Barbara Zanelli

Painting With Confidence Online Class

Penn Studio School
Online Class
5 sessions, Wednesdays 1:30 pm - 4 pm
Feb 3 - Mar 3, 2026

“Paint it the way it seems, not the way it looks.” - Charles Woodbury
In this class we will paint from life each week, drawing inspiration from the world right around us. Your subject might be the view from your window, a favorite corner of your room, a beloved pet or person, or a still life on the kitchen counter. These everyday places and things can become a source of deep observation and personal expression.
Whether your painting takes 15 minutes, 2 hours, or 2 days does not matter. What matters is showing up, setting up, and painting. It might be a quick sketch or a slower, more layered piece. We’ll begin by focusing on your idea, the spark that draws you to your subject. From there we’ll explore choices like size, palette, medium, composition, and materials, and we’ll talk through the questions that naturally arise in the painting process, such as finding the right color or working wet into wet without creating mud.
If you don’t have a studio at home, you can create your own simple plein air setup indoors. For example, if you want to paint a tea kettle on the stove, you can set up your easel in the kitchen just as you would outdoors. It’s the same spirit of direct observation, simply brought inside

Details coming soon!

Tuition Free Oil Painting @ Fleisher coming in January ~ Stay tuned!

January 5, 2026 7:00 pm

Oil Painting, Evening (tuition-free)
Adult Tuition-Free Class | Registration opens Monday, October 27, 2025 8:00 AM EDT
Program Description
A structured course for the beginning student that introduces painting materials and basic techniques. The focus is on oil painting, but acrylics are permitted. Previous drawing experience strongly recommended.
• Participants must have a valid Fleisher membership.
What you will learn:
1. Painting materials and tools
2. Alla prima painting technique
3. Basic color theory
4. Chiaroscuro
5. Glazing and scumbling

Level: All levels welcome.
Date: 1/5/2026-3/9/2026
Time: 7:00 PM-9:30 PM EDT on Mon

Link to Event

Sketch N Paint

November 18, 2025 10:00 am

This ongoing workshop is for anyone who wants to have FUN drawing, sketching, and painting. We will explore line, shape and shading with various mediums. Project: Week 1 - You will trace a delightful drawing of a camper trailer conceived by artist Nil Rocha in pencil, transfer it to watercolor paper and then draw the outlines in pen and ink and color it in with watercolor. A sample of this painting is on display in the lobby along with student’s artwork from previous classes. Each week there will be a different guided project that you will complete unless you have your own independent project idea. Art supplies are provided.

Time: Tuesdays 10am – 12pm
Dates: Nov 18 - Dec 16, 2025
Location: Journey’s Way, 403 Rector St, Philadelphia PA 19128

For More Information Call: 215-487-1750 ext. 1101

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

Harvest Gold

September 18, 2021 12:00 am

When I moved to East Falls in 2021, I fell in love with Osmond Street, a charming one block long street around the corner from my apartment. So, I did a little drawing of it with me in it to elicit the feelings I felt at that time. Little did I know it would be picked up by The Local, an East Falls newspaper to be their cover illustration! I also didn't yet know that I would soon be attending salons with new friends and neighbors on that street. The inhabitants of Osmond Street are what makes in special ~ everyone from the people to the trees to the flowers and the stones! Three years later, I am now established as an "honorary member" of the Osmond Street gang ;D

Link to Event