Art Educator Workshop: Digital Painting Methods (online)

This course will focus on painting skills and how they can be used digitally. During this week-long workshop for art educators explore different methods, tools and techniques of creating dynamic digital paintings in Photoshop, including tools, blending techniques, working from grayscale to color, and utilizing different color blending modes. Participants create paintings based on observation, including still life, landscapes, and portraits. The course includes instructor-led painting demonstrations, as well as independent projects and work time to explore the techniques and concepts covered each day of class.

A brief introduction to Photoshop and basic tools will be covered for those not familiar with the program. All demos and instruction will be done in Photoshop, but students may use any digital painting program during the class. Participants are also encouraged to share curriculum and classroom teaching ideas with one another throughout the class.  At the end of the course, educators will be able to apply what they have learned to their curriculum. Class time will be split between presentations, dialogue and studio time. / Each student will have access to Adobe Creative Cloud software throughout the workshop. / This class will have a one-hour lunch break each day. / Graduate credit is available.

Open to students ages 18 and above. View complete policies.

Class meeting details

This online course will be synchronous, meaning students will meet together online. Class meetings will be conducted via Google Meet and will include lectures, demonstrations, exercises, critiques, and time to ask questions and share resources. 

Prerequisites

Previous painting experience helpful, but not required. Previous experience with Adobe Photoshop helpful, but not required. Example Photoshop skills include basic familiarity with the program and a general comfort with navigating the tools and interface.

Required materials

Supplies for the first class

• pen or pencil
• notebook or sketchbook

Software

Adobe Creative Cloud, provided by MCAD. Please note that tablets cannot run the full version of Photoshop, and not all Photoshop capabilities are available in the app. All instruction will be given for the program Photoshop, but can be applied to other programs such as Procreate. If students would prefer to use a tablet with a pressure sensitive pen (such as an iPad+Procreate) this is possible, but some technical instruction will be different from program to program. 

Hardware

Computer capable of running Adobe Creative Cloud with internet access, a camera, and microphone for class meetings; graphics tablet (such as a wacom intuos, huion Inspiroy, or similar), a drawing monitor (such as a Wacom Cintiq, Huion Kamvas, or similar) or other setup with a pressure sensitive pen (such as an iPad and Apple Pencil). Students should make sure their digital drawing setup is fully installed/functional before the first day of class.

Note: Graphics tablets and monitors can range in price from $40-$2,000. Students are recommended to purchase a tool that works for their budget. Please contact the Continuing Education office with any questions about digital painting tools, setup and purchases, the instructor will help answer questions.

Class resources
This class uses Adobe Creative Cloud and Canvas, MCAD's learning management system. Please see the links for more information.

Registration deadline

June 22
If the minimum enrollment is not met by the deadline above, the class will be canceled on this date. Registration will remain open after this date if the minimum enrollment has been met.

Class savings

Art Educator Workshops are not eligible for the early or multiple class registration discounts.

Questions?

Contact MCAD Continuing Education at continuing_education@mcad.edu or call 612.874.3765.