In this exciting 12-week class with instructor Julie Beck, we’ll explore how to use image references as a jumping off point. Instead of replicating exactly what you see, you’ll practice bending reality through quick iterations of thumbnails and color studies. Each exercise will challenge you to reimagine your subject by shifting color schemes, playing with value ranges, and pushing atmosphere to create new moods and vibes.

Along the way, you’ll discover how a single reference can spark endless variations, and how your creative choices shape the story your painting tells. This course is all about building confidence in your own vision, learning to trust your instincts, and having fun with the “what ifs” of painting. By the end, you’ll have a whole toolkit of approaches for turning any reference (whether image, from life, or imagination) into something uniquely your own.

It would be helpful if you have taken any of these classes (not mandatory but helpful)
Color bootcamp
Any painting class with Julie
Are in cast drawing or painting in the Atelier program at ARA Boston