Learn everything you need to know about the medium of pastels. Apply basic and advanced techniques in rendering the still-life, portraits and cityscape views. Topics include the use of light and color, types of pastel available, use of different papers, fixing and transporting finished drawings, and safety issues.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Joseph Sweeney
Cost: $195
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio
Website, email, 267-514-8647

In the 1950s a group of young American artists burst onto the international art scene with a bold, fresh, and improvisational visual form quickly labeled Abstract Expressionism. At the forefront of this group was Jackson Pollock whose “drip” paintings came to personify the movement. Join us for a close look at Abstract Expressionism and the central role that Pollock played in its development. We’ll look at Pollock’s early work, his breakthrough drip paintings, and the work of his last years. We’ll also consider Pollock in relationship to the work of his contemporaries such as Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, and Robert Motherwell.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: William Perthes
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Working from still-life we will develop a vocabulary for clearer color thinking, and skills in seeing and using the subtle color changes in white. Color is a perceptual event: a sensation, not a theory. White, as the brightest and highest value, is the master of all the other colors. How does a painter become a colorist? It is not about using bright colors but about handling nuances and seeing color relationships, especially in the use of whites. Those subtle color changes require heightened sensitivity to all aspects of color; value, harmony and complementary, along with careful observation and response, and understanding how color and light function in both human vision and in paint.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Maggie Siner
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Maggie Siner, accomplished painter and inspiring teacher will lead you on a voyage into the inner world of the artist’s visual thinking as it regards the uses of white and the value structure that creates a great painting. Citing examples from great masterpieces, this slide lecture shows how paintings use form, space, light and the nuances of white for expressive purposes. Siner’s ability to communicate about painting and her expertise provide a rare opportunity to look at great paintings from a creator's point of view. It is a fascinating analysis that will change the way you look at painting and open a deeper appreciation of art. If you are signed up for Maggie's workshop, you are automatically enrolled in the lecture.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Maggie Siner
Cost: $35
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Every mark you make has the power to describe form, texture, and atmosphere. In this workshop, students will experiment with a variety of graphite drawing techniques to create convincing textures such as bark, stone, foliage, water, fabric, and more. Along the way, you'll discover how thoughtful mark making adds richness, depth, and expression to your artwork while expanding your visual vocabulary for drawing, painting, and mixed media. This course is designed for students of all levels.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Allison Luce
Cost: $50
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

This class breaks down the landscape into three essential zones: foreground, middle ground, and background. We will look at how color and value shift in each of the three zones and learn how to use dramatic value contrast and scale shifts to guide the viewer's eye exactly where you want it to go. Together we will design landscapes with strong foreground elements (such as a large tree, dark grasses, or a winding pathway) that lead to a clear middle ground and then back to a deep atmospheric vista. Open to artists at all levels who want to create depth in their paintings and try a structured approach to landscape painting.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Claire Haik
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Capture scenes with lively ink lines and watercolor pencil washes in this two-day workshop with Fernando Porras at The New Studio for the Visual Arts in Jupiter, Florida. Explore quick sighting shortcuts, gesture-driven marks, and loose sketching techniques for travel journals, urban studies, and everyday observations. Practice simplifying what you see and moving beyond rigid outlines and perfectionism. The focus is on faster, expressive sketching rather than detailed rendering. Students bring their own supplies; paper towels are provided. Review the supply list before attending.
 
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Instructor: Fernando Porras
Cost: $375 for both days
Sponsor: The New Studio for the Visual Arts
Website, email, 561-295-5712

Maggie Siner, accomplished painter and inspiring teacher will lead you on a voyage into the inner world of the artist’s visual thinking focusing on drapery as an organizing structure and as a basis of gestural unity. Citing examples from great masterpieces, this slide lecture shows how paintings use drapery to create form, light, composition and gesture for expressive purposes. Siner’s ability to communicate about painting and her expertise provide a rare opportunity to look at great paintings from a creator's point of view. It is a fascinating analysis that will change the way you look at painting and open a deeper appreciation of art. If you are signed up for her workshop, you are automatically enrolled in the lecture.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Maggie Siner
Cost: $35
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Because drapery captures gravity, weight and movement, it does a great deal of the work in making a convincing dynamic composition. Drapery can be manipulated and altered in ways that bodies can never be and yet define the forms of the body underneath. As it covers it also reveals. Fabric retains the gesture of movement, giving life to static forms. Changes of color on each turning plane are subtle, beautiful, and completely dependent on fabric texture. This gives tactile specificity for the sense of touch. Fabric suggests content, drama. Working from visual perception and studying light relationships we will use both still life and figure to simplify and extract the essentials of form and gesture for a unified and dramatic whole.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Maggie Siner
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

The ocean, bays, creeks and skies of the Eastern Shore offer terrific material for the artist. Working from the student's own photographs, Katie will guide the class through the necessary steps to create beautiful seascapes. There will be important instruction on how to paint inspiring skies and cloud formations. As with all her classes, Katie will provide lots of personal attention and critique.
 
Location: Ocean City, Maryland
Instructor: Katie Cassidy
Cost: $228 ($190 for members)
Sponsor: Art League of Ocean City
Website, email, (410) 524-9433

This workshop will focus on working though the complexities of oil painting while studying the light, form and space of a small scaled still life. Demonstrations will cover: Subject choices, material choices, under-paintings, direct and indirect oil techniques. Intense personal instruction is augmented with class discussions on historical and contemporary artists.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Jon Redmond
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

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

The convincing depiction of form in three-dimensional space is one of the great conceptual breakthroughs in Western art initiated during the Renaissance. Drawing What You See will begin by drawing items from still life on toned paper. How do you begin a drawing, and when do you stop? We will explore physical viewpoint, composition and the rendering of light and shadow to create mood and feeling. The goal is to build a drawing vocabulary that communicates your thoughts and feelings. The class will include demonstrations, discussions of masterworks (traditional and contemporary) and thoughtful feedback on class work. Participants will discover this to be a valuable resource for more advanced work in drawing and painting.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Ernie Norcia
Cost: $250
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Painting is a balance between intentional seeing, thoughtful design, and spontaneous discovery. In this six-week course, we'll explore how to move beyond simply observing our subject to recognizing what we find meaningful and what we want our painting to communicate. Beginning with the architecture of a painting through the development of a strong value structure, we'll explore how shapes, patterns, color, and expressive mark-making work together to create a unified and dynamic painting. Equally important is the creative process itself—allowing the application of paint, intuitive decisions, and unexpected discoveries to influence how we see and respond to our subject. Weekly instructor demonstrations, discussion, and hands-on painting with individual guidance, as students develop paintings that are expressive, painterly, and uniquely their own.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Fred Jackson
Cost: $295
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Unlock the Power of Color! Ever mix the perfect color in your head, only to end up with something dull or muddy on your palette? Understanding how colors interact can transform the way you paint—and give you much more confidence when mixing and choosing color. While many of the principles explored in this class apply across a variety of artistic mediums, this particular class will use watercolor as we explore the fascinating world of color. In this hands-on two-week class, you’ll discover the incredible range of colors that can be created from the primary colors, learn how to mix cleaner, more vibrant hues while avoiding unwanted grays and mud, and discover how to intentionally create beautiful neutrals.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Joanna Chalson
Cost: $100
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

This 12-week course invites students into the exciting world of abstract mixed media art. Students will explore a wide range of materials, techniques, tools and compositional strategies to create richly layered artwork. Each weekly class will include live demonstrations, and thoughtfully prepared handouts to reinforce concepts and spark ideas. Students will receive practical advice, creative prompts, and individualized guidance as they develop their own pieces. Students will explore essential topics such as mark-making, texture, layering, contrast, intuitive composition, adding and subtracting, similar but different, balance, and focal points. The course encourages experimentation with tools like brushes, palette knives, color shapers, and unconventional materials. Students will be encouraged to take risks, trust their intuition, and enjoy the process of discovery.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Birgit Raders-Eichinger
Cost: $585
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

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: $585
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Through demos, lectures and personal instruction you will paint from life using your own personal still life set ups. Common problems such as composition, subject matter, lighting, color mixing and material choices will be covered.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Jon Redmond
Cost: $585
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

This class offers a combination of instruction and open studio practice allowing students to explore, take chances, develop critical thinking, and cultivate their artistic voices. Participants investigate basic color theory, learn how to create strong compositions, and develop technical skills. The choice of medium is up to each individual. Supportive individual and group critiques, specific assignments and demonstrations will encourage students to pursue their personal styles and growth.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Val Rossman
Cost: $245
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

How do we move beyond simply making a successful painting and begin to develop work that feels personal? This class will focus on building a personal language in painting through individual exploration, experimentation, and group discussions. Students are welcome to work with any subject matter and in any medium, from realism to semi-abstraction. We will consider how choices involving color, composition, edges, paint handling, and simplification can contribute to a more individual and cohesive body of work. Rather than following a single approach or formula, students will be encouraged to identify what genuinely interests them and to strengthen the qualities in their existing work. Level: Intermediate to Advanced.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Claudia Rilling
Cost: $540
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Using your own inspiration e.g., photos, tablets, still life objects etc., you will learn different techniques to give your paintings life and energy. Composition, value, color mixing and technique will be the main focuses of this class. All mediums and skill levels are welcome!
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Stefanie Lieberman
Cost: $585
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

This class will explore the process of working in the studio from photographs - looking at both historic and contemporary examples, as well as class demonstrations and individual instruction. We will sort through the inherent strengths and weaknesses of using the photograph as the basis for a painting. Jon will also discuss ways to manipulate your photos with the iPhone and how to choose the best photos from which to work.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Jon Redmond
Cost: $585
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

If you’ve always wanted to paint with watercolors but were afraid to try, this very beginning class will introduce you to the joys of creating beautiful, glowing watercolor paintings. Using the elements and principles of design and composition, you’ll learn the following techniques: color mixing, wet-on-wet wash, wet-on-dry techniques, glazing, color charging, tricks with salt, oozles, scaping and much more. This class is designed for those with no watercolor experience, or those who have tried watercolor painting but need a refresher. There will be a printed handout with each class.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Nancy Carney
Cost: $300
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Good drawing skills are a must for those who want to start/restart in any medium in art. The student will learn positive and negative shapes, comparative measurements, contour drawing, and the importance of value. There will be fun and challenging exercises and plenty of critiques throughout the class. You can find the art supplies list online. There is an additional $5 materials fee paid directly to instructor during class.
 
Location: Ocean City, Maryland
Instructor: Katie Cassidy
Cost: $246 ($205 for members)
Sponsor: Art League of Ocean City
Website, email, (410) 524-9433

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

Skill Level: All Artists to Beginners to Professional. If you’re painting still lacks the color impact you desire, consider this workshop. Far more than a “regular” color workshop, this rigorous course will heighten your awareness and ability to see color in all its attributes and deceptions. Susan and Doug will teach the Russian Impressionist method they employ to SEE and identify the color you wish to depict, create a concept for that color, followed by a methodology for mixing pigment. Also covered is the coveted skill of creating depth in your paintings by honing your color space skills. the artist will come away with pages of useful color swatches and a practical color mixing strategy. For more information, visit diehlfineart.com.
 
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Instructor: Susan and Doug Diehl
Cost: $425 Museum members/ $450 non-members
Sponsor: Huntsville Museum of Art
Website, email, 256-535-6372

Chris will demonstrate multiple paintings (seascape, floral, & island theme) from beginning to completion. Areas of demonstrations and techniques will include, design, drawing, color, value, washes, glazing, wet in wet, masking, dry brush, lifting out and more. Chris will guide you through the techniques and help you develop skills needed to produce beautiful watercolor paintings. He will not only tell you how but also show you! For more information about Chris, visit his website at www.dreyerdesign.com.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Chris Dreyer
Cost: $200
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Join Sue Archer, NWS, AWS, TWSA, for Textures for Watercolor and Watermedia Painters, a technique-focused workshop exploring creative ways to achieve texture. Through demonstrations, lectures, projects, and critiques, participants will explore pigment qualities, masking, lifting, stamping, underpainting, imprinting, painted patterns, alternative surfaces, and more. Part 1: February 27–28, 2027 | 9:30 AM–4:00 PM | $375. Part 2: March 6–7, 2027 | 9:30 AM–4:00 PM | $375. Lessons are progressive, and Part 1 is required to participate in Part 2. One year of watercolor experience is recommended. Finished paintings are not the objective; the focus is on learning techniques and processes that artists can incorporate into their own work.
 
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Instructor: Sue Archer
Cost: $375 for first 2 days - $750 for all 4 days
Sponsor: The New Studio For The Visual Arts
Website, email, 561-295-5712

This intensive session provides basic technical CWM/Oil skills plus advanced conceptual expression tools. The focus centers on how the psychological perception of color, form, and texture anchors a composition and guides the viewer's eye. Two-Day Curriculum Structure. Day 1: Foundations & Technical Mechanics, Layering, Masking & paint solvent reductions. Day 2: Application & Conceptual Expression. The second day applies these mechanics directly to visual mechanics and narrative design. Visual Weight Distribution. Rhythm & Repetition: Focal Points & Contrast: Utilizing sharp tonal or Studio Practice & Critiques: Ample dedicated painting time paired with direct, personalized Q&A feedback sessions to refine individual narratives.
 
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Instructor: Jorge Luis Bernal
Cost: $545.00 Tax & materials included
Sponsor: Jorge Luis Bernal Studio and Workshops
Website, email, 301-821-3999

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

Unlock the secrets to capturing light, color, and atmosphere directly from nature. Whether you're taking your first steps into outdoor painting or seeking to refine your plein air practice, this comprehensive three-day workshop with accomplished artist Lee Copen will transform your approach to working on location. Plein air painting offers unparalleled opportunities to observe and render the nuances of natural light and color—yet the ever-changing conditions and complexity of outdoor scenes can present significant challenges. Through expert instruction, practical demonstrations, and guided painting sessions, Lee will help you develop strategies to simplify the process, work with confidence, and enjoy the plein air experience. All levels of students are welcome; however, some drawing and painting knowledge and experience is important.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Lee Copen
Cost: $550
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Artists can all benefit from ideas to help us create more expressive paintings. Karen is always striving to interpret her subject by including her own personal touch rather than a copying the reference and painting exactly what she sees. She will share her tips and techniques for the effective use of photos to inspire paintings. She will give you the tools you need to move away from copying the reference and to help you create stronger paintings. She considers herself a contemporary landscape painter. She is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and a Masters Circle recipient of the International Association of Pastel Societies. For more information, visit karenmargulis.com.
 
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Instructor: Karen Margulis
Cost: $485 Museum members/ $535 non-members
Sponsor: Huntsville Museum of Art
Website, email, 256-535-6372

3-Day Watercolor Course: En Plein Air! Discover the joy of painting outdoors with Vladislav Yeliseyev! Immerse yourself in the Yeliseyev Method, a proven approach to watercolor that simplifies the painting process and inspires artists worldwide. Explore beautiful Sarasota settings, develop your artistic skills, and gain confidence in composition, value, and expressive color through demonstrations and personalized instruction. Bonus: Enjoy complimentary access to two video workshops covering essential drawing skills and perspective to help you prepare for your plein air experience. Perfect for artists of all skill levels, this intimate master class offers three inspiring days of painting, learning, and creative discovery with an internationally acclaimed watercolorist. Space is limited—register today!
 
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Instructor: Vladislav Yeliseyev
Cost: $650
Sponsor: Renaissance School of Art
Website, email, 941-330-6865

A successful painting relies on the harmonious interplay of essential elements: color, value, technique, and a clear focal point. In this workshop, Aline explores these fundamental principles through an innovative approach—viewing subjects as abstract shapes to create compelling illustrative works. Students will work from their own photographic references, transforming them into expressive pastel paintings. Through daily painting demonstrations, Aline will guide participants in understanding color through the lens of temperature, intensity, and value, while demonstrating how to translate these concepts using pastel techniques. A key focus will be the practice of building shapes and strategically carving back into them to achieve a dynamic, painterly finish. This class is a great choice for intermediate and advanced-level pastel painters.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Aline Ordman
Cost: $550
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

National award-winning artist, Bryan Jernigan, paints impressionistic pastel landscapes and still lifes. Each day in this workshop, he will demonstrate landscapes – from bucolic scenes to sandy beaches – and still life arrangements while he shares with you the secrets of the pastel medium. From choosing the right papers to create your best work to learning the basics of value, composition and color that apply to all disciplines, a new world of artistic possibilities will open up for you. You’ll learn what tools to use, get practical guidance on developing skies, water, trees, flowers and more, explore framing options, and discover application tips and tricks to take your art to the next level as well as techniques to produce loosely expressive, impressionistic works.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Bryan Jernigan
Cost: $2,500
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

In this workshop designed for intermediate level watercolor students, you’ll begin to see the world through a new lens—learning how to transform everyday reality into expressive, impressionistic paintings that evoke mood and atmosphere. The focus is not on replicating every detail, but on capturing the essence of your subject. Keiko will guide you from that first spark of inspiration through a process of simplification, leading to a compelling painting rich in composition and meaning. Key topics covered in this class include: • Creating a strong preliminary drawing and composition • Exploring a range of watercolor techniques and brush handling • Understanding what makes a strong design • Mastering the relationship between light and dark values • Balancing planning with intuition • Learning how to simplify and edit complex visual information
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Keiko Tanabe
Cost: $650
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

This 2-day workshop explores the artistic principles of visual organization and the opportunity to experiment with collage, cold wax medium and oil paints. Day 1: Foundations & Techniques. All the Basics: Substrate preparation, color mixing, tools, use of paint shapers, mark-making techniques, masking, stencils, brayer techniques, texture applications, paint solvent reductions etc. Day 2: Expression & Application: Focusing on visual organization and the expressive use collage and color to build richly layered surfaces and develop a narrative. Enjoy ample painting time with personalized feedback through direct Q&A sessions with Jorge throughout the weekend.
 
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Instructor: Jorge Luis Bernal
Cost: $545.00 Tax & materials included
Website, email, 301-821-3999

Discover the beauty of painting landscapes that breathe with light, mood, and emotion. In this watercolor workshop, Keiko Tanabe guides artists on a journey from the foundation of structure to the expressive freedom of impression. Through clear instruction and intuitive insight, Keiko will demonstrate how to simplify complex scenes, design with purpose, and infuse your paintings with atmosphere and feeling. During her live demonstrations, she provides a running commentary, offering an inside look at her thought process – how she interprets the subject, makes compositional decisions, and chooses colors and brushstrokes to express mood and intention. For more information, visit ktanabefineart.com. Students will learn to balance control and spontaneity, creating paintings that are fresh, luminous, and deeply personal.
 
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Instructor: Keiko Tanabe
Cost: $630 Museum members/ $680 non-members
Sponsor: Huntsville Museum of Art
Website, email, 256-535-6372

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: $2,500
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: $3,500
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

Discover the Joy of Watercolor in Vermont! Escape to the peaceful charm of Vermont for a 4-day watercolor workshop at the historic Landgrove Inn, nestled in the Green Mountain National Forest. Join master watercolorist Vladislav Yeliseyev for an inspiring creative retreat and discover his signature Yeliseyev Method—a fresh, expressive approach to painting with freedom and confidence. Inspired by his book, Light and Color in the Watercolor Landscape, the workshop combines daily demonstrations, guided exercises, and personalized feedback to help you master composition, value, and color while bringing energy and movement to your paintings. Join us for four unforgettable days of painting, learning, and artistic discovery in the heart of Vermont. Reserve your spot today!
 
Location: Landgrove, Vermont
Instructor: Vladislav Yeliseyev
Cost: $850
Sponsor: The Landgrove
Website, email, 802-824-6673

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

4-Day Watercolor Course & Retreat in Beautiful Wisconsin! Join us for four inspiring days of watercolor painting, artistic growth, and relaxation in Wisconsin’s scenic surroundings. Learn from master watercolorist Vladislav Yeliseyev and discover his signature approach to painting with freedom, confidence, and expressive brushwork. Through daily demonstrations, guided exercises, and personalized feedback, you’ll explore composition, value, and color while learning to simplify subjects and create fresh, lively paintings. Whether you want to refine your technique or develop a looser, more expressive style, this retreat offers the perfect opportunity to learn, experiment, and connect with fellow artists. Come paint, recharge, and find fresh inspiration in beautiful Wisconsin!
 
Location: Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin
Instructor: Vladislav Yeliseyev
Sponsor: Dillman's
Website, email, 715-588-3143

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 Fabio Cembranelli for an intensive watercolor workshop focused on cultivating a loose, spontaneous, and deeply personal painting style. This course is designed to empower artists through intuitive techniques across various subjects. Learn to paint with wet-on-wet techniques (no preliminary sketch needed), make strong compositional choices, utilize the white of the paper, create attractive focal points, and suggest details with loose brush strokes. Explore negative painting and various background options. Learn how to depict the shapes of light, shadow and colors reflected on different surfaces. Apply principles of perspective and focal point. Discover how to capture the colors of the seasons, mix a wide array of shades of greens, and depict water reflections. Join us for an awesome watercolor retreat!
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Fabio Cembranelli
Cost: $2,500
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

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: $2,500
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

There seems to be a never-ending quest to loosen up in watercolor and it’s probably the most common goal of students. My workshop will focus on using value studies from the outset to identify the large shapes in a scene. These large shapes provide the artist with opportunities for lost edges when painting in watercolor, which is essential if we are to take full advantage of the medium. Too often the 'found edges', or details, take over the painter's thinking process, and the result is a tight watercolor. We will move on toward color paintings using value studies as our guide, and complete color painting lessons together. Demonstration paintings will be done by Andy to reinforce the lessons.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Andy Evansen
Cost: $650
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738