Unlock Your Creative Potential: New 8-Week Painting & Drawing Studio Classes Taught by Eric Santoli  in Nyack

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Art lovers, aspiring creators, and experienced painters—it’s time to pick up your brushes! Widespread demand is bringing structured fine art education back to Rockland County. Exciting new 8-week studio art classes are officially coming to Nyack, New York, starting late July/early August.

Eric Alexander Santoli is a Ridgewood native ,painter and teacher.  I’m a BFA graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and a certificate recipient of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.  In 2024, I received my MA in Studio Art from the Florence Academy of Art.

In May of 2021, I was awarded the Versailles Foundation’s prestigious Munn Fellowship Artist Residency Award.  For this Fellowship, I lived as Artist-in-Residence at Claude Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny, France from May until August of 2023.
In 2025, I began producing and hosting Eric En Plein Air, an instructional art and nature travel program for Public Television.  While demonstrating the principles of art, our series also highlights organizations, locations and environments with an emphasis on appreciating, supporting and preserving nature and wildlife.

Whether you have never touched a paintbrush or you are looking to refine your academic technique, these immersive sessions are designed to elevate your skills through foundational training.

Spaces are intentionally limited to ensure personalized instruction, and the early interest list is officially open. Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming curriculum.

---

🎨 The Curriculum: Built for All Skill Levels

These classes transcend casual paint-and-sip nights. Each 8-week session follows a structured, professional course syllabus aimed at teaching the core principles of classical painting and drawing.

Two distinct tiers ensure every student receives instruction tailored to their experience:

• Level 1 (Beginner): Designed specifically for individuals who have never painted before. You will learn the mechanics of color mixing, composition, value structure, and form.

• Level 2 (Intermediate & Advanced): Tailored for experienced artists looking to sharpen their technique, conquer complex subjects, and incorporate academic methods into their workflow.

Bonus Focus: Because solid drafting is the foundation of any great painting, both levels will include extensive drawing instruction to build your spatial awareness and line precision.

---

👥 Small Class Sizes for Individualized Growth

To protect the quality of the learning environment, each class is strictly capped at a maximum of 12 students.

This intimate setup guarantees that every high school student and adult attendee receives dedicated, one-on-one guidance, direct critiques, and personalized adjustments throughout the 8-week block. You get the community atmosphere of a working studio combined with the focused attention of private lessons.

---

📅 When Do Classes Start?

• Timeline: Late July or Early August

• Location: Nyack, NY (Studio Space Confirmed)

• Eligibility: High school-aged students and adults

Having coached hundreds of students across various workshops, this program is built to share academic art knowledge in a way that is highly accessible, practical, and deeply rewarding.

---

📥 How to Secure Your Spot

The studio space is secured, and the roster is actively being built. Because of the strict 12-student limit per session, spots are expected to fill quickly once registration officially opens.

If you are ready to learn the real mechanics of painting this summer, head over to the Studio Classes Page to join the interest list and secure your syllabus updates!

Join the new Saddle River Valley, Ramapo and Pascack Valley Communities Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1931704860512551/
#news #follow #media #trending #viral #newsupdate
#currentaffairs #BergenCountyNews #NJBreakingNews #NJHeadlines #NJTopStories

• Tags: Nyack NY, Art Classes, Fine Art Studio, Painting Course, Drawing Classes, Creative Workshops, Rockland County Local Events