SOLD OUT

IN PERSON: Tues., April 18–June 6, 6:30 p.m.; Andargé Asfaw; details on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0SX; Members $225; Nonmembers $255

Capture images of Washington, D.C., as you sharpen your way of thinking about shooting outdoors. Emphasis is placed on what happens before the shutter release is pressed and on truly previsualizing the photograph. Sessions include lectures, Metroaccessible field trips, loosely structured assignments, and critique sessions in which students develop outdoor-shooting strategies.

IN PERSON: Sun., April 30–June 11 (no class May 28), 1:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0TE; Members $195; Nonmembers $225

Introduction to Photography II

This course is ideal for students who are interested in expanding their understanding of photography fundamentals. Sessions focus on lighting, composition, shooting techniques, gear, and photo-editing software.

IN PERSON: Wed., April 19–June 7, 6:30 p.m.; Andargé Asfaw; details on website; Ripley Center; CODE 1V0-0SZ; Members $225; Nonmembers $255

By Andargé Asfaw

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Art Sci Ence Studio Arts Culture Hi Story Studio Arts

Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.

Online

Online classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio. View portfolios of work by our instructors at SmithsonianAssociates.org/art instructors.

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Curating a Life: Art as Memoir

Visual Journaling: Creativity Workout

Gather your art materials for a morning of artistic experimentation designed to strengthen creative muscles and deepen skills in visual expression. Explore five modes of visual thinking: working from memory, observation, imagination, narrative, and experimental approaches.

By Renee Sandell

This unique course is designed to engage your skills in decoding (reading) and encoding (creating) visual meaning. Explore selected works from the Smithsonian’s and other collections to find images that inspire hands-on exercises for building visual thinking skills: drawing, painting, and mixed-media; sketchbook journaling; and finally, creating a “memoir museum” of past experiences—and those yet to explore.

ONLINE: Mon., April 17–May 22, 1:30 p.m.; Renee Sandell; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RV; Members $225; Nonmembers $255

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Composition

Composition is one of the most important elements of any artwork. Examine fundamental concepts of composition and their practical application in studio-art practice. Develop tools to enrich your own work as well to analyze and appreciate visual art in general. Create several collages based on artworks and themes discussed in class.

ONLINE Mon., May 1–22, 10:30 a.m.; Shahin Talishkhan; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RX; Members $155; Nonmembers $175

Visual Journaling: Creativity Intensive

Strengthen your creative journaling muscles in three intensive sessions focused on artistic experimentation. Engage in markmaking and mapping exercises; use a variety of artistic media and techniques; explore modes of visual thinking and working from memory; observation, imagination, narrative, and experimental approaches.

ONLINE: Sat., May 6, May 20, and June 3, 1 p.m.; Renee Sandell; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RW; Members $185; Nonmembers $205

By Renee Sandell

ONLINE: Sat., May 13, 1 p.m.; Renee Sandell; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0TK; Members $75; Nonmembers $85

By Mïa Vollkommer

By Renee Sandell

Creative Mind Mapping

Take your ideas from banal to beautiful by learning how to create mind maps worthy of framing. Choose from three different styles to illustrate your thoughts and goals.

ONLINE: Mon., May 15 and 22, 6:30 p.m.; Mïa Vollkommer; details and supply list on website; CODE 1K0-0TL; Members $75; Nonmembers $95

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn

½ credit Exploring the Visual Foundations and Traditions of Art Or, Who Was Fibonacci and What Did He Do for Art?

Through lectures and drawing exercises, learn how Renaissance artists used the golden ratio, the rule of thirds, three-point perspective, and the Fibonacci spiral—as well as how these elements can provide dynamic visual interest to your compositions, no matter the medium.

ONLINE: Thurs., June 8 and 15, 2 p.m.; Chester Kasnowski; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0UM; Members $55; Nonmembers $75

Introduction to Afghan Geometric Design

Beginning Drawing

By Sughra Hussainy

For centuries, religious and secular Islamic manuscripts have contained beautiful geometric decorations. Explore the history and construction of these traditional designs and create designs with graph paper and a compass.

ONLINE: Sun., April 16–May 21, 1 p.m.; Sughra Hussainy; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RP; Members $195; Nonmembers $225

New Classes

Drawing with Silverpoint

This course, a valuable introduction for beginners, teaches the basic skills needed as a strong foundation 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.

ONLINE: Sun, April 23–June 18 (no class May 28), 10:15 a.m.; Josh Highter; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RS; Members $255; Nonmembers $285

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

By Lori VanKirk Schue

Silverpoint drawing uses a silver stylus on specially prepared paper to produce delicate lines. Initially silver-gray, the drawing tarnishes when exposed to air, resulting in a characteristic warm brown tone. Learn the history of silverpoint, the materials required, and the vocabulary. Prior drawing experience is strongly recommended.

ONLINE: Fri., May 5 and 12, 1 p.m.; Lori VanKirk Schue; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V00TJ; Member $95; Nonmembers $115

Introduction to Chalk Pastels

Chalk pastels can be used to create dynamic artworks in any genre: portrait, still life, abstract, or landscape. Techniques are demonstrated, and various types of chalk pastels, how to combine them with other media, their history, and proper storage are discussed. All levels are welcome.

By Lori VanKirk Schue

ONLINE: Mon., April 24–May 8, 1 p.m.; Lori VanKirk Schue; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V00TH; Members $135; Nonmembers $155

By Nick Cruz Velleman

Drawing Light…and How the Masters Did It

Learn the strategies artists such as Rembrandt, Cézanne, and Van Gogh used to harness light in order to give their images dimension. Inclass exercises focus on using graphite, ink, and pastel to draw studies of masterworks.

ONLINE: Tues., April 25–May 23, 6:30 p.m., Nick Cruz Velleman; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RT; Members $185; Nonmembers $215

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Sold Out Sold Out

Botanicals in Watercolor II

Build on your botanical painting skills as you create vibrant watercolors inspired by nature. Learn to focus on the texture and detail of botanical subjects including flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Step-by-step instructions in watercolor are given, along with practical demonstrations. Some basic watercolor experience is required.

ONLINE: Tues., April 18–June 13, 5 p.m.; Lubna Zahid; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0SB; Members $265; Nonmembers $295

By Lubna Zahid

Quick-Sketch Watercolor Journaling

Virtually travel from coast to coast and to Europe in order to explore a variety of subjects using quick-sketch watercolor techniques. Capture a scene with graceful lines and paint with flowing watercolors as you learn to break down a scene into simple shapes.

ONLINE: Sat., April 22 and 29, 10 a.m.; Cindy Briggs; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0TM; Members $155; Nonmembers $175

Sumi-e Watercolor for Beginners

Working with watercolor, employ beautiful, minimal brushstrokes to depict the wonders of the natural world in the style of sumi-e, which is meant to convey the ch’i, or vital energy, of what it depicts.

ONLINE: Tues., May 16–June 13, 6:30 p.m.; Susan Vitali; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V00UN; Members $145; Nonmembers $175

By Susan Vitali

By Cindy Briggs

Hill Country Cottage in Watercolor

Learn to see and draw relationships in architecture exemplified by classic Hill Country cottages. Aided by an instructor-provided tracing and video link, describe the character of stonework with reflective light in the shadows, and give depth to the surrounding landscape. Previous watercolor experience is helpful but not required.

Introduction to Scientific Illustration: Watercolor and Ink

By Cindy Briggs

ONLINE: Wed., April 26 and Thurs., April 27, 6:30 p.m.; Cindy Briggs; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0TN; Members $95; Nonmembers $115

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Drawing Light: How the Masters Did it in Color

Using watercolor and oil pastels, learn the strategies Delacroix, Turner, Monet, and Cézanne employed to harness light in their images. By looking deep into their work, participants investigate how these masters’ use of color manipulates the experience of light.

ONLINE: Wed., May 24–June 21,

By Nick Cruz Velleman

6:30 p.m.; Nick Cruz Velleman; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0TQ; Members $165; Nonmembers $195

By Natalia Wilkins-Tyler

Learn to see like a scientist as you use watercolor and ink to illustrate specimens from nature. Experienced students develop their skills in applying key techniques such as composition, working with color, and recording fine detail in nature journaling, watercolor painting, drawing, and creating stand-alone biological illustrations.

ONLINE: Tues., May 30–June 20, 6:30 p.m.; Natalia WilkinsTyler; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0UL; Members $155; Nonmembers $175

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Gyotaku: The Japanese Art of Printing with Fish

Using direct printing and waterbased printing inks, create realistic looking schools of fish or a single artistic print simply by inking a whole fish and pressing it to paper. Create several 12-by-18-inch gyotaku. Learn how to paint realistic fish-eyes to bring your print to life and cut masks to create realistic compositions.

By Sue Fierston

ONLINE: Sat., April 22, 10 a.m.; Sue Fierston; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0SK; Members $75; Nonmembers $85

Artful Mind, Tranquil Mind

Centering practices used by artists to prepare for making art can be helpful in everyday life. Through guided instruction designed to enhance your own artmaking, explore mark-making with lines, swirls, and puddles, and use paper to experiment with folding and tearing.

Fabric Printing Using Natural Materials