Join us as we study drawing using Lisbon’s art, architecture, and everyday life as our classroom! Through Drawing I or Drawing II, we will develop observation skills, explore composition and technique, and examine how history and culture shape artistic expression. Led by College of San Mateo faculty member Aina Ferrer Clotas, we will practice drawing from life, study original artwork in museums, and use urban sketching to see familiar and unfamiliar surroundings in new ways.

Our exploration begins in Lisbon, where historic neighborhoods, public spaces, and panoramic viewpoints provide subjects for drawing and creative work. Portuguese tile painting, Fado, and a hands-on pastel de nata cooking experience introduce us to local cultural traditions. Excursions to Sintra and Cascais, along with a three-day, two-night visit to Porto and Coimbra, extend our learning through different landscapes, architecture, and cultural institutions.

The Portugal experience takes place during the first three weeks of a six-week summer course. After returning home, we continue with three weeks of online instruction, building on the observations, ideas, and drawings developed abroad.