*Scroll to see new class offerings!*
The Atelier program at Wethersfield Academy for the Arts provides the serious artist-in-training an opportunity to be coached and mentored by a distinguished master artist. Our foundational drawing classes encourages drawing practice, a skill that is to be continuously honed in a lifetime and enhances all other efforts of artmaking.
Registrations can be accomplished online or you can send in a check with the registration form here (PDF Registration Form). You will receive email updates on our latest offerings. We also have a new Venmo account: @Wethersfield_Academy_Arts. Classes must be paid in full before student begins the first day.
Deposit/Cancellation Policy at bottom.
FREE CLASS
Tuesdays & Thursdays
10:00am - 12:00pm
Session Dates:
March 5th, 7th, 12th, 14th, 19th, 21st, 26th, 28th
The Art of Parenting program is an opportunity for new parents to learn, connect, practice self-care, and create with their little ones and their peers. Participants will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays for four weeks. The Tuesday session will be dedicated to education, sharing, and self care, while the Thursday session will be reserved for an art project that parents and littles can do together. Join facilitators Hilary Rudenauer and Ailish Lewis - doulas, mothers, and art lovers - for a FREE and flexible experience designed to meet the unique needs of new parents. This program can serve 10 parents with children who are 18 months or younger. Children are welcome at every session.
Materials List
Monday Session • 10:00am - 1:00pm
Session Dates:
March 25th
April 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th
May 6th, 13th, 20th
$15 per session
This ongoing open sketch session is a chance for artists to have free range for their drawing creativity and explore their abilities without guidelines.
Materials are not included.
Materials List
Alternating Wednesday Session • 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Session Dates:
April 3rd, 17th
May 15th & 29th
$15 per session
This open sketch session will be proctored by Pete Anderson with a focus on long pose sketching. This session will be every other Wednesday from 5pm - 8pm.
Materials not included.
Materials List
6-week Session starting Thursday, January 11th, 2024.
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm • Every Thursday, starting January 11th, 2024
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Session Dates:
January 11th, 18th, 25th
February 1st, 8th, 15th
*Drawing Fundamentals 1 is currently paused and Drawing Fundamentals 2 will begin. DF1 is a recommended pre-requisite for DF2.
Online registration deadline is 12:01 AM the day before the first class begins. To register for the Drawing Fundamentals for Beginners Class after this time, please call the Academy at 860-994-8304 or email us at info@wethersfieldarts.org.
This class is designed to be a starting point for those wishing to learn how to draw both visually and with imagination. We will pursue subjects such as line, shape, form, construction, analytical applications, proportion, perspective, light, and shadow. One or two of these concepts will be introduced in each class, and students will be asked to incorporate these concepts as the class progresses. This class will be taught on graphite and sketching/drawing paper.
**Please see the attached document below for a list of needed materials!
Materials List
New! 6-Week Session
5:00pm - 7:00pm · Thursdays starting March 7th, 2024
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Session Dates:
March 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
April 4th, 11th
*Drawing Fundamentals 1 is a recommended pre-requisite for Drawing Fundamentals 2
Online registration deadline is 12:01 AM the day before the first class begins. To register for the Drawing Fundamentals 2 after this time, please call the Academy at 860-994-8304 or email us at info@wethersfieldarts.org.
This is an intermediate constructive drawing class where students will learn to draw objects from life with a focus on block-in/basic light and shadow elements. This class will be taught on graphite and sketching/drawing paper.
**Please see the attached document below for a list of needed materials (same as Drawing Fundamentals 1)!
Materials List
New! 6-week Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm • Every Tuesday, starting March 5th, 2024
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Session Dates:
March 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
April 2nd, 9th
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*Previous Session Dates Still Remaining:
January 30th
February 6th & 13th
Online registration deadline is 12:01 AM the day before the first class begins. To register for the Figure Drawing Class after this time, please call the Academy at 860-994-8304 or email us at info@wethersfieldarts.org.
Figure Drawing 1 begins with learning what you see and what markers to look for in the figure. Instructor demonstrations will begin your journey into the construct of the figure based on key elements of focus and allowing patience, putting down lines, stepping back, and learning in an observational manner. The length of straight lines becomes more defined as a believable figure is achieved. Measuring in several academic methods, creating simple forms and shadow mapping will lead to the Mastercopy for Figure 2 students.
Appropriate for any level: various academic approaches will be mentioned. This class strives to equip the artist with confidence in approaching the figure drawing. Figure 2 will continue the process or you can take Figure 1 over again with additional constructs and Mastercopies. Charcoal use will be introduced. This class is taught without a model, but students are invited to attend the monthly figure drawing long pose sessions (at no extra cost) to have the opportunity to practice drawing a live model.
**Please see the attached document below for a list of needed materials!
Materials List
Learn to paint realistically with the oil paint medium. Everyone will work at their own pace, allowing both beginners and experienced painters to join. You can paint a still life arrangement or paint a mastercopy portrait. We will look at different techniques from the Renaissance to the 19th Century, including the Flemish technique and the techniquesof Bouguereau. Topics will be grouped at various times and rooms.
Still Life in Oils
Working in sight-size and from life, we will examine the process of still-life painting, beginning with the preliminary composition on paper in graphite, then the transfer to canvas. We will also discover or review the underpainting by first blocking in the background and working on big shapes while creating a value study. We will then learn how to mix accurate colors and create a realistic sense of dimensional form.
We have a large selection of portrait Master Copies available that you can choose from including Bouguereau, Van Dyck and Raphael. You also have an option to choose your own portrait from a photograph (Note: the face has to equal the size of your hand at a minimum).
We will transfer the image straight to the canvas. Our goal is to learn and imitate the palette the masters used and to accurately mix colors to create flesh tones. We will learn how to closely paint the eyes, nose and lips the way a master did it and to create a realistic portrait.Single day classes available for those with paintings started. Please email for information here.
This class runs in six-week cycles on Wednesdays.
Pricing shown here is for the adult class. Please see our Youth Programs page for additional information, pricing, and registration. Cost of youth class reflects the difference in hours.
**Please see the attached document below for a list of needed materials!
Materials List
This is the beginning of drawing with the Charles Bargue discipline to train your eye to see. This is also a great refresher for experienced artists. Students start with graphite pencil on paper, receiving demonstrations on materials, how to approach a drawing, sight-size and comparative measurement drawing, and tricks to aid in the making of more representational drawings. The curriculum starts with simple projects and moves progressively onto harder more complex work, each one incorporating more techniques to build upon previous lessons.
Emphasis is on accuracy and training your eye so as not to be dependent on grids or tracing, thus making it possible to pursue drawing actively and freely in other areas like portraiture from life and landscape sketching. There is also some homework that is recommended but not mandatory. Recommended supply list will be forwarded. We supply the Bargue plates.
This class runs in six-week cycles on Mondays.
Pricing shown here is for the adult class. Please see our Youth Programs page for additional information, pricing, and registration. Cost of youth class reflects the difference in hours.
**Please see the attached document below for a list of needed materials!
Materials List
Deposits are required for all classes in the amount of half the tuition to secure limited spots. Full payment is due two weeks before the start of the session. All cancellations must be made 2 weeks before the start of a class. We are not responsible for issuing refunds, credits or transfers for classes missed due to illness, emergencies or events beyond our control. If a class is cancelled by us, you will receive a refund.
All requested refunds (within 2 weeks of the start of the class or workshop) from online payments will be returned via check. A 5% refund fee will be subtracted from the amount paid through online payments.