SPRING AND SUMMER ONLINE CLASSES 2023

(Full) May 11th-25th: 3-Week Course "On Color- Painting With Intention" (description below)
May 19th-21st: 3-Day Weekend Intensive "Atmosphere and Edges" (description below)
June 14th-July 26th: 6-Week Course "Foundations of Landscape Painting"
(description below)
August (July 31, August 1st, & August 2nd): "Alla Prima. A Direct Approach to Painting Flowers" Floral 3-Day Intensive (description below)


March: (Full) "Alla Prima. A Direct Approach to Painting Flowers". 3-Day Intensive Workshop. March 24th, 25th, 26th. Description: Scroll Below.
March: (Full) "After the Masters: Studying Composition and Shape." Transcriptions in Gouache and Acrylic. 4-week course. Description: Scroll below.
August 2023: Pemaquid Maine, Outdoor Landscape Painting 7-Day Workshop. Onsite. Email for class description. (Class is full, email to be added to waiting list)

"On Painting Trees" A 2-hour pre-recorded lesson.

This lesson covers approaches to painting full foliage trees with more clarity and confidence. Through simplifying complex forms and looking for the clear value pattern in trees, these complex forms become more approachable. We will look at work by other painters, break down complex images, and look at process images of a painting that will aid in building a stronger painting with more control and intention. Following the first part of the lesson a one-hour demo will be shown of a full foliage tree in oil paint. Registered students will receive: the recording link available until 12/31/2023, a PDF with detailed exercises, and images to use for practice.
Tuition: $65
Email: crilling@hotmail.com to register

"On Color- Painting with Intention" (full)
May 11th, 18th, and 25th
Thursday evenings from 6pm-8pm Eastern Time (Philadelphia Time Zone)
(This class is full, email to be added to waitlist)

This 3-week color class is for anyone who wishes to paint with more intentional color and make bolder and more informed color decisions. We will look to color mixing and the color wheel to find solutions as well as consider our emotive response to a subject.
We will begin by examining a series of paintings by other painters- both historical and contemporary- and decipher why particular color relationships are so successful. We will look at work of all genres- figure, landscape, still-life, etc. In session two students will examine their current work and begin a series of smaller exploratory paintings that will allow one to take risks and explore possibilities.
In session three we will discuss the exercises and explore ways to approach our work differently as we move forward with more color intention and awareness.
No convoluted color theory, or tiresome color charts. We will work directly with our current work- revising and re-thinking our color choices to bring more vibrancy and harmony into our paintings.
Each class will be 2 hours long and will consist of lecture, discussion, and a demo.
Students are encouraged to work with their medium of choice (instructor works with oil) and their current colors. Much of color balance is dependent on mixing, awareness, intention. No need for excessive tube colors.

Topics covered: Working with neutrals, color theory, color value, complimentary colors, color mixing.

Zoom: Classes are taught via Zoom
Private Padlet group for critique
Email crilling@hotmail.com for payment information and supply list
Tuition: $225
Class recordings are available to enrolled students for two weeks following each class. Live attendance is not required.

"Atmosphere and Edges: Building Depth Into The Landscape"
3-Day Intensive. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 19th-21st

May 19th: 5-6:30 PM EDT Setting up for the weekend,
selecting, editing, and understanding our references.
May 20th: 12pm-2pm EDT Creating Space with Shapes and Color
May 21st: 12pm-2pm EDT Edges and Variety: Examining Depth with
Edges

(Class times are listed based on Philadelphia time zone)


This weekend intensive class is for the painter with a solid foundation in landscape painting looking to build more depth, light, and atmosphere into their work.

On day one class details will be discussed, and we will focus on learning how to select powerful motifs or work with what we have to create space. We will be establishing an understanding of atmospheric depth.
On day two we will complete small paintings that focus on shape, mixing, and seeing clear differences in each spacial shift within the landscape.
On day three we will bring our focus to edges as well as both atmospheric and linear perspective- how this can be applied to our painting when incorporating buildings and man-made elements.

The exercises will be fun and exploratory, challenging our perception, and heightening our visual acuity. Students are encouraged to work from their own references, but there will be a selection of images to work from in the Padlet group.

Weekend sessions (12pm-2pm) will consist of slides & discussion, and an hour long demo. Students are encouraged to begin the lesson during the afternoon. The Zoom call will be open from 3:00pm-5:00pm for feedback and questions.

-All sessions are recorded via Zoom and available for 30 days for review. Work will be critiqued for two weeks following the end of the course.
-Private Padlet group for posting work for critique
-Supply list will be sent upon registration
-Open to other mediums but demos will be done in oil
-Tuition: $265
-Email crilling@hotmail.com for payment information.

JUNE-AUGUST ONLINE CLASSES


Foundations of Landscape Painting
6 Weeks. June 14th-July 26 (no class on July 5th)
Wednesdays from 12pm-2pm EDT (Philadelphia Time Zone)

This in-depth landscape painting class 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 lessons and demos on technique 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 online, in Padlet, reserving class time for specific weekly lessons.
The main topics covered, in order: selecting and working with photos, selecting the “motif”, simplifying the landscape and seeing shapes, mixing and controlling greens and blues, painting foliage, handling skies and clouds, and working in plein air. The last two weeks will focus on approaches to plein air painting. The course is taught online, in studio, but students have the option to work outdoors in the final weeks even if it’s just in one’s backyard or neighborhood.
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.

Classes recorded and available for two weeks after each class. Live attendance not required.
Platform: Zoom, Padlet
Email crilling@hotmail.com for payment information
A supply list will be sent after registration.
Tuition: $390

AUGUST ONLINE CLASSES


ALLA PRIMA: A DIRECT APPROACH TO FLORALS 3-Day Painting Intensive
July 31st, August 1st, August 2nd
Monday 12pm-2pm EDT
Tuesday 12pm-2pm EDT
Wednesday 12pm-2pm EDT
(Class times are based on Eastern Time/Philadelphia area)

This is a fast-paced and exciting workshop; students will work quickly and directly, responding to these evocative natural forms. Each morning will consist of lecture, slides, discussion, and an hour-long demo. Students are encouraged to begin the lesson during the afternoon, and work from life. Instructor will be available on the Zoom call from 3:30pm-5:30 pm each day to answer questions or provide feedback.

Monday: Simplifying & Mixing Clean Color. On this first day we will focus on learning how to simplify the abundance of detail we see in flower forms. We will work from more simple "closed form" flowers. Through understanding the underlying form of flowers, these complex shapes become much easier to translate and to paint. We will mix with intention to produce luminous color.

Tuesday and Wednesday: On these two days we will shift our focus to letting go of the literal nature of the florals, how to work with more direct mark-making, and learning how to vary the thickness of the painted surface. We will work with any variety of floral species.

* "Alla Prima” translates to “at once”. This simply means paintings are completed in a single session, directly. This yields a fresh and looser result.

Classes recordings are available for one month. Live attendance not required. Work will be reviewed for two weeks following the workshop.
Platform: Zoom, Padlet
Email crilling@hotmail.com for payment information
A supply list will be sent after registration.
Tuition: $265






PREVIOUS COURSES:


Foundations of Oil Painting 5 Weeks (WINTER 2023)
-January 17th-February 14th, 2023
-Tuesdays from 12pm-2pm EST (Philadelphia Time Zone)

This class is for the beginner oil painter who is seeking a strong foundation in painting still-life and a deeper understanding of oil painting practices. This in-depth class will equip students will the tools to paint on their own, take more advanced classes, or explore different genres. Art historical images and lectures will support each lesson.
Each week will address a different topic relating to oil painting and still-life painting. The two hours will consist of Q&A, lecture, and then demo. Students are encouraged to participate and ask questions during class. If one wishes to, painting while I demo is fine. Critiques will be given outside of class time throughout the week.

Week 1: Oil paints and what they are, mediums, solvents, brushes and palette knives, canvases and boards, cleaning of brushes. Demo: mixing, creating a grayscale, sphere and elements of form.
Week 2: Form and light. Setting up and lighting a still-life. Mixing tints and shades. Begin single-object still-life.
Week 3: Color and Value. Underpaintings and how to utilize them. Move to 2-object still-life.
Week 4: Rendering man-made objects: symmetry, ellipses, form. Continue 2-object still-life.
Week 5: Looking at different genres, how paintings can be made with different approaches.

FEBRUARY 2023 ONLINE CLASSES

ALLA PRIMA: A DIRECT APPROACH TO FLORALS 3-Day Painting Intensive
February 17th, 18th, and 19th
(This class is full- email to be added to waiting list. A second session offered 3/24-3/26)

Friday 12pm-2pm EST
Saturday 12pm-2pm EST
Sunday 12pm-2pm EST
(Class times are based on Eastern Time/Philadelphia area)

This is a fast-paced and exciting workshop; students will work quickly and directly, responding to these evocative natural forms. Each morning will consist of lecture, slides, discussion, and an hour-long demo. Students are encouraged to complete or begin the lesson during the afternoon, and work from life. Instructor will be available on the Zoom call from 3pm-6pm each day to give feedback.

Friday: Simplifying & Mixing Clean Color. On this first day we will focus on learning how to simplify the abundance of detail we see in flower forms. We will work from simple "closed form" flowers. Through understanding the underlying form of flowers, these complex shapes become much easier to translate and to paint. We will mix with intention to produce luminous color.

Saturday and Sunday: On these two days we will shift our focus to letting go of the literal nature of the florals, how to work with more direct mark-making, and learning how to vary the thickness of the painted surface.

* "Alla Prima” translates to “at once”. This simply means paintings are completed in a single session, directly. This yields a fresh and looser result.

MARCH 2023 ONLINE CLASSES

ALLA PRIMA: A DIRECT APPROACH TO FLORALS 3-Day Painting Intensive
3/24, 3/25, and 3/26

Friday 12pm-2pm EST
Saturday 12pm-2pm EST
Sunday 12pm-2pm EST
(Class times are based on Eastern Time/Philadelphia area)

This is a fast-paced and exciting workshop; students will work quickly and directly, responding to these evocative natural forms. Each morning will consist of lecture, slides, discussion, and an hour-long demo. Students are encouraged to complete or begin the lesson during the afternoon, and work from life. Instructor will be available on the Zoom call from 3pm-5:30 pm each day to answer questions or provide feedback.

Friday: Simplifying & Mixing Clean Color. On this first day we will focus on learning how to simplify the abundance of detail we see in flower forms. We will work from simple "closed form" flowers. Through understanding the underlying form of flowers, these complex shapes become much easier to translate and to paint. We will mix with intention to produce luminous color.

Saturday and Sunday: On these two days we will shift our focus to letting go of the literal nature of the florals, how to work with more direct mark-making, and learning how to vary the thickness of the painted surface.

* "Alla Prima” translates to “at once”. This simply means paintings are completed in a single session, directly. This yields a fresh and looser result.

After the Masters: Studying Composition and Shape. Transcriptions in Gouache and Acrylic.
March 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 31st
Fridays 12pm-2pm EST
Class times are based on Eastern Time/Philadelphia.

Through use of fast drying medium, we will explore the exciting underpinnings of masterworks from the 13th to 19th C. By engaging in a deep examination of shape, rhythm, tone, and color, our pictorial skills become markedly stronger. We will look at master work that is based on the figure, portrait, still-life, and landscape.
From the shapes in a Piero della Francesca painting, to Giotto, and Degas, and the rhythmic lines in a Cassatt, these works can guide our personal work, and compel us to think more intentionally about our own compositions. We will examine non-secular and secular paintings.

The class will be broken down into weekly exercises. By using gouache or acrylic the transcriptions (copies) can be done quite quickly, abstractly, and kept at a small scale. Students can work from images posted to our online classroom or from their own research.

Class will consist of discussion, lecture, and demos. Classes are recorded if students cannot attend live.

Supplies: A basic supply list will be sent after registration.
Online classroom: Private online classroom for enrolled students
Zoom: Classes conducted via Zoom and are recorded for review.




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.

Maine Outdoor Landscape Painting. 7-Day Workshop. August 2023: TBA

PREVIOUS CLASSES 2022:

"Atmosphere and Edges: Building Depth Into The Landscape"
(this class is full, email to be added to waitlist)
3-Day Intensive, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 14th-16th
October 14th: 12pm-2pm EST
October 15th: 12pm-2pm EST
October 16th: 12pm-2pm EST
(Class times listed are based on Philadelphia time zone)


This weekend intensive class is for the painter with a foundation in landscape painting looking to build more depth, richness, and atmosphere into their work. On day one class details will be discussed, after which the lesson and demo will focus on color mixing and creating exciting yet subtle color and value shifts to indicate depth. The work will be done in studio. On day two the focus will shift more towards shapes and edges - how these elements can also help to build depth into a landscape. The exercises will be fun and exploratory, challenging our perception, and heightening our visual acuity. The last day we will bring our focus to both atmospheric and linear perspective- how this can be applied to our painting when incorporating buildings and man-made elements.

Each session will consist of slides & discussion, and an hour long demo. Students are encouraged to begin the lesson during the afternoon. I will be available on the Zoom call from 3pm-6pm each day to give feedback and answer questions.

-All sessions are recorded via Zoom and available for 30 days for review. Work will be critiqued for two weeks following the end of the course.
-Private Padlet group for posting work for critique
-Supply list will be sent upon registration.
-Oil or Acrylic work best for this class, demos will be done in oil


NOVEMBER 2022:
(Full, email to be added to waitlist)
After the Masters: Studying Composition and Shape. Transcriptions in Gouache and Acrylic
4-Week Course. Tuesdays 11/1, 11/8, 11/15, 11/29
12-2pm Eastern Time (Philadelphia Time Zone)

Through use of a fast drying medium, we will explore the exciting underpinnings of masterworks from the 13th to 19th C. By engaging in a deep examination of shape, rhythm, tone, and color, our pictorial skills become markedly stronger. We will look at master work that is based on the figure, still-life, landscape, and the interior.
From the shapes in a Piero della Francesca painting, to Giotto, and Degas, and the rhythmic lines in a Cassatt, these works can guide our personal work and compel us to think more intentionally about our own compositions.

The class will be broken down into weekly exercises. By using gouache or acrylic the transcriptions (copies) can be done quite quickly and kept at a small scale. Students can work from images posted to our online classroom or from their own research.

Class will consist of discussion, lecture, and demos. Classes are recorded if students cannot attend live.

Supplies: A basic supply list will be sent after registration.
Online classroom: Private online classroom via "Padlet" for enrolled students
Zoom: Classes conducted via Zoom and are recorded for review


Email crilling@hotmail.com for payment and registration

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

MAINE: SUMMER 2022
7-Day Landscape Painting Intensive
August, 2022. 8/22-8/28

Please email crilling@hotmail.com for more details

I am excited to announce a new outdoor landscape painting workshop I am hosting from on the beautiful Maine coast in Pemaquid Point, Bristol, Maine. This area was a destination for painters- among them Andrew Wyeth, Fairfield Porter, Robert Henri.
The focus will be landscape painting, and will involve ample instruction and feedback.
We will cover composition and simplifying the landscape, atmospheric perspective, architecture, color, value, edges and marks. Please note- this is not a "tips and tricks" plein air workshop, but rather an opportunity to strengthen your painting skills, using landscape as a departure point. The views are stunning, the weather is cool, and we will also take one day trip to paint on the picturesque Monhegan Island.

Level: intermediate to advanced
*Prior outdoor landscape painting experience required.
Reserve your space soon. Space is limited.




Mentoring and private lessons:
-Inquire for availability

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