Q&A: How do I sign up for a class? Simply email: crilling@hotmail.com and a reply will be sent to you with payment options. Class descriptions below.

SPRING 2025

APRIL
FOUNDATIONS OF FLORAL PAINTING
(FULL)
April 5-14
Two weekends, 5 Sessions
OPEN FOR REGISTRATION. Details below.

MAY
THE SINGLE OBJECT STILL-LIFE; MASTERING PLANES AND FORM
(Full))
Tuesdays May 6, 13, 20 & 27


SUMMER CLASSES Now open for registration!

FOUNDATIONS OF LANDSCAPE PAINTING SUMMER 2025
Studio and Plein Air Approaches
6 Weeks. June 17- July 29
Details below, open for registration.

7-WEEK MENTORING AND CRITIQUE GROUP FOR PAINTERS
Wednesdays June 18 - August 6th (No class July 2)
Limited to 12 painters per section. Details below, open for registration.

AUGUST MINI CLASS
Seeing the Big Picture: Notan, Composition & Design
Thursday, August 7
Details below- open for registration

PLEIN AIR FLORAL; IN THE GARDEN Pre-Recorded Mini Class
Scroll below for full description

MAINE onsite Landscape Intensive is full. Add your name to the waiting list for next year.

SPACES ARE LIMITED, SIGN UP TO RESERVE A SPACE

APRIL 2025

Foundations of Floral Painting:
(FULL- all critique spots are taken, inquire for audit information)
4 days over two weekends + one additional session:
April 5th + 6th: 12:30-2:00 pm Eastern Time each day
April 12th + 13th: 12:30-2:00 pm Eastern Time each day
(+ *April 13th: office hours from 3-4 pm)
Monday, April 14th from 5pm-6pm: Recap and Review

(Philadelphia/NYC Time Zone, classes are recorded, live attendance not required)

This foundations course, geared to the painter new to painting flowers, will help the student understand complex floral forms and paint them with clarity and confidence.
This two-weekend course will be broken down into five sessions, with clear and concise exercises provided after each class.
The first weekend students will be working in a more realistic style; this will provide the framework for the class and aid in understanding floral shapes. The second weekend a looser approach will be demonstrated. Students are encouraged to discover their own unique style and technique through practice and experimentation which will lay the groundwork for more advanced classes.

Course Objectives: simplifying and understanding complex floral forms, employing effective lighting, mixing clean and accurate color, and varying marks and edges.

Weekend 1
Day 1: Drawing; seeing shapes not details; simplifying complex information
Day 2: Mixing clean color; painting simple floral forms
Weekend 2
Day 3: Varying flowers: Different Species and Forms. Working with edges.
Day 4: Vases and ellipses. Edges and marks continued.
Day 5: Review and final discussion

Class will consist of discussion, lecture, and demonstration. Classes are recorded if students cannot attend live. Students will receive individual weekly audio or written critique through our private online classroom. Participants will have an additional week after the last class to complete exercises.

Photo references will be provided for students. Paintings can be done from life or references.

Supplies: A supply list will be sent after registration.
Online classroom: Private online classroom for enrolled students
Zoom: Classes conducted via Zoom and are recorded for enrolled students, available for one month following the last class.

Tuition: $295
Email: crilling@hotmail.com to register

MAY 2025

The Single Object Still Life; Mastering Planes and Form
Tuesdays May 6, 13, 20 & 27
12:00PM-1:45PM EST (Phila. And NYC Time Zone)
(Full- all critique slots taken, inquire for audit only)

This 4-week still life class will equip students with the skills needed to understand the planes of both organic and man-made forms. Through the mastery of planes, forms become much easier to translate into mass. Following the tradition of constructive drawing and painting, students will learn to avoid over-polishing their work, resulting in clear strong painterly statements.
We will begin with man-made objects, then move to organic shapes. Each week a new painting will be completed of a single object still life.
Each class will consist of discussion, lecture, and demos. Demos (both live and pre-recorded) will be shared to demonstrate parts of the painting process.
A new assignment will be given each week. Students have the option to share work for critique in our private online classroom.

All time zones accommodated, students are not required to attend live.

Supplies: A supply list will be sent after registration
Online classroom: Private online classroom for enrolled students
Zoom: Classes conducted via Zoom and are recorded for enrolled students, available for one month following the last class

Tuition:$260
Email: crilling@hotmail.com to register

SUMMER 2025 JUNE-AUGUST ONLINE CLASSES


FOUNDATIONS OF LANDSCAPE PAINTING SUMMER 2025
Studio and Plein Air Approaches

6 Weeks. June 17- July 29

Tuesdays from 12:00pm- 2:00pm (Philadelphia/NYC Time Zone)
June 17, 24 & July 8, 15, 22, 29

This in-depth landscape painting class is geared to the painter looking for a strong foundation in landscape painting principles and will cover the essential aspects of studio landscape painting, with additional lessons on plein air painting in weeks five and six. The course will include demos where I share parts of the painting process, discussion, as well as art historical lessons to enhance our understanding of the genre and scope as painters. Each class will be broken into lecture, discussion, and demo. All critiques will be conducted outside of our live class time, in an online classroom, reserving class time for specific weekly lessons.

The main topics covered: selecting and working with photo references, simplifying the landscape and seeing shapes, painting foliage and trees, atmospheric perspective, mixing and controlling greens and blues, handling skies and clouds, and working in plein air. The last two weeks will focus on approaches to plein air painting.
Each week a new assignment will be given, with clear written instructions. Students are encouraged to source landscape images they feel connected to, though several “back-up” images will be provided as well.
Class is taught in oil, acrylic would also be suitable. All levels welcome.

Supplies: A supply list will be sent with registration.
Online classroom: Private online classroom for enrolled students
Zoom: Classes conducted via Zoom and are recorded for enrolled students, available for one month following the last class.

Tuition: $395
Email: crilling@hotmail.com to register

SUMMER 2025 CRITIQUE GROUP

7-Week Intensive Critique and Mentoring Group for Painters
Wednesdays June 18 - August 6th (No class July 2)
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM (NYC/Philadelphia Time Zone)

Level: Intermediate-Advanced

This online mentoring group is designed for committed painters looking to elevate their practice. Drawing on a decade of experience in teaching college thesis development courses, this intimate class welcomes up to 12 artists ready to deepen their commitment to painting and strengthen their work.

What to Expect: Each week students will receive supportive feedback in both group critiques and in our private online classroom. In this course, you will focus on:

Strengthening Your Art: Through critique and discussion, learn how to make your paintings sharper and stronger.
Cohesion: Bring greater cohesion and depth to your body of work.
Cultivating Self-Critique: Develop a discerning eye for evaluating your own paintings.
Building a Sustainable Practice: Establish a disciplined and dedicated painting routine.
Navigating the Art World: Gain practical professional insights on topics such as shows, galleries, websites, artist statements, and more. Social media will also be a part of this conversation.
In addition to live critiques, students will submit work in our private online classroom for ongoing feedback.

Class Structure:

Each week we will look at each participant’s work through a live slide show. Paintings may be marked up with digital tools to ensure critiques are clear and helpful,
During our weekly meeting we will also touch on other art-related topics such as professional practices and studio practices.

Who Should Enroll? This class is tailored for intermediate to advanced painters working in semi-abstract to realist styles who are looking to grow artistically, refine their craft, and acquire professional knowledge.

Tuition: $500
EMAIL: crilling@hotmail.com for registration information

*Classes are recorded for review, available for one month after each class

AUGUST MINI CLASS

Seeing the Big Picture: Notan, Composition & Design
Thursday, August 7
12:00PM- 1:30PM (NYC/Philadelphia Time Zone)

This online class is an invitation to refine your visual thinking through the lens of the notan— the delicate and powerful balance of light and dark. We will study how abstract shape relationships, value structure, and visual weight form the backbone of powerful composition. With one guided drawing exercise and a lecture on composition, you’ll learn to distill complexity into clarity and approach your work with greater intention. Ideal for artists at any stage, this class offers a foundation in design principles that transcend medium or style. A recording will be available for those unable to join live.
There will be a private online classroom in which students can share their work and engage with one another.
Level: All
Medium: Any

Zoom: Classes conducted via Zoom and are recorded for enrolled students available for one year
Please note this class is for independent study, while work can be shared in the online classroom, there will not be one-on-one critique
Tuition: $65
Email: crilling@hotmail.com to register

Plein Air Floral; In The Garden 1-Hour Class for Independent Study

In this one-hour lesson I will share approaches to plein air painting, how to simplify complex forms, and will demonstrate how to paint a garden iris in plein air. The complex and delicate nature of an iris can be particularly challenging. By working small and directly, painters will see how these ephemeral forms can be approached and learn how to apply this approach to any floral form.
This class is recorded for enrolled students, and will be available on an ongoing basis for one year. Please note that this class is for independent study.

Tuition: $60

Recordings available to registered students for one full year.
This lesson and lecture is for independent study.
Email crilling@hotmail.com for registration and payment options


Private Mentoring and Coaching

-Critique: Receive in-depth feedback on current work
-Overcome obstacles and artistic blocks
-Set artistic and professional goals
-Develop clarity and confidence in one's work and process

In this one-on-one meeting I can help you strengthen your work, align you with your goals, help you to overcome blocks, or organize your work flow and practice.

$110 USD/60 minutes
Meetings are conducted through Zoom

EXAMPLES OF PREVIOUS COURSES: The Single Object Still-Life: Mastering Planes and Form; Foundations of Floral Painting: Unlocking Vibrant Color; Landscape Painting Foundations; After the Masters: Transcriptions in Gouache and Acrylic; After the Modern Masters: Transcriptions in Gouache and Acrylic; Alla Prima: A Direct Approach to Florals; Cityscape Painting: Capturing the Light and Atmosphere of the Urbanscape; Atmosphere and Edges: Building Depth into the Landscape; Oil Painting Foundations; Foundations of Still Life Painting; Color, Shape, and Design; Studio and Plein Air Practices; Buildings in the Landscape;

REFUND POLICY: There are no refunds or transfers for online classes. If one cannot attend live, recordings are available. In the unlikely event that a class is cancelled, students will receive a full refund.


General Supply List (oil):

Materials List for Claudia Rilling

• Paper Towels / rags
• Portable easel if working outside (landscape classes)
• Canvas Panels, stretched canvas, or gesso primed paper (any size you feel comfortable working in, but starting smaller is a good idea) 8x8, 10x10, 8x12, etc. Size is based on personal preference.
• Paint Brushes- It’s good to have a variety of brushes that range in both type and size. Rounds, Flats, and Filberts are all good
• Paper Palette (or whatever you prefer) - at least 12x16. Or, if using a portable easel, it may come with a nice palette.
• Metal palette knife. A pointed end is best, not larger than 3 inches long.
• Some Paints: (or use what you have)
Burnt Umber—Yellow Ochre or transparent earth yellow— Ivory Black — Cadmium Red— Cadmium Yellow Light or Medium— Ultramarine Blue— Titanium White (large tube is best)- Alizarin crimson- Sap green
• Any other colors that you like
• Feel free to experiment with other tube greens and blues like Permanent Green, Cadmium Green, Pthalo Blue (VERY strong), Phtalo Green (VERY strong), Prussian Blue, Cerulean Blue, etc.
• The brand I prefer: Gamblin or Windsor Newton oil paint
• The best student grade paint is Gamblin 1980 (avoid other student grade paints)
• Liquin Original or linseed oil– Not needed if working in acrylic
• Odorless Turpenoid or Gamsol– Not needed if working in acrylic
• Jars or cups for medium and thinner. Make sure the lid seals tightly.
• Optional: view finder (you can make a homemade version with pieces of cardboard taped together)
• Small sketchbook and pencil/markers. "Tombow" value markers are great for value studies.
• Gesso (optional to prime surfaces) : Professional Grade White Acrylic Gesso. “Golden” brand is good.

"Painting a Dynamic Landscape"
Jerusalem Studio School: Painting Workshop, July 1-15, 2019
Affiliate Workshop hosted by The JSS in Civita Castellana, Italy

Mentoring and Coaching:
$110 USD/1 HOUR
-Critique: Receive feedback on current work
-Overcome obstacles and artistic blocks
-Set artistic and professional goals
-Develop clarity and confidence in one's work and process
Mentoring lessons are conducted through Zoom

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Portrait drawing published in "Lessons in Classical Drawing" by Juliette Aristides