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Museum Education at PAFA



Our Classes

Pre-College: Introduction to Drawing: After-School Studio Art Program

Free

with D'shon McCarthy

Calendar Current session started Feb 18, 2025 at 4 pm, runs for 10 weeks

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.

Pre-College: Abstraction in Oil Painting: After-School Studio Art Program

Free

with Leroy Nunery

Calendar Next available session starts Feb 20, 2025 at 4 pm, runs for 10 weeks

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.

 

Young Artist Academy: Ceramics

$400
Calendar Next available session starts Mar 15, 2025 at 11 am, runs for 8 weeks

Explore the art of ceramics in this fun and hands-on class! Students will learn hand-building techniques like slab, coil, and pinch to create unique sculptures and functional pieces. They'll also discover the ceramic process, including glazing and firing, to bring their creations to life.With opportunities to experiment on the potter’s wheel, young artists will gain new skills and express their creativity. All projects will be kiln-fired, and students will take home beautifully finished, one-of-a-kind artworks to showcase their hard work and imagination

Art Explorers

$400
Calendar Next available session starts Jun 23, 2025 at 9 am

Ages: 5 - 8

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. 

Intro to Comics

$400
Calendar Next available session starts Jun 23, 2025 at 9 am

Ages: 9 - 14

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

$4,680
Calendar Next available session starts Jun 23, 2025 at 9 am, runs for 4 weeks

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 

Animal Kingdom

$400
Calendar Next available session starts Jun 30, 2025 at 9 am, runs for 1 week

Ages: 5 - 8

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. 

Intro to Sculpture

$400
Calendar Next available session starts Jun 30, 2025 at 9 am, runs for 1 week

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





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