or religious exemptions must be approved by PAFA’s head of security. Withdrawals for noncompliance will result in fees. See CE Policy Guide for complete COVID safety requirements and policies. 

Image:  Keith Leitner, Above Stockton, watercolor, 12 x 12in.

Register by: March 3 

Materials List 

CE Policy Guide Winter/Spring 2023 

CE Proof of Vaccination/Booster Form - SUBMISSION REQUIRED AT TIME OF REGISTRATION

Botanical Alla Prima Workshop (In-Person)

$225

with Linda Gist

Calendar Next available session starts Apr 15, 2023 at 9 am

Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Embody the spirit of spring with fresh and immediate painting! Learn to capture the essence of a living, botanical subject quickly and spontaneously in pencil and watercolor. This alla prima method can be used for preparatory studies for sustained paintings, compiling a field sketchbook, or as an end in itself. All levels welcome. (Tuition includes $10 materials fee.) 

Please note:  All students enrolling in on-campus courses must submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and at least one additional booster upon registration. Registrations lacking vaccine documentation or approved medical exemption one week after submission are subject to withdrawal. Requests for medical or religious exemptions must be approved by PAFA’s head of security. Withdrawals for noncompliance will result in fees. See CE Policy Guide for complete COVID safety requirements and policies.  

Image:  Linda Gist, Cleome Hassleriana, 2008, 16 x 19 in.

Register by: April 7 

Materials List 

CE Policy Guide Winter/Spring 2023 

CE Proof of Vaccination/Booster Form - SUBMISSION REQUIRED AT TIME OF REGISTRATION 

Plein Air Drawing and Painting (Outdoor)

$395

with Larry Francis

Calendar Next available session starts Apr 16, 2023 at 9 am, runs for 5 weeks

Sundays, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Capture the small-town beauty Manayunk's hilly streets, rowhomes, and storefronts.  Learn to create a convincing sense of space, light and time of day while depicting streetscapes, trees, water and sky.  Color mixing and painting techniques for oils will be demonstrated, but all drawing/painting media are welcome.  Located just 15 minutes outside of Philadelphia, Manayunk offers engaging urban and riverside neighborhood subjects with parking, shade, provisions and facilities available. Note: Students are responsible for their own transportation to painting locations. 

Image:  Larry Francis, Walking the Dog [Gorgas Park].

Register by:  April 7 

Materials List 

CE Policy Guide Winter/Spring 2023 





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