Capture the landscape in open air with the vibrancy and realism that can be achieved with colored pencil! Explore descriptive and expressive line quality, color relationships, cross-hatching and layering techniques, capturing light and volume, and the effects of working on different papers as you portray the beauty of Philadelphia’s parks in your own personal style. Learn methods for choosing a composition, mixing color through layering, and working efficiently outdoors. Working in dry media will allow you all the benefits of using color, but with the ease transporting lightweight and portable materials and no wet paintings! Drawing locations featuring shade, restrooms, and other amenities may include Clark Park in West Philly, Wissahickon Park in Mt. Airy, and Bartram's Garden in Southwest Philadelphia.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Michelle Oosterbaan
Cost: $375
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

Capture the small-town beauty of Manayunk's hilly streets, rowhomes, and storefronts. Learn to create a convincing sense of space, light and time of day while depicting streetscapes, trees, water and sky. Color mixing and painting techniques for oils will be demonstrated, but all drawing/painting media are welcome. Located just 15 minutes outside of Philadelphia, Manayunk offers engaging urban and riverside neighborhood subjects with parking, shade, provisions and facilities available. Note: Students are responsible for their own transportation to painting locations.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Larry Francis
Cost: $395
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

Pioneering landscape artists overcame many hurdles to facilitate the practice of painting in oils en plein air. The invention of the pochade box, a compact box where artists can store their supplies and produce work on the inside of the lid, was a critical product that overcame some of these hurdles. Learn how to simply build a pochade box in PAFA’s studios and then put both your new equipment and skills to the test outdoors in beautiful Laurel Hill Cemetery, on the banks of the Schuylkill River. Learn how to paint in oils efficiently outdoors, to capture the distinctive light, color, and forms of the landscape. Come away from this course with the equipment, skills, and experience to continue your plein air practice.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Roger Chavez
Cost: $295
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

Capture the active life of the city and its rich architecture. This is an excellent workshop for anyone who wants to learn to sketch on the bus or train, in cafés and public parks, or while traveling abroad. Topics include perspective, gauging proportions by eye, gesture figure drawing, and methods for simplifying form. All levels welcome. Rain Date: May 6. (Please plan on the rain date when registering – regular withdrawal policies apply for students unable to attend the rescheduled date.)
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Frederic Kaplan
Cost: $115
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

Join professional landscape painter Joseph Sweeney on location at historic Laurel Hill Mansion for this outdoor workshop. Built in 1767, and nestled along the scenic Schuylkill River in Fairmount Park, Laurel Hill has a prominent location on a high bluff with a commanding view of the river. Sweeney will paint along with you in these idyllic and historic surroundings, guiding you through color mixing to capture the tonal quality and character of the time of day, compositional fundamentals, and sound painting practices. Instruction is geared towards oil, acrylic, and pastel, but experienced watercolorists are welcome. Restrooms and plenty of free parking available.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Joseph Sweeney
Cost: $95
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio
Website, email, 267-514-8647

Learn to draw urban landscapes while exploring the vibrant city around PAFA. Students will learn about materials, composition, shading, light and perspective while drawing in (shaded) parks, streets, and (indoor) views from PAFA. Gain a new practice in sketching en plein air and develop portfolio pieces. Great for students at all levels, from beginners to more experienced artists. Students will be able to explore and learn to depict the wide range of landscapes just outside the door!
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Alyssa Khalifa
Cost: $260
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632