Date: Saturdays, October 10 - 24, from 6 pm to 9 pm
Fee: $195/discount with member code
Ages: 15+
Levels: All
Sessions: 3
Instructor: Nick Colella
Location: Schack Art Center, Painting & Drawing Studio

Turn a favorite photo of your pet into a vibrant, expressive painting in this beginner-friendly impressionist painting workshop. Students will learn how to translate photographic reference images into colorful, painterly pet portraits while exploring the loose brushwork and lively color relationships characteristic of Impressionist art.

Throughout the class, participants will learn how to choose and work from strong reference photos, sketch basic proportions, mix expressive color palettes, and apply paint with confidence and movement. Instruction will focus on capturing personality, light, and atmosphere rather than strict realism.

Students will leave with a finished painted portrait of their pet and a stronger understanding of color, paint application, and impressionist painting techniques.

Supply List:

• Oil Paints (Cadmium Red, Yellow Ochre, Ultramarine Blue, Titanium White, Viridian Green, and Dioxide Purple) A set like this will work.

• Panel sized 8x10 or 9x12

• Bristle/Hog Hair Brushes (variety of sizes)

• Blue Shop Paper towels

Date: Sundays, October 25 - November 15, from 6 pm to 9 pm
Fee: $225/discount with member code
Ages: 18+
Levels: All
Sessions: 4
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, November 14 - 28, from 6 pm to 9 pm
Fee: $265/discount with member code
Ages: 18+
Levels: All
Sessions: 3
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—working directly from a live model each session. Drawing from life allows students to observe real movement, proportion, and gesture in real time, strengthening both accuracy and expression.

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

• Pencil box for storage

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

Date: Sundays, November 29 - December 6, from 6 pm to 9 pm
Fee: $155/discount with member code
Ages: 15+
Levels: All
Sessions: 2
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 two-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 class, you’ll complete a finished still life painting in the Impressionist style, showcasing both technical skill and personal expression.

Please bring the following materials to class. The links below are suggested products from Amazon and Dick Blick:

Paint

• Burnt Umber

• Yellow Ochre

• Ultramarine Blue

• Cadmium Red

• Cadmium Yellow

• Phthalo Green

• Dioxazine Purple

Palette

• Disposable Paper Palette

Palette Knife

• Palette Knife

Canvas

• Cotton Canvas, 8" × 10"

These Blick supplies are the ones the instructor is accustomed to using. Less expensive alternatives may be available through Amazon, but the instructor has not personally tested them.

Bristle Brushes

• Bristle Brush Set — variety of sizes, from small to large filberts

Blue Shop Towels

• Blue Shop Towels

Date: Saturdays, December 5 - 19, from 6 pm to 9 pm
Fee: $225/discount with member code
Ages: 18+
Levels: All
Sessions: 3
Instructor: Nick Colella
Location: Schack Art Center, Painting & Drawing Studio

Learn how to create realistic drawings using the methods and principles developed by the Old Masters. This course focuses on the foundations of classical drawing, including proportion, structure, accuracy, and rendering form to create the illusion of depth on a flat surface.

Working from a live, nude model, students will learn how classical drawing principles developed and why they remain essential for artists seeking both precision and expressive results. Through guided instruction, you’ll begin with a careful block-in to establish accurate proportions and structure before developing the drawing through value, form, and detail.

By the end of the course, you’ll create a realistic, carefully rendered drawing while building a strong foundation in classical drawing techniques.

Students should bring the following materials:

• Charcoal pencils

• White charcoal pencil

• Razor blade or box cutter

• Sandpaper

• Blending stump

• Small piece of old fabric

• Kneaded eraser

• Tuff eraser

• 18" × 24" drawing board

• 18" × 24" piece of toned drawing paper

• Newsprint or other padding for the drawing board

Date: Sundays, January 3 - 17, from 6 pm to 9 pm
Fee: $155/discount with member code
Ages: 15+
Levels: All
Sessions: 2
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 two-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 class, you’ll complete a finished still life painting in the Impressionist style, showcasing both technical skill and personal expression.

Please bring the following materials to class. The links below are suggested products from Amazon and Dick Blick:

Paint

• Burnt Umber

• Yellow Ochre

• Ultramarine Blue

• Cadmium Red

• Cadmium Yellow

• Phthalo Green

• Dioxazine Purple

Palette

• Disposable Paper Palette

Palette Knife

• Palette Knife

Canvas

• Cotton Canvas, 8" × 10"

These Blick supplies are the ones the instructor is accustomed to using. Less expensive alternatives may be available through Amazon, but the instructor has not personally tested them.

Bristle Brushes

• Bristle Brush Set — variety of sizes, from small to large filberts

Blue Shop Towels

• Blue Shop Towels

Dates: Saturdays, January 9 - 23, from 6 pm to 9 pm
Fee: $265/discount with member code
Ages: 18+
Levels: All
Sessions: 3
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—working directly from a live nude model each session. Drawing from life allows students to observe real movement, proportion, and gesture in real time, strengthening both accuracy and expression.

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

• Pencil box for storage

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

Dates: Sundays, January 24 & 31, from 6 pm to 9 pm
Fee: $135/discount with member code
Ages: 15+
Levels: All
Sessions: 2
Instructor: Nick Colella
Location: Schack Art Center, Painting & Drawing Studio

Turn a favorite photo of your pet into a vibrant, expressive painting in this beginner-friendly impressionist painting workshop. Students will learn how to translate photographic reference images into colorful, painterly pet portraits while exploring the loose brushwork and lively color relationships characteristic of Impressionist art.

Throughout the class, participants will learn how to choose and work from strong reference photos, sketch basic proportions, mix expressive color palettes, and apply paint with confidence and movement. Instruction will focus on capturing personality, light, and atmosphere rather than strict realism.

Students will leave with a finished painted portrait of their pet and a stronger understanding of color, paint application, and impressionist painting techniques.

Please bring the following materials to class. The links below are suggested products from Amazon and Dick Blick:

 Paint

• Burnt Umber

• Yellow Ochre

• Ultramarine Blue

• Cadmium Red

Painting Supplies

• Disposable Paper Palette

• Palette Knife – Style 13

• Cotton Canvas – 8" × 10", Pack of 10

*The canvas linked above is the brand the instructor typically uses. Less expensive options are available on Amazon, but they have not been tested by the instructor.

Brushes

• Bristle Brushes — Bring a variety of sizes, from small to large filbert brushes.

Cleanup

• Blue Shop Towels‍ ‍

Date: Saturday, January 30, from 6 pm to 9 pm
Fee: $95/discount with member code
Ages: 12+
Levels: All
Sessions: 1
Instructor: Nick Colella
Location: Schack Art Center, Painting & Drawing Studio

Take the mystery out of color! This class explores how color works and gives you practical tools for mixing and using it with confidence. Learn how different types of light affect color, how to lighten or darken a color without losing its vibrancy, and how to accurately mix the specific colors you need for your artwork. We’ll also explore how and why we perceive color the way we do. Students will create their own personalized color wheel to use as a reference for future art projects.

Students should bring the following materials:

• 6" × 6" canvas

• Palette knife: Blick Painting Knife, 7/8" × 3-1/4", Painting Style #68

• Palette: https://www.dickblick.com/products/new-wave-posh-glass-tabletop-palettes/

• Oil paints:Van Gogh Oil Colors in:

  • Cadmium Yellow

  • Cadmium Red

  • Ultramarine Blue

  • Cadmium Orange

  • Dioxazine Purple

  • Phthalo Green

If you have any questions about the supply list, please contact the art class coordinator at rchernow@schack.org

Date: Saturdays, February 6 - 20, from 6 pm to 9 pm
Fee: $270/discount with member code
Ages: 15+
Levels: All
Sessions: 3
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:

• Paint

  • Burnt Umber

  • Yellow Ochre

  • Ultramarine Blue

  • Cadmium Red

  Palette

  • Disposable Paper Palette

  Palette Knife

  • Palette Knife

  Cotton Canvas

  • 8" × 10" Cotton Canvas

  The Blick supplies linked above are the ones the instructor is accustomed to using. Less expensive alternatives may be available through Amazon, but the instructor has not personally tried them.

  Bristle Brushes

  • Bristle Brush Set — a variety of sizes, from small to large filberts

  Blue Shop Towels

  • Blue Shop Towels

Dates: Sundays, February 21 - March 7, from 6 pm to 9 pm
Fee: $225/discount with member code
Ages: 18+
Levels: All
Sessions: 3
Instructor: Nick Colella
Location: Schack Art Center, Painting & Drawing Studio

Learn how to create realistic drawings using the methods and principles developed by the Old Masters. This course focuses on the foundations of classical drawing, including proportion, structure, accuracy, and rendering form to create the illusion of depth on a flat surface.

Working from a live, nude model, students will learn how classical drawing principles developed and why they remain essential for artists seeking both precision and expressive results. Through guided instruction, you’ll begin with a careful block-in to establish accurate proportions and structure before developing the drawing through value, form, and detail.

By the end of the course, you’ll create a realistic, carefully rendered drawing while building a strong foundation in classical drawing techniques.

Students should bring the following materials:

• Charcoal pencils

• White charcoal pencil

• Razor blade or box cutter

• Sandpaper

• Blending stump

• Small piece of old fabric

• Kneaded eraser

• Tuff eraser

• 18" × 24" drawing board

• 18" × 24" piece of toned drawing paper

• Newsprint or other padding for the drawing board

Date: Saturday, February 27, from 6 pm to 9 pm
Fee: $95/discount with member code
Ages: 13+
Levels: All
Sessions: 1
Instructor: Nick Colella
Location: Schack Art Center, Painting & Drawing Studio

Learn the fundamentals of designing memorable characters and expressive figures. In this class, we’ll explore how basic shapes can communicate different feelings and personalities, as well as the principles that make a character visually distinctive and memorable. Students will apply these techniques to create their own stylized caricature of a person. No previous character-design experience is required.

All supplies will be provided.