Date: Thursdays, March 6 - April 24, from 6 pm to 9 pm
Fee: $365/discount with member code
Ages: 18+
Levels: All
Sessions: 8
Instructor: Nick Colella
Location: Schack Art Center, Painting & Drawing Studio

Learn how to create realistic works of art using time-tested methods that have guided professional artists for centuries. This course introduces students to classical drawing practices that emphasize proportion, structure, and accuracy — building a strong foundation that can be applied to any subject matter.

Through step-by-step instruction, students will learn how to establish a solid block-in with correct proportions and how to develop form and value to create the illusion of three-dimensionality on a flat page. Along the way, we’ll discuss the historical roots of classical techniques and why they remain essential for artists seeking both precision and expressive range.

The class also covers recommended drawing materials, their uses, and tips for caring for your tools to ensure lasting results. All levels are welcome — no prior experience required.

Supply List:

• Strathmore 400 Smooth Drawing 18x24

• Graphite Pencils

• Razor Blade/Exacto Knife/Box cutter

• Sand Paper

If you have any questions about the supply list, please reach out to the Art Class Coordinator at rchernow@schack..org

Date: Saturdays, March 14- April 18, from 6 pm to 9 pm
Fee: $325/discount with member code
Ages: 15+
Levels: All
Sessions: 6
Instructor:Nick Colella
Location: Schack Art Center, Painting & Drawing Studio

This beginner-friendly course guides students through the process of painting a beautiful portrait from a live model in a single session. Drawing inspiration from the time-tested techniques of the Old Masters, students will gain the knowledge and confidence to capture the likeness and character of any subject.

Through step-by-step instruction, you’ll learn how to create a solid block-in, establish accurate proportions, and define areas of light and shadow to build a lifelike sense of form. The class also covers brush selection and how different brushes serve each stage of the painting—from broad strokes to detailed refinements.

By the end of the session, students will complete a one-of-a-kind portrait that reflects both the individuality and spirit of the model, along with foundational skills they can apply to future portrait work.

Supply List:

• Oil Paints (Cadmium Red, Yellow Ochre, Ultramarine Blue, Titanium White)

• Panels 8x10 or 9x12 (at least 3 of one size)

• Bristle/Hog Hair Brushes (variety of sizes)

• Blue Shop Paper towels

Date: Wednesdays, March 25 - April 22, from 6 pm to 9 pm
Fee: $325/ discount with member code
Ages: 18+
Levels: All
Sessions: 5
Instructor: Nick Colella
Location: Schack Art Center, Painting & Drawing Studio

In this beginner-friendly course, students will learn the essential techniques that professional illustrators and comic artists use to bring figures to life. We’ll explore what makes a pose dynamic—and why—starting with the core foundations of gesture, proportion, anatomy, and the line of action. Through demonstrations and one-on-one guidance, students will learn how to build a strong, expressive structure in their drawings using rhythm lines, the Reilly Method, and other fundamental tools for creating movement and energy.

By the end of the class, students will complete a dynamic figure drawing and leave with the skills and confidence to infuse future work with liveliness, clarity, and expression.

Supply List:

• Stack of Newsprint

• Conte B Charcoal Pencils

• Razor/box cutter/exacto knife

• Sand Paper

If you have any questions abiut tge suply list, please reach out to the Art Class Coordinator at rchernow@schack.org

Date: Saturday, June 6, from 4 pm to 7 pm
Fee: $100/discount with member code
Ages: 15+
Levels: All
Sessions: 6
Instructor:Nick Colella
Location: Schack Art Center, Painting & Drawing Studio

Ever wonder how the world-famous Impressionists created the luminous, expressive works that transformed the art world? This one-day workshop takes you through their process step by step. Students will paint a vase of flowers from start to finish, applying time-tested techniques that blend the foundational principles of the Old Masters with the color, movement, and light of Impressionist painting.

You’ll learn how to select supplies, prepare your canvas, and compose a still life with strong lighting and visual balance. The class emphasizes fundamental skills that have stood the test of time—while encouraging your own artistic interpretation.

By the end of the day, you’ll complete a finished still life painting in the Impressionist style, showcasing both technical skill and personal expression.

 Supply List:

• Oil Paints (Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine Blue, Dioxide Purple, cad Orange, Titanium White, any other colors you want to bring). A kit like this will work

• Panels 11x14 (or bigger)