About our classes
Bridge I Classes: These classes focus on building foundations for artists in specific mediums.
Bridge II Classes: These classes are for artist that would like to advance to the next level and build depth in multiple areas.
Drawing Fundamentals
Bridge I
Open to beginners and artist of all levels. If you’re new to drawing or looking to strengthen your understanding of good rendering skills this fun and informative class is for you. Learn foundational drawing skills in this fast paced, no pressure session such as linear drawing 2-D, form drawing 3-D rotation, vanishing points, spatial distance, textures, values and negative space. In-session drawing prompts include still life, portraits, landscapes, the human form, animals and more. Instruction is done by verbal, written and instructor demonstration. Each three-hour class concludes with a homework prompt. The highlight of our classes has become group review critique, an inclusive no pressure, supportive teaching style.
When Drawing Fundamentals is over, expect to feel well prepared to move to our Drawing Next Level class or another beginner painting class.
Watercolor Fundamentals
Bridge I
Learn about this wonderful and dynamic medium in a supportive and encouraging environment. In this progressive class we’ll start working in a single color and slowly introduce a more complicated palette. You’ll render loose landscapes, still life and even give portraits a try. We’ll cover various applications of paint including wet into wet, wet onto dry and glazing. You’ll learn about paint opacity and how/when you can best showcase these mixtures in your work. You’ll also give various textural stokes a try, learn about palette temperature and find out how important it is to have strong values in everything you do.
When Watercolor Fundamentals concludes we hope you’ll feel more confident using watercolors and will want to keep going with this challenging but fun medium in our Watercolor Next Level class.
Colored Pencils & Watercolor Pencils
Bridge I
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to use Colored Pencils and Watercolor Pencils, this class is for you. The session is broken into three different segments with equal time spent on the different mediums listed. It’s informational and experimental. FUN! Learn about wax and oil based colored pencils. Understand layering and pressure techniques to achieve a “painterly look”. Experience the usability and versatility of watercolor pencils and create a watercolor painting that stands alone or introduce the effects of inking lines too enhanced details.
When this class is over, we think you’ll be inspired to dive further into each one of these mediums or combine them to create a unique style all your own.
Acrylic & Gouache Painting
Bridge I
Both acrylics and gouache are versatile mediums that can produce amazing and quick results if you know a few secrets. This class will provide you with a great foundation so that you can feel confident in your ability and hopefully leave you wanting more! It’s not mandatory, but it is useful if you already have some three-dimensional drawing skills, or you have taken our Drawing Fundamentals class before you start to paint. During this class will dive into different materials and experiment with different applications of the paint, brush strokes, and texture. Color, light, and values will be discussed as we render still life and landscapes,
When this class concludes, you will have a solid understanding of how to utilize these mediums to create frameable pieces. This class is also a great class to take before you jump into using oil-based paints.
Drawing & Painting
Bridge I
At Two Bridge Art Academy we believe good drawing skills are the backbone to good painting results. We also believe that learning how to paint helps you draw better. What if there was a single class that focused on both needs? Introducing DRAWING and PAINTING.
In this fun eight-week session your first challenge could be rendering a still life. The following week you return and learn how to paint that same still life as a separate standalone effort. Each week we’ll rotate back and forth covering additional subjects such as landscape, portraits, animals and the human form. Four individual weeks drawing and four individual weeks painting. Please check the supply list but be prepared to have graphite, charcoal and acrylic paint available. We look forward to seeing you in this fun and relaxed class.
Explorations in Ink
Bridge I
Artists often use a ball point pen to scribble and sketch for fun but then forget about this versatile tool when they take on a new art project. In this session, students will rediscover the fun of the working with a ball point pen. We’ll then move on to rendering with drafting pens (Microns), dipping pens and finally a brush. In this class learn a wide variety of textural effects, shading, contouring, line width and diluted ink value washes. We’ll render landscapes, animals, portraits, still life and more. You’ll work at a furious pace where the emphasis is on capturing spontaneous energy and emotion. We’ll the slow it down and focus on creating intricate controlled detail in our efforts.
When this session is over, we believe you’ll have a new passion for ink, and it might become your favorite medium!
Painting with Pastels
Bridge I
Pastels are often underrated, but they are a very powerful medium that every artist should have in their portfolio. After all, Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt loved them! And you will too after taking this class. Paper texture and the hardness of pastels have a great influence on the outcome of a pastel painting, and in this class, we will review and experiment with both. We will discuss how to build a painting through multiple layers and how to blend colors to get the effect you want. We will also learn how to make expressive marks that convey emotion in your painting. And we will have fun! Our focus for this class will be mainly still life and landscapes.
At the end of Introduction to Pastel, you will feel comfortable with the fundamentals and will have many finished pieces to prove it. And because you loved the class so much, you’ll be ready to sign up for Pastel Next Level!
Oil Painting Fundamentals
Bridge I
Many people are reluctant to paint with oils because they believe it’s a complicated medium. The truth is, oils are a very forgiving medium that allow the artist to change and evolve a painting over time due to the longer drying time associated with oils. We will take things slowly with this class, learning the fundamentals needed to build your understanding of this medium. This will include things like learning how to mix colors using a limited palette, creating an under painting, and building layers to add dimension to your paintings. Previous experience with opaque painting such as acrylic or gouache is suggested but not required.
Once you are finished with this class you will have the confidence to render your own creations. Take this class multiple times to increase your learning cycles!
Drawing Next Level
Bridge II
Open to anyone who has taken Drawing Fundamentals or has worked with Scott/Lisa in a previous class. In this session we’ll sharpen everything we’ve previously covered and then guide you to the next level. The pace of the class slows a bit as we start to develop more complex images and dive deeper into good drafting skills. In addition to verbal, written and instructional demonstrations we will start to learn about the history of artists especially proficient in the techniques we are studying. In this class you will develop your understanding of shadows and light. Learn why composition plays such an important role in your drawings. Continue developing your portrait skills and work on capturing a likeness. Learn the art of multi view rendering. Develop multi point perspectives and scale (drawing on small then a larger canvas.) In-session drawing prompts include, muscular and skeletal drawing, a variety of portrait positions, detailed still life, landscape/seascape and new perspective challenges. When Intermediate Drawing is complete, we believe you’ll now be prepared take any advanced class we offer.
Watercolor Next Level
Bridge II
This second class in our watercolor series is open to any student who has taken Watercolor Fundamentals or a student who is already familiar with each of the techniques listed its description. In this Watercolor Next Level class we’ll learn when it’s best to use multiple transparent washes throughout your work. We’ll challenge you with gray scale painting and working with only the primary colors. We’ll learn more about adding texture with granular paint and how to showcase light and shadow. We’ll work fast and loose and we’ll slow things down and allowing you to add more detail. Landscapes, still life, figure painting and portrait will be used as inspiration as we learn many of these techniques.
When Watercolor Next Level concludes we hope your portfolio of knowledge is well rounded and you never stop having fun painting. We encourage you to take this class multiple times, or move to our Watercolor Continued class.
Watercolor Continued
Bridge II
In the previous Two Bridge Art Academy watercolor classes (Fundamentals and Next Level) we focused our attention on learning specific techniques and rendering projects that best represent that specific skill. The emphasis in Watercolor Continued will be on the artist putting ALL of those skills to work, thinking through what skill is needed and how it can best be utilized. A “think tank” discussion kicks things off each week and we’ll then do quick color thumbnail before we proceed. Gaining confidence in your ability and developing an action plan is the focus. Landscapes, still life, portraits and figures will be the primarily subjects but be prepared for random surprises. Open to students who have taken our Watercolor Next Level Class or students who are well versed in the medium are looking to join a supportive group of returning students. This class is not designed to have an ending rather a place for students who love watercolor to always call home!
Pastel Next Level
Bridge II
As a pre-requisite for this class, you will have taken our Introduction to Pastel, so you are comfortable jumping into this more advanced session. In Pastel Next Level we will experiment with different surfaces, softer pastels and adding in pastel pencils and pan pastels as ways to render and enhance paintings. We will tackle larger pieces and more challenging subjects. We will also dive into portrait work, both human and animal! We will gain an understanding of how to create realistic flesh tones through blending and how to make our furry friends come alive in our paintings.
At the end this Pastel II session you will have a broad and deep understanding of pastels and how to apply them to create just about anything. This class can be taken multiple times to continue to strengthen your skills.
Studio Invitational
Bridge II
As a pre-requisite for this class, you will have taken at least one Bridge I class and have a comfort level with different mediums in order for you to hit the ground running in this more advanced session. Studio Invitational is a chance for artists to explore different mediums and techniques. We will deep dive into different artists and study their techniques to better understand how we can transform our practice.
This class will require you to have a lot of different supplies on hand. We will use a variety of different mediums and surfaces, depending upon the instructors’ choice. A general list of materials will be sent out prior to class, but things like acrylics, gauche, pastels, ink, etc. are the types of mediums that will be used, along with miscellaneous different household items. You never know what to expect. This class is about learning, pushing the boundaries of your artistic expression, and having fun!