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Etching, Monoprints, and Monotypes
with Tony Rosati
Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Instructor: Tony Rosati
Six-Week Short Course (18 Hours)
Experience masterful instruction in PAFA’s spacious print facilities as you explore an array of basic intaglio and monotype printing techniques including monoprint, drypoint, etching, aquatint, collograph and polymer plate methods. Image embellishments will include embossing, chine collé, collage, paper plates and mixed media techniques. All levels welcome; experienced students may continue independent work. Note: Tuition includes $20 lab fee.
Image: Tony Rosati
Register by: June 29
Materials List
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.
Terracotta Figure Sculpture
with Morgan Dummitt
Tuesdays, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Instructor: Morgan Dummitt
Six-Week Condensed Course (30 Hours)
Modeling the figure in clay is the foundational skill of traditional sculpture. Working from a model, learn to sculpt in clay from initial gesture to surface finishing techniques. Topics of study will include proportion, composition, structure, and simplified sculptural form. Students will complete two sculptures in the course of the class. All work will be fired after class. Beginners welcome. Note: Tuition includes a $65 models fee.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Gain a basic understanding of the osteology, myology, and anatomy of the figure
- Analyze and organize the various elements of the body into simplified sculptural forms
- Carry out best practices for modeling and maintaining water-based clay sculpture
- Understand best practices for creating ceramic sculpture
Image: Morgan Dummitt, Brittany, terracotta.
Register by: June 30
Materials List
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.
Anatomical Figure Drawing
with John Horn
Wednesdays, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Instructor: John Horn
Six-Week Short Course (18 Hours)
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 of traditional figure drawing, such as measuring, capturing gesture, anatomical structuring, and tonal rendering. Through lectures and demonstrations, and work from the life model, learn the structural aspects of the human form: bony landmarks, simplified volumes, and proportional relationships. Progress to the skeletal framework and superficial muscles to identify their surface effects and how they influence mass and movement. Incorporate your knowledge of figure anatomy to capture the fluidity, vitality, and subtleties of the human form while working from the life model in short and extended poses. Note: Tuition includes a $35 models fee.
Image: John Horn
Register by: July 1
Materials List
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.
In-Depth Watercolor, Section 3
with James Toogood
Wednesdays, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Instructor: James Toogood
Six-Week Condensed Course (36 Hours)
*Recently added overflow section to In-Depth Watercolor, Section 2 (Fridays)
Enrich your knowledge of painting with an in-depth look at watercolor. Thoroughly investigate a wide range of watercolor materials and techniques while working from your choice of landscape, still life, abstraction, or personal source material. The course is designed to equip each participant with the knowledge and skills necessary to make accomplished, personally rewarding watercolor paintings. 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 with experience will receive individual instruction for their current skill level.
- Students will acquire the skills needed to achieve a richness of color and a feeling of light.
- Participants will be exposed to a variety of watercolor styles and encouraged to discover their own personal aesthetic.
Image: James Toogood
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.
Woodcut Printmaking
with Rebecca Gilbert
Thursdays, 1 - 4 p.m.
Instructor: Rebecca Gilbert
Six-Week Short Course (18 Hours)
Printing from a drawing carved into wood block is the oldest and most straightforward form of printmaking. Artists of all levels enjoy its potential for intricate detail and graphic impact. Learn the basics of relief printmaking, including carving techniques, care of tools, types of wood and paper, registration, and how to use mark-making to translate ideas into dynamic black and white images. Instruction will cover printing by hand and on an etching press, using oil-based inks. This workshop is most suitable for folks that have some experience with printmaking, but all levels are welcome. Tuition includes a $20 lab fee.
Image: Rebecca Gilbert
Registration still open!
Materials List
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.
In-Depth Watercolor, Section 2
with James Toogood
Fridays, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Instructor: James Toogood
Six-Week Condensed Course (36 Hours)
* We have recently added an overflow class for registration here
Enrich your knowledge of painting with an in-depth look at watercolor. Thoroughly investigate a wide range of watercolor materials and techniques while working from your choice of landscape, still life, abstraction, or personal source material. The course is designed to equip each participant with the knowledge and skills necessary to make accomplished, personally rewarding watercolor paintings. 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 with experience will receive individual instruction for their current skill level.
- Students will acquire the skills needed to achieve a richness of color and a feeling of light.
- Participants will be exposed to a variety of watercolor styles and encouraged to discover their own personal aesthetic.
Image: James Toogood
Register by: July 2
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
Register by: July 6
Materials List
Please review CE's Summer 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.