Break down the basics of this intricate art form originating in the 16th century as you learn to wind bobbins and follow patterns, constructing four small bobbin lace projects of your own with expert guidance from your instructors.
In an artist-led series designed to provide a tranquil midday break, create small but satisfying works of art as a way to hit “pause” and incorporate a bit of creativity into your at-home routines.
This introductory course teaches the basic skills needed for drawing. Working with a variety of materials and techniques, including charcoal and pencils, students explore the rendering of geometric forms, volume, and perspective, with an emphasis on personal gesture marks.
In this class, students focus on the fundamentals of drawing birds: physical makeup (face, body, wings, and feet) and nuanced differences that distinguish one species from another.
From the 8th through the 19th centuries, Shinto and Buddhist traditions and institutions intermingled in Japan. Buddhism used images to spread its teachings and assimilate with local religions. This practice affected the veneration of kami (broadly defined as spirits of nature) in Shinto, which originally did not use such depictions. Art historian Yui Suzuki describes the synthesis of kami veneration and Buddhist worship. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Capture the dramatic majesty of canyon lands in an original watercolor painting. Review reference photos to discover how the time of day affects the lighting as it creates dynamic shapes and shadows.
Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for three online workshops that spotlight a diverse range of visual art chosen to inspire writers of all experience levels to deepen their process and practice. This writing session is inspired by 20th-century Spanish Surrealist painter Remedios Varo.
Learn simple and easy techniques to create landscape and seascape paintings. Special emphasis is given to various watercolor techniques such as wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, and masking.
In this class, learn the strategies artists such as Rembrandt, Daumier, Cézanne, and van Gogh used to harness light to unify, intensify, and give dimension to their images. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Get an introduction to stylized lettering, including altered block letters, botanical borders, and illuminated initials with vines and flourishes.