Studio Art

Immerse yourself in an intensive afternoon-long figure drawing experience offered in the “open-studio” tradition. The Arts Center faculty will be available for discussion, but no instruction will be provided unless requested. Draw from live nude models posing for quick, action-oriented gesture drawings, as well as longer poses ranging from 20 minutes to one hour. Improve your figurative drawing skills, build your portfolio, or simply have some fun! This draw-a-thon is open to all levels. Bring your own paper and pencils or other dry media. Drawing boards and easels will be provided. Students under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Students under the age of 18 must have parent or guardian sign a release form. Pre-registration is mandatory for this class.

Drawing the human figure is both challenging and rewarding. Through direct observation of a model, you’ll learn methods for simplifying what you see, creating proper proportions and use of light and shadow. Examples, demonstrations and photographs of artists’ figure studies will serve to inspire and inform. More advanced students will continue to refine skills in measuring proportion, use line quality to convey depth, and learn methods for building volume. This class focuses on drawing a live, nude model. Students under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Students under the age of 18 must have parent or guardian sign a release form.

Do you like to draw, but not sure where to begin? In this class, you’ll discover the process of observation through drawing simple objects. You’ll learn techniques for sketching, rendering light and shadow and working in a couple of drawing mediums. Great for students looking to build confidence and accuracy in their work.

This is a course for anyone who has ever said, “I can’t draw” (but wished it were otherwise!). In this introductory drawing course (for new students as well as those looking to build on a little experience), you will develop and refine skills and increase your powers of observation. You will learn at your own pace while following a structured course with emphasis on self-discovery and skill development, as you investigate a broad range of drawing materials.

This class is for both beginning and advanced students to learn about the basic process of etching medium or to explore etching in greater depth. The etching techniques covered in the class would include a) hard-ground and aquatint etching to produce both linear and tonal effects, and b) soft-ground to create textures and painterly effects on etching. There will be demonstrations and plenty of sample prints for each medium for students to look at. You are encouraged to bring into class ideas that you are interested in pursuing; bring your sketches, personal photos and resources of your interests, which can help you make the contents of your images. Let’s explore a variety of etching techniques and get familiar with the medium of a long tradition. The class will provide materials necessary including zinc plates, tools and papers. No class 7/1.

Woodcut printmaking dates back to 17th century China and is considered to be the oldest form of printmaking. In woodcut, an ink drawing is made on a wood block. The artist cuts away uninked areas, leaving inked areas raised. Printing ink is applied to the raised surface and a sheet of paper is laid on the block to take an impression by hand or a press. Students will learn woodcut relief printmaking techniques including how to create acetone photocopy transfer as well as carving images on to blocks of birch plywood. When students have completed cutting and carving their blocks, the group will create multiple editions of prints using their blocks.

Continue your exploration of a variety of subject matter through drawing and painting. Learn to make your compositions come alive as you develop your skills in rendering the figure through both short and extended poses. Try a variety of drawing and painting mediums while you build confidence in your ability to work from life. Studio fee covers the cost of a model, but students should plan to bring their own drawing and painting supplies.

Are you a lover of children’s storybooks, with a desire to make your own? In this class, students will plot out a story of their choosing into a 32-page format, standard for picture books. They will walk away with a “book dummy” ready to keep and share on their own, or submit to publishers.

In this course, students will work independently as they are guided through investigating the general language of abstract painting. Exploring direct contact with acrylic paint on canvas through different techniques and processes, the instructor will guide the student to develop their work in a different manner from a formal approach to understand effective use of color, texture, value, space, and non-representational modes of composition.

Learn more advanced techniques in oil painting and work to build upon the skills you already have. The instructor will demonstrate techniques in class and discuss the materials and tools of oil painting. It is recommended that students enrolling have some prior experience with oil painting or have taken Principles of Oil Painting at The Arts Center. Students will need to provide some of their own supplies, but some basics will be provided. No class 7/2.

Immerse yourself in an intensive one-night drawing experience offered in the “open-studio” tradition. The Arts Center faculty will be available for discussion, but no instruction will be provided unless requested. Draw from a provided still life with dramatic lighting. Improve your drawing skills, build your portfolio, or simply have some fun! This open studio is open to all levels. Bring your own paper and pencils or other dry media. Drawing boards and easels will be provided. Pre-registration is mandatory for this class.

This is a structured oil painting course for the beginning or returning student emphasizing individual instruction and guidance appropriate with each students’ skill level. Discussions regarding materials and tools of oil painting will be combined with technique demonstrations for working with oil on canvas. Topics will include color mixing, composition, light, and rendering techniques. No experience is necessary. No class 7/4.

Whether at dawn, sunset, twilight, or by moonlight, skies with clouds offer a wonderful subject for capturing the striking beauty of luminous light to create a dynamic or subtle, poetic look across a landscape. Using sketches or photos, we will work with both strong and subtle value contrasts, nuanced and brilliant color, composition, pastel application techniques and more. Demonstrations, at-easel assistance, critiques and lots of pastel painting time. All levels welcome.

Immerse yourself in an intensive afternoon-long figure drawing experience offered in the “open-studio” tradition. The Arts Center faculty will be available for discussion, but no instruction will be provided unless requested. Draw from live nude models posing for quick, action-oriented gesture drawings, as well as longer poses ranging from 20 minutes to one hour. Improve your figurative drawing skills, build your portfolio, or simply have some fun! This draw-a-thon is open to all levels. Bring your own paper and pencils or other dry media. Drawing boards and easels will be provided. Students under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Students under the age of 18 must have parent or guardian sign a release form. Pre-registration is mandatory for this class.

This is an introduction to two forms of printmaking, monoprint and collograph. Monoprints are one-of-a-kind prints that are made through a process similar to painting. Collographs are made by creating a highly textured collage and then using a press to imprint the texture onto the paper. You’ll learn to make single and multiple images, explore the use of color, and the possibilities of layering opaque and transparent images. The printing processes of relief and lithography will also be discussed in relation to the techniques learned in this class. This course involves the use of hand tools requiring fine motor coordination. Special registration polices apply; please call 273-0552. No class 7/4.

Learn the characteristics of seven different kinds of folds and how to render them, including pipe, zigzag, spiral, half-lock, diaper pattern, drop, and inert folds. Mastery of these principles is the key to realistic portrayal of garments. This is a great course for intermediate and advanced drawing students looking to improve their skills. Material fee includes a copy of the book “Drawing the Draped Figure” by George Bridgman.

The art of storytelling is the key to creating quality comics. The goal of this class is to develop your unique storytelling voice. Approach your own work with a new perspective through a better understanding of the mechanics behind sequential art. Learn to develop your ideas into realistic projects and find the motivation to keep them going. Critiques and general discussions will follow weekly assignments. Community can be a big part of helping an artist develop their skills. The class will also address the realms of digital and traditional publishing. Advanced drawing and writing skills are not necessary. Being comfortable and flexible with your current abilities is required.

In this special master class with Robert Moylan, students will focus on how to simplify the subject to its basic forms, perspective and color mixing. Techniques will be demonstrated with gouache paint but watercolor is also welcome. There will be demos and hands on painting. Rain date on Sunday. Class will meet in Schaghticoke. Exact location will be provided before the class begins. Maps will be provided for future classes. Students should bring their painting supplies (brushes, paint and paper), a board to support the paper, sketch paper, pencils & water. A small folding easel is recommended. Students should also plan to bring water, a hat, bug spray, and other outdoor necessities. This class is recommended for students with some painting experience, but beginners are welcome.

Students will discover their own approach to painting with transparent watercolors. Learn how to use the materials, practice different techniques and apply color theory while creating vibrant watercolor paintings of various subject matter. Some drawing and painting experience is helpful for this class.

Immerse yourself in an intensive one-night drawing experience offered in the “open-studio” tradition. The Arts Center faculty will be available for discussion, but no instruction will be provided unless requested. Draw from a portrait model with dramatic lighting. Improve your drawing skills, build your portfolio, or simply have some fun! This open studio is open to all levels. Bring your own paper and pencils or other dry media. Drawing boards and easels will be provided. Pre-registration is mandatory for this class.

Immerse yourself in an intensive afternoon-long figure drawing experience offered in the “open-studio” tradition. The Arts Center faculty will be available for discussion, but no instruction will be provided unless requested. Draw from live nude models posing for quick, action-oriented gesture drawings, as well as longer poses ranging from 20 minutes to one hour. Improve your figurative drawing skills, build your portfolio, or simply have some fun! This draw-a-thon is open to all levels. Bring your own paper and pencils or other dry media. Drawing boards and easels will be provided. Students under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Students under the age of 18 must have parent or guardian sign a release form. Pre-registration is mandatory for this class.

In this course, students will focus on creating accurate and compelling portraits using a variety of wet media. Working from live models and photo reference materials, students will learn about the head and facial structural proportions that we share, as well as pinpointing that which makes us unique. Students will learn proper facial feature placement through measuring techniques to create a likeness of the model. This class will also look to classic and modern portrait artists for inspiration. All levels welcome. Note: Studio fee covers the cost of a model, but students should plan to bring their own painting supplies, in the medium of their choice.

This is a next-level class for the ”slightly less terrified.” Students will be guided through some of the basics, and then explore further topics including studies in line, value, composition, trying different mediums, portraits, and more. Great for students wishing to continue their study of drawing.

Continue your exploration of a variety of subject matter through drawing and painting. Learn to make your compositions come alive as you develop your skills in rendering the figure through both short and extended poses. Try a variety of drawing and painting mediums while you build confidence in your ability to work from life. Studio fee covers the cost of a model, but students should plan to bring their own drawing and painting supplies.

The master of the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings of plants and anatomy haunt our imaginations to this day. Do you want to learn to draw in that detailed and incredible way? This class will explore drawing techniques used historically to render a variety of subjects. We will utilize magnifying glasses to better understand and view complex natural structures. We will build skills in drawing from life including proportional measurement. By using ink and pencil to build detailed patterns and textures found in nature, you will learn skill sets that can be applied to many other artistic disciplines. Come take an artistic journey that will leave you with a new way of looking at this complex and beautiful world we live in. Students should bring smooth drawing paper such as bristol, a variety of fine tip ink pens (Micron are best), a 2H pencil, and a magnifying glass if you have one.

We are pleased to offer this one-time class which will be held in collaboration with the Spring Street Gallery at their location: 110 Spring Street, Saratoga Springs, NY. Painting intuitively connects us to our source of creativity, often bringing about transformative changes. Come have fun with brushes of flowing tempera color on large sheets of white paper, discovering your own unique imagery. By focusing on the painting process, without observing a subject or even having anything in mind, we can explore color, form, and gesture, guided by an inner sense of direction, free from expectations. Guided visualization summons a body-centered, nonverbal approach. Marks suggest shapes, and images begin to emerge. A nurturing environment supports taking risks, opening to possibilities, and staying present through creative blocks. Coming together in a circle offers opportunities for sharing, non-judgementally, and for learning ways to continue painting at home.

From Rembrandt to Ryder, Toulouse-Lautrec, Seurat and Van Gogh, night paintings have long evoked intrigue and mystery. Whether landscapes by starry night, moonlit sea scenes, nighttime festivities or towns and cities illumined by incandescent and neon, this too seldom explored subject both challenges the artist and visually grabs viewer’s attention. Pastel techniques appropriate to capturing the mood and energetic excitement of this subject will be presented and demonstrated by this very popular instructor. Work from your or the instructor’s photos or your sketches. Materials list provided.

Immerse yourself in an intensive afternoon-long figure drawing experience offered in the “open-studio” tradition. The Arts Center faculty will be available for discussion, but no instruction will be provided unless requested. Draw from live nude models posing for quick, action-oriented gesture drawings, as well as longer poses ranging from 20 minutes to one hour. Improve your figurative drawing skills, build your portfolio, or simply have some fun! This draw-a-thon is open to all levels. Bring your own paper and pencils or other dry media. Drawing boards and easels will be provided. Students under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Students under the age of 18 must have parent or guardian sign a release form. Pre-registration is mandatory for this class.

Immerse yourself in an intensive afternoon-long figure drawing experience offered in the “open-studio” tradition. The Arts Center faculty will be available for discussion, but no instruction will be provided unless requested. Draw from live nude models posing for quick, action-oriented gesture drawings, as well as longer poses ranging from 20 minutes to one hour. Improve your figurative drawing skills, build your portfolio, or simply have some fun! This draw-a-thon is open to all levels. Bring your own paper and pencils or other dry media. Drawing boards and easels will be provided. Students under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Students under the age of 18 must have parent or guardian sign a release form. Pre-registration is mandatory for this class.