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Design, Golden Section, and Dynamic Symmetry Workshop with Zachary Kainz

$750.00

Instructor: Zachary Kainz
Dates: Saturday, March 28–Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Times: 9 am–4 pm
Workshop Location: Stobart Studio, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts
Directions and Parking: Registered students will receive detailed information before the workshop.
Levels/Ages: This workshop is open to all levels, ages 18+.

Register

This workshop is for those who practice drawing, painting, and sculpture. Participants will draw from a live model while simultaneously exploring sacred geometry and design principles from the great masters, past and present.

Over four days, participants will learn how to apply the golden ratio, root rectangles, and other design systems discovered in an analysis of masterworks. This information is universal and applies to all visual arts; it will add compositional depth, intrigue, and structure to plein air painting, portrait sculpture, figure drawing, and other artistic endeavors.

Throughout the workshop, students will have the opportunity to learn through live demonstrations and individual critiques while exploring their own compositional sketches. As they learn techniques, they will ultimately be equipped to look at creative expression through a different lens, which will assist them with further artistic pursuits.

Students will learn to:

  • Apply the golden section and dynamic symmetry to drawing and painting;
  • Use Phi calipers to design their drawings based on nature’s proportions;
  • Analyze masterworks to a greater extent and apply that process to their own practice;
  • Learn how composition is structured and the similarities between fine art and musical theory;
  • Define and understand terms such as arabesque, radiating lines, enclosures, and root rectangles.

Please note that registration for this workshop is non-refundable and does not include supplies or materials; please see the Terms and Conditions for details before making the final purchase.

Questions? admissions@lymeacademy.edu or call 860-434-5232 ext. 202.

Artist Bio

Zachary Kainz is a third-generation sculptor from a family of Austrian stone carvers and a Principal Sculpture Instructor at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts. Following a traditional apprenticeship, he studied classical design at Barnstone Studios and figurative sculpture and bronze casting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts under Gary Weisman and Kate Brockman, while also pursuing foundational studies at the Schuylkill Academy.

In 2007, Kainz became a founding member of Traction Company, a sculpture cooperative in West Philadelphia. His extensive experience in sculpture conservation—working on national landmarks including the White House, U.S. Capitol Building, and Smithsonian Museum of Natural History—has made him a leading advocate for both the preservation and advancement of the sculptural arts.

Before joining the faculty at Lyme Academy, Kainz served as Head Metalsmith at Independent Casting, a fine art foundry in Philadelphia, where he built and managed the fabrication of sculptures ranging from monumental commissions to delicate bronze works exhibited internationally.

Now based in Old Lyme, Connecticut, Kainz maintains his own studio practice alongside his teaching. His work explores the classic human paradox—the balance between intellect and instinct—through compositions grounded in divine proportion and dynamic symmetry.

Instagram: @kainzzachary

Supplies and Materials

  • Notebook
  • Strathmore white paper pad-18” x 24” 80 lb (or something similar)
  • 18” Ruler
  • Charcoal or Conte pencil HB
  • Graphite pencils ranging from 2b-4h
  • Kneaded eraser
  • Drawing board w/clamps

NOTE: Participants should purchase materials in advance. Supplies and materials are available in de Gerenday’s Fine Art Materials and Curiosities, Lyme Academy’s on-campus school art store.

Questions? Contact Cameron Paynter in the school store at (860) 434-8725, or cameron@lymeacademy.edu

Terms, Conditions and Policies

Registration and Enrollment Information

Registration and enrollment for workshops operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Full Payment Required:
    Registration must be paid in full at enrollment to secure a spot in the workshop. Registrants without payment or payment arrangements will not be on the roster.
  • Payment Plan Option:
    If you would like to arrange a payment plan, please email caitlin@lymeacademy.edu for more information and assistance in setting one up.

Workshop Refund Policy

Please review the following refund policy for workshops.

  1. 72-Hour Grace Period:
    Students may request a full refund for workshop registrations within 72 hours of signing up, provided that the workshop has not yet started. The refund request must be made within this 72-hour period for consideration.
  2. Non-Refundable Credit Card Fee:
    A 3.5% processing fee will be added to credit card payments. This processing fee is non-refundable.
  3. After the Grace Period:
    After the 72-hour grace period, no refunds will be issued for workshop registrations under any circumstances.

We appreciate your understanding and encourage you to contact us promptly if you have any questions or concerns regarding your registration.

Questions? 860-434-5232 ext. 202

Terms, Conditions and Policies