Abstract Drawing I: Visual Design Essentials
8-Week Course
Instructed by Manifest Artist in Residence, Megan Wolfkill
Thursdays, 6 - 9 PM
October 2 - November 20, 2025
Registration Deadline: September 29
[ REGISTER HERE ]
Description:
Visual thinking is at the heart of every art and design discipline—and Visual Design Essentials is where that foundation begins. This 8-week beginner-level course introduces the core elements of art (line, shape, texture, value, space, and color) and the principles of design through the direct practice of drawing. You’ll complete a series of engaging, hands-on projects that challenge you to solve visual problems, organize compositions, and understand how formal choices influence meaning and perception. This course is perfect for aspiring artists, designers, illustrators, or anyone who wants to build visual literacy from the ground up. It’s not about personal style—it’s about learning the grammar of visual language so that you can express yourself with intention and clarity in whatever creative path you pursue.
This class will cover the following topics:
• Learn how line, shape, value, and space create dynamic and engaging compositions.
• Solve creative problems through hands-on drawing projects.
• Understand how to create balance, contrast, and rhythm on the page.
Materials List: (link to printable PDF)
Tuition: $370
Class Size:
Minimum: 5
Maximum: 12
Level of Study: Beginner
No experience? No problem. Or, perhaps you're returning to art after a hiatus. Beginner-level courses are designed for individuals with little to no prior experience in making art. These courses focus on building confidence, developing observational skills, and encouraging creative exploration.
Suggested Prerequisites: N/A
LOCATION: Unless otherwise specified, all courses are hosted at Manifest's new facility at 'M1' in Clifton at 3464 Central Parkway (see map and directions below). Manifest's new facility provides multiple studio classrooms, private lesson space, a darkroom, a film processing room, and a multi-purpose lecture and class meeting space as well as on-site parking, grounds, and exterior spaces in which to relax, discuss, and make art. The studios are outfitted with professional equipment, furniture, and study aids.
Map to Manifest's M1 Studios | Studio Calendar | Darkroom Calendar |
Megan Wolfkill
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About the instructor:
Megan Wolfkill is a Cincinnati-based painter and dancer who spends her days contending with identity, intimacy, and otherness in her work. She holds a BFA in Studio Art and Dance from Tulane University and an MFA in Studio Art with a concentration in Painting and Drawing from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. For the past several years, Megan has been teaching youth and university courses in three-dimensional foundations, painting, and drawing at UT-Knoxville and the Knoxville Museum of Art.
Megan recently relocated to Cincinnati to be the 2024-2025 Scholar-in-Residence at Manifest following the completion of her graduate degree. She was a finalist in the 2024 Miami University Yeck Young Painters Competition and presented research on interdisciplinary art practices at SECAC in Richmond, VA in 2023. Additionally, Megan has attended artist residencies at Penland School of Craft and the Hambidge Center.
Her work has been included in juried exhibitions across the country and has been featured in publications such as Ouch! Collective, CanvasRebel, and I Like Your Work Podcast catalogs. Megan is currently a 2025-2026 Manifest Artist in Residence. |
