FINE ART FUNDAMENTALS. Introduction to Drawing & Painting

The Fine Art Fundamentals Course is designed for beginners and anyone seeking to build an elementary foundation in easel drawing and painting, grounded in the traditions of the Academic School. Being that, we firmly believe that only classical education can offer a comprehensive understanding of artistic visuality, this 7-week course introduces the essential building blocks of fine art, providing a holistic view of how genuine fine art education operates while laying the groundwork for further artistic development. Along with technical skills, you will begin exploring visual phenomena through an aesthetic lens, fostering your artistic taste and vision.

You will learn:

• Drawing: You will develop spatial and structural thinking through the study of geometric shapes, still lifes, and everyday objects, using mediums like pencil, charcoal, and Russian sauce.
• Painting: You will explore color relationships, the ‘general state’ of a staging/model, and the understanding of ‘colorito’ through soft pastel studies, learning to blend, mix, and compare color phenomena.

Programme will include tasks like: 

• Drawing session: Study of the cube, an introduction to perspective and spatial thinking – pencil.
• Drawing session: Study of a still life, an introduction to tonal range, contrasts, and tonal comparisons – soft medium like Russian sauce.
• Drawing session: Study of the pot, an introduction to simple geometric bodies like the sphere and cylinder – pencil.
• Painting session: Study of still life, an introduction to analyzing basic color relationships.
• Painting session: Study of still life, an introduction to sketch-like approaches in color, using different background colors.
• Painting session: Study of a still life, analyzing examples from iconic painters such as Jean Siméon Chardin, Fantin-Latour, Paul Cézanne, and Corneliu Baba.

Enroll Now:

Secure your spot in our 7-week program by enrolling now and start building the foundational skills. 

Choose your preferred schedule:

• Thursday: 10:00 am – 1:30 pm
• Friday: 10:00 am – 1:30 pm
• Saturday: 10:00 am – 1:30 pm
• Sunday: 10:00 am – 1:30 pm
• Evening option available upon request

Course dates:

• 25th November - 15th December - 1-3 week of the course
• Vacation
• 9th January - 2nd February - 4-7 week of the course

Why is ESSE Academy unique?

At ESSE Academy, we do not encourage amateurism, nor do we rely on random experiments with techniques or socio-political narratives, which are common in contemporary 'conceptual art.' Instead, we remain grounded in the rigorous traditions of classical art education.

ESSE Academy is a fine art school offering a structured system of knowledge combined with a time-tested pedagogical approach in the disciplines of Drawing, Painting, and Composition. Our courses are designed to develop professional skills, artistic vision, and a deep understanding of fine art. Our approach goes beyond technical skill. Through the direct study of classical works and staging from nature, you will begin to see the world through an artistic lens, as artists have for centuries. Each task in our workshop is carefully designed to cultivate your vision and understanding of space, color, form, and composition. This is more than formal art training—it’s a transformative journey that combines centuries-old traditions with your personal artistic experience.