a pop-up series of workshops in DC that positions artistic mastery as a framework to interrogate and expand the idea of American excellence.

National Gallery of Art Atelier Sessions (10 students per session, sign up is required on a first come first serve basis.)

2/3, Tuesday – 10:00am – 12:30pm
2/5, Thursday – 10:00am – 12:30pm
2/6, Friday – 10:00am – 12:30pm

Description

Led by artist George Morton, this drawing workshop will connect the Self-Portrait by Rembrandt van Rijn and the Study Heads of The Shaw 54th Regiment Memorial by Augustus Saint-Gaudens as observation points to understand how artists use light, form, and structure to convey presence. Students will learn to examine the visual principles across painting and sculpture.

Opening with a close observation of Rembrandt’s Self-Portrait as a calibration point, students will learn how light, anatomy, and composition establish depth on a flat surface. Students will then shift to drawing from studying the Study Heads of Shaw Memorial and consider how the same visual principles can expand in scale into collective meaning and identity. Throughout the session, students are invited to draw from both works while discussing the relationships between artistic expression and civic significance.

The workshop is free with registration required. Please note that each session will be open to up to 10 students due to the limited capacity of the Gallery. Sign-ups will be based on a first-come, first-served basis.

MEETING TIME — Please meet at 9:45AM at the National Gallery of Art, West Building Entrance on Constitution Ave.

*Materials to Bring

We will have the drawing materials on site, but if you wish to use your own materials, please bring them. Please note that the use of charcoal is not allowed at the gallery.

• Pencils
• Colored pencils
• Sketchbook
• Kneaded erasers
• Clipboard (if needed)

Location:

National Gallery of Art, West Building
6th St and Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20565