Underpaint Academy – Creative Sketching Jens Claessens

This 8-week course teaches fundamental drawing and painting techniques through a combination of live instruction, demonstrations, and hands-on assignments. Led by instructor Jens Claessens, the class focuses on developing the ability to draw from imagination while building a unique artistic style. Each week covers essential skills including value and light, edge control, form description, and color application, with topics ranging from basic principles to character design and working from reference.

The course runs for four hours per week and welcomes artists at all skill levels. Participants can choose between active participation with feedback on homework or spectator access to class recordings. The curriculum combines lectures, live demos, and detailed feedback sessions, with class recordings made available within 24 hours. Both digital and traditional mediums are supported, though instructor paintovers are done digitally.

Students will develop practical sketchbook techniques and learn how to use value, edges, and color to control form and bring imaginative work to life. The course covers practical topics such as reference use, rendering approaches, visual library development, and artist habits that support continuous improvement. A new term offering allows viewers to access lifetime recordings from the previous session.