Painting II: Realism
Instructed by Daniel O'Connor
Wednesdays, 6 - 9 pm
January 7 - February 25
Registration Deadline: January 4
[ *** REGISTER HERE *** ]
Description
Designed for students who have a foundational understanding of painting and are ready to take a focused step into representational work. Painting II: Realism emphasizes traditional realist techniques grounded in direct observation, with projects that explore light and shadow, color temperature, edge control, and spatial depth. You’ll develop strategies for building convincing form and atmosphere while refining your handling of paint. The course encourages accuracy and intentionality, but also invites a personal response to realism, not as imitation, but as a way of seeing the world with clarity and purpose. Ideal for students interested in realism as both a technical pursuit and an expressive language, this class provides the structure and challenge to push your skills further.
This class will cover the following topics:
• Strengthen observational painting skills with an emphasis on accuracy, structure, and visual clarity.
• Learn traditional realist techniques, including value structure, color temperature control, and edge handling.
• Explore how light, atmosphere, and space contribute to form and depth in representational painting.
• Refine your approach to paint application, layering, and mixing to achieve convincing realism.
• Develop a personal voice within the realist tradition—balancing technical rigor with expressive intent.
Tuition: $370
Class Size
Minimum: 5
Maximum: 12
Materials List: (link to printable PDF)
Level of Study: Intermediate
You’ve got the basics down, and now you’re ready to sharpen your skills, take on more challenges, and push your work further. Intermediate-level art courses are intended for students who have some foundational experience and are ready to refine their skills and deepen their understanding of technique, composition, and creative expression. These courses often assume familiarity with basic tools and concepts, allowing for more complex challenges, longer projects, and critical feedback. Ideal for those looking to build on prior training—whether self-taught or formal—these courses help you strengthen your personal voice and prepare for more advanced study.
Suggested Prerequisites: Intro To Painting, Observational Drawing I
LOCATION: Unless otherwise specified, all courses are hosted at Manifest's new facility at 'M1' in Clifton at 3464 Central Parkway (see map and directions below). Manifest's new facility provides multiple studio classrooms, private lesson space, a darkroom, a film processing room, and a multi-purpose lecture and class meeting space as well as on-site parking, grounds, and exterior spaces in which to relax, discuss, and make art. The studios are outfitted with professional equipment, furniture, and study aids.
Map to Manifest's M1 Studios | Studio Calendar | Darkroom Calendar
|
About the Instructor
Dan O’Connor is a painter and sculptor originally from Kentucky, currently based in the Camp Washington neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. He holds a BFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Cincinnati and an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, where he collaborated closely with Scott Noel to sharpen his ability to observe—both paintings and the potential that the physical world holds for them. For over a decade, Dan has taught painting and drawing at higher education institutions, including the University of Miami in Florida, Shawnee State University in Ohio, the University of Cincinnati, DAAP, and the Art Academy of Cincinnati. In that time, he has also expanded his field of study to include digital media, both to support his traditional work and as finished work. He is intrigued by the boundlessness of digital space and the peculiarities of individualized perception.
|
