Drawing and Painting Fundamentals for Ages 14-18

Schedule for Winter – Spring – Fall 2024
Schedule for Summer 2025

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Our Drawing and Painting Fundamentals class begins with black and white drawing exercises in pencil and pen and ink. After basic skills are learned, children advance to color in watercolor and oil.

Because our Drawing and Painting Fundamentals classes form the core of our children's program, what follows explains our goals for students more fully.

Drawing in Pen and Ink

Throughout history, drawing has always been considered an artist's most prized possession. It is the foundation upon which all other aspects of art are formed. This is true whether an artist chooses to be expressive in a realistic or abstract style. That is why we give the craft of drawing special attention at The Art Academy.

In our  14-18 Fundamentals course, special emphasis is placed on teaching the fundamentals of drawing logically and simply. Our methods promote sound draftsmanship, which dramatically improves a student's drawing abilities both in class and independently. With continued practice students can then achieve higher levels of understanding and success.

Many of our initial drawing exercises are executed in pen and ink so students become familiar with the expressive qualities of line, and aid in improving a student’s control and focus. Students continue to develop their drawing skills when they move on to painting.

Pen & Ink Artwork

Watercolor Painting

After students have demonstrated a basic understanding of drawing they begin painting in watercolor. While we emphasize line in drawing, painting is a medium devoted to the understanding of mass and color. Watercolor is a great medium to learn these concepts.

As with drawing, we approach the study of color in a systematic way. This helps prevent students from spending months or years mixing colors that interact in an unpleasant, unintentional manner. By following revered principles of color theory and color mixing, children create fresh, lively pictures the first time they paint without experiencing any undue frustration.

There is much to learn about painting; watercolor methods easily translate to other forms of painting and color mediums. Students can build upon these skills when they advance into oil painting.

By the time our students are ready for oil painting they have thoroughly grasped the refined drawing, watercolor and design principles that will translate into the oil medium.

Ages 14-18 Watercolor Gallery

Oil Painting

Often considered the most challenging form of painting, oils are introduced to students after they've developed a firm understanding of drawing and color mixing.

Our first objective is to pass safe studio methods on to students. We ensure a solvent-free environment where health and safety come first. After learning clean painting procedures students begin to advance their artistic vision by exploring the fascinating world of oil painting techniques.

At The Art Academy we teach several methods of oil painting. This approach allows students to receive a well-rounded education that promotes development of a personal aesthetic based upon time-honored principles of art history.

Indirect Painting and Glazing

Indirect Painting and Glazing are methods of working in oils that were commonly practiced from the fifteenth through the nineteenth centuries. They have proven to be extremely durable techniques. At The Art Academy we teach several variations of glazing and underpainting, including grisaille, verdaccio, bistre, local color underpainting and the mixed tempera-oil technique.

Direct Painting

Direct Painting is a method of working in oils popularized during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It is the technique of nineteenth century Impressionism. One of the hallmarks of direct painting is color mixing through clear observation. It is an excellent way to improve a student's sensitivity to color.

Ages 14-18 Oils Gallery

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