Painting and Drawing

Students in Drawing and Painting class begin by learning how to use pencils and erasers as tools for drawing. Painting lessons using Cotman watercolors follow, where students learn the names of colors, the primary colors, and how to mix secondary colors by making their own color charts. All students make a series of three paintings depicting an arrangement of small rocks partially submerged in water using many layers of colorful washes. The third goal for the class is to learn to use acrylic paint on a variety of supports. Initially students use paper coated with gesso before moving on to two-foot square masonite panels also coated with gesso.

Students approach their work in class using two different styles: for the first, students look directly at a subject, while the second is a lesson in brushstrokes and juxtaposition of colors. All students create an eclectic portfolio of original work consisting of pencil studies, watercolor, and acrylic paintings.