How you render a subject changes everything about it — the same bouquet can whisper in graphite, murmur in charcoal, or shout in fauvist colour on a black ground. This 4-week session is about discovering which voice is yours.

You'll begin by choosing one still life subject to reference, then reinterpret it multiple times across different media, surfaces, and styles — from a quiet contour hatch to a bold, high-contrast pastel study. Each version is a chance to test what you don't usually reach for, refine what you love, and start recognizing your own signature marks, colour instincts, and sense of proportion.

What we'll cover:

• Building a simplified, accurate reference drawing

• Creating a personalized "menu" of variations — surface, media, and style

• Open to ALL MEDIA: charcoal, graphite, ink and watercolour, soft pastel, oil pastel, oil paint, acrylic paint

• Working across techniques: from classical contour hatching to expressionism, pointillism, fauvism, and more

• Featuring a single design principle (line, contrast, colour, texture, etc.) in each variation

• Developing confidence in mark-making, elegant simplicity, and consistent visual voice

Structure:

• Week 1: Choose your subject, build your reference drawing, plan your menu

• Weeks 2–3: Work through your variations, media and technique changes each session

• Week 4: Review the full set side by side, reflect on what resonates to help refine your direction going forward!
  

4 sessions Sunday, Sept 27, Oct 4, Oct 18, Oct 25 (Skip Oct 11 for Thanksgiving) From 2-4pm EST over ZOOM