Watch a video about the Virtual Art Academy®

Each self-study painting class covers a specific topic in painting in a high degree of detail. With each painting class you get:

• Lecture Notes: About 15 pages of easy-to-read explanations of key principles and techniques in a specific painting area. We use a special structured format to make it easier to understand.

  "I have started using notan sketches every time I go out to paint now, and the improvement is dramatic, in the strength and simplicity of my work. I feel so much more confident all through the painting process because I know I have a solid foundation. I always knew there were certain keys to the principles of excellent painting and I have searched long and hard for them, Now I have begun to get the tools. It has also opened my eyes to the concepts of Eastern art and design, and I am studying Arthur Wesley Dow, Chinese painting and Japanese prints."

  "Have recommended them to many. Having just taken 4 other workshops this fall I thought how useful it would have been if the other workshop leaders had access to the specific information provided to be used by their students."

• Learning Assignments: Each self-study painting class typically contains about four to ten learning assignments to help you fully master the skills described in the lecture notes. Using these assignments, you can customize your own training program. You can assess your own progress through the materials, or show the results to your local art instructor.

  "I have found these lessons to be a wonderful help in increasing my knowledge about painting. I have tried to do all the assignments and think they are essential to improving my actual paintings."

  "I think the material is very good and I would recommend it without hesitation. The assignments are an excellent way to put to practice all the techniques and I think it helps tremendously in a self teaching class."

  "I like that each section is a unit and includes assignments. These exercises are what I feel I've missed by not going to art school. From what I hear from graduates, these may be better than what they experienced. I'm very pleased with what I have completed so far."

• Each self-study painting class represents around 15 to 20 hours of study.

  "I would recommend them to any artist who is truly searching for principles, but I have known so many that really just want some quick-fix hints, not hours of study and repetitious practice that is necessary to really absorb it."

  "For the Master Program, students must be serious and willing to work hard to become a good painter. This course is not for "piddlers" but terrific for those that want to paint well "

• All the painting class materials are in Adobe Acrobat format so you can easily read them online or print them out on your home computer printer.

Tip: By putting either the assignments or any of the various checklists included in the course materials in a plastic wallet, you can put them right next to your easel while you are painting so you can reference them easily. Alternatively you can read the lessons on screen as the lessons are always accessible on your hard disk.