2025 Spring Academy of LVA Schedule

(course descriptions are listed below the schedule)

Drawing & Painting 1 (required before Painting 2 and Drawing 2) UCHM, 150 State St., Louisville, KY 40206 Room 201 Tuesdays, 4:45-6:45 Instructor: Lauren Cockroft Classes start January 14

Drawing 2 KyCAD                                                                                                     849 S. 3rd St., Louisville, KY 40203
Saturdays, 9:00-11:00
Instructor: Wilma Bethel
Classes start: January 18

Studio Art Bart Galloway Studio, 1206 Belmar Drive, Louisville, KY 40213 Tuesdays, 6:00-8:00 Instructor: Bart Galloway Classes start: January 14

Digital Illustration (Illustration required first) UCHM, 150 State St., Louisville, KY 40206 Room 205 Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 Instructor: Lilly Higgs Classes start January 15

Painting 2 UCHM, 150 State St., Louisville, KY 40206 Room 201 Thursdays, 6:00-8:00 Instructor: Tenille Novinger Classes start January 16

Printmaking UCHM, 150 State St., Louisville, KY 40206 Room 201 Wednesdays, 4:30-6:30 Instructor: Erica Lewis Classes start January 15

Spring 2025 Academy of LVA Descriptions

The Academy of LVA emphasizes the importance of strong Foundation Courses. As a result, we have redesigned the Academy of LVA schedule and curriculum. The utilization of these Foundation Courses, specifically focusing on drawing and observation skills, will be instrumental in enhancing students’ experiences in all Upper Level Courses.  We understand that the new requirements may be confusing, please contact Annette at annette@louisvillevisualart.org and she will assist you. Below are Course Descriptions followed by the Spring 2025 Academy Schedule.

“Without a good drawing the foundation of a painting will collapse,” artist Ken Danby

Foundation Course Descriptions:

Drawing & Painting 1
Drawing 2

• Foundation Courses are required for New Academy of LVA Students. • Foundation Courses are recommended for all students who have already taken an Academy of LVA course. Students that have taken Upper Level Courses may continue in these courses without taking Drawing & Painting 1, and or Drawing 2. Of course, you may take all courses as many times as you wish.

Drawing & Painting 1 - Drawing and Painting 1 is an introductory class providing foundation instruction in both drawing and painting, focusing on working from still life objects. The drawing curriculum provides experience in basic drawing principles including; line, value, and space using a variety of media and subjects. Students will receive instruction on the importance of perspective, proportion, gesture, line, and depth. The painting curriculum will introduce the painting process, incorporating the importance of value relationships and paint handling. Simple compositions will lead to various painting approaches where multiple brushes, painting mediums and surfaces will be demonstrated. Through this course, students will learn to successfully depict objects and forms. Required for New Academy of LVA Students – recommended for all students.

Drawing 2 - Drawing 2 builds upon instruction from Drawing and Painting 1. The curriculum provides the opportunity to work with a wide range of different media, focusing on the use of graphite, charcoal, oil pastels, colored pencils, mixed media and collage. Students will gain a deeper understanding of line, value and space through a variety of media and subjects along with composition, perspective, proportion, focal point, and the use of light and shadow. Processes include study from life, work from imagination, invention and experimentation. Required for New Academy of LVA Students, recommended for all students.

Upper Level Course Descriptions:
• Studio Art
• Digital Illustrtion
• Painting 2
• Printmaking


Studio Art - Studio Art is a course designed to further student’s education in art making and critical thinking. It provides students with the tools needed to advance and helps focus the skills of those who already have artistic experience. The curriculum in this course provides instruction in drawing, painting and mixed media. The drawing curriculum provides experience in line, value, and space using a variety of media and subjects. The painting curriculum provides students an opportunity to investigate color and painting techniques in watercolor, acrylic, and mixed media. An examination of historical and contemporary artwork and suggested gallery visits will correspond to assignments. Studio Art recommends Drawing & Painting 1, and Drawing 2.

Digital Illustration - Digital Illustration will introduce students to the ever changing and exciting world of illustration! Students will create their own book illustrations, editorial illustrations, and sequential art by exploring ways to combine hands-on 2D drawing media with digital tools and techniques through the use of Adobe Photoshop and Clip Studio Paint. Students will gain knowledge of digital brushes, layers, and problem solving. Students will receive detailed instruction on how to scan and digitally color their artwork with tools and techniques offered through digital programs. The Academy of LVA Illustration Class is a prerequisite to this class, or you may enter this class having already taken Digital Illustration. (The Illustration Class will always be held in the first semester and the Digital Illustration Class will always be held in the second semester.) Illustration is required before this class.

Painting 2 - Painting 2 builds upon instruction from Drawing and Painting 1, and focuses on the study of portraits and still life utilizing both acrylic and oil paints. The curriculum provides opportunities for experimentation with painting on a variety of different textures and provides further knowledge of a variety of tools, including palette knives and specialty brushes. This course is a comprehensive study of the principles of composition, staging, line, pattern, value, tone, and color theories. Emphasis is placed on the creative process from concept to completed work. Painting 2 requires Drawing & Painting 1, and Drawing 2 for all Current and Past Students.

Printmaking - Printmaking will teach students how to create prints using methods like relief (linocuts), intaglio (plexiglass dry-point), and silkscreen, meeting students where they are with knowledge and skill level. In doing so, students will learn about the history of the different media and explore contemporary examples for inspiration. In addition to group and one-on-one instruction, students will engage with each other throughout their projects as part of the studio skill of critique, helping each other see what is and is not working both conceptually and technically. Printmaking recommends Drawing & Painting 1, and Drawing 2 for all Current and Past Students.