Barbara Zanelli

Selected pieces are available in high quality digital prints in any size up to 2x the original dimensions and can be sent anywhere in the world! Please contact the artist at barbarazanelli@gmail.com or call 267-975-6253 if you wish to order or make any other inquiries.

Contact »

News & Exhibitions

Intro to Drawing @ Fleisher

September 14, 2023 1:00 pm

Time: 1 – 4pm
Dates: Thursdays Sept 14 - Nov 16 10 sessions
Location: Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catharine St, Philadelphia, PA
Recommended for beginners.

Program Description
This class is recommended for anyone who took First Steps to Drawing or is coming to Fleisher with little or no previous instruction or experience, or it’s been a long time since you drew and you want to refresh your memory!
You will learn step-by-step instructions on how to see in order to begin a drawing from life that contains both gesture and proportional accuracy. You will learn how this is accomplished. We will start by copying in order to learn the techniques for accuracy. Later, we will move into drawing from life to put into practice the dictum, “draw first, measure second.” Some of the concepts you will learn about are: gesture drawing, gridding, using shapes, negative space, and intuitive perspective. In each class you will build your skills progressively by both copying and drawing from life. You will learn to see in a whole new way. We will work primarily in pencil and charcoal.

What you will learn:
1. Scaffolded approach to translating 3D to 2D
2. Drawing human features and basic structure of the head and body
3. Drawing animals, nature and manmade objects
4. How to focus while drawing

Concepts covered include composition, proportion, tone, line, and perspective.

Required Supplies
• Drawing pad (white paper) 11 x 14, 9 x 12 or smaller
- 18 x 24 Newsprint pad (or other white/off white paper)
- Pencils 2H, HB, 2B, 6B or a set such as: Mono Drawing Pencil Set comes with 2H, HB, B, 2B, 4B, 6B and Mono zero eraser - sold at Artist and Craftsmen
• 3 erasers: 1 kneaded, 1 gum, 1 pink
• General’s Peel and Sketch charcoal pencil - soft or very soft, or a compressed charcoal pencil of another brand/kind
• Ruler (minimum 6”)
- Large Binder clips (2-4) to hold end of pad to drawing board

Artwork credit: Intro to Drawing student from Spring 2023

Link to Event

Drawing 1: First Steps @ Wayne Art Center

September 22, 2023 9:30 am

Dates: Fridays Sept 22 - Dec 1 (no class Nov 24) (10 sessions)
Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm
Location: Wayne Art Center, 413 Maplewood Ave, Wayne, PA 19087

This class is recommended for anyone coming to Wayne Art Center with no previous instruction or experience.

Anyone can learn to draw, including YOU! This course is designed for students who are just starting out, or maybe you’ve never drawn before. On day one we will begin with a fun exercise to bust the myth that not everyone can draw. Next you will be introduced to the key concepts of drawing through copying drawings and photographs. Each exercise will build on the skills learned in the previous one, culminating with drawing from life. In ten days you will get an overview of the drawing process which you can then develop on your own or in successive classes.

Required Supplies
• • Drawing pad or sketchbook with white paper (any size)
• Vellum tracing paper (high quality tracing paper)
• 2B pencil with eraser (school pencil)
• Pencil sharpener
• Kneaded eraser
• ruler 4 - 6” is good

Link to Event

Portrait in Oil @ Repenning Fine Arts

September 30, 2023 10:00 am

Dates: Saturdays Sept 30 - Dec 2 (no class Oct 21, Nov 25) (8 classes)
Time: 10am - 1pm
Location: Repenning Fine Arts, 35 Kings Highway, Audubon, NJ
Beginner - Advanced

Join us at Repenning Fine Arts in Audubon, NJ on Saturday mornings from 10am-1pm from Sept 30 - Dec 2 to learn to paint the portrait or to sharpen your portrait painting skills. Portrait painting can be approached the same as any other subject matter when viewed as just another way to paint the light effect on form. Participants will be led each step of the way of how to begin a portrait, to how to abstract and see the large shapes in order to paint accurate skin color and lastly painting the features by seeing like a painter rather than drawing or rendering. Portrait, like still life, is an exciting and rewarding way to explore all the facets of oil painting: color, value, composition, edges, brushwork and paint quality. You will get a lot of personal attention in this class as I demo and help direct each person at their easel. Sign up for 4 or 8 classes or ask more questions by calling Jim Repenning or Kristin McCutcheon at: (856) 310-2340


Link to Event

Sketch - n - Paint @ Journey's Way

October 10, 2023 10:00 am

Time: Tuesdays 10am – 12pm
Dates: Oct 10 - Nov 28
Location: Journey’s Way, 403 Rector St, Philadelphia PA 19128
For More Information and to register call: 215-487-1750 ext. 1101

Drawing and painting is for relaxation and mind therapy. You do not need to be an artist or draw/paint well to reap the benefits of playing with line or color! This fall we will continue having fun exploring different drawing and painting techniques using some newly purchased mediums such as: oil pastels, watercolor and pen and ink. Please call the center at the above number for more information and to register.

Link to Event

Perceptual Drawing/Interior Spaces (5-day workshop)

September 22, 2023 1:00 pm

Time: Fridays 1 - 3:30pm (5-day workshop)
Dates: Sept 22 - Oct 20
Location: Wayne Art Center

Drawing from observation is the best way to sharpen your perceptual drawing skills. Hone your ability to depict three-dimensional space by drawing interiors, landscapes and objects from life, in a realistic style. In-class exercises offer you a step-by-step approach designed to deconstruct life drawing. Working in charcoal pencil, you will learn key skills to help you organize what you see into a successful drawing that shows space and depth. Note: You will be standing at an easel or sitting on a stool at an easel to allow you to work large. If you enjoy drawing the figure, portrait, working large, and working at an easel, this class is for you! If you've never tried any of the above, this class would be great to try out this way of drawing! It's also a great class for painters who wish to sharpen their painting from life skills.

What You Will Learn in This Course:
1. To make accurate contour line drawings of objects
2. To identify internal axis and alignments of forms and shapes
3. To understand the importance of flat relationships
4. Techniques to establish scale and other relationships between objects
5. Basic perspective

Materials
• 3 erasers: 1 kneaded, 1 gum, 1 pink
• General’s Peel and Sketch charcoal pencil - soft or very soft, or a compressed charcoal pencil of another brand/kind
• Ruler (minimum 6”)
- Large Binder clips (2-4) to hold end of pad to drawing board
18 x 24 Strathmore drawing paper pad of white paper


Link to Event

Experiments in Color 1 (5-day workshop)

October 27, 2023 1:00 pm

Time: Fridays 1 - 3:30pm (5-day workshop)
Dates: Oct 27 - Dec 1 (no class 11/24)
Location: Wayne Art Center

Ever wonder how to use those oil pastels in the back of your drawer? Or perhaps you’re secretly jealous that your kids or grandkids get to play with all these fun colors and materials…well then, this class is for you! In this class we will explore some different mediums, and pick up lots of drawing, painting and perceptual skills along the way. Designed to bring out the creative genie in you, each class will feature exercises with each of the 3 mediums, so that by the end of the workshop, you’ll have a better feel for which you may like to pursue further.

Oil pastels - if you don’t already have one, I recommend Faber-Castell Goldfaber set or 12
Colored Pencils - if you don’t already have, I recommend Prismacolor Premier set of 24
Graphite Aquarelle - any brand
Tube of white gouache
Drawing Pad of white paper any size
A few sheets of multimedia paper in grey or any other off-white color
Tracing Paper - good quality such as Vellum
Ruler - 6”
HB or 2B pencil with eraser
Magic Rub eraser or electric eraser

Link to Event

"The Continuum of Western Painting"

Click on Fall-Spring 2017, download, and go to page 13. Enjoy!

An article I wrote for the Villa Rossa Voice, Syracuse University's newsletter in Florence. Read about how my experience studying art history and painting in Florence, Italy in 1998 changed my life.

Click on Fall-Spring 2017, download, and go to page 13. Enjoy!

Link to Event