MATERIALS NOT INCLUDED

AGES 16+

This four-week course will be a focused introduction to the principles of portrait painting from observation. The first session begins with studies from constructive drawing diagrams to establish a clear understanding of the head’s structure, emphasizing planar construction, proportion, and anatomical landmarks.

In the following three sessions, students will work directly from the model in a series of short-format painted studies. These exercises are designed to reinforce observation of form, color, and light. Instruction includes demonstrations, critique, and ongoing one-on-one feedback.

Open to beginning, intermediate and advanced students who seek to strengthen their understanding of clarity and structure in portraiture.

Tuition: $500

When: Mondays, July 21 - August 11; 10:30AM - 4:00PM

AGES 18+

This four-week intensive introduces students to the foundational principles of constructive figure drawing. The first two sessions are dedicated to working from diagrams and academic plates, focusing on planar construction, gesture, proportion, and key anatomical landmarks. These sessions build a framework for understanding the figure as a structured form in space.

In the final two weeks, students will apply these principles in direct observation from a live model. These sessions emphasize clarity of form, directional movement, and spatial relationships, reinforcing the transition from theoretical study to perceptual accuracy.

This course is well suited for students with prior drawing experience who wish to deepen their understanding of the human figure through a structured, academic approach. But, is open to all skills levels.

Mosaic is one of the most enduring artistic traditions of the ancient world, developed by the Greeks and refined through the Byzantine and Romanesque periods as a medium for both sacred and decorative art. Used to adorn architectural surfaces and furnishings, mosaics were composed of marble, ceramic tile, semi-precious stone, and smalti—materials valued for their luminosity, durability, and expressive range. Resistant to water, light, and temperature, mosaic remains a lasting medium for visual storytelling across cultures.

In this weeklong course, participants will receive guided instruction in every stage of the mosaic-making process. From initial cartoon drawing through cutting, setting, and final installation, students will create their own 12" x 12" mosaic panel using time-honored methods and historically grounded techniques. Core materials will be provided; students are asked to bring their own basic tools.

Vladimir Aituganov is an internationally recognized master of mosaic and painting. Born and classically trained in Russia, he immigrated to the United States in 1991, where he later established his studio and became an American citizen.

His mosaic murals (commissioned for Orthodox churches) have received the rare distinction of being declared Russian Icons.

His work is represented in both private and public collections, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Paterson Museum in New Jersey, and the Russian Mission to the United Nations.

Aituganov has exhibited extensively across the United States and Europe and continues to be a leading figure in the preservation and advancement of ecclesiastical mosaic tradition.

SUPPLY LIST:

• Tile nippers
• Tweezers
• Needle Point Awl
• Latex gloves4-5 plastic cups (12 oz ea.)
• Diamond shape palette knife
• #10Putty knife
• 9”x12” drawing pad
• Regular pencils
• Apron