Introduction to Drawing prepares students for future academic work through structured and sustained practice with drawing materials. observational practices while reflecting on the relationships between shape, proportion, line quality, light, perspective, and value. Students will strengthen their abilities to observe, interpret, and reflect visual media within the academic studio sphere through close investigations of various still-life and portrait subjects.

Single-session charcoal and pencil sketches, multi-session still life projects, and weekly critiques will train students in formal drawing techniques while being able to engage confidently in art-centric dialogs. Through active participation and inquiry, students will enhance their ability to comprehend subject matter, translate observations in dry mediums, and communicate their visual ideas.

Abstraction in Oil Painting prepares students for future academic work through structured and sustained practice in oil painting. Students will be challenged to break from convention at times, learning the basics of surrealism, minimalism and formalism, and abstract expressionism.

Students will learn proper application of oil painting materials and processes through observational practices while reflecting on the relationships between shape, space, depth, light, perspective, value, and color. 

Students will be introduced to a diverse range of contemporary artists by challenging hegemonic structures; highlighting more women artists, more artists of color, and artists who have typically been overlooked in the greater art lexicon. Single-session painted sketches, multi-session painting projects, and final critiques will train students in formal painting techniques while being able to engage confidently in art-centric dialogs.

Discover a variety of art-making techniques, while learning new artistic and social skills. Let us draw, paint, collage, and sculpt, make friends, and have fun. 

Learn about the artistic tradition of comic books. Develop your cartoon drawing skills while creating your own heroes and villains to design an eye-catching cover for your own comic book. 

Learn about the artistic tradition of comic books. Develop your cartoon drawing skills while creating your own heroes and villains to design an eye-catching cover for your own comic book. 

Summer Academy is an intense college-level art program. This rigorous experience is modeled after PAFA's own world renowned, undergraduate first-year arts curriculum. 

Students will master essential drawing and oil painting skills and build on this foundation by choosing to explore a range of other skills, including sculpture, printmaking, illustration and animation. 

Students will gain additional artistic and professional development experience with weekly critique sessions (affectionately known as ‘crit’) and behind the scenes tours of PAFA and other Philadelphia art spaces. 

Finally, students will have the opportunity to exhibit their work at PAFA’s world-class museum and receive an in-depth portfolio review with PAFA Admissions staff, giving students the experience to reach the next level of their artistic journey. 

Full program cost includes:

• Four college level studio art courses, providing 4.0 college credits
• All art supplies
• Studio space and facilities
• Field trips 

Draw, paint and sculpt furry, feathery, and scaly creatures! Animals large and small will feature as subjects all week. Roaring, squeaking, barking, and quacking are welcome while we make wild, and wildly creative artworks. 

Explore the unique qualities of sculptural art learning a variety of techniques, foundational principles, types of materials, and a wide range of approaches.