Figure Painting

This is an open studio class intended for all skill levels. This class invites attendees to practice observational drawing skills through paint while working with the human figure. In each session, participants will have the opportunity to learn a variety of foundational drawing and painting techniques to expand their skillset as well as working with color mixing. Instruction will also be provided on basic skills for working safely with acrylic, along with various paint mediums. Benefits of this course include receiving guidance and feedback from the instructor on observational drawing technique, opportunity to improve skills in drawing, painting, color mixing and value matching, and being in community with other makers.

• Knowledge for safely working with paint
• Improvement in paint handling skills, including working with various types of brushes and tools
• Gradual improvement in observational drawing skills and rendering, including color and value matching

• Model
• Easel
• Surface
• Paint
• Palette paper
• Brushes
• Rags
• Water containers
• Mediums
• Charcoal

Students must be 18 years or older.

Peyton Michelle is a painter from Athens, Georgia, where she earned her BFA in Drawing and Painting from the University of Georgia. She holds an MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University. Peyton has recently shown work in the 2025 MFA Thesis Show at Tufts University Art Gallery, as well as at Halsey McKay Gallery in Graham Collins’ show Worker’s Playtime, and in I Want to be Soft and Lovely, a self-curated solo show through SMFA.

Peyton uses drawing, painting, and fiber to examine her religious upbringing in the South and the lines that blur between superstition and the secular culture of the region.