Classes and Workshops

Oil Painting with Doug Schiller
March 13 – April 17 
Mondays, 2pm – 4pm 
$160 members / $175 non-members                                                                                   

Register here  

Gain a greater understanding and experience working with oil paints and related materials. Basic skills and materials will be reviewed as still-life arrangements, landscapes, and personal imagery are developed. Demonstrations and personal attention will be given. All levels welcome!

Virtual Workshop held via Zoom – link and passcode will be sent out prior to class 

Suggested Material Supply List

• set of oil paints 
• Turpenoid
• Palette
• Palette knife
• Canvas board: 11″ x 14″ (minimum)
• Assorted paintbrushes
• pencil & eraser                                                                           

Introduction to Watercolor with Doug Schiller
March 14 – April 18 
Tuesdays, 2pm – 4pm                                                                                                            $160 members / $175 non-members                                                                             

Register here

Students will learn basic watercolor techniques, both traditional and non-traditional. Still-life landscapes will be explored as elements of composition & design; and basic skills will be refined through color, shading, value, and proportions.

Trompe L’oeil with Doug Schiller                                                                                          March 14 – April 18                                                                                                      Tuesdays, 7pm – 9pm                                                                                                           $160 members / $175 non-members                                                                             

Register here

Students will explore drawing techniques that develop illusionistic, three-dimensional compositions which “fool the eye”. Learn how to manipulate color, light, and shadow to create optical illusions that make you question your perception of what is real. No previous experience required.  

Virtual class held via Zoom – link and passcode will be sent out prior to start date.

Material Supply List:

• one Bristol drawing pad. 11″ x 14″ or larger, 100 lb minimum
• 2H & 2B drawing pencils
• one blending stick
• one “colorless blender” blending pencil
• soft charcoal pencils or sticks
• one drafting eraser (“Vanish” brand recommended)
• one small piece sandpaper

Watercolor Painting with Oscar Peterson                                                                       March 15 – April 19                                                                                                 Wednesdays, 10:00 am – Noon                                                                                            $160 members / $175 non-members                                                                                 

Register here

Using traditional and modern watercolor techniques (wet-on-wet, dry brush, gradations, etc.) students will explore the freedom and precision that the medium offers. Although geared towards realism, this class will also examine abstract means and methods of creating art. Demonstrations provided.

Hybrid class held In-person / via Zoom – Link and passcode provided before class start date for virtual students. In-person instruction will be held at Farmstead Arts Center.

Watercolor supplies (Students may use any supplies they already have)
Watercolor paper (140LB or heavier)
Painter’s tape (or masking tape), Pencils, Medium size jar or cup

Paints – Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Alizarin Crimson, Cerulean Blue

Brushes – 1/2″ flat brush, Assorted rounds (#2, #7, #10)

Introduction to Pastels with Doug Schiller                                                                          March 15 – April 19                                                                                                    Wednesdays, 10am – Noon                                                                                                   $160 members / $175 non-members   

Register here

This course in chalk pastels will introduce students to the basic principles of this medium, as well as experimental techniques. Students will learn how to develop their imagery, working from direct observation and photographic references. No previous experience required.

Virtual class held via Zoom- link and passcode will be sent out prior to start date.

Materials List

• HB Pencil
• Eraser
• Bristol Pad (9″ x 12″ or 11″ x 14″) Vellum or Smooth
• Pigment Liner Set (such as Staedtler or Micron)
• Ruler
• Drawing Board (this is optional, but recommended if you don’t have a smooth surface to work on)
• Reference picture (if you prefer to use your own)

Indoor Studio Landscapes with Doug Schiller                                                                    March 15 – April 19                                                                                                    Wednesdays, 2pm – 4pm                                                                                                      $160 members / $175 non-members

Register here

Students will complete an outdoor landscape working indoors from direct observation, photographic references, and imagination. Step-by-step instruction and demonstrations help develop an understanding of perspective, shading, color and compositional elements as representational, three-dimensional spaces are created. Personal understanding and progress reinforced with individual and group critiques. No previous experience required.

Virtual class held via Zoom – link and passcode will be sent out prior to start date.

Suggested Material Supply List:

• one drawing pad, 11″ X 14″ or larger, 140 lb.
• 2H & 2B drawing pencils
• one drafting eraser (“Vanish brand recommended)
• one blending stick
• one 1/2″ soft bristle flat paint brush
• one soft bristle pointed paint brush
• one :colorless blender blending pencil
• assorted soft oil pastels
• one set watercolor drawing pencils (Derwent recommended)
• one small piece sandpaper

Watercolor with Margaret Fanning                                                                                   March 9 – April 27 (8 weeks)                                                                                            Thursdays, 10:00 am – 12:00pm                                                                                           $215 members / $230 non-members                                                                                         

Register here

Learn to control watercolor with a variety of techniques, from basic washes to more experimental approaches. Paint a landscape, a portrait, or an abstract design. Bring your own reference photos if you’d like. Beginner or intermediate painters!

Virtual Classes held via Zoom – link and passcode will be sent out prior to class start date.

Material List

• Watercolor paints (tubes preferable)
• Jar for water
• Paper towels
• 140lb (or higher) cold press Arches watercolor paper
• Practice watercolor paper pad
• Drawing board (unless you are using a watercolor block-pad)
• pH neutral masking tape (preferably black)
• Brushes: 4 sizes of rounds (Sable, Squirrel, or a synthetic blend of sable or squirrel)
• 1 scrubber brush
• Palette with deep wells
• Something to control amount of water used (such as a syringe or eyedropper)
• Sketch pad
• HB or #2 pencil
• Kneaded eraser
• Reference photos to paint from

Watercolor with Margaret Fanning                                                                                       March 9 – April 27 (8 weeks)                                                                                                Thursdays, 2:00 pm – 4:00pm                                                                                                 $225 members / $240 non-members

Register here

Learn to control watercolor with a variety of techniques, from basic washes to more experimental approaches. Paint a landscape, a portrait, or an abstract design. Bring your own reference photos if you’d like. Beginner or intermediate painters!

In-Person Classes held at Farmstead Arts Center in Basking Ridge, NJ

Material List

• Watercolor paints (tubes preferable)
• Jar for water
• Paper towels
• 140lb (or higher) cold press Arches watercolor paper
• Practice watercolor paper pad
• Drawing board (unless you are using a watercolor block-pad)
• pH neutral masking tape (preferably black)
• Brushes: 4 sizes of rounds (Sable, Squirrel, or a synthetic blend of sable or squirrel)
• 1 scrubber brush
• Palette with deep wells
• Something to control amount of water used (such as a syringe or eyedropper)
• Sketch pad
• HB or #2 pencil
• Kneaded eraser
• Reference photos to paint from

Pastels with Margaret Fanning                                                                                          March 10 – April 14 (6 weeks)                                                                                          Fridays, 10am – 12pm                                                                                                            $160 members/ $175 non-members 

Register here 

Pastels have been used to create beautiful and bold color drawings throughout the centuries. Students will learn about the different types of pastel and how to blend and layer pastel to get a soft haze or sharp edge. Margaret will demonstrate how to approach a pastel drawing through various stages; from the composition and getting the correct proportions and perspective to understanding which colors to use to get the correct shade you’re looking for. Students can bring their own photos or use the reference provided by the instructor. 

Virtual Class held via Zoom – link will be sent prior to the start date. 

Materials List

• Set of soft pastels (optional: students can get two types: stick pastels and pastel pencils for greater precision)
• Pad of drawing paper for practice (white or grey-toned)
• Textured surface for final drawings such as Mi-Teintes Touch pastel paper or Ampersand Pastelboard (toned surface recommended)
• HB pencil
• Eraser

Optional Materials:

• Pastel brushes
• Gloves, finger cots, or skin barrier cream
• Workable fixative
• Drawing board
• Artist chamois

lntroduction to Cartooning with Stefano Junior                                                              March 17 – April 21                                                                                                          Fridays, Noon – 2pm                                                                                                            $160 members / $175 non-members                                        

Register here                                                                             

Students will learn the basics of anatomy drawing, expressive line & gesture, cartooning and embellishment techniques through different mediums utilized in illustration, comic books & sequential art. All levels welcome. Suitable for Adults and Teens 16+ 

Virtual Classes held via Zoom – Link and password will be sent out prior to class start date.

Materials List

• Newsprint sketch pad (9×12 minimum)
• Vine charcoal
• 2B pencil (and assorted pencils)
• Ruler or T-square (12”)
• Bristol paper
• India ink
• Pitt pens
• Kneaded eraser
• Straedler eraser

Figure Drawing with Oscar Peterson
March 17 – April 21  
Fridays, 1pm – 3pm                                                                                                              $160 members / $175 non-members                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Register here

Starting with gestures, then short, and finally, long poses — you will learn how to create form and develop it into a completed drawing. Focusing on rendering and shading, you will discover how to define the image. While learning fundamental principles of light, planes, structure, and proportion, students will learn to construct images that look realistic. Demonstrations provided.

Virtual classes held via Zoom – Link and passcode will be sent out prior to class start date.

Materials List (Students may use any supplies they already have)

Drawing paper, and newsprint paper pads (14″x17″ is a good size)
Drawing board
Charcoal and graphite pencils
A small bristle paint brush
Kneaded and plastic erasers
Mat knife and sandpaper (to sharpen pencils)
Paper towels

Landscape & Still Life Painting with Oscar Peterson
March 17 – April 21 
Fridays, 4:30pm – 6:30pm                                                                                                     $160 members / $175 non-members                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Register here

Learn how to use color, values, edges and color intensity to create stunning landscape paintings. Also learn what to use when setting up still life paintings, how to create mood, and achieve color harmony. All mediums. Demonstrations provided.

Virtual classes held via Zoom – Link and passcode will be sent out prior to class start date.

Materials – Choose Oil, Acrylic and/or Watercolor (Students may use any supplies they already have)

• Oil or Acrylic Paints (start with a limited palette) – Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow, or Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Red, Cobalt Blue, or Ultramarine Blue, Ivory Black
• Brushes – Assorted filbert bristle brushes (#2 through #8); Assorted round soft brushes (#2 through #8)
• Medium – Linseed Oil, Artist Quality Odorless Mineral Spirits (OMS)
• Painting Palette – Your choice — Masonite, plexiglass, glass, disposable wax paper
• Painting Surface – Canvas, or canvas panel (with acrylic gesso), no smaller than 8×10 or larger than 14×17
• Misc. – Drop-handle painting knife, Palette cups (water jar for acrylics), Cotton rags and/or Paper towels

Pastel Supplies (Students may use any supplies they already have)
Pastel paper pad, or sheets
Any brand of soft pastel (not oil pastels), minimum of 12 colors
Pastel pencils
kneaded eraser
Foamcore board (larger than paper used)
Binder clips, or tape

Watercolor supplies (Students may use any supplies they already have)
Watercolor paper (140LB or heavier)
Painter’s tape (or masking tape), Pencils, Medium size jar, or cup

Paints – Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Alizarin Crimson, Cerulean Blue

Brushes – 1/2″ flat brush, Assorted rounds (#2, #7, #10)

Illustration & Cartooning with Stefano Junior                                                                        March 18 – April 22                                                                                                        Saturdays, 11am – 1pm                                                                                                         $160 members / $175 non-members                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Register here

Students will learn the basics of anatomy drawing, expressive line & gesture, cartooning and embellishment techniques through different mediums utilized in illustration, comic books & sequential art. All levels welcome. Suitable for Adults and Teens 16+

In-Person class held onsite at Farmstead Arts Center, Basking Ridge, NJ

Materials List

• Newsprint sketch pad (9×12 minimum)
• Vine charcoal
• 2B pencil (and assorted pencils)
• Ruler or T-square (12”)
• Bristol paper
• India ink
• Pitt pens
• Kneaded eraser
• Straedler eraser

Individual Lessons (via Zoom) – 6-week sessions – all levels welcome!

Email admin@farmsteadarts.org to register for classes 

Farmstead Members: $225
Non-members: $240

Materials needed:
A guitar (nylon string or steel string, or electric)
An electronic guitar tuner (clip-on, or app on your phone)

Printed materials and scores, sent as a .pdf via email.

Intermediate Photography – 4 weeks                                                                                    March 8, 15, 22, 29                                                                                                     Thursdays, 6:00pm – 7:30pm                                                                                                 $90 Farmstead Members / $100 Non-members

Register here

All classes held via Zoom. Link will be emailed prior to class start.

You mastered shutter speed, aperture and ISO in Beginner 1, and got your feet wet with composition in Beginner 2, so now it’s time to uncover your creative voice in photography. This 4-week class will guide you through the process of creating a photographic series of images based on your specific interests. We will briefly cover post-processing techniques. Open to anyone with a camera and an understanding of composition and exposure.

Advanced Photography – 8 sessions

April 12 – May 31                                                                                                              Wednesdays, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm                                                                                                  $175 members/$195 non-members

Register here

All classes held via Zoom. Links will be emailed prior to class start.

This is free-form advanced photography class spanning 8 weeks. Every time this is offered, it is different… and every time it will push you into areas of photography you may have never considered exploring. The goal of this course is to keep you growing and can be taken multiple time by students who desire a group learning and critique environment. We will briefly cover post-processing techniques.