{"title":"Casita Art Academy","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe perfect art academy for the talented art student learning at home (or at traditional schools), especially for those wanting to build a portfolio for admissions applications.  Our curriculum takes students in-depth and across various mediums (oils, acrylics, pastels, paper marche, air dry clay, and more!), creating opportunity for them to find their voice and their style.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout our Lead Teacher:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYunior del Pozo is a celebrated Cuban painter with over 35 years of artistic mastery, blending surrealism, expressionism and realism into striking compositions.  Born with an innate talent for art, he began painting as a child and has since developed a unique style that explores the depths of human emotion, symbolism and visual storytelling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased in Ybor City, Yunior's primary studio is at 1920, while leading the curriculum for Casita Art Academy at Tropical Home Fine Art Gallery.  He continues to push his artistic boundaries, exploring new mediums all the time.  His paintings are sought after by collectors and art enthusiasts, making him a significant figure in contemporary Cuban art.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"streets-skylines-and-sunlight","title":"Streets, Skylines, and Sunlight: 6-Week Plein Air Course","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTwo-hour sessions, twice per week, for six weeks.  Hands-on, real learning!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eForget the still-life bowl of fruit. This course takes students out of the sketchbook and onto the sidewalk — painting Tampa and Ybor City exactly as they are: sun-bleached brick, wrought-iron balconies, palm shadows cutting across the pavement, the hum of a city that doesn't sit still for anyone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ePlein air (French for \"open air\") means painting on location, in real time, in real light — no photo references, no do-overs when the sun moves. It's one of the fastest ways for a young artist to develop a trained eye, because the world in front of them refuses to hold still.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat students will build over 6 weeks:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🏙️ \u003cstrong\u003eObservational drawing skills\u003c\/strong\u003e — translating three-dimensional architecture onto a flat surface with real perspective, not guesswork\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🎨 \u003cstrong\u003eColor mixing under changing light\u003c\/strong\u003e — learning why a wall isn't just \"gray,\" it's a dozen colors depending on the hour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🖌️ \u003cstrong\u003eWorking fast and loose\u003c\/strong\u003e — plein air forces decisiveness; students learn to commit to a mark instead of overworking it\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🌇 \u003cstrong\u003eComposition\u003c\/strong\u003e — choosing what to include, what to crop, and how to lead a viewer's eye through an urban scene\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🧭 \u003cstrong\u003eA finished body of work\u003c\/strong\u003e — six cityscape studies by course end, each from a different Ybor\/Tampa vantage point\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood fit for:\u003c\/strong\u003e middle and high schoolers who want real technical growth, not just a craft hour — this is a studio-level course paced for teens, with critique and instruction geared toward developing genuine painting fundamentals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Weekly on-location sessions around Tampa and Ybor City, weather-dependent with an indoor backup studio session built in.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tropical Home Fine Art Gallery","offers":[{"title":"2h","offer_id":45918691393589,"sku":null,"price":480.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/6191\/0325\/files\/CasitaLogo.png?v=1787526157"},{"product_id":"fruit-flowers-florida-light-a-6-week-acrylics-still-life-course","title":"Fruit, Flowers \u0026 Florida Light: A 6-Week Acrylics Still Life Course","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTwo-hour sessions, twice per week, for six weeks.  Hands-on, real learning!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eMangoes. Hibiscus. A sun-warmed pineapple on a woven mat. This course slows students down to really \u003cem\u003elook\u003c\/em\u003e — at shape, shadow, and the way tropical color behaves differently than anything in a textbook — and then teaches them to build it back up, layer by layer, in acrylics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eStill life is one of the oldest ways artists learn to see, and acrylics are one of the most forgiving ways to practice it: fast-drying, layerable, and endlessly correctable — perfect for a beginner testing their first brushstrokes and a returning student refining their technique.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat students will build over 6 weeks:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🍍 \u003cstrong\u003eObservational setup \u0026amp; composition\u003c\/strong\u003e — arranging tropical fruit, flowers, and textiles into a scene worth painting, then deciding how to frame it\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🎨 \u003cstrong\u003eAcrylic fundamentals\u003c\/strong\u003e — layering, blending, dry-brush texture, and color mixing built specifically around tropical palettes (think mango orange, hibiscus pink, palm green)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🌺 \u003cstrong\u003eLight and shadow on organic forms\u003c\/strong\u003e — how a curved mango catches light differently than a flat leaf\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🖼️ \u003cstrong\u003eA finished still life painting\u003c\/strong\u003e — one cohesive, gallery-ready piece built up week by week rather than six disconnected exercises\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e👨👩👧 \u003cstrong\u003eAll-ages, all-skill-levels format\u003c\/strong\u003e — instruction paced so a first-time painter and an experienced teen can work side by side, each building at their own level\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood fit for:\u003c\/strong\u003e homeschooling families of any age — a true multi-generational or sibling-friendly class, since technique is taught individually even within a shared weekly session.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tropical Home Fine Art Gallery","offers":[{"title":"2h","offer_id":45918691328053,"sku":null,"price":480.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/6191\/0325\/files\/CasitaLogo.png?v=1787526157"},{"product_id":"first-marks-an-introduction-to-the-human-figure-in-charcoal","title":"First Marks: An Introduction to the Human Figure in Charcoal","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv role=\"article\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv role=\"article\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTwo-hour sessions, twice per week, for six weeks.  Hands-on, real learning!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe human figure is the oldest subject in art — and one of the hardest to get right. This 6-week course breaks it down from the ground up: proportion, gesture, and form, built with nothing but charcoal and paper. No fancy materials, no intimidating technique — just the fundamentals every working artist eventually has to learn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eStudents will work from clothed live models, classical reference poses, and gesture-drawing exercises designed to build confidence before precision — because in figure drawing, a loose, honest line beats a stiff, \"perfect\" one every time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat students will build over 6 weeks:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e📐 \u003cstrong\u003eProportion \u0026amp; anatomy basics\u003c\/strong\u003e — head-to-body ratios, joint placement, and how the figure balances itself in space\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🌓 \u003cstrong\u003eCharcoal technique\u003c\/strong\u003e — blending, smudging, erasing as a drawing tool, and building form through value rather than outline\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🖤 \u003cstrong\u003eWorking from life\u003c\/strong\u003e — the difference between drawing what you \u003cem\u003ethink\u003c\/em\u003e you see and what's actually in front of you\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🖼️ \u003cstrong\u003eA personal portfolio\u003c\/strong\u003e — six weeks of studies showing visible growth from first gesture to final rendered figure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood fit for:\u003c\/strong\u003e true beginners of any age — this is an intro-level course, so no prior drawing experience is expected. Because sessions are paced individually, younger and older students can work in the same room, each at their own challenge level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Tropical Home Fine Art Gallery","offers":[{"title":"2h","offer_id":45918688378933,"sku":null,"price":480.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/6191\/0325\/files\/CasitaLogo.png?v=1787526157"},{"product_id":"face-to-face-intermediate-portrait-in-charcoal","title":"Face To Face: Intermediate Portrait in Charcoal","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTwo-hour sessions, twice per week, for six weeks.  Hands-on, real learning!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eAnyone can outline a face. This course is about something harder: making charcoal on paper actually \u003cem\u003elook like someone\u003c\/em\u003e — the weight of a brow, the specific curve of a jaw, the way light falls across real skin instead of a generic oval. Built for students who already have foundational drawing skills and are ready to push into likeness, structure, and expression.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThis is intermediate-level instruction — students should already be comfortable with basic gesture, proportion, and value work (our Intro to Figure Drawing course is a natural prerequisite, but not required if a student has equivalent experience elsewhere).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat students will build over 6 weeks:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🎯 \u003cstrong\u003eFacial proportion \u0026amp; structure\u003c\/strong\u003e — the underlying geometry of a head, and how features actually sit in relation to each other\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🌓 \u003cstrong\u003eAdvanced value control\u003c\/strong\u003e — building convincing form and dimension through a full charcoal range, not just outline and shade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e👤 \u003cstrong\u003eLikeness\u003c\/strong\u003e — the specific, harder skill of capturing an individual's actual features, not a generic \"portrait\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e✋ \u003cstrong\u003eWorking from live models and reference\u003c\/strong\u003e — training the eye to catch subtle asymmetries most beginners miss\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🖼️ \u003cstrong\u003eA finished, refined portrait\u003c\/strong\u003e — one sustained piece built and revised across the full six weeks, not a new sketch every session\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood fit for:\u003c\/strong\u003e middle and high schoolers with prior drawing experience who want real technical growth — this course moves at a faster, more demanding pace than an intro class.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tropical Home Fine Art Gallery","offers":[{"title":"2h","offer_id":45918687526965,"sku":null,"price":480.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/6191\/0325\/files\/Casita_Logo.png?v=1787265237"},{"product_id":"tropical-wildlife-an-introduction-to-oil-painting","title":"Tropical Wildlife: An Introduction To Oil Painting","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eToucans mid-flight. A flamingo's impossible pink. The glassy, patient stare of an iguana in the sun. This course introduces students to oil paint — the medium history's greatest painters chose for a reason — through the vivid, high-contrast world of tropical wildlife.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTwo-hour sessions, twice per week, for six weeks.  Hands-on, real learning!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eOil is slower and richer than acrylic: it blends on the canvas instead of drying before you're ready, rewards patience, and produces the kind of depth and luminosity that's hard to get any other way. This is a true introduction — no prior painting experience needed, just curiosity and a willingness to get a little messy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat students will build over 6 weeks:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🦜 \u003cstrong\u003eOil painting fundamentals\u003c\/strong\u003e — paint handling, brush control, and the \"fat over lean\" layering that makes oils work\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🎨 \u003cstrong\u003eColor mixing for wildlife\u003c\/strong\u003e — matching the specific, often surprising colors found in tropical creatures (that flamingo isn't just \"pink\")\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🐊 \u003cstrong\u003eTexture \u0026amp; surface\u003c\/strong\u003e — capturing feathers, scales, and fur through brushwork, not just flat color\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🌴 \u003cstrong\u003eWorking from reference\u003c\/strong\u003e — translating a photo or specimen into a living, dimensional painted subject\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🖼️ \u003cstrong\u003eA finished wildlife painting\u003c\/strong\u003e — one piece built and refined across the full six weeks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood fit for:\u003c\/strong\u003e all ages and all skill levels — since oils are new territory for most students regardless of age, this is a genuinely welcoming starting point for a first-timer of any generation, with instruction paced individually so everyone progresses at their own speed.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tropical Home Fine Art Gallery","offers":[{"title":"2h","offer_id":45918338875445,"sku":null,"price":480.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/6191\/0325\/files\/CasitaLogo.png?v=1787526157"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/6191\/0325\/collections\/Casita_Logo.png?v=1787265738","url":"https:\/\/tropicalhomegallery.com\/collections\/casita-art-academy.oembed","provider":"Tropical Home Fine Art Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}