Foundations in Art - Painting II

Classes

The Painting II Course is a four-class series designed to elevate your oil painting skills through advanced techniques and diverse creative challenges. Building on Painting I, this course explores classical landscape painting, expressive portraiture, narrative storytelling, and vibrant pop art still life. Each class offers hands-on practice to deepen your technical mastery and artistic voice. Enroll in the full course for a comprehensive journey and to build on your skills from Painting I. While no prior experience is required, we recommend basic oil painting knowledge or completion of Painting I for the best experience.

Class 1 - Classical Landscape Painting
Master the classical approach to landscape painting with luminous, atmospheric compositions. Begin with agrisaille underpainting using umbers to establish value and structure, then layer vibrant colors to create depth,light, and mood. Learn to capture the interplay of sky, land, and light through delicate brushwork and color harmony.

Class 2 - Portraiture with Emotional Depth
Advance your portrait painting skills by focusing on capturing a subject’s likeness and emotional depth. Learn to refine facial proportions, model skin tones with subtle color transitions, and use expressive brushwork to convey personality. Building on Painting I’s abstraction and color mixing skills, you’ll explore how to blend realistic and expressive techniques to create compelling portraits.

Class 3 - Cinematic Narrative Painting
Create evocative scenes that tell a story through figures in urban or small-town settings, emphasizing mood and psychological depth. Learn to design compositions with one or two figures in environments like diners, streets, or lit rooms, using dramatic lighting, muted color palettes, and simplified forms to convey introspection or tension. Discover the possibilities of creating narratives that resonates emotionally.

Class 4 - Vibrant Pop Art Still Life
Paint a lively still life inspired by the bold, colorful aesthetic of pop art, featuring everyday objects like food or sweets. Using a wet-into-wet oil painting technique, apply fluid, creamy brushstrokes to blend colors directly on the canvas, capturing soft edges, luminous textures, and vibrant contrasts. Create a striking, modern composition in a single session that incorporates mass culture consumerism with popular everyday objects.

Details

Cost (Course): $160 for the Full Course (4 class set), Individual classes from course $50ea (inquire for availability)
Ages: 15+ All skill and creative levels welcome (younger artists are welcome with accompanying adult)
Materials: All materials are provided

Schedule

Fall Session I, September - October 2025 - CLOSED
Class 1 | Classical Landscape Painting - September 4
Class 2 | Portraiture with Emotional Depth - September 18
Class 3 | Cinematic Narrative Painting - October 2
Class 4 | Vibrant Pop Art Still Life - October 16
Time: Thursdays 6-9pm

Location

3 Square Art - New Classroom (2F)
2415 Donella Ct, Ste 110
Fort Collins, Colorado

*Please note that we do not have elevator access to the 2nd floor at this time. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience.

Instructor

Craig A. McKee
BA Studio Arts, magna cum laude, Kenyon College, OH

Class Cancellation Policy