Part 1. Skill Building

1 The (Dreaded!) First Page

2. Notans: Light/Dark Harmony

3. The Evolution of Contour

4. Threads & Landmarks

Part 2. Explore & Experiment

5. 100 Ways to Make a Line

6. Fast & Slow

7. Deconstruct, Reconstruct

8. Less as More

Part 3. Your Voice, Your Sketchbook

9. Dissect an Artwork

10. Cross Examination

11. Alternative Endings 

12. Search & Re-Search

• This class is demonstration-based. Each class will consist of a 60-minute synchronous exercise led by the instructor. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and make comments during the demonstrations.

• This class is designed to be enjoyed in both a synchronous and asynchronous format. Each class will be recorded and can be watched (or re-watched!) at a convenient time to the participant. You may attend the live class, watch only the recordings, or a combination of the two per your schedule.

• You will have access to the recorded classes for one full year after the course. Re-watch any exercises you wish through 2025. Repeating these exercises will be incredibly helpful to deepen your skills and knowledge.

Required materials:

• Sketchbook* see note below

• Pencil (I recommend 2B or similar)

• Grayscale Value Chart

• Ruler

• Dry media (consider colored pencils, markers, crayons, etc)

• Wet Media (consider watercolor, gouache or acrylic paint)

A note about sketchbooks -

It is vital to choose a sketchbook that is right for you. The wrong sketchbook could mislead you so please, please, PLEASE, shop around. Hold the book. Feel the pages. Consider the following:

Size: Choose a size that is slightly outside of your comfort level. Smaller sketchbooks sometimes feel more comfortable and accessible, but I’d recommend looking for something ~8x10 inches. This size will give your thoughts and drawings space to wander and breathe.

Paper weight: Make sure to read the label of the sketchbook to ensure the paper will hold your preferred medium. If you intend to paint in your sketchbook make sure your paper can hold water and pigment well. When in doubt, buy a mixed media or watercolor sketchbook with at least 110lb paper.

Format: Hard cover allows for easy lap drawing, soft cover is more malleable, spiral bound is great to take drawings out of your sketchbook. Does square, rectangular or wide landscape format best fit your intentions?

I will be using a 8.25 x 11.75 Moleskine Sketchbook. This sketchbook is the right size and feel for me, but it may not be right for you. It takes pencil, inky pen, and non-watered down acrylic paint very well. Blick studio markers will bleed through the page and water-based media will make the page buckle.

1. Your Pigments, Your Color Wheel

2. The Impact of Complimentary Colors and the Neutrals In-Between

3. Artist Dissection: Giorgio Morandi’s Neutrals

4. The Bounds of a Color / Introduction to Value & Saturation

5. Value & Saturation

6. Color AS Value Part 1

7. Color AS Value Part 2

8. Color Ways, Your Way

9. Artist Dissection: Wayne Theibauld

10. Color Boundaries: Why Colors Vibrate or Dissolve

11. Color Field: Using Color to Convey Distance

12. Artist Dissection: Fairfield Porter

13. Introducing: My Favorite Painters!

14. Collaging the Masters

15. Show & Tell + Final Critique!

• This class is demonstration-based. Each class will consist of a 60-minute synchronous exercise led by the instructor. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and make comments during the demonstrations.

• This class is designed to be enjoyed in both a synchronous and asynchronous format. Each class will be recorded and can be watched (or re-watched!) at a convenient time to the participant. You may attend the live class, watch only the recordings, or a combination of the two per your schedule.

• You will have access to the recorded classes for one full year after the course. Re-watch any exercises you wish through 2025. Repeating these exercises will be incredibly helpful to deepen your skills and knowledge.

• OPTIONAL individual check-ins with the instructor outside of class time. You may opt to include (3) 30 minute meetings with your instructor for individualized feedback for additional fee. These meetings are designed to help you implement the color exercises into your unique work, therefore you may use the meeting time to get feedback on your in-class work or your own paintings. Use this time as you see fit.

• Mondays 4-5pm EST

• Wednesdays 10-11am EST

• Other times available upon request, reach out and we will find a time that works! :)

Supplies for Acrylic Painters:

• Your usual acrylic pigments*

• Color-Aid Paper (314 pack, size 4x4 recommended)

• Scissors

• Rubber Cement (Matte Medium will work, too!)

• Sketchbook (Moleskine 8.25x11 recommended)

• Paint Palette (Masterson Sta-Wet Palette Recommended)

• Palette Knife

• Value Chart

• 3-5 small-medium paint brushes

Supplies for Oil Painters:

• Your usual oil pigments*

• Color-Aid Paper

• Scissors

• Rubber Cement (Matte Medium will work, too!)

• Arches Oil Paper Pad, size 9x12

• Paint Palette (Palette Paper or glass palette recommended)

• Palette Knife

• Value Chart

• 3-5 small-medium paint brushes

• Gamsol (for cleaning brushes)

*I believe it is important for you to attend the first class with your usual pigments / pigments you have on hand. You may need to purchase pigments after identifying your specific needs (we will investigate this in our first class together). I hesitate to make a long list of expensive pigments for you to purchase because they may not be right for you.

• This class is a single session workshop that meets for 3 hours total.

• Cancellation policy: 72 hours notice is required for cancellations for full refund. This allows enough time for waitlisted artists to sign up. Cancellations within 72 hours will receive partial refund. Thank you for understanding.

• Zoom link information: The Zoom invitation will be sent 2-3 days prior to the class. Please make sure to include your email when prompted during checkout, as this will be where the invitation is sent. All zoom meetings are password protected.

• Time zone: All times listed are in Eastern Standard Time. Please consider the timing of the class for your time zone (if different) and mark your calendar accordingly.

• Recording: This class will be recorded and circulated to all following the class. Please feel free to re-watch through 2025.

• Paints (watercolor, acrylic, or oils; variety of colors)

• Pencil, HB-4B

• Paint brushes, small-medium sized

• Paint supplies (IE paper towels, water, palette, Gamsol if using oil)

• Mixed media paper, 8-10 sheets, 9x12 or similar (Stonehenge or Bristol Board recommended)

• Value Scale

• 3-5 reference Photos