The Classical Atelier Program
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 for classes requires a yearly membership which covers administration costs. You will receive email updates on our latest offerings. General membership is $40. Student and senior memberships are $25. Family memberships are $60. Registrations can be accomplished online or you can mail in a check with the registration form here (PDF Registration Form). 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.
Oil Painting Still Life or Mastercopy
with Veronique Fournier-Wynne
New 6 week session starting
Wednesday, April 12th
Wednesdays:
April 12, 19, 26
May 3, 10, 17
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.
Cost of youth class reflects the difference in hours.
Bargue / Cast Drawing
with Veronique Fournier-Wynne
New 6 week session starting
Monday, April 10th.
Mondays:
April 10, 17, 24
May 1, 8, 15
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.
Cost of youth class reflects the difference in hours.
Figure Drawing
with Pete Anderson
Tuesdays: 5:00 pm - 8:00pm 6 weeks
Feb. 28, Mar. 7, 14, 21, 28, Apr. 4
Figure Drawing 1 begins with learning what you see, 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, put down lines, stepping back and learning in an observational manner. The length of straight lines become more defined as a believable figure is achieved. Measuring in several academic methods, creating simple forms and shadow mapping will lead into 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.
Deposit / Cancellation / Refund Policies
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.