Art History Classes in NYC, New York

Understand primary, secondary, tertiary, and analogous colors, and how they fit into the complementary color circle.  Learn about hue, value, and intensity and how these terms translate to the Adobe suite of graphic design software. Students will work from digital color palettes, mix acrylic paints to see how colors affect each other and explore...

This year marks the 500th anniversary of the death of Da Vinci. Join art historian Dr. Joe Forte and food historian Francine Segan as they discuss all things Da Vinci. Learn about the Renaissance master’s extraordinary work and explore the feasts of Da Vinci’s day, which were fanciful daylong events with guests treated to concoctions like fire-breathing...

By the turn of the 20th century, luxury mansions, carriage houses, and social clubs began dotting the area now known as the Upper East Side. This social dynamic kept gallery owners and their wealthy patrons close together. Then, large residential and commercial buildings came into the neighborhood hiding one of NY’s oldest gallery districts. Hidden...

Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), one of the most famous artists of the twentieth century, is celebrated for her groundbreaking self-portraits, her proud embodiment of her Mexican heritage, her political activism, and her persistence in the face of physical disability. She has been the subject of many books, exhibitions, documentaries, even a Hollywood film....

Our experience is a journey from the 1500s to the present day. We’ll start with explorers trying to find a route to Asia but then encountered a new land. I’ll share Harlem’s role in the American Revolution and the meeting of Alexander Hamilton and General George Washington. Our group will discuss the Trans Atlantic Slave trade in North, Central...

You will gain a broad understanding of how Japanese woodworking distinguishes itself from Western approaches during this two hour talk and demonstration. The session will include an overview of traditional hand tools used in a range of work scale, from making small objects to full size timber frame building.  This will be followed by a brief...

In this workshop, we'll learn the art of block printing on textiles. We'll start with a bit of history about the process and introduction to the materials. After a little discussion about how to carve and how your image will transfer, we get right into carving and printing. A quick carve "Block" and all tools are provided,...

You will learn traditional botanical illustration technique after which participants can practice such a technique and/or use their specimen to create a contemporary botanical inspired drawing. We will also touch on plants as subjects throughout art history and in the post-modern era.  Seasonal flowers are provided but feel free to bring your...

Cyanotypes, a ferro-prussiate process, is a photographic process known for its blue color. It was famously used by a pioneer in photography, Anna Atkins who is often coined the first woman photographer.  Attendees will learn the history, chemistry and coating techniques for making their own cyanotypes. They are welcome to bring negatives, botanical...

This class, students will learn how to create a completed landscape or cityscape painting from start to finish. Students will learn how to select a subject and refine their ideas using sketches and drawings. Vadnais will explain and demonstrate how to create a useful under painting as a foundation for subsequent layering of color. Finally, Vadnais...

This class will reference the rich history of pattern and ornamentation in stained glass artwork. Students will learn how to draw repeatable motifs and design with color harmonies, cut and shape glass, copper foil and solder a stained glass panel together. Basic patterns including mirror and rotational symmetries will be also be taught. ...

In this one day intensive, students will learn the basics of marbling on fabric, including how to prepare a marbling vat and the best pigments to use for permanent prints. We’ll discuss the history behind European marbling traditions, then get colorful creating marbled monoprints. Small studies will be expanded upon in our large 4x4’ marbling vat,...

Gold has always held a fascination for its beauty throughout history. Pure Gold is a bright yellow metal called 24 karat and made up only of itself. In this class students learn age old methods of alloying pure gold to make 22 karat, 18 and 14 karat gold in colors ranging from peachy reds and tangerine yellows to green gold.  Once the alloying...

Explore methods of making abstract work through exercises in painting, color and composition. For painters working in oil and/or acrylic.  This course is structured to help bring about an awareness of the language, history and technical skills associated with abstract painting. The class is open to a wide variety of skill levels, modes and...

Manga comics have a long history in Japanese art, and in the following years became increasingly popular worldwide. Their highly stylized characteristics and engaging storylines have become a cultural phenomenon.  Students will work in a variety of media to create their own interpretations of manga characters and comics demonstrating their technical...