Composition

June 24th to July 24th.

Tuesdays and Thursday evenings 5:30-7:30PM

Composition is the voice of the visual artist. It is what allows the artist to put their viewpoint into an image.

 The purpose of making art is to communicate ideas, feelings and the artist’s perspective about the world and the human experience. Composition is the visual language that helps communicate to the viewer where to look, what is important in the image, and how to feel about it. This, in turn, allows the viewer to read a painting and understand what the artist was trying to say.

 In this workshop we will be diving into the tools an artist can use to direct the viewers eye, as well as templates for creating certain feelings and atmospheres in one’s artwork. We will be doing studies of masterworks that do this effectively, as well as discussing and working step by step through the process of developing an idea into an original and compelling artwork ourselves. We will talk about composition related to still lives, landscape, portraits, multi-figure work, and narratives.

Anatomy of a portrait

August 12th to September 11th

Tuesday and Thursdays evenings, 5:30–7:30PM

A portrait is more than a likeness—it is a structure. To draw or paint the human face well, the artist must first understand what lies beneath the surface.

In this workshop, we will study the portrait from the inside out. Beginning with the skull, then the planes of the face, and finally the muscles of expression, we will build a foundational understanding of the head’s form and function. This anatomical knowledge empowers artists to create more convincing and expressive portraits—not just by copying what they see, but by truly understanding it.

We will be doing écorché studies, analyzing classical references, and working from a live model to bring our understanding into practice. Whether your goal is realism, stylization, or simply greater confidence in portraiture, this course will deepen your knowledge and elevate your work.

Sight Size Cast Drawing

September 16th to October 16th

Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 5:30–7:30PM

Mastery is built on precision. In this advanced drawing workshop, we return to the classical tradition of cast drawing—not as a beginner’s exercise, but as a focused study in refinement, control, and deep observation.

Working from plaster portrait busts and death masks, students will produce highly resolved charcoal drawings that demand a high level of commitment and discipline. We will explore advanced techniques for measuring, constructing form, and rendering light, using the Sight-Size method alongside other visual tools to develop a heightened sensitivity to proportion, structure, and subtle value shifts.

This course is designed for artists with prior experience who are ready to push their drawing further. Through lectures, live demonstrations, and individual critiques, students will refine their understanding of edge control, value organization, and the visual logic of form—all while producing a portfolio-ready piece rooted in classical excellence.

For artists seeking to elevate the clarity, precision, and expressive potential of their work, this workshop offers a rigorous and rewarding path forward.