The
Colored Pencil Painting School Program
Minimum requirement to participate in the program: computer with Internet access and email, scanner or digital camera, telephone.
Though all student actions are certainly voluntary, our recommendations for the successful completion of the program would include:
Review weekly lecture materials.
Complete and submit the weekly practical assignments in a timely manner.
Review the comments and follow the recommendations of the teacher.
Participate in weekly online live Webinars.
CP
Course #1
“Introduction To Colored Pencil Painting”
Duration
1 month
Includes a full month of intensive study and practical exercises in the development of artistic skills for life-like rendering using colored pencil painting techniques. Each course includes one or more DVDs that provide detailed lecture experience with renowned colored pencil artist Alyona Nickelsen. The student is assigned an individual course of study that comprises both lecture time and practical assignments for the week. Assignments are submitted to Alyona Nickelsen for review and comments. Each week is capped-off with an interactive live online Webinar session where Alyona Nickelsen discusses student questions and shares the answers with the group.
Experience
No experience required
Brief Description of Course Material
This course provides an introduction to the new and growing field of colored pencil painting. It has been designed to provide the student with a solid foundation to begin the process of learning how to produce beautiful and realistic colored pencil paintings.
The course presents the principles of colored pencil painting as distinguished from the traditional approach to the colored pencil medium. It describes both the differences and many advantages of using newly developed colored pencil painting techniques over older techniques and details why they are preferred.
The various art materials and tools necessary for success in colored pencil painting are described. This includes the advantages and pitfalls of various techniques and how they are used for colored pencil painting. Includes explanations of paper surfaces, pencil solubility and hardness, use of odorless mineral spirits, utilization of non-traditional erasing materials, etc. This course also provides recommendations for the use of masking fluid and art tape, and the use of additional tools such as the x-acto knife, metal tea strainer, pumice stone, etc.
Focus centers on developing the skills needed to master the colored pencil medium (including pencil points, strokes and pressure; stroke directions and density, etc.) as well as the various methods of colored pencil application, such as powderbrushing, negative painting, pattern scoring, roughening, etc. Covers the concept of optical and physical color mixing, layering, burnishing and color fusion.
The fundamentals of value and color relationships in two-dimensional visual art are also introduced. The student will attain an understanding the value scale and the use of monochromatic rendering in colored pencil painting. The course examines the various ways to lighten and darken values, burnishing, dulling the color, etc. in addition to the use of white and black colored pencils.
Materials
The following items will be sent
to each student upon completion of enrollment and prior to the
start of the class:
Course Tuition
Includes instructional materials and art supply fee payable during enrollment:
$297
(Our low, introductory price, for a limited time only.)
We also offer you the option of submitting your artwork for teacher's evaluation upon enrollment. This will allow the teacher to ascertain your experience level and monitor the progress of your skill development. If you do choose this option, send an email to brushandpencil@cox.net with the words "Artwork Submission" in the subject line of the email and up to three attached JPG images of your artwork. Please include your name and the name of the course in which you are enrolled. The total size of all attached images should not exceed 3 MB.
CP
Course #2
“Color, Values and In-Between”
Duration
1 month
Includes a full month of intensive study and practical exercises in the development of artistic skills for life-like rendering using colored pencil painting techniques. Each course includes one or more DVDs that provide detailed lecture experience with renowned colored pencil artist Alyona Nickelsen. The student is assigned an individual course of study that comprises both lecture time and practical assignments for the week. Assignments are submitted to Alyona Nickelsen for review and comments. Each week is capped-off with an interactive live online Webinar session where Alyona Nickelsen discusses student questions and shares the answers with the group.
Experience
Prerequisite: CP Course #1. “Introduction To Colored Pencil Painting Applications”
Brief Description of Course Material
Focuses on understanding color and introduces students to the wonders of color theory. Presents common terminology for color theory. Explains color relationships and dimensions. Instructs students how to build and employ their own customized color wheel.
Provides a comprehensive explanation of color mixing in regard to colored pencil painting. Utilizes color study tools supplied to all the students of the Online Colored Pencil Painting School program. Advices and assists in the learning process of recognizing color in reference materials. Describes common problems and mistakes that occur during attempts to match and manipulate colors.
Develops advanced skills for engaging color in rendering three-dimensional objects on a flat surface. Explores ways to overcome obstacles that occur when recreating the natural range of values using currently available pigments. Extends students comprehension of proper color selection and use of its innate properties for various intentions in the design of final artwork. Details the benefits and pitfalls of using complementary colors.
Based on the principles and laws of physics, explains the nature of shadows, light, highlights and edges in real life. Provides ways to produce truthful representations on a flat surface. Advances the role of shadow, light and highlight temperature for the most realistic rendering possible.
This course also discusses the main rules, elements and principals of composition and design. The student is taught the transformation of their ideas from their imagination to a two-dimensional surface in an organized manner to produce a successful presentation. The course utilizes tools and techniques devised by Alyona Nickelsen to accomplish complicated design tasks in a simple manner.
The course describes the pros and cons of using photographic references. Common camera distortions are also discussed together with practical solutions in the composition process. Advice is proffered for better approaches to take photographic references and their manipulation in graphic software.
A planning strategy is presented that prevents catastrophic mistakes in the final artwork.
Based upon previous studies of color, values and textures, the course explains their role in a successful design. The student is taught the advantage of navigating the viewer through the composition using well established and researched approaches.
Materials
The following items will be sent
to each student upon completion of enrollment and at least one week prior to the
start of the class:
Course Tuition
Includes instructional materials and art supply fee payable during enrollment:
$297 (Our low, introductory price, for a limited time only.)
We also offer you the option of submitting your artwork for teacher's evaluation upon enrollment. This will allow the teacher to ascertain your experience level and monitor the progress of your skill development. If you do choose this option, send an email to brushandpencil@cox.net with the words "Artwork Submission" in the subject line of the email and up to three attached JPG images of your artwork. Please include your name and the name of the course in which you are enrolled. The total size of all attached images should not exceed 3 MB.
CP
Course #3
“Textures, Surfaces and Effects”
Duration
1 month
Includes a full month of intensive study and practical exercises in the development of artistic skills for life-like rendering using colored pencil painting techniques. Each course includes one or more DVDs that provide detailed lecture experience with renowned colored pencil artist Alyona Nickelsen. The student is assigned an individual course of study that comprises both lecture time and practical assignments for the week. Assignments are submitted to Alyona Nickelsen for review and comments. Each week is capped-off with an interactive live online Webinar session where Alyona Nickelsen discusses student questions and shares the answers with the group.
Experience
Prerequisite: Course #1. “Introduction To Colored Pencil Painting Applications” and Course #2 “Color, Values And In-Between”
Brief Description of Course Material
Focuses on skills needed to build realistic representations of many textures and surfaces commonly used in artistic compositions. Explains the role of texture in realistic rendering and how the smoothness or roughness of the surface and the angle of the light source affects their appearance.
Coursework includes skill development to assist the student in recreating natural surfaces such as leaves, wood, water, etc. Mastery of these skills will lead the student to create striking natural effects in their colored pencil paintings.
Manmade surfaces and textures are covered as well. These include glass, metal, fabric, etc. and other surfaces that are common in our environment.
Special effects like translucence, transparency, smoke and ice are particularly interesting in compositions. Numerous special effects using colored pencil painting techniques are detailed in this course.
Materials
The following items will be sent
to each student upon completion of enrollment and at least one week prior to the
start of the class:
Course Tuition
Includes instructional materials and art supply fee payable during enrollment:
$297 (Our low, introductory price, for a limited time only.)
We also offer you the option of submitting your artwork for teacher's evaluation upon enrollment. This will allow the teacher to ascertain your experience level and monitor the progress of your skill development. If you do choose this option, send an email to brushandpencil@cox.net with the words "Artwork Submission" in the subject line of the email and up to three attached JPG images of your artwork. Please include your name and the name of the course in which you are enrolled. The total size of all attached images should not exceed 3 MB.
CP
Course #4
“Still Life and Florals In Colored Pencil Painting”
coming soon...
CP
Course #5
“Rendering Animals in Colored Pencil Painting”
coming soon...
CP
Course #6
“Portrait and Human Figure in Colored Pencil Painting”
coming soon...