| Concept |
Level 1
skills to attain |
Level 2
skills to attain |
Level 3
skills
to attain |
Level 4
skills
to attain |
| Seeing and drawing basic shapes and forms |
Abstracting from nature
Gesture
Block-in
Using straight lines and angles
Accuracy of gesture and proportion
Massing lights and darks
Understanding light direction
Value fields
Seeing shapes in perspective
Stepping back to assess the big picture |
Maintaining basic shapes and forms as new disciplines are introduced
Stating relative values with accuracy
Creating value systems/value relationships
Developing edges and textures
Building structure and form |
Making shapes beautiful and combining shapes into poetic, musical wholes
Composing multiple elements
Marrying drawing skills to color |
Maintaining a consistent level of fluid drawing that properly prioritizes the order of macro to micro |
| Understanding human anatomy and other natural forms |
Seeing and expressing the human figure as a whole
Learning to edit down to the bare essence to create a powerful image that is not cluttered with senseless information
Further defining shapes in subsequent passes |
Studying values of the figure in its environment
Relating gesture, angles, anatomical landmarks, and shapes of light and shadow
Transforming flat shapes into fully dimensional form
Seeing and expressing abstract linear movements through the figure
Studying anatomy
Using resources to figure out anatomy of model |
Relating the figure to the background in color
Making drawing studies to prepare for paintings
Using resources to figure out anatomy of model |
Mastering the ability to abstract from nature, rather than drawing the literal line |
| Applying this knowledge in monochromatic paint studies |
Using fluid strokes
Painting with charcoal first
Advancing to grisaille |
Proficiency in paint handling
Controlling paint in thin layers
Rhythmically integrating edges
Advancing to the full tonal and value spectrum with “closed grisaille” |
Using warm and cool mixtures in “closed grisaille”
Studying planes and light effects |
Calibrating values while keeping each value note harmonic with the whole |
| Pure color studies |
Seeing and relating basic color relationships under artificial light
Learning vocabulary of pigments and terms such as hue, value, intensity and temperature |
Advancing to figure studies
Appreciating color relationships under different light conditions
Seeing and expressing complex color set ups |
Developing color in light and shadow areas in progressively longer studies
Advancing to natural light set-ups
Exploring personal aesthetic sensibilities
Capturing the essence of the whole in a three hour color study and maintaining the order of the whole when developing a study further |
Painting with color that captures the beauty of light bathing form
Keying the color temperature determined by the light source |
| Synthesis |
Setting up and composing still life
Developing still life and figure drawings |
A long pose figure drawing in charcoal
A long pose figure drawing in graphite to see relative values and to plan ahead with specific goals for stages of a long pose figure drawing |
Preparing compositional sketch and basic color study to apply skills acquired up to this point to a fully realized painting
Developing paintings in stages from drawing and composition studies through grisaille to completion |
Advanced figure studies incorporating all the fundamental concepts at the core of the program
Still life |
| Refining preceding stages by focusing on personal expression, selection of subject matter, and carefully examining why one paints the subject matter selected |
Applying principles learned in still life to figure work and vice versa
Attending lectures on art history
Touring major exhibitions and collections in New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC (all levels) |
Determining what the goal of the painting exercise is and when it is reached |
Working with mentors to begin thinking about personal professional direction
Progressing on the path to self discovery and self-reliance
Planning Level 4 schedule |
Preparing for specific exhibition opportunities such as auctions and Studio Incamminati exhibitions
Choosing between painting still life or strengthening skills by classes in other levels |
| Independent studies |
Completion of assigned homework such as Bargue drawings, Old Master copies |
Completion of homework such as self-portrait in charcoal and grisaille, copying Old Master paintings for structure, composition, abstract value fields |
Completion of assigned homework, such as creating painting from figure studies |
Developing creativity in concept and composition in consultation with assigned mentors
Preparing for independent work at Studio Incamminati or elsewhere |
