DRAWING CENTER STUDIO

Observational Drawing II
8-Week Course

Instructed by Resident Instructor Dan O'Connor

Tuesdays 6 - 9 PM
June 2 - July 14, 2026

[ *** REGISTER HERE *** ]

Description

Building on the foundation of Observational Drawing I, this course deepens your perceptual drawing skills through more complex subjects and expanded methodologies. You’ll explore both traditional approaches—such as comparative measurement, perspective refinement, and tonal rendering—and non-traditional strategies that introduce a broader range of mark-making, gesture, and interpretation. Subjects include dynamic still life, interior space, and natural forms, with an emphasis on developing sensitivity to structure, light, and spatial relationships. This course encourages a more personal and expressive response to observational work while reinforcing precision and discipline. Ideal for students who want to strengthen their visual logic, broaden their toolbox, and begin bridging the gap between observation and interpretation.

This class will cover the following topics:

• Expand your perceptual drawing skills using both traditional and alternative methods.

• Tackle more complex still-life and interior spaces with an emphasis on spatial relationships and light.

• Deepen your understanding of perspective, structure, and design.

• Push your observational skills to support more expressive and confident drawings.

Materials List:  (link to printable PDF)

Tuition: $370


Class Size
Minimum: 5
Maximum: 12

You’ve got the basics down, and now you’re ready to sharpen your skills, take on more challenges, and push your work further. Intermediate-level art courses are intended for students who have some foundational experience and are ready to refine their skills and deepen their understanding of technique, composition, and creative expression.

Suggested Prerequisites: Observational Drawing I

LOCATION: Unless otherwise specified, all courses are hosted at Manifest's new facility at 'M1' in Clifton at 3464 Central Parkway (see map and directions below). Manifest's new facility provides multiple studio classrooms, private lesson space, a darkroom, a film processing room, and a multi-purpose lecture and class meeting space as well as on-site parking, grounds, and exterior spaces in which to relax, discuss, and make art. The studios are outfitted with professional equipment, furniture, and study aids.

Map to Manifest's M1 Studios   |   Studio Calendar   |   Darkroom Calendar

Dan O’Connor is a painter and sculptor originally from Kentucky, currently based in the Camp Washington neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. He holds a BFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Cincinnati and an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, where he collaborated closely with Scott Noel to sharpen his ability to observe—both paintings and the potential that the physical world holds for them.

For over a decade, Dan has taught painting and drawing at higher education institutions, including the University of Miami in Florida, Shawnee State University in Ohio, the University of Cincinnati, DAAP, and the Art Academy of Cincinnati. In that time, he has also expanded his field of study to include digital media, both to support his traditional work and as finished work.