The Language of Painting
Tuesday, August 4, 10am – 4pm
Odilon Redon. Saint George and the Dragon (detail), c. 1909–10. The Barnes Foundation, BF2093
$180; members $162
(one-day workshop)
About the Class
What are paintings, and how do they connect with us? Are they windows into worlds, simply paint on a surface, or some combination of both? In this one-day workshop, we’ll explore these questions. Through careful study of works in the Barnes collection, students will learn the language of painting and how artists use the formal elements of color, light, line, and space to communicate. By the end of the workshop, students will gain strategies for more nuanced engagements with works of art.
Capacity: 25
Barnes classes will:
- Sharpen your observational and critical-thinking skills.
- Improve your ability to communicate about art.
- Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.
Instructor
Kaelin Jewell
Jewell is a senior instructor in adult education at the Barnes and has been teaching art history for over 15 years. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in photography and art history from the University of Louisville’s Hite Institute of Art and Design and has a PhD in ancient and medieval art history from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art. Jewell is also a trained archaeologist and has worked on projects in the American Midwest and Sicily.
Barnes Method
Barnes Method courses follow the teachings of Albert Barnes and Violette de Mazia. Classes focus on rigorous formal analysis and direct visual engagement with works of art. In this method, close looking at art helps build critical-thinking skills that can be carried beyond the gallery walls.
Recent Barnes Class Testimonials
“The teacher was so smart, and knowledgeable about everything: art history, architecture, interior design, and literature! What a breadth of knowledge!” Paris in the 1920s: Art, Design, Fashion, and Literature with Caterina Pierre
“The instructor was first-rate. Poised, professional yet also inviting and comforting. She set the perfect tone for this event, and her spirit opened up beautiful connections and conversations.” Being Present with Art: The Retreat with Roksana Filipowska
“The professor was highly engaging, facilitated excellent discussions, and [was] very knowledgeable. I learned a lot about teaching art history from watching her.” Matisse and Picasso with Martha Lucy
“The instructor [was] very empathetic and knowledgeable [and] created moments of sharing across students who participated actively in discussion.” Art and Literature of the Harlem Renaissance with Michael Williamson
Go Further
The Art of Color
Explore how artists use color to shape meaning, emotion, and structure in this self-paced class.
The Art of Looking: An Introduction to the Barnes Method
This interactive online course will teach you the basics of the Barnes Method of studying art, at your own pace.
Close-Looking Immersion: Renoir’s Young Mother
Take a deep dive into what is perhaps Renoir’s modern, secular take on the Madonna and Child subject. Instructor: Kaelin Jewell