New Expressionism and the Figure
New Expressionism and the Figure
February 13, 2025 – March 13, 2025
New Expressionism and the Figure
Classes in the CVAC Art Studio, Thursdays 10 -12:30
This workshop-style course invites artists to delve into the human figure as a narrative, psychological, and emotional subject. Designed in the spirit of an atelier, each class approaches the human form not merely as anatomy but as a powerful expression of feeling, fantasy, and artistic design. Artists explore techniques like mother-shaping, tension lines, and rhythmic distortions to bring life and meaning to their sketches, transforming a simple anatomy exercise into a dynamic artistic exploration.
What You’ll Experience:
- Hands-On Experimentation: Sessions are focused on free-wheeling sketching, personal experiments, and embracing “art accidents” that spark creativity. Artists will enjoy the freedom to use various media, including graphite, charcoal, pastels, ink, watercolor, and paint.
- Anatomy and Design Foundations: While geared toward creative expression, the course will cover essential anatomy, anthropometric drawing shortcuts, and design vocabulary, making it accessible for both practicing artists and committed beginners.
- Interactive Model Posing: With a live model, participants have the chance to interact directly with poses, encouraging individualized interpretation and response to the figure.
Course Theme: New Expressionism
Centered around the expressive techniques of Abstract Expressionism, this course provides a grounding in practical Expressionism while moving away from the raw, aggressive styles of Art Brut, Outsider Art, and Neo-Expressionism. Instead, it embraces the stylistic freedom and emotion inherent in Abstract Expressionism, inviting artists to create pieces that resonate with personal and psychological depth.
This course is open to practicing artists and serious beginners alike, offering an inspiring environment to develop a distinctive artistic voice.
Topic Schedule
Week one – Reviewing the figure, proportions, actions and gestural shortcuts
Week two – Classic, innovative and full-figure poses and action
Week three – Facial and mid-body expressions and inventive variations
Week four – Fantasy or decorative figure or portraitures
Week five – Multiple figures and narrative expressions
Download a supply list for this class: Supply list
Instructor : Victor Arcega
Victor Arcega, with an MFA degree, is an art teacher, artist, writer and martial arts sensei. He had taught visual art, design and art history at Brentwood College, Malaspina University College (now VIU), University of Victoria, and Victoria College of Art. He worked as a news staff for Los Angeles Times, LA Herald Examiner and the
Calgary Herald. His intellectual resources include primitive art, parapsychology and poetry.
Fees: CVAC Members: $280, Students: $225, non CVAC Members: $310