Art Workshops, Classes & Retreats

Post Your Workshops or Classes
 

"Classical Painting and Drawing"
Tuesdays, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
 

All of Gayle's classes and workshops include step-by-step instruction and personal guidance. Gayle is classically trained as well as being an excellent instructor. Helping students build a solid foundation of strong basic skills is one of Gayle's most outstanding assets. She is also encouraging, positive and easy to be with. You will be amazed at how fast your art will grow in these intensive-study classes. Work at your own pace, in a small group, at the beautiful OnTrack classroom.
 
Location: Franklin, Tennessee
Instructor: Gayle Levee, www.gaylelevee.com
Sponsor: On Track Studios
Website, email


"Capturing the Light"
April 3, 2024
 

This immersive oil workshop is focused on mastering the portrayal of light in your paintings. Throughout the session, you will drive into the fundamental principles of using the value scale to achieve realistic light effects. From understanding highlights to mastering shadows, Karen will guide you through practical painting exercises designed to apply these concepts directly. Participants can expect personalized feedback and guidance from Karen, tailored to their individual artistic goals and skill levels. We will be working from photos we have taken ourselves or you can browse a diverse selection of Karen's extensive photo collection. You will have ample opportunities to explore different scenes and scenarios, enriching your learning experience. Any subject matter can be chosen except for portraits.
 
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Instructor: Karen Leffel-Massengill
Cost: $175
Sponsor: The New Studio For The Visual Arts
Website, email, 561-295-5712


"Painterly Pastels"
Thursdays, April 4 - May 9, 2024
 

Whether you are a true beginner or looking to further your skills in the medium of chalk pastels, join me for a 6-week introductory class. Learn to see, interpret and record with more confidence! Find inspiration working from autumnal still life set ups and focus on the fundamental aspects of design: Composition, Shape, Value, Color, Form and Texture. Enjoy the process of making art and find your unique style. Demonstrations and plenty of individual attention + critiques will be offered each week.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Louise Dusinberre
Cost: $280
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"Mastering Coloured Pencil Techniques for Botanical Drawing with Ann Swan"
April 6-13, 2024
 

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


"Painting with a Palette Knife"
April 6-7, 2024
 

This two-day workshop will focus on the use of the palette knife, the freedom it affords and the emphasis of color in your paintings. While the palette knife can be used to enhance brush paintings, it is a perfect tool for impressionistic as well as abstracted images rich in color. We will work from the still life as well as from landscape photos. I will show how the palette knife can add its own vibrancy to the image. Materials: Oil or acrylic paints.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Cynthia Rosen
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"4-Day Expressive Watercolor: Flowers to Figures"
April 8-11, 2024
 

Mon-Thurs. April 8-11, 9:30am-3:30pm. $450 Art League of OC Members, $565 Non-Members. Fresh flowers in the studio will be the inspiration for the beginning of this dynamic workshop – progressing to the head and figure. Through a series of fun painting exercises, students will develop a more loose and natural approach – giving them an opportunity to be more spontaneous and expressive in their paintings. In our approach to learning how to interpret the head and figure, we will learn to express translucent flesh tones, while focusing on the gesture of the person. Painting children will also be covered.
 
Location: Ocean City, Maryland
Instructor: Janet Rogers
Cost: $450 ALOC Members, $565 Non-Members
Sponsor: Art League of Ocean City
Website, email, 410-524-9433


"Transparency for Water & Glass in Oils and Acrylics"
April 8, 2024
 

Oil and acrylic colors can achieve that transparent - almost watercolor - look with deep, jewel-like colors. The addition of a paint medium specific to oils or acrylics along with the application of specific techniques, methods and color combinations, will result in transparent depth and illusion. Whether painting in an abstract or realistic form, transparency can create the illusion of water and glass, or any subject. Spontaneity of method and color mixing for the subject will be achieved through technique exercises and demonstration. All levels of experience are welcome!!
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Alex Sharma
Cost: $100
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738


"Getting the Glow"
April 10, 2024
 

Join us for an illuminating oil workshop with Karen as she dives deep into the art of capturing that elusive "glow" in your paintings. Through exploration of color temperature, Karen will unravel the secrets behind infusing your artwork with warmth, radiance, and atmosphere. In this hands-on workshop, Karen will do demos to help with the learning process and participants will have the freedom to choose their own subjects from personal photos, ensuring that each painting reflects their unique vision and style. No more painting from someone else's perspective – it's time to bring your own experiences and memories to life on the canvas.
 
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Instructor: Karen Leffel-Massengill
Cost: $175
Sponsor: The New Studio For The Visual Arts
Website, email, 561-295-5712


"Capturing Radiant Light in Your Paintings in Oil or Acrylic"
April 11-14, 2024
 

Master your ability to capture radiance in your paintings and join South Carolina artist Michael Story for this four-day landscape painting workshop. Michael will explain and demonstrate the fundamentals of building radiant color by applying complementary and analogous color combinations. Use effective underpainting and layering of color in trees, grasses, sky, and water to create interest and authenticity in our subject matter. Students begin their paintings with an initial charcoal drawing, followed by a color wash applied over the image. You’ll begin blocking in your painting, then progressing dark to light to completion. Building final layers of color and avoiding muddy mixtures, you’ll achieve fresh, bright, radiant color while capturing depth and drama to your work. Visit michaelstory.com.
 
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Instructor: Michael Story
Cost: $650 Museum members/ $700 non-members
Sponsor: Huntsville
Website, email, 256-535-6372


"Very Beginner Watercolor Painting"
April 13, 2024
 

If you have ever wanted to try to paint in vibrant, transparent watercolor but didn't know how to start, this is the class that will introduce you to classic watercolors and the methods used to create fluid, pleasing results. Learn all the basics from a former university art professor to get you started on an exciting journey. This workshop will cover: paints - and how to set up your color palette, brushes, types and weights of watercolor paper, color mixing, brushwork and care of materials. Come prepared to paint as Alex leads you from design to still life. Detailed information handouts are included and all your materials to use in this workshop are supplied for a $20 fee!
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Alex Sharma
Cost: $100
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738


"Teen Studio Drawing & Painting (Ages: 11+)"
Saturdays, April 13 - June 1, 2024
 

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


"From Plant to Painting with Shevaun Doherty and Dianne Sutherland"
April 13-20, 2024
 

Join Shevaun Doherty and Dianne Sutherland for one week of drawing and painting the rich flora of Clos Mirabel, using watercolours to capture the colours and textures of the plants. From finding a subject, to the composition, we will reveal the artist’s process during the crucial developmental stages. You will learn how to arrange the plant parts on the page to make best use of space; using overlaps, separation and aerial perspective. The process will include working out colours, including underlying colour, tints and shades, and saturation, as well as the relevant watercolour techniques for the different features of the plant. Finally, you will be ready to take your painting to a finished stage with confidence.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Shevaun Doherty and Dianne Sutherland
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + 450€ tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91


"Introduction to Painting in Oils"
Mondays, April 15 - May 20, 2024
 

Students learn basic techniques and mechanics of oil painting to help guide them from inspiration to expression. Working from still-life set-ups, students build paintings as they consider the relationship of objects within a composition, as well as the overall picture including color, hue, and intensity.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Michael Doyle
Cost: $280
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"Still Life and Floral Painting"
Mondays, April 15 - May 20, 2024
 

Students will explore building paintings with luminous color, starting with transparent paint and building toward an opaque application. This direct painting technique lends itself well to floral subject matter. However, students are encouraged to bring objects from home to build still-life compositions that inspire them based on color or subject matter. The instructor will provide floral items for students to work with and examples of finished direct painting methods. In class, demonstrations will detail how to control and manipulate paint while achieving the loose, relaxed outcome of an Alla Prima approach. For Intermediate to Advanced students, an expanded color palette is encouraged for more advanced painters.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Sharon Henderson
Cost: $280
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"Vibrant Color"
Mondays, April 15 - May 20, 2024
 

Using an expanded palette of oil paint, emphasis will be on capturing the immediate impact of light on simple, basic shapes in order to better understand color relationships. Students will explore simple relationships of color using still life objects using the vocabulary of color theory. Once the ability to calibrate fundamental overall color relationships is developed, larger relationships will be broken down into smaller ones. Experimentation with paint and loose, energetic paint handling is encouraged! Level: Intermediate to Advanced, an expanded color palette is required.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Sharon Henderson
Cost: $280
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"Learn to Draw"
Wednesdays, April 17 - May 29, 2024
 

This class will explore the essential relationships of shape, proportion, and value within the condition of light bathing subject matter. The painterly medium of charcoal contributes significantly to understanding the practice of building a painting. Drawing in line and moving to masses, students strive to draw fluidly with concentration on value and proportion, identifying a process that is particularly suited for training painters. The course begins with shorter exercises, as detail-oriented seeing emerges in still life drawing after students learn to prioritize the order of the masses.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Sharon Henderson
Cost: $270
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"Expressive Botanical Watercolor"
April 18, 2024
 

Discover the art of expressive botanical watercolor with the talented Katia Petrovksy. Learn to capture the essence of botanical subjects through fluid brushstrokes and vibrant colors. From mastering basic techniques to exploring advanced methods, this class empowers you to create dynamic botanical illustrations. Through engaging demonstrations and hands-on exercises, cultivate your unique style and create a stunning collection of expressive artworks that reflect your creativity and love for nature. Join us and let your artistic vision bloom!
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Katia Petrovsky
Cost: $79
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email


"Botanical Art in Drybrush Watercolor"
April 20, 2024
 

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


"Light & Shadow"
Tuesdays, April 23 - May 28, 2024
 

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


"Oil Painting: Starting Up & Moving Along"
Tuesdays, April 23 - June 4, 2024
 

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


"Still Life in the Interior"
April 26-28, 2024
 

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


"'Blooming Beautiful' Flowers of the Pyrenees with Mary Dillon"
April 27 - May 4, 2024
 

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


"Postcards from Provence"
May 4-11, 2024
 

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


"Travel to Western Sicily and learn en Plein Air Oil Painting"
May 4-11, 2024
 

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


"Painting Holidays: Mixed Media Workshop with Ali Hargreaves"
May 4-11, 2024
 

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


"Classical Painting and Drawing"
Tuesdays, May 7, 14, 21
 

All of Gayle's classes and workshops include step-by-step instruction and personal guidance. Gayle is classically trained as well as being an excellent instructor. Helping students build a solid foundation of strong basic skills is one of Gayle's most outstanding assets. She is also encouraging, positive and easy to be with. You will be amazed at how fast your art will grow in these intensive-study classes. Work at your own pace, in a small group, at the beautiful OnTrack classroom.
 
Location: Franklin, Tennessee
Instructor: Gayle Levee, www.gaylelevee.com
Sponsor: On Track Studios
Website, email


"Dutch Florals: A Vanishing Tradition - An Intensive Course"
Fridays, May 10 - October 11, 2024
 

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


"Travel to Western Sicily and learn en Plein Air Oil Painting"
May 11-18, 2024
 

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


"Creating Dynamic Still Life Paintings in Oil"
May 13-15, 2024
 

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


"Three-Day Color Boot Camp"
May 15-17, 2024
 

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


"Painting Spring Blooms"
Wednesdays, May 15 - June 19, 2024
 

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


"Painting Big - Enlarging Roses, Petals and Leaves with Úrsula Romero"
May 18-25, 2024
 

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


"Dynamic Still Life in Tuscany"
May 18-25, 2024
 

“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


"Color Theory Meets Pigment Reality Workshop"
May 18, 2024
 

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


"Painting Lake Como in Watercolor"
May 25 - June 1, 2024
 

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


"Loosen Up Your Paintings"
May 30 - June 1, 2024
 

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


"Botanical Drawing and Painting with Catherine Watters"
June 8-15, 2024
 

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


"Pen & Watercolor Illustration in Tuscany!"
June 12-19, 2024
 

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


"Painting Holidays: Gestural Figure and Essential Still Life Watercolour with Wendy Artin"
June 15-22, 2024
 

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


"Flora & Fauna in Watercolor"
August 15-17, 2024
 

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


"A Sense of Place in Tuscany"
September 4-11, 2024
 

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


"Still Life Painting in Acrylic or Oil"
September 12-15, 2024
 

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


"Painting and Drawing Realism in Tuscany"
September 18-25, 2024
 

This oil painting workshop is for all skill levels. It's for anyone who wants to learn how to add more realism to their work. Experience this modern approach to the techniques and concepts master artists in Tuscany have used since the Renaissance. Immerse yourself in Italy's medieval beauty, while you learn how to paint in oils using chiaroscuro, sfumato, sprezzatura, and impasto. Are you surprised to learn that these oil painting techniques work on any subject? Whether you love to paint landscapes, portraits, still life, fantasy, or all of the above, creating in a way that makes images look three dimensional is the same.
 
Location: Cortona, Italy
Instructor: Debra Keirce
Cost: From $3790.00pp all-inclusive
Sponsor: Toscana Americana Workshops
Website, email, 978-407-7127


"Painting Beautiful Fruit on Vellum with Denise Walser-Kolar"
September 28 - October 5, 2024
 

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


"Painting Mallorca in Watercolor"
September 28 - October 5, 2024
 

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


"Creating Dynamic Botanical Compositions using Coloured Pencil Techniques with Ann Swan"
October 5-12, 2024
 

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


"4-Day Workshop: Creating Expressive & Dynamic Watercolor"
October 21-24, 2024
 

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


"Painting Retreat in Sicily, “Spirit, Mind, Body”"
October 27 - November 3, 2024
 

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


"'Creating Contrast Highlighting Highlights and Deepening Darks’ with Ann Swan"
April 26 - May 3, 2025
 

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


"Techniques to make Botanical paintings more detailed with Michelle EunYoung Song"
May 3-10, 2025
 

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


"Watercolor Painting Workshop"
May 8-15, 2025
 

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


"Oil Painting Workshop: Acrylics, gouache and pastel welcome"
May 9-16, 2025
 

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


"Plein Air Painting in Provence, France!"
May 15-22, 2025
 

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


"Watercolor Painting Workshop"
May 23-30, 2025
 

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


"Botanical Sketching and Painting with Lara Call Gastinger"
June 7-14, 2025
 

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


"Illustrating the Plants of Clos Mirabel with Catherine Watters"
June 14-21, 2025
 

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


"Loose and Free Watercolor Workshop"
June 22-29, 2025
 

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


"Autumn Produce of the Pyrénées with Laura Silburn"
October 11-18, 2025
 

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


"Watercolor Explorer Program"
ongoing
 

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


"The History and Techniques of Watercolor"
video course
 

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


"Spring Botanicals"
video course
 

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


"Textures in Watercolor"
video course
 

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


 

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