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Continuing Education at PAFA

Still Life Painting: Metaphor and Meaning (In-Person)

with Frederic Kaplan

$450

Fridays, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Instructor: Frederic Kaplan
Ten-Week Course (30 Hours)
Credit: Non-Credit or 1.0 Undergraduate Credit (See Below)

Register by December 16 for a 10% Early Bird Discount! Enter promo code EARLYBIRDSPRING2025 at checkout (and click “+” to add the discount). PAFA members at the Friend level and above receive an additional 10% off. Discount applies to CE regular adult Winter/Spring classes and workshops only. Studio rental programs, Open Academy (BFA) courses, certificate registration, gift certificates, membership purchases, and lockers are ineligible.  

Beginning with Caravaggio’s 1599 Basket of Fruit, still-life has a long history as a vehicle for transforming the commonplace into powerful statements. Take part in this intriguing tradition by exploring the symbolic and narrative potential of the unique object arrangements in PAFA’s dedicated still-life studio.  This course is also ideal for gaining or advancing essential painting skills as you expand your understanding of color, composition, application and layering techniques, and painting materials.  Instruction will focus on oil and acrylic paints, but gouache is also permitted. Previous drawing experience strongly recommended. Painting experience helpful but not required.  

Learning Objectives: 

The student will learn how to…  

  • Select and use basic materials, including the characteristics of various commonly used colors, solvents, and mediums  
  • Execute a variety of direct and indirect painting methods.  
  • Employ approaches to interpreting and modifying observed reality to achieve emotive, symbolic, and compositional goals  
  • Engage in the descriptive, emotive, and symbolic use of color, shape, and mark  
  • Apply basic color theory and color mixing skills   

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

Register by: January 24
Materials List
Winter/Spring 2025 CE Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies

  • Regular: Jan 31 - Apr 4th, 2025
    Fri for 10 weeks from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building

(215) 972-7600

128 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102 Get directions

Room: 1010

Location map for Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building




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