Mastering shadows, reflections, light, and contrast is one of the keys to creating paintings that feel believable, dimensional, and full of life. In this workshop, instructor Mary Ann Browning Ford will break down the principles behind accurate light and values and give you practical guidelines. Through demonstrations, discussion, and personalized one-on-one instruction, you’ll explore how to observe and interpret light, strengthen your value relationships, and create more convincing shadows and reflections in your work. Bring your own painting ideas and spend the workshop developing your skills with guidance tailored to your individual work. While the workshop is designed with oil and acrylic painters in mind, artists working in watercolor, pastel, colored pencil, or other mediums are welcome to participate.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Mary Ann Browning Ford
Cost: $100
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Unleash your creativity in a fun, relaxed studio setting where you can paint your way! Choose your favorite medium—oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, charcoal, or colored pencil—and dive into new projects or bring along unfinished pieces to refine. Enjoy as much one-on-one guidance from Dennis as you like, plus inspiring mini demos, technique tips, and helpful critiques to elevate your work. Whether your style leans toward realism, impressionism, or bold modern expression, this open painting session is your space to explore, create, and grow. This class is appropriate for beginner painters, intermediate painters and advanced painters of any medium. The main purpose of this course is one-on-one assistance from the instructor with whatever you need help with.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Dennis Lake
Cost: $150
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

This class is for those who would like to work in art but do not know where to start and/or with what mediums! We will start with pencils, charcoal and work our way through watercolor, acrylic, pastels and oil and any others that students may be interested in. Barb will explain the pros and cons of each of the mediums including prices points and other materials you'll need for that medium, including, brushes, surfaces and framing. At the end of the session, students will have time to try them all on a small scale. Students should bring $20 cash to pay the instructor for materials, all of which she will provide to you.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Barb Snow
Cost: $50
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Immerse yourself in the breathtaking colors of autumn with nationally acclaimed artist and instructor Addison Palmer in this dynamic one-day acrylic painting workshop celebrating the splendor of fall foliage. Welcoming painters at every skill level—from beginners to seasoned artists—this engaging class guides you through essential techniques for capturing the season's signature warmth on canvas, including dynamic color blending, creating compelling compositions, rendering natural leaf forms, mastering value contrasts, and applying expressive brushwork that brings texture and movement to your painting. Addison's hands-on, personalized teaching style ensures that each participant receives individual attention and customized instruction tailored to their experience and goals.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Addison Palmer
Cost: $100
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

In this immersive two-day painting workshop, artist Vlad Duchev emphasizes a practical approach centered on one of the most important elements in painting: composition. Through a series of focused studies, participants will learn how to simplify complex subjects, identify compelling shapes, organize visual relationships, and create compositions that communicate clearly and powerfully. From initial idea to finished painting, emphasis will be placed on editing, design, and the strategic use of suggestion—learning how to leave out the unnecessary so the essential can speak louder. This workshop is designed for painters seeking to strengthen their artistic voice, create more compelling compositions, and develop a deeper understanding of how studies and suggestion work together to elevate their paintings.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Vlad Milan Duchev
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

This class focuses on understanding the many expressive ways of starting and finishing a painting in wet paint. Students will learn the excitement of starting with washes of bright transparent colors and building towards opaque color passages. Throughout the course, we will address several fundamental challenges that painters commonly encounter. These include the exploration of composition and the relationship between light and dark areas. Additionally, the course will delve into essential color concepts, providing a foundation for making informed color choices in your paintings. I would like everyone to find within themselves the joy and fearless ability that comes with painting. It is less about the exactness of the subject and more about how you chose to express your subject in paint.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Fred Jackson
Cost: $440
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Acrylic pouring is a great way to create interesting texture, patterns, and marbleized effects. I will take you through the process of mixing acrylic paints to pour and the appropriate consistency for different types of pour painting. In this class we will use frisket paper to keep our whale intact as we pour the sky, clouds and ocean. We will use swipe technique as well as some traditional painting techniques for fine details of our whale. We will also splatter for splashing ocean as well. Each step you will be given options for how to proceed to make the painting your own and how you prefer. Often paintings are left overnight at the center to dry. No experience necessary.
 
Location: Ocean City, Maryland
Instructor: Cindy Strouse
Cost: $36 ($30 for members)
Sponsor: Art League of Ocean City
Website, email, (410) 524-9433

Geometry has been a source of interest, beauty and creative inspiration for the artist through the ages. Geometric forms, lines and shapes are all around us and can be seen in everything from architecture to plant life to seashells. Learn non-mathematical strategies inspired by geometry designed to enhance your ongoing body of work or be the starting point for a new one with focus on simplifying subject matter, building a unified composition and creating or enhancing a color palette. Work in the medium of your choice: acrylic, gouache or watercolor while working from your own reference photographs, drawings, books or digital imagery. Designed for both beginners and experienced art makers.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Michael Smith
Cost: $195
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio
Website, email, 267-514-8647

Puzzled by your art? Feeling lost? Know something's "off" but can't figure it out? This is a terrific opportunity to receive individual attention from one of the Lowcountry's masters, Art Cornell. In this intimate 2-hour session, Art will offer a limited number of one-on-one consultations for all media and subjects—helping you troubleshoot problem areas, refine your vision, and get your work presentation-ready. Whether you're stuck on a piece in progress or starting fresh with a blank canvas and an idea, Art will provide personalized recommendations, tips, and critiques to move your work forward with confidence. 100% of proceeds support ongoing Capital Improvement efforts at Art League Academy.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Art Cornell
Cost: $20
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Join artist Patricia Lappin for a two-day creative workshop exploring gel-plate mono-printing, collage, mixed media, color, and composition. On Friday, participants will create unique painted papers using acrylic paint, tissue paper and other transparent materials, stencils, stamps, masks, and texture tools. On Saturday, those papers will become the foundation for abstract floral collages incorporating mixed media and paint. Students will explore intuitive design, layering, texture, and composition while creating artwork that is completely their own. Please bring a lunch.
 
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Instructor: Patricia Lappin
Cost: $350
Sponsor: The New Studio For The Visual Arts
Website, email, 561-295-5712

This workshop will consider the idea of painting the still life not as a collection of objects, but as a landscape. By shifting focus away from describing things and toward spatial relationships, atmosphere, movement and structure, we will discover new possibilities for observation and interpretation. The goal is not to disguise the still life as a landscape, but to use the visual language of landscape painting to deepen engagement with what is in front of us. Designed for oil and acrylic painters with some experience.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Gillian Wainwright
Cost: $395
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts
Website, email

This workshop will consider the idea of approaching still life not as a collection of objects, but as a landscape. By shifting focus away from describing things and toward spatial relationships, atmosphere, movement and structure, we will discover new possibilities for observation and interpretation. The goal is not to disguise the still life as a landscape, but to use the visual language of landscape painting to deepen engagement with what is in front of us.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Gillian Wainwright
Cost: $395
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio
Website, email, 267-514-8647

This two-day workshop explores how artists can use limited palettes, dominant color relationships, and value structure to create landscape paintings with greater mood, atmosphere, and emotional impact. Through demonstrations, discussion, and hands-on painting exercises, students will learn how simplifying color choices can create stronger design, clearer visual statements, and more expressive paintings. Student Level: Open to painters with prior experience (beginner through advanced). This workshop is not intended for absolute beginners with no painting experience. Medium: Oil is preferred; however, painters working in other media are welcome provided they have prior experience in their chosen medium.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Mark Vander Vinne
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Set on several peaceful acres at the historic Connecticut River Valley Inn in the charming town of Glastonbury, this intimate five-day retreat invites you into a slower, more intentional creative experience—one that reconnects you with play, creative wellness, and the leadership that emerges when you feel truly aligned. Hosted exclusively by Dionne Woods, this refined gathering is designed for women who already create, already lead in some way, and feel a quiet inner shift calling them toward deeper alignment—artistically, personally, and professionally. This is not a retreat about pushing harder or producing more. It is about leading with intention—by reconnecting to joy, curiosity, and the inner creative child who knows how to play.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Dionne Woods
Cost: $1,596
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

Experience the joy of painting outdoors in this inspiring two-day Plein Air workshop with artist and instructor Carol Iglesias! Immerse yourself in the beauty of Hilton Head Island as you learn to capture the ever-changing light, color, and atmosphere of the landscape using oils, acrylics or pastels. Each morning begins with an engaging demonstration and expert insights from Carol, who will share her techniques for quickly and confidently capturing a scene in Plein Air. Throughout the workshop, you’ll discover how to compose a strong painting, define values, identify light sources, establish focal points, and use color to bring your work to life. With personalized instruction and one-on-one feedback, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to paint directly from nature.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Carol Iglesias
Cost: $330
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Paint from a clothed model to advance your skills in portraiture and figure painting. Explore the proportions and anatomy of the head and neck structures, the definition of features, and how to capture expression and likeness, as well as conveying the gesture and construction of the figure with the incorporation of drapery/clothing. Instruction will cover a variety of topics including glazing, broken color, surface texture, composition and design, the relationship of the figure to the environment, the creation of atmosphere and color harmony, and open- versus closed-form painting. All levels welcome. Instruction will be geared toward oil, but students are welcome to draw-only, or use other appropriate media, if they wish. Note: Tuition includes a $40 models fee.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Anthony Ciambella
Cost: $385
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

Every strong painting begins with a thoughtful foundation. In this one-day workshop, students will first explore applying transparent patches of vibrant color to the painting surface, creating an energetic underpainting that adds excitement and provides color relationships to build upon throughout the process. From there, we'll establish transparent darks to define the value structure, composition, and overall color harmony. You'll learn to mix a variety of rich, colorful darks while connecting dark shapes to dark shapes and light shapes to light shapes, creating visual pathways that guide the viewer's eye through the painting. Once the design is established, we'll transition to thicker, opaque light passages, bringing the painting to life with clarity, unity, and luminous color.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Fred Jackson
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

During this two-day color class students will learn how to skillfully mix oil paint through guided mixing exercises and how to better apply these ideas to one's own paintings. We will work also with a variety of palettes and explore how each one can influence color relationships and expression in a painting. Through hands-on exercises, demos, and lectures, color will become easier to use and to understand. This class is for any oil painter- advanced beginner to advanced- who would like to become more confident with color control and mixing, and learn to use different palettes and approaches to color theory. Acrylic can be accommodated if one has a “stay-wet” palette set-up.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Claudia Rilling
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Students may elect to draw or paint, using a variety of mediums. Open to all levels, from beginner to experienced.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Michael Doyle
Cost: $300
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Explore new techniques and further develop your personal style along with fellow artists and friends in Wayne Art Center's bright and spacious art studios. This professional-style open studio offers a self-directed environment where artists of all levels can hone their skills and explore their creativity. Designed for those seeking a dedicated time and place to create without the constraints of formal instruction, the space fosters independence and artistic growth. These sessions are open to everyone—from absolute beginners to advanced artists—providing a supportive community for anyone looking to focus on their craft.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

In this guided acrylic class, students will all paint the same image using a photo reference while following a step-by-step demonstration by the instructor. Throughout the session, students will explore a variety of subjects. From serene landscapes to vibrant still lifes and intriguing textures, each painting process will help build skills and confidence with every brushstroke. Perfect for beginners or anyone looking to refine their technique in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Nicole Lee
Cost: $250
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

In this 3-day workshop, Karen leads her students through the process of creating dynamic loose paintings that breathe life and reality. Using a photo reference, she will demonstrate the various stages of a painting from initial design to the final strokes. Along with foundational principles, Karen emphasizes the use of large brushes, intuitive measuring and the back-and-forth search of positive and negative shapes to achieve spontaneity and visual interest. This workshop was designed for all levels of oil & acrylic painters.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Karen Wilharm
Cost: $500
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Paint loose and intuitive in a workshop where color, shape and line come together to make impactful designs inspired by your color palette and your style of brushwork. Students will work on various small color studies (4 x 6 or 6 x 8) at first to determine color palette and choose a favorite composition to paint larger the second half of the day (11x 14 or 16 x 20). This is a day for those who move away from painting objects or landscapes to emphasize feeling and movement.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Abby Ober
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Acrylic pouring is a great way to create interesting texture, patterns, and marbleized effects. I will take you through the process of mixing acrylic paints to pour and the appropriate consistency for different types of pour painting. Each class a new technique is taught resulting in unique, exciting paintings. Each step you will be given options for how to proceed to make the painting your own and how you prefer. You will also learn about design and color theory and get to experiment with pearlized, iridescent, metallic, and neon paints. Often paintings are left overnight at the center to dry and get picked up the next day. All levels welcome. All materials will be supplied. No prior experience necessary.
 
Location: Ocean City, Maryland
Instructor: Cindy Strouse
Cost: $36 ($30 for members)
Sponsor: Art League of Ocean City
Website, email, (410) 524-9433

Learn methods to propel you to the next level. My goal is to show you that with one approach you can paint any subject. Oil paints are preferred, but water-soluble oils, acrylic, or pastel are acceptable. It is helpful to have a basic working knowledge of your chosen medium. Intermediate to advanced.
 
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Instructor: Chris Kling
Cost: $350
Sponsor: The New Studio For The Visual Arts
Website, email, 561-295-5712

Bring your most cherished memories to life with nationally acclaimed artist and instructor Addison Palmer in this heartfelt one-day acrylic painting workshop where you'll transform your favorite place into a personal work of art. Whether you're a first-time painter or have years of experience, this inspiring class will guide you through essential techniques for capturing the essence of meaningful locations—from beloved vacation destinations and childhood hideaways to treasured hometown views—using expert instruction in composition, color harmony, creating depth and distance, working with natural light, and applying expressive brushwork that conveys both detail and emotion. Addison's thoughtful, one-on-one teaching style ensures that every participant receives customized support tailored to their individual skill level and artistic vision.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Addison Palmer
Cost: $100
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Uncork your creativity and discover the mesmerizing art of acrylic paint pouring! Whether you're planning the perfect girls' night out or an unforgettable date night, this relaxing workshop offers the ideal blend of artistic exploration and social fun. Under the guidance of instructor Julie Schroeder, you'll dive into the captivating world of fluid acrylics, experimenting with a variety of pouring techniques—from traditional methods to unique, innovative approaches that create stunning visual effects. Watch in amazement as colors blend, swirl, and bloom into beautiful florals and abstract designs that seem to come alive on the canvas. No experience necessary—just bring your sense of adventure and let the paint (and wine) flow! All participants must be age 21+.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Julie Schroeder
Cost: $60
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Come & have an amazing time creating a beautiful sunflower painting using a palette knife. You'll see just how easy it is to blend colors using a palette knife. We'll be using some really rich and creamy paints to have a lot of textures, interesting effects, (some almost like acrylic pouring), and 3-D effects. You’ll learn how to layer your paint and achieve a 3-dimensional look using a palette knife. We'll be using a variety of palette knife techniques on canvas to create a beautiful floral piece, no experience necessary! Students should bring $20 cash to pay the instructor who will provide all materials needed.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Julie Schroeder
Cost: $50
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Join Cerulean Arts Collective artist Leslie Fenton and learn to create a work of art with cut paper and paint! Develop marks and paper matrices in response to the wildly abundant natural world with a simple toolset of paper, paint, ink, X-acto knife, and adhesive. Short demonstrations will be followed by hands-on practice of ideas and techniques which you can extend beyond the workshop.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Leslie Fenton
Cost: $115
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio
Website, email, 267-514-8647

Students will paint along with the instructor step-by-step. This is a beginner's class that will provide instructions using colorful acrylic paints. Techniques will be taught using paint brush strokes, lines and shading. Students may partake in a BYOB beverage of choice to enjoy while painting. * Have children? Sign them up to enjoy Night at the Gallery downstairs!
 
Location: Ocean City, Maryland
Instructor: Joan Guerriero
Cost: $36 ($30 for members)
Sponsor: Art League of Ocean City
Website, email, (410) 524-9433

Discover the captivating world of avian art with nationally acclaimed artist and instructor Addison Palmer in this enchanting one-day acrylic painting workshop dedicated to capturing the elegance and vitality of birds on canvas. Designed for painters of all levels—from beginners to experienced artists—this immersive class will teach you how to render the stunning beauty of feathered subjects through expert techniques in observing form and anatomy, mixing vibrant plumage colors, creating realistic textures, understanding light on curved surfaces, and composing dynamic poses that convey movement and personality. You'll master the art of painting intricate feather details, expressive eyes, graceful wings, and natural perches—all while learning to capture the spirit and character that make each bird species so distinctive and mesmerizing.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Addison Palmer
Cost: $100
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Get the most out of your studio time or plein air work by keeping things simple, to-the-point, and powerful. Focus on design; the overall abstract relationships in your painting are what matter, and what have the most impact. Your ability to analyze visual data, break it down to its basic components, and record it, is the key to your development as a visual artist. This ability, combined with a lexical/visual language that can help you analyze and convey these ideas, is an essential step in discovering your own personal aesthetic. I'll do a demo of a painting for the ?rst half of each day, with the students painting the second half of the day. Attendees may use oils or acrylics.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Patrick Lee
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Discover the beauty of Tonalism in a dynamic 1-day workshop with instructor Robert Wortmann! Explore this evocative American art style, known for its atmospheric landscapes and poetic use of color. Dive into inspiring examples from masters like Whistler and Innes, enjoy a live demonstration, and create your own artwork with personalized guidance. All mediums are welcome, and the day wraps up with a supportive group critique. This course is open to all levels of students.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Robert Wortmann
Cost: $100
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Learn a simplified technique to make a fabulous aurora borealis (Northern Lights) painting. The painting process is achieved by beginning with black and white and layering colors over to create an ethereal painting. You will customize your painting along the way by choosing your color palette. Each step you will be given options for how to proceed to make the painting your own and how you prefer. All levels welcome. No prior experience necessary. Please wear clothing that can get stained. (We will provide aprons). Might be best to tie back hair and leave jewelry at home. Students will need to purchase supplies on the day of the workshop for a $20 fee paid directly to the instructor.
 
Location: Ocean City, Maryland
Instructor: Cindy Strouse
Cost: $36 ($30 for members)
Sponsor: Art League of Ocean City
Website, email, (410) 524-9433

The purpose of this class is to study and learn the techniques of the masters. Like the copyists at the National Gallery of Art (NGA), students will literally copy a masterpiece and each work will then “be available beyond museum walls.” Students are encouraged to attend the December bus trip to NGA, learn about the copyist program and research an image. Or, research can be done online. There are thousands of master images free to download and print. The instructor will share her knowledge to help decode a painting and reconstruct it with satisfaction. Students are expected to bring their own images to work from including drawing/painting supplies. Acrylics or watercolors are preferred. Some master reproductions will be provided.
 
Location: Ocean City, Maryland
Instructor: Joanne Guilfoil
Cost: $120 ($100 for members)
Sponsor: Art League of Ocean City
Website, email, (410) 524-9433

Life Drawing, or Figure Drawing, is a foundational practice for artists to study the human figure through observation. During Art League Life Drawing sessions, a model poses for a variety of lengths, from quick 2-minute gesture poses to longer 20–30-minute poses. Short poses help loosen up and build confidence, while longer poses allow for more attention to anatomy, proportion, and detail. All skill levels are welcome! Bring your preferred medium—charcoal, graphite, pen and ink, pastels, acrylics, oils, or whatever you enjoy—and use the session as an opportunity to practice, experiment, and grow.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Cost: $50 ($25 for members)
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Are you ready to take your paintings to the next level? Join artist and instructor Laurie Snow Hein for a two-day workshop designed for painters with some experience in oils or acrylics who want to strengthen their skills, develop their personal style, and approach their work with greater confidence. This workshop is centered around your paintings and your goals. Students are encouraged to bring a painting they would like to improve, a new painting they would like to begin, and/or a painting that needs refining and finishing. You choose your subject matter and canvas size while Laurie provides personalized instruction and constructive coaching.
 
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Instructor: Laurie Snow Hein
Cost: $400
Sponsor: The New Studio For The Visual Arts
Website, email, 561-295-5712

After many years of painting with oil paints, I now use acrylics for about 90% of my work. In this workshop we will cover acrylic paint, mediums and supplies for both studio and plein air work, the ‘whys’ and ‘why maybe nots’ of technique and methods for working with fast drying acrylics, and how to adapt to that if you are used to paint taking forever to dry! Each morning will begin with a Q&A, followed by an instructional demo period, and then a student work period in the afternoon. Students will work from their own photos and/or field studies. It would be most beneficial if you have some painting experience in either oil or acrylic.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Marc Hanson
Cost: $550
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Life Drawing, or Figure Drawing, is a foundational practice for artists to study the human figure through observation. During Art League Life Drawing sessions, a model poses for a variety of lengths, from quick 2-minute gesture poses to longer 20–30-minute poses. Short poses help loosen up and build confidence, while longer poses allow for more attention to anatomy, proportion, and detail. All skill levels are welcome! Bring your preferred medium—charcoal, graphite, pen and ink, pastels, acrylics, oils, or whatever you enjoy—and use the session as an opportunity to practice, experiment, and grow.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Cost: $50 ($25 for members)
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Learn methods to propel you to the next level. My goal is to show you that with one approach you can paint any subject. Oil paints are preferred, but water-soluble oils, acrylic, or pastel are acceptable. It is helpful to have a basic working knowledge of your chosen medium. Intermediate to advanced.
 
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Instructor: Chris Kling
Cost: $350
Sponsor: The New Studio For The Visual Arts
Website, email, 561-295-5712

Life Drawing, or Figure Drawing, is a foundational practice for artists to study the human figure through observation. During Art League Life Drawing sessions, a model poses for a variety of lengths, from quick 2-minute gesture poses to longer 20–30-minute poses. Short poses help loosen up and build confidence, while longer poses allow for more attention to anatomy, proportion, and detail. All skill levels are welcome! Bring your preferred medium—charcoal, graphite, pen and ink, pastels, acrylics, oils, or whatever you enjoy—and use the session as an opportunity to practice, experiment, and grow.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Cost: $50 ($25 for members)
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Join Joe and Sharon DiGiulio for their signature workshop where acrylic painting and collage come together in fresh, exciting ways on both paper and canvas. With two instructors guiding you each day, you'll explore design, color, dynamic composition, collage layering, acrylic abstraction, and a variety of creative techniques using paints and papers. Whether you're ready to expand your skills or reignite your creative spark, this hands-on workshop will encourage you to experiment, trust your instincts, loosen up, and create with greater confidence and joy. Walk away with several paintings started, finished and ready to frame! Treat yourself to an unforgettable creative experience. Space fills quickly, so reserve your spot and get ready to play, explore, and elevate your art!
 
Location: Ocean City, Maryland
Instructor: Sharon DiGiulio and Joe DiGiulio
Cost: $600 ($500 for members)
Sponsor: Art League of Ocean City
Website, email, (410) 524-9433

Life Drawing, or Figure Drawing, is a foundational practice for artists to study the human figure through observation. During Art League Life Drawing sessions, a model poses for a variety of lengths, from quick 2-minute gesture poses to longer 20–30-minute poses. Short poses help loosen up and build confidence, while longer poses allow for more attention to anatomy, proportion, and detail. All skill levels are welcome! Bring your preferred medium—charcoal, graphite, pen and ink, pastels, acrylics, oils, or whatever you enjoy—and use the session as an opportunity to practice, experiment, and grow.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Cost: $50 ($25 for members)
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Join us for 4 full days of sketching in beautiful Santa Fe! Sarah’s focus is primarily in travel sketching and plein air painting… her sketchbooks tell the story of her wanderlust. Painting and sketching on location is an incredible way to connect with the culture of a place, its architecture, even the food and music! Sarah will be demonstrating in gouache, though you could also use acrylic. Similar techniques apply to acrylics as gouache because it is opaque, so you are welcome to work in either medium. We will work in sketchbooks mostly. But if you prefer larger paper, that’s fine too. Whether you love watercolor, gouache or ink, the principle of travel sketching remains the same: joyful creation!
 
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Instructor: Sarah Burns
Cost: $1,690
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-584-6919

Join professional painter and instructor Patrick Reid O’Brien for an immersive workshop exploring vibrant color, expressive brushwork, and coastal impressionism. With more than 20 years of experience, Patrick will guide students through his process of building a strong painting from the initial rough-in to the final expressive marks. Inspired by master painters, Patrick combines sophisticated color relationships with bold, energetic brushwork. Students will learn to establish strong shapes, proportions, and values before moving into detail, creating paintings that feel cohesive. Patrick will demonstrate how to use complementary colors, warm and cool shifts, broken color, and varied shapes to create energy, depth, and visual interest. Students will also explore expressive brushwork by varying the angle, direction, and pressure of the brush.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Patrick Reid O'Brien
Cost: $600
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Nature will be our starting point, but rather than copying what we see, we will look for the underlying structure, rhythm, color relationships, and emotional character of our subject. Guided exercises and demonstrations will help participants simplify complex natural forms, take creative risks, and move beyond predictable solutions. We will explore how colored grounds and expressive underpainting can establish mood; how Notan and value patterns can strengthen impact; and how cropping, repetition, and variation can generate compelling new compositions. The emphasis is on exploration, discovery, and building a process that can continue long after the retreat. Students gain a clearer understanding of how to move from observation into abstraction; and practical strategies for beginning, revising, evaluating, and extending their work into a cohesive series.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Debora Stewart
Cost: $1,596
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

Who is this workshop for? If you are a beginner, you’ll be given the opportunity to learn composition, color mixing, mark making and more, all in a welcoming environment. If you are an advanced artist, Jodie will help you create your most honest work through understanding the personal energy you bring to your art, embracing your personal mark making and how you choose color combinations in a more intuitive way. Either way, this workshop will help you and your art advance to a new level in a judgement-free, joy-filled zone.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Jodie King
Cost: $3,300
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

This workshop will take you beyond worn-out or predictable painting methods. We will experiment with innovative acrylic techniques while cultivating a mindset of curiosity and self-confidence. Inspiring demos, time to paint, and group critiques will reinforce your unique vision. Art discussions use non-judgmental, descriptive language, helping you discover and appreciate new, more expressive compositions. or abstracted representational subjects. Discussions will address confidence, procrastination, vulnerability, curiosity, courage, inspiration, intuition, metaphor, symbolic elements, competition, belief systems, and more! For more information, visit joanfullerton.com.
 
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Instructor: Joan Fullerton
Cost: $625 Museum members/ $675 non-members
Sponsor: Huntsville
Website, email, 256-535-6372

Discover the joy of painting expressive, atmospheric skies in this dynamic workshop designed for artists of all levels. Join award-winning artist and renowned instructor Eric Jacobsen for an inspiring experience tailored to both oil and acrylic painters. Key topics include composition, value, design, choosing a motif, identifying and mixing accurate warm and cool colors, establishing a focal point, and valuable tips and do’s and don’ts for the landscape painter. Special emphasis will be placed on mark making, helping you bring energy and expression to your brushwork. The workshop will feature a combination of informal lectures, instructor demonstrations, and plenty of hands-on painting time, ensuring a well-rounded and engaging learning experience.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Eric Jacobsen
Cost: $550
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Join us for inspiring demonstrations, lectures, encouragement, and practice. You’ll learn how to coax hints of reality from an abstract background, how to control values and colors for emotional emphasis, and how to suggest rather than delineate. We will work intuitively, responding to what emerges, with less censorship and greater freedom. There will be daily demonstrations of various techniques for layering acrylic paint and paper. Students will produce two paintings per day, and we’ll discuss them using descriptive language to expand our individual creative voice. By adopting an attitude of “play”, this workshop will promote greater innovation and receptivity to the small voice of intuition and imagination. With a body of several paintings, we’ll pursue editing solutions for a final product.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Joan Fullerton
Cost: $1,596
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

Learn to paint looser and more confidently during this four-day workshop with artist Sarah Sedwick. Take a step-by-step approach to alla prima oil painting, from black-and-white studies to brilliant color. Build a beautiful composition with life and movement, and get a new perspective on the still life. Instead of struggling with overworking your paintings, practice stopping sooner to keep the freshness you crave in your work! Explore how limitations can set you free, creating a painting in 20 brushstrokes, and another in 20 minutes. Learn the fundamentals of good design, and walk step-by-step through Sarah’s process, creating a dynamic still life from start to finish! Oils and acrylics are welcome - particularly Open acrylics, that stay wet longer.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Sarah Sedwick
Cost: $1,596
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

Impressionism provides a platform for stretching the boundaries of realism. In this workshop, I will focus on color while introducing some new tools for painting Impressionistic images. While some may go more representational and others more abstract, the basic tenet of impressionism relies on broken color and a heightened sensitivity to color. I am known to rely on the palette knife to help generate highly colored images, but your tools will be of your choosing, be it palette knives, brushes, wedges, or spatchers. My goal is to help you cultivate your skills and use of color as you explore and enhance your personal visual voice (the unique way in which you interpret and reflect what you see in creating your image).
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Cynthia Rosen
Cost: $1,596
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389