Painting in a drybrush watercolor method is akin to drawing with paint. We’ll observe and draw a simple botanical subject, transfer it to hot-pressed watercolor paper, and work our way through the technique of applying paint in tiny, colorful strokes. Capture all the details on a botanical subject of your choice.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Margaret Saylor
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Whether you are a beginner or looking to round out your college portfolio, enroll in this class to develop and expand upon your skills in drawing & painting. We will use a variety of medium including: charcoal, chalk, pastel, watercolor and acrylic paints. Working from a different still life arrangement each week, the focus will be on observation and the development of a completed piece each class. Build personal confidence and explore self-expression in the pursuit of finding your own individual style. Students will benefit from demonstrations, highly individualized instruction and weekly critique sessions. This is a 6-week, 2 hr. class.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Mary Kate Doherty
Cost: $220
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Have you ever wondered how to render glass in watercolor? In this workshop, J. M. Littleton will reveal how to begin with a detailed preliminary drawing, rendering the abstract shapes produced on the glass and solid background surfaces by the interplay of reflected and refracted light. She will demonstrate how to develop the painting with transparent washes to create beautiful luminescent formations in glass. Students will enjoy learning color theory while observing J. M. mix tints and shadow colors. After discussion and demonstration, students begin their glass painting working from their own image or ones provided. Students may attend in-person or online via Zoom. J. M. Littleton, MICA graduate, BFA, MFA, has exhibited with AWS, NWS, TWSA, WIW & IWM.
 
Location: Towson, Maryland
Instructor: J.M. Littleton
Cost: $57
Sponsor: Littleton School Of Art
Website, email, +1(410) 828-1198

Light & Shadow - Bring your paintings to life! Whether it is portrait, still life, landscape or abstracts, the presence of light against shadow gives the subject form and dimension. Bring your own inspiration to class and with this principle in mind, watch your paintings come to life! Composition and color mixing will be a focus in this class. All mediums and skill levels are welcome!
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Stefanie Lieberman
Cost: $280
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Acquaint or re-acquaint yourself with the pleasure of oil painting. Learn about the materials and techniques that form the basis of the medium. Students will use still life, simple and complex, as subject matter. All levels are welcome.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Karen Fogarty
Cost: $325
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

This workshop will focus on the problem of combining the genres of still-life and interior painting into a single picture. We will start by addressing the problem of finding a subject and the practical and formal problems of setting up a still life. We will discuss how to organize and simplify complex information, how to have a unified sense of light throughout the picture and how to perceive color and tone relationships. We will also cover aspects of drawing that will help in the creation of a convincing sense of space. Students are welcome to bring their own objects or work with objects on hand at the center.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Peter Van Dyck
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Join Mary Dillon on this fabulous botanical art retreat! An explosion of colour arrives in the pastures and woodlands surrounding Clos Mirabel in late April. Fields of bee orchids, pyramid orchids and early purple orchids on the lower slopes of the Pyrenees lead to alpine plants like gentians, saxifrages and butterworts dotting the upper slopes. Simple observational drawing techniques will help us to explore and examine the structure and habit of our subjects. Using controlled wet and damp watercolour techniques and finishing with dry techniques, we will work in layers, practicing painting in a simple but systematic way. I will also help you grow in confidence in how you use and choose colour.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Mary Dillon
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + 450€ tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Join Janet in this beautiful setting at the Connecticut River Valley Inn, in historical Glastonbury, CT. Fresh flowers will greet you in the studio as we paint together and progress to interpreting the head and figure in a loose and expressive style. Janet is a true "hands-on" national instructor!!! All levels are welcome! Sign up at Artists Rising Creativity Retreats.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Janet Rogers, AWS
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 386-451-8441

Join award-winning artist Janet Rogers at the picturesque Connecticut River Valley Inn in historic Glastonbury, CT. Experience hands-on instruction, inspiration, and camaraderie in a dynamic workshop. Beginning with fresh flowers as inspiration, progress to capturing the head and figure. Through engaging drawing and painting exercises, develop a loose, natural approach for more spontaneous and expressive paintings. Learn to depict translucent flesh tones and capture the gesture of the person, including painting children. All levels welcome! Explore more about this workshop and our beautiful property and register now by clicking the link below. Limited spots available!
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Janet Rogers
Cost: $975+
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-633-7374

Qiang’s approach to still life painting will be demonstrated with particular focus on creating dramatic set ups by observing the light distribution, and using bold and loose strokes to create a powerful and accurate representation on canvas. Using demonstrations and individual assistance, Qiang will explain his process of creating energetic paintings by manipulating values, colors, edges, and brushwork. Personal attention will be given to each student according to his or her current skill level and personal goals in art. The workshop is designed for indoor practice with live settings. Qiang has developed computer tools to help artists to see color more accurately and simplify the painting process. He will share his color study and introduce the tools in this workshop.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Qiang Huang
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

During this fun painting holiday in South West France, Ali will introduce a variety of additional media to watercolours including the exploration of interesting surfaces such as tissue paper, gesso and watercolour ground. She will encourage you to experiment and then guide you through planning and executing paintings. Ali is extremely innovative and will introduce you to interesting techniques with collage, acrylic inks and pen work that may be incorporated in to your work. Her lessons are always fun and her paintings and demonstrations are full of colour and texture. You will be painting and sketching “En plein air” as well as in the studio. Artists of all abilities are welcome and will be given plenty of one-to-one tuition.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Ali Hargreaves
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + £300 tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

This watercolor painting workshop in Provence is open to both beginners and more advanced painters. There will be classes both in basic watercolor techniques as well as specific travel journaling methods. Travel journaling is the complete opposite of how many of us travel these days: taking photos after photos with our phones. Travel Journaling gives us a chance to slow down, to sketch scenes around us, and to add color to our travel journals. Provence is the artist's dream destination. During the days, we will explore Luberon, and its spectacular countryside of vineyards and orchards, fascinating "perched" hill-top villages, outstanding natural produce and the light of Van Gogh and Cezanne. You will see why artists of all calibers are drawn to this alluring area.
 
Location: Bonnieux, Provence, France
Instructor: John Keeling and Lo Peyron Mathews
Cost: $3,590
Sponsor: Alpine Creative Tours
Website, email, 970-846-9000

Come join Andrew Lattimore, as you explore the exciting and varied history of Sicily’s diverse architecture, stunning landscape, fabulous food and rich culture! We’ll be staying in Marsala at Salinara, an 18th-century villa owned by our gracious hosts, Yumi and Adriano. It is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves and is only a 10-minute walk to the Mediterranean sea. Each day we’ll enjoy an early morning breakfast following a full day of painting, exploring the sights and sounds of Sicily. We’ll paint the captivating landscape at the villa but we will also take day excursions to the city of Marsala, the Marsala Salt Pans, Erice, and the Park of Selinunte.
 
Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy
Instructor: Andrew Lattimore
Cost: From € 2175
Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre
Website, email

"Whispers of Spring: Painting Cherry Blossoms" with Cindy Briggs is a delightful class that invites you to capture the essence of cherry blossoms in full bloom. Under Cindy's expert guidance, you will explore various watercolor techniques to bring these delicate flowers to life on your canvas. From mastering color blending to creating intricate petal details, this class is perfect for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Join us for a journey into the beauty of springtime blooms and unleash your creativity with watercolor!
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Cindy Briggs
Cost: $79
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email

Embark on a remarkable journey into the historical and artistic depths of Dutch flower painting with Carlo Russo, a master of traditional realism. This intensive course is an exclusive opportunity to study the nuanced genre of 17th-century Dutch flower painting under the tutelage of an artist renowned for his exceptional still life and floral paintings. This meticulously designed course spans over six months, comprising 12 intensive sessions, each lasting three hours. The program is divided into engaging modules that progressively build your expertise in this specialized art form. This course warmly welcomes artists at all levels, from beginners to those experienced with oil painting. Throughout the course, Carlo Russo will provide personalized feedback and insights.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Carlo Russo
Cost: $1,795
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email

Come join Andrew Lattimore, as you explore the exciting and varied history of Sicily’s diverse architecture, stunning landscape, fabulous food and rich culture! We’ll be staying in Marsala at Salinara, an 18th-century villa owned by our gracious hosts, Yumi and Adriano. It is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves and is only a 10-minute walk to the Mediterranean sea. Each day we’ll enjoy an early morning breakfast following a full day of painting, exploring the sights and sounds of Sicily. We’ll paint the captivating landscape at the villa but we will also take day excursions to the city of Marsala, the Marsala Salt Pans, Erice, and the Park of Selinunte.
 
Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy
Instructor: Andrew Lattimore
Cost: From € 2175
Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre
Website, email

Still life painting can be highly rewarding, but it can also be intimidating. Perhaps your past attempts to paint fruit have looked flat and formless. Maybe the colors in your flowers have appeared "chalky" or "muddy." Perhaps you've struggled to arrange a good still life in the first place! If these difficulties sound familiar, I'm excited to show you how to conquer these challenges and many more in this information-packed workshop. Learn how to identify and accurately capture the most subtle color changes. Learn how to make fruit and other objects look 3-D. And learn how to draw your viewer's eye from across the room with the 5 Principles for Powerful Paintings!
 
Location: Hilton Head, South Carolina
Instructor: Adam Clague
Cost: $475
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

We will start out the first day doing still life study out of doors which will prepare us to tackle the landscape. Second day we will be on location painting the landscape. I will be teaching the structure of the landscape—what is important to include as well as what to leave out. On the last day we will do color studies of the figure. We will concentrate on the development of strong starts, and focus on expressing the big masses, light key and aerial perspective with color. I will be doing demos throughout the workshop. You will do a color study before lunch, followed by one or two color studies in the afternoon.
 
Location: Franklin, Tennessee
Instructor: Camille Przewodek
Cost: $550 plus a model fee
Sponsor: On Track Studios
Website, email

This 6-week class will focus on painting simple spring blooms. Please bring your favorite spring flowers and a small simple vase. We will work from life and from photos to capture the essence of these floral forms. The approach will vary between direct quick studies and longer layered paintings. Level: intermediate to advanced. Medium: all mediums welcome, instructor works in oils. Supply list: bring your preferred brushes and paints, fresh flower(s) and a small vase.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Claudia Rilling
Cost: $300
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Color is perhaps the most misunderstood and confusing element of painting for people. This workshop will focus on color’s theoretical underpinnings —how it works and why it works— and how to apply these principles when faced with the reality of painting with artist's pigments. Key elements of understanding and mixing color effectively will be covered. Participants will work to develop their own vocabulary of color through making color studies and scales, and paint from a still life to practice seeing, relating and mixing colors. This workshop is designed for beginning through intermediate painters who are looking to gain a greater understanding of color and the color mixing process. Participants may choose to work in oil or acrylic.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Bruce Garrity
Cost: $95
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio
Website, email, 1-267-514-8647

The week will begin with a walk around the enchanting grounds of Clos Mirabel, where you will source your fragrant roses and lushious leaves. Back in the studio, Úrsula will guide you through the process of how to create a large, supersized painting of your chosen flower, petal or leaf. You will learn more about the structure of flowers and how to use different paper types, brushes and paints and how to take risks with your art. Úrsula will show you how to paint black backgrounds in watercolour, how to light subjects and how to mix natural greens, browns and greys. How to create textures using dry brushes and how to layer watercolours without them turning muddy.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Úrsula Romero
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + 450€ tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

“One of the greatest things in the world is to train ourselves to see beauty in the commonplace.” - Charles Hawthorne. Sarah Sedwick is an oil painter whose still lifes celebrate the beauty of the everyday, inspired by color combinations and dynamic composition. Her paintings explore the undercurrents of meaning we impart to the objects around us - whether through a system of personal emotional symbolism or a buildup of familiarity over time.
 
Location: Cortona, Italy
Instructor: Sarah Sedwick
Cost: From $3850.00 per person, all inclusive
Sponsor: Toscana Americana Workshops
Website, email, 978-407-7127

Al Gury, Professor of Painting and Drawing at PAFA, presents the foundational basics of art making. This course is designed for individuals who are new to or just beginning to study art, or for those desiring a refresher in the basic elements, with a goal of imparting a solid and practical understanding of essential topics and practices. Topics will include the materials of drawing and painting, drawing shapes, measuring, forms, perspective, depth, use of line, understanding light and shade, and composition. Exercises will include the basics of charcoal and pencil drawing, use of pastel, color concepts, and how oil paints work. Subjects will include still lifes, interior spaces, portraits, and life drawing through the use of masterworks.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Al Gury
Cost: $295
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

Strengthen and hone your foundational drawing skills through a series of one- and two-day projects. Topics of concern will be design, structure of space, perspective, and light and shade. Subjects will include interior space, single objects and still life arrangements, and the life model. All levels from beginner to advanced are welcome. Note: Tuition includes a $15 models fee.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: John Horn
Cost: $310
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

A Sketchbook Journaling Workshop with Karen Ramsay. Come join us and capture Lake Como in watercolor! As we fill our art travel journals with sketching and watercolors, Karen will give us tips and tricks for improving this special skill. Sketching on location, while traveling, is an art form that you can take with you on every future trip and the sketches that you create will become a treasured visual diary of your travel. During the week, we will guide you to the finest spots along the shores of the picturesque Lake Como with its charming lakeside towns, its Renaissance architecture, Italian villas and terraced gardens. Lake Como has a timeless beauty where you will find endless inspiration to create art!
 
Location: Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy
Instructor: Karen Ramsay
Cost: $3,890
Sponsor: Alpine Creative Tours
Website, email, 970-846-9000

This workshop is for all skill levels from beginner to advanced. Penix will cover topics such as the power of warms and cools, complementaries, harmony, edges, shape-quality, variety, simplifying, loosening brushwork, elements of design, elements of light and shadow, the power of suggestion and seeing in terms of mass and shape relationships. There will be a strong emphasis on making your paintings more three-dimensional. Students will use oils (other mediums are welcome) to paint from photos. They will have a choice of dozens of photographs consisting of boats, cityscapes, figures, birds, hanging fruit and fish. Students will also have the option to paint from their own photos if they choose.
 
Location: Franklin, Tennessee
Instructor: Derek Penix
Cost: $550
Sponsor: On Track Studios
Website, email

Join Catherine Watters for one week of drawing and painting the incredibly diverse flora of Clos Mirabel, using watercolours and/or coloured pencils to capture the colours and textures of the plants. Discover the fascinating world of Botanical Art, starting with a walk around the magnificent property to choose your subject. A variety of plants will be in bloom including Roses, Hydrangeas, Iris, Lupin, Lilies and numerous fruits and vegetables growing in the Orchard. Catherine will introduce her 10 stages to successfully illustrate a subject. You will carefully observe, measure and draw your subject focusing on form, light and texture. All levels of experience are welcome.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Catherine Watters
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + 450€ tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Picture yourself sitting in an outdoor cafe in one of the piazzas, sketchbook in hand, immersed in capturing the life around you while enjoying a cappuccino. Let me share the techniques I use in my work using a very portable means of sketching - pen and ink and watercolor – to record the beautiful, sensitive lines of an old building or the bold strokes of a street scene. Learn to zoom in on the important elements when working in the field to create interesting compositions and lasting memories with texture and rich washes of color! This class covers pen and ink and watercolor wash techniques, composition and simple perspective.
 
Location: Cortona, Italy
Instructor: Ann Thomas
Cost: From $3,850.00 per person all-inclusive
Sponsor: Toscana Americana Workshops
Website, email, 978-407-7127

Join international artist and art educator Wendy Artin at Clos Mirabel in South West France for a week-long painting workshop. During this class, emphasis is put on watercolour techniques and live drawings. Painting instruction will explore the finer details of nature through wet washes, colour, light and form. All levels are welcome. We will spend 5 mornings painting the live model for 2 hours, with poses ranging from 30 seconds to 20 minutes. After personally picking a still life subject from the gardens, we will paint preparatory sketches and work on longer paintings, experimenting with wet on wet, edge control, composition, shadows, and colour. There will be one free day for visiting the surrounding area or painting on one’s own.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Wendy Artin
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + 500€ tuition fee + 50€ model fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Wondering what Water Mixable (Soluble) Oil paints are all about? Known for blurring the line between watercolor and oil paintings, Beth Bathe's unparalleled style evokes feelings of nostalgia, like an old sepia-toned photograph. Beth uses unconventional tools including squeegees and Q-tips, along with her brushes focusing on composition, values, edges, and drawing rather than color. During this one-day intensive workshop, Beth shares her unique technique with students. In the morning Beth will do a demo from a still life setup and show how she uses simple apps on her phone to simplify forms, enhance value and emphasize composition. In the afternoon students will work from similar still life setups. This workshop is for all level of painters.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Beth Bathe
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Explore flowers and other natural forms, beginning with line and value drawing and progressing to full-color rendering in watercolor and mixed media.  Topics will include sighting techniques, line quality, tone and value, creation of depth, composition, texture, and basic color. All levels welcome. Tuition includes a $15 materials fee for floral subjects, provided. 
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Linda Gist
Cost: $465
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

The natural world is an infinite and fantastic source of inspiration for the artist, and the versatility and luminosity of watercolor make it the perfect technique for recording nature in a fresh and fun way.  In this course, learn fundamental drawing techniques and essential watercolor techniques to create both quick field sketches and detailed, finished artworks. Subject matter will include flowers, plants, and animals. Reference images will be gathered through observational sketches and photography.  An ideal course for those interested in both the fine arts and the Illustration field.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Roberto Osti
Cost: $250
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

Explore both the versatility of watercolor and the exciting possibilities of color through still life painting. Learn to capture form with the freshness and fluidity of all prima techniques. Promote color in your work through instruction on color properties, mixing, and basic theory, as well as how to use hues in combination to create impactful compositions. Discussions and in-depth demonstrations will enforce all content so that students gain the facility and freedom to use color and painting techniques as means of personal expression.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Keith Leitner
Cost: $295
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

Discover the beauty and versatility of watercolor through colorful and thoughtful still life arrangements. Discussions and in-depth demonstrations will acquaint beginners and those with limited experience with basic watercolor painting materials and techniques. A variety of approaches will be explored, and students will be encouraged to engage with the medium to find their own personal means of expression.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Keith Leitner
Cost: $195
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

The first day. Students will focus on the fauna, watercolor techniques, positive and negative space, fur, scales, feathers, eyes, claws, paws, texture, and other details of curiosity. Day Two. The focus will be on the flora, some select plants of the region, watercolor techniques, wildflowers, garden blossoms, leaves, shapes, color, texture, light, dark, positive shapes, negative space and other details of the wonder and magic of watercolor. Day Three. Students will bring the plants and animals together. Each artist will create two sketches using the plants and animals of their choice. For more information, visit patbankswatercolors.com.
 
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Instructor: Pat Banks
Cost: $500 Museum members/ $550 non-members
Sponsor: Huntsville Museum of Art
Website, email, 256-535-6372

Join Alison for a week of joyful exploration of Place, in the beautiful city of Cortona. Sitting in ancient squares, by fountains, or in cafes, I’ll show you some simple ways to capture buildings. In markets we’ll talk about how to include figures in your sketches. Overlooking vistas of vineyards and far off hills, we’ll explore how to simplify the scene to focus on important elements and create depth. Drawing and painting on loose pages rather than in a watercolour journal, allows us to loosen up and have fun with experimental techniques and a variety of media. We’ll work with watercolour, pen, ink, marker, on different papers, to create images, which we will curate into a concertina book.
 
Location: Cortona, Italy
Instructor: Alison Watt
Cost: From $3,790.00 per person all-inclusive
Sponsor: Toscana Americana Workshops
Website, email, 978-407-7127

Using demonstrations each day and individual assistance at each easel, Donna will explain her process of creating vibrant paintings. She will demonstrate values and color mixing and composition. Donna always asks the goals set by her students so that she might help fulfill that goal. Bland lives and paints in the Austin, Texas area. She loves to learn, create and share what she has experienced in finishing a painting. No words to describe the joy in painting outdoors in the Texas Hill Country, Colorado or Mexico. She is a member of Oil Painters of America, the American Impressionist Society, the Austin Plein Air Painters, American Women Artists and Artists of Texas. For more information, visit donnabland.com.
 
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Instructor: Donna Bland
Cost: $600 Museum members/ $650 non-members
Sponsor: Huntsville Museum of Art
Website, email, 256-535-6372

Learn my approach to painting on vellum during this five-day workshop at the beautiful Clos Mirabel in South West France. We will begin by doing some exercises on small bits of vellum to learn technique and to get a feel for painting on this surface. We will explore the grounds of Clos Mirabel to choose painting subjects. Apples, pears, plums, figs, kiwis, and berries will be at their peak this time of the year. You might also choose to do a Hoefnagel inspired painting of the treasures you find in the gardens. This class is designed for students new to vellum as well as for more experienced vellum painters – to learn new tricks and techniques.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Denise Walser-Kolar
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + 450€ tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

A Sketchbook Journaling Workshop with Karen Ramsay. Come join us and capture Mallorca in watercolor! As we fill our art travel journals with sketching and watercolors, Karen will give us tips and tricks for improving this special skill. Sketching on location, while traveling, is an art form that you can take with you on every future trip. The daily sketches that you create will become a treasured visual diary of your travel. During this week in Mallorca, we will explore the island, its many scenic areas - from the gorgeous views over the Mediterranean Sea to the small towns in the Tramuntana mountain range: the artist town of Deia, the scenic towns of Fornalutx and Valldemossa and the capital Palma.
 
Location: Valldemossa, Mallorca, Spain
Instructor: Karen Ramsay
Cost: $3,890
Sponsor: Alpine Creative Tours
Website, email, 970-846-9000

I love painting florals!!! And I work in different techniques and mediums… including watercolor, acrylics, and alcohol inks. At this retreat, I will share all kinds of approaches to capturing the joyous spirit of flowers!!! We will play with drawing, stenciling, collaging and painting my very favorite subject matter… glorious flowers!!! It will be a Flowerpalooza!!! Any skill level is completely welcome!!! From beginner to established. I really enjoy bringing out the creativity in everyone at my retreats. And we will laugh, share and maybe even dance a little?? Being with kindred spirits is pure joy!!!
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Lori Siebert
Cost: $975+
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-633-7374

Join Ann Swan – SBA Fellow, ASBA for a week of botanical inspiration and creativity in the French Pyrenees. The focus in Ann’s botanical art workshop is on improving drawing skills, mastering coloured pencil techniques and creating dynamic botanical compositions. Strong composition is essential to creating memorable works of art and this is particularly so in botanical art. Good composition can lift a work from the mundane to the sublime. Ann is happy to include all levels of ability in the group. Everyone will be encouraged to work at their own pace with support, advice, individual attention and demonstrations from Ann whenever needed.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Ann Swan
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + £400 tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Mon-Thurs Oct 21-24, 2024 from 9:30am-3:30pm. $575 Art League of OC Members, $720 Non-Members. There will be a wide variety of watercolor techniques that will be discussed and demonstrated including positive and negative painting, composition, using creative colors, glazing, charging color, and many more. Students will begin each day with a demonstration painting that will be finished before lunch. The daily demonstration will be different each day so that you will see a wide variety of subject matter and styles including landscapes, floral, stylized, and abstract. Edwards preferred method of painting is to use large brushes for most of the painting and complete the painting with a small amount of details towards the end using smaller brushes.
 
Location: Ocean City, Maryland
Instructor: Sterling Edwards
Cost: $575 ALOC Members, $720 Non-Members
Sponsor: Art League of Ocean City
Website, email, 410-524-9433

We invite you to join us in this relaxed, beautiful, historic place. Give yourself this time and space to joyfully become a better painter! The setting of Salinara, with its rustic beauty, farm fresh meals, and interesting excursions provides the perfect environment for our “Spirit,Mind,Body” experience. Your artistic SPIRIT will be recognized, encouraged, and celebrated as you work with other creative participants. Your MIND will be engaged by discussions of Art within the group, and your problem solving skills will be challenged as you are improving your painting ability. Your BODY will be nourished with fresh food, walks, biking, and yoga sessions. The emphasis on this workshop is to help promote skill-building with your painting, regardless of your level.
 
Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy
Instructor: Qiang Huang and Suzanne Enriquez Dougher
Cost: From 2000 $
Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre
Website, email

Join Botanical Artist Ann Swan, RHS Gold Medalist and author of ‘Botanical Painting with Coloured Pencils’ for a week of Botanical drawing focused on creating contrast using coloured pencils. “In order to create realistic images we need to fully understand light and observe how it reacts with our subjects to describe their shapes.” Ann will show you how to interpret light and shade and to accurately capture these contrasting tonal values for a true sense of three-dimensional form and volume in your work. Ann will demonstrate ways of creating realistic highlights and sheen and help you choose convincing shade colours to create depth in shadows whilst maintaining vibrant colours so that your work will come to life on the page.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Ann Swan
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + £400 tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Join Michelle EunYoung Song (SBA Fellow) for one week of botanical art using coloured pencils. Michelle will guide you on how to capture a beautiful moment at Clos Mirabel. Together, we will explore the grounds of Clos Mirabel which has an abundance of plants growing in May. Back in the studio, Michelle will guide you through a detailed study of your specimen. You will use pencil drawings in a sketchbook that will produce data for your detailed painting. You will also practice making the proper colour using coloured pencils. The tuition is exacting and clear so that by the end of the week you will have the capacity to create a more detailed botanical painting.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Michelle EunYoung Song
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + 450€ tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Join me for an unforgettable painting holiday in Santa Fe, a region famous for its stunning scenery and captivating light. During the workshop, all of the logistics will be taken care of by my good friends at French Escapade. All we have to do is relax and enjoy our days spent sketching in this strikingly beautiful part of New Mexico. We’ll have plenty of time to capture once-in-a-lifetime experiences on the pages of our watercolor journals. My teaching will focus on illustrated watercolor journaling. You’ll learn how to add style and interest to your sketchbook pages through the use of unique page layouts and borders, and we’ll cover several fun new lettering styles. I’ll offer daily demonstrations of painting techniques.
 
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Instructor: Leslie Fehling
Cost: $1,690
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Join me in Carmel and Pacific Grove, where we’ll experience the wild beauty of rugged Pacific shores, the enchanting fairy-tale cottages, and historic Mission architecture that make this place so unique. I’ve designed this workshop to give you confidence sketching wherever you happen to be. I’ll show you how to keep your watercolour sketches loose, fresh and vibrant. And I’ll share my techniques for capturing the beauty that surrounds us, so you can savour it for years to come.
 
Location: Provence, France
Instructor: David Daniels
Cost: $3,790 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

I am so excited to teach you in this inspiring place while working outdoors in Plein Air as the Impressionist masters did! Paint the crystal blue Mediterranean waters with breathtaking vistas of the Catalonia coast, a hidden gem fishing village, botanical gardens, and medieval villages. As a painter and colorist, I have learned that the best way to achieve the feeling of light and color in your paintings is to paint outdoors. I will be your guide and teacher for an incredible week of painting, sightseeing, dining, and artistic community while we all learn and grow our artistry during the week. The experience of painting with other artists will be a treasure you carry with you for a lifetime.
 
Location: Costa Brava, Spain
Instructor: Rose Irelan
Cost: $3,790 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Join me for an amazing week of plein air painting in magnificent Provence, France! This is ‘Red poppy season’ and we’ll explore and paint the exciting spring colors of glorious Provence. I’m super excited to teach you painting in such an inspiring place! We’ll paint flower fields, countryside villages, waterways and hillside castle towns, quaint, flower-filled alleyways, medieval churches, fountains and ancient archways. We’ll paint our impressions, dine exquisitely, share gorgeous sights and creative companionship, all while learning and growing our craft. I will share my methods for creating successful paintings with loose brushwork and exciting color harmonies. I will demo in oil primarily, but am proficient and happy to help with watercolor, acrylics and pastels as well.
 
Location: Provence, France
Instructor: Maggie Hellmann
Cost: $3,940 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

You probably fell in love with making art before a painting holiday occurred to you. Classroom lessons, online sessions, or time in the studio are typically safe environments in which to learn. But once we venture outdoors to paint, the light can be dramatic, the air is filled with sights, sounds, and smells of nature. While this can all be new, it enriches the painting experience even more. When we arrive on the Costa Brava, my job is to help you capture the nuances of our surroundings with confidence. Even before departure I’ll provide practical pointers on what to bring, what to leave behind. My plein-air workshops are jam-packed with helpful tips to help you make powerful statements through your art.
 
Location: Costa Brava, Spain
Instructor: Randy Hale
Cost: $3,790 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

During this week of Botanical Sketching and Painting in the French Pyrénées with Lara Call Gastinger we will be observing, drawing and painting the local flora of Atelier Clos Mirabel. We will go through the process of how to create a botanical painting, starting with sketching and learning the important characteristics of plants. We will seek botanical inspiration from the acreage of Atelier Clos Mirabel and with a trip to the blooming meadows of the Pyrénées. After the first day of sketching, we will focus on using watercolours to capture the colours and textures of the plants. In the end, we will work on composition and how to create a finished botanical painting. All levels are welcome.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Lara Call Gastinger
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + 450€ tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Join Catherine Watters for one week of drawing and painting the incredibly diverse flora of Clos Mirabel, using watercolours and/or coloured pencils to capture the colours and textures of the plants. Discover the fascinating world of Botanical Art, starting with a walk around the magnificent property to choose your subject. A variety of plants will be in bloom including Roses, Hydrangeas, Iris, Lupin, Lilies and numerous fruits and vegetables growing in the Orchard. Catherine will introduce her 10 stages to successfully illustrate a subject. You will carefully observe, measure and draw your subject focusing on form, light and texture. All levels of experience are welcome.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Catherine Watters
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + 450€ tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

In this watercolor workshop, I will help you discover new approaches to your works. Values and Color are the two main elements I will focus on and a dramatic sense of design. My personal style is basically a loose and carefree approach. Leaving a lot of the white of the paper, for me, is paramount in my watercolor work. We will work mostly from our own reference photos, in a relaxed studio environment. You can choose which genres best suit your personality - florals, landscapes, structures, etc. Critiques of the work and one-on-one directions will also be a part of this workshop. I hope you will join me in Bruges for this fantastic painting experience.
 
Location: Bruges, Belgium
Instructor: Rae Andrews
Cost: $3,840 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Study with Jarnie Godwin at Atelier Clos Mirabel during a 5-day botanical art workshop in the French Pyrenees ~ South West France. Enjoy wonderful surroundings, delightful accommodation and delicious meals. Jarnie Godwin will guide you into the ethereal mysteries of the fading bloom. As blooms begin to fade you will learn how to capture these intimate, fragile and fleeting moments of decay. Using a range of watercolour techniques, Jarnie will show you how to create the unique acute textures and colour transitions of decay and fading colour. You will learn more about the unique form and detail of fading flowers, and will gain confidence in using and manipulating watercolour to convey an intimate moment in time.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Jarnie Godwin
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + £400 tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Join Laura Silburn at Atelier Clos Mirabel for a 5-day botanical art workshop in the French Pyrenees ~ South West France. Enjoy wonderful surroundings, accommodation and delicious meals. Explore the botanical delights of this flora-rich part of the world. Laura will help you examine a chosen plant or vegetable through careful observation and sketchbook work. You will then compose an image that reflects its natural character whilst observing botanical truth. You will be guided on how to take your drawings through to a completed botanical watercolour and shown techniques for dry-brush finishing. Laura has work at Kew Gardens, The Hunt Institute, the Florilegium of the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, and the Eden Project Cornwall.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Laura Silburn
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Join Julia Trickey at Atelier Clos Mirabel for a week-long botanical art workshop in the French Pyrenees ~ South West France. Enjoy wonderful surroundings, delightful accommodation and delicious meals. Using fruit and vegetables, flowers and leaves from the gardens and grounds of Atelier Clos Mirabel, we will explore how to make less-than-perfect botanical specimens centre stage. We will start by experimenting with wet-in-wet techniques to create initial form and merging colours, before considering other techniques used to deepen colours and add details. There will also be opportunity to work larger than life or with black backgrounds. Teaching by Julia Trickey will be delivered via live demonstrations, slide presentations and lots of individual support.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Julia Trickey
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + £400 tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Learn from the world's top watercolorists filmed in their studio and Plein-air on locations worldwide. Explore a range of techniques and weave dazzling new styles into your paintings through immersive video lessons, live workshops, and personal feedback. Engage with the artists live during weekly Zoom workshops. Instructors will take you behind the scenes as they create original works and answer your questions about their method and creative process. Hone your skills with thoughtfully designed projects and get feedback on your work from professional artists. Connect with a community of like-minded learners across all levels from around the world.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: 20+ top artists
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email

This course is for anyone that wants to learn about watercolor and how to paint in watercolor. Learn the history of watercolor and how to use the tools and techniques of watercolor to create stunning works of art. Watercolor is a very technique driven medium and I want to show you these techniques and how to use them so that your painting experience will be more successful and more enjoyable.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Laurin Mccracken
Cost: $39
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email

Award winning watercolorist, Carol Carter has spent her career expressing her creativity through the inventive use of color. In this video course, Carol will demonstrate how you can push emotional content in your imagery and message. She’ll walk you through her set up, materials, palette, and techniques. She will cover: use of inventive color, control of water, compositional considerations, and value structure. The course was filmed in Carol’s studio in St. Louis Missouri. Included in the course are two complete painting demonstrations as well as additional tutorials of specific skills. Throughout the course, you’ll work on thoughtfully-designed exercises that help you hone your watercolor skills and projects that help you breathe life into your own paintings.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Carol Carter
Cost: $99
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email

Award-winning watercolorist, Angus McEwan has spent his career focusing on achieving the sense of texture in realistic watercolor paintings. In this course, you will explore some of the main techniques Angus uses in the creation of his paintings. They can be loosely described as object based, atmospheric and textural, although there are common elements within each painting video. Included in the course are three complete painting demonstrations filmed in studio as well as additional tutorials of specific skills. Throughout the course, you’ll work on thoughtfully-designed exercises that help you hone your watercolor skills and projects that help you breathe life into your own paintings.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Angus McEwan
Cost: $99
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email