Art Workshops, Classes & Retreats

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"Painting over the Line"
Wednesdays, February 4 - April 8, 2026
 

Learn to explore new possibilities and paint more intuitively under the guidance of artist/critic/mentor Kassem Amoudi. Work from personal subject matter (objects, images, emotions, or ideas) to find your own visual language, informed by examples from contemporary and modern art. Examine how to use concepts of color, harmony, focal point, space, and mark-making as powerful tools of personal expression. Instruction is geared toward open painting time supported by critiques and advice from the instructor as he works one-on-one with students to guide them in their personal style and goals. This course is excellent for students pursuing abstract or nonobjective imagery, seeking knowledgeable feedback and a focused community painting environment. Painting experience recommended.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Kassem Amoudi
Cost: $450
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632


"Terracotta Figure Sculpture"
Wednesdays, February 4 - April 8, 2026
 

Modeling the figure in clay is the foundational skill of traditional sculpture. Working from a model, learn to sculpt in clay from initial gesture to surface finishing techniques. Topics of study will include proportion, composition, structure, and simplified sculptural form. Students will complete two sculptures in the course of the class. All work will be fired after class. Beginners welcome. Note: Tuition includes a $65 models fee.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Morgan Dummitt
Cost: $515
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632


"Oil/Acrylic Painting: Abstracting the Real"
Fridays, February 6 - April 10, 2026
 

Using oil or acrylic paints, exploit a wide range of techniques and artistic languages to transform everyday reality into expressive, symbolic, or personal statements. Base your paintings on unique studio still-life arrangements or use your own photographs as a starting point, and progress to working from a life model during the final weeks of the course. Topics discussed and demonstrated include using color as an emotive element, designing compositions to convey mood and movement, and employing energetic mark-making. For less experienced students, materials, color mixing, and basic techniques are also reviewed.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Frederic Kaplan
Cost: $450
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632


"Cityscape Painting Workshop"
February 7, 2026
 

Discover the beauty and structure of the urban landscape in this one-day workshop with Shushana Rucker. In this workshop participants will learn to simplify architectural forms, balance geometry with atmosphere, and capture the rhythm of city life. Working from photographs and sketches, you’ll explore composition, color, and texture to create a finished cityscape that reflects both the physical and emotional character of place. This workshop encourages experimentation and a closer look at the city around you.
 
Location: Philadelphia, PA, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Shushana Rucker
Cost: $95
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio
Website, email, 267-514-8647


"Teen Studio: Photography (Age: 11yrs+)"
Saturdays, February 7 - March 28, 2026
 

Starting with the fundamentals of photography, students learn about camera settings and composition from award-winning photographer Laura Ducceschi. Demonstrations and slideshows illustrate the concepts, then students put theory into practice creating photographs outside. They receive regular feedback during class critiques. Bring your own single lens reflex (DSLR) or mirrorless camera for this class. A compact camera is acceptable but will not have all the functionality. Phone cameras are not acceptable for this course. For every class, students need to be prepared to create photographs with a working camera, a fully charged camera battery and a memory card for their own use. This is an 8-week, 2-hour class.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Laura Ducceschi
Cost: $300
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"The Power of Suggestion in Composition"
February 7, 2026
 

Spend one day learning actionable techniques that immediately improve your paintings. Through focused, hands-on guidance you’ll learn how composition isn’t just structure—it’s storytelling. Discover how subtle suggestion, strategic placement, and smart color choices can direct the viewer’s eye, spark imagination, and deepen emotional impact. Learn practical methods for developing compelling layouts from life or imagination—capture exact references or rearrange elements to craft a stronger narrative. And explore techniques for using suggestion—hinting rather than telling—to engage viewers and invite interpretation. This workshop is for artists of any level who want to make their work more evocative, engaging, and memorable. Reserve your spot and start creating work that lingers in viewers’ minds long after they’ve looked away.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Vlad Milan Duchev
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"Color Woodcut Printmaking"
Thursdays, February 12 - April 16, 2026
 

Printing from a drawing carved into wood is the oldest and most straightforward form of printmaking. Expand the expressive possibilities of the medium by infusing color into the process! Learn reduction and multiple block relief printmaking techniques to produce vibrant, layered color prints. Instruction will cover all steps from start to finished print: material selection and use, image planning, tool handling for a variety of mark-making tactics, reduction and multiple block processes, color mixing, printing by hand and on an etching press, registration techniques, cleaning, and editioning. All levels welcome. Tuition includes a $30 lab fee.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Rebecca Gilbert
Cost: $480
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632


"Art from the Heart: Abstract Painting"
Tuesdays, February 17 - March 31, 2026
 

Discover the joy of Intuitive Painting—Under the guidance of Sandi, you’ll learn to trust your instincts, embrace spontaneity, and allow your art to flow freely by intuition and the quiet rhythm of your own spirit. Whether you’re picking up a paintbrush for the first time or you’re an experienced artist hoping to reconnect with spontaneity, this class is the perfect space to explore and play. You’ll learn to bring emotion and energy into your work while developing a stronger sense of composition, space, rhythm, and technique—using acrylics as your main medium. Each session is designed to help you express your inner voice, experiment fearlessly, and most importantly, have fun making art!
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Sandi Neiman Lovitz
Cost: $280
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"Art from the Heart: Abstract Painting"
Thursdays, February 19 - April 2, 2026
 

Discover the joy of Intuitive Painting—Under the guidance of Sandi, you’ll learn to trust your instincts, embrace spontaneity, and allow your art to flow freely by intuition and the quiet rhythm of your own spirit. Whether you’re picking up a paintbrush for the first time or you’re an experienced artist hoping to reconnect with spontaneity, this class is the perfect space to explore and play. You’ll learn to bring emotion and energy into your work while developing a stronger sense of composition, space, rhythm, and technique—using acrylics as your main medium. Each session is designed to help you express your inner voice, experiment fearlessly, and most importantly, have fun making art!
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Sandi Neiman Lovitz
Cost: $280
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"Alla Prima Painting"
Mondays, February 23 - March 30, 2026
 

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 exploration of composition, focusing on how shapes are arranged within the painting and the various ways in which you can manipulate them to enhance your artwork. We will also examine the importance of value, specifically the relationship between light and dark areas, and discuss strategies for linking these values effectively. Additionally, the course will delve into essential color concepts, providing a foundation for making informed color choices in your paintings.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Fred Jackson
Cost: $290
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"Ceramic Sculpture"
Tuesdays, February 24 - April 28, 2026
 

Unlock your creativity through the art of sculpting with clay. Through hands-on instruction and practice, learn essential techniques such as pinching, slab-building, coil-building, and surface treatments. Explore the principles of form, texture, and composition, as well as the fundamentals of the firing process. Join us to express yourself and develop your sculpting skills in a supportive and inspiring environment -- open to both beginners and experienced artists! Tuition includes a $30 lab fee.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Matthew Courtney
Cost: $480
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632


"Wood Studio"
Tuesdays, February 24 - April 28, 2026
 

This class will explore wood as a primary art-making medium, looking at its many types, techniques and uses. Students will develop a well-rounded foundation of wood-working skills including cutting, milling, laminating, joinery and safe use of wood-working tools. Contemporary, traditional and ancient art works made of wood will be presented for historical and contextual understanding. Students will be encouraged to find their own unique voice within the material while building skills. Tuition includes $30 materials fee.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: John Greig
Cost: $480
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632


"Creating Dynamic Paintings from Photos"
February 28 & March 1, 2026
 

Successfully producing expressive, painterly paintings from photographs requires a knowledge of both the advantages and potential pitfalls of photographic sources. While providing useful visual information, photos often mislead - distorting subjects and flattening the picture plane. In this workshop students will use photographs as a point of departure, a reference point from which information will selectively and intelligently be drawn. Developing an enhanced visual awareness of compositional design, the importance of shapes, color harmony and paint application is critically important. This workshop will help students learn to “see” as painters. They will be challenged to take chances, be bold, expressive and spontaneous. Group and individual critiques will be given. The workshop will be challenging, the environment supportive, fun and positive.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Georganna Lenssen
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"Fast and Unfussed Oil Painting"
Tuesdays, March 3 - May 5, 2026
 

Cultivate fluid mark-making and bold approaches to subject matter through rapid and loose painting studies. Tight and precise painting, especially in the early stages of an artwork, can sometimes lead to work that appears stiff and over-labored, or to locked-in compositions that are difficult to change or correct. Working from the still life, cityscapes, and the life model, utilize short, small painting exercises to learn new ways of starting paintings, keeping compositions open to adjustment, and both initiating and retaining a sense of freshness in your forms and brushstrokes. Instruction will address color mixing, painting materials and methodologies, and the importance of cultivating viable methods for growth in your painting practice. Discover the beauty and freedom of loosening up your painting!
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Roger Chavez
Cost: $475
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632


"Direct and Spontaneous Painting: Still Life"
Wednesdays, March 4-25, 2026
 

This class emphasizes the immediacy, spontaneity and vitality of direct observation. Working from life, students will capture the beauty of simple subjects using expressive brushwork and intuitive color choices. They will be encouraged to paint the spirit of the subject rather focus upon detail. Lectures, demos and critiques will be incorporated into each class. All levels welcome but some experience in oils is required.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Georganna Lenssen
Cost: $360
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"Fundamental Watercolors"
Wednesdays, March 4 - April 1, 2026
 

This class will focus on the fundamentals of painting with watercolors. This class will include step-by-step instruction with demonstrations and practice. Attention and focus on individual growth at the students’ own pace will be central in this class. Learn to paint watercolors in a free, fun and fluent manner. Discover and nurture your own personal style of expression. All levels welcome.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Indira Cariappa
Cost: $200
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"Intermediate Watercolor"
Thursdays, March 5 - April 2, 2026
 

This class is for students who want to deepen their understanding of watercolors and move beyond the basics. We learn advanced techniques in a progressive, step by step manner. This class is very interactive with demos and practice. The students progress at their own pace. Everyone is encouraged to discover and develop their own style. This is a fun filled class, with one-on-one attention to every student. Please bring your watercolor paper, colors, brushes and palette that you already have.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Indira Cariappa
Cost: $200
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"Explorations in Print and Collage"
Thursdays, March 5 - April 2, 2026
 

This workshop is designed to guide students in transforming their works on paper—including drawings, paintings, and prints—into dynamic mixed media pieces, with a particular emphasis on collage techniques. Instruction will be tailored to each student's individual interests and skill levels, making the workshop suitable for everyone from beginners to advanced artists. Former students are encouraged to bring in previous work that they consider unfinished or unsuccessful to use as a starting point for their mixed media experiments and creations. Printing Methods Covered: Monotype, Collagraph, Frottage and Image Transfer.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Christine Stoughton
Cost: $240
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"Indirect Painting Techniques"
March 7-8, 2026
 

This workshop will cover indirect methods of working on established paintings. Subjects such as glazing, velatura and scumbling; as well as subtractive methods will be explained. Class will consist of detailed demos and studio time to experiment on your own work. Students should bring a few completed paintings on which to try out these techniques.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Jon Redmond
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"The Language of Painting"
March 7-8, 2026
 

Painting and Drawing are languages. Visual languages. And as with learning any language one must grasp the concepts and then dig into the vocabulary. This course is designed to expose the student to new ways of thinking about drawing and painting and how they speak to the viewer. We will explore the language and vocabulary of mark making as we strive to improve our visual skills. The student will be immersed in a series of exercises that with strengthen and reinforce very basic principles that are often overlooked. Lon will describe his approach thru demos each day followed up with one-on-one instruction as students give it a go. Students will be working with dry and wet media to find fresh avenues for art making.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Lon Brauer
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"The American Watercolor Tradition"
Mondays, March 9 - April 13, 2026
 

Explore the painting techniques of the masters who pioneered the 19th and 20th century American watercolor movement, including Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Edward Hopper, and Charles Demuth. Characterized by bright color and bold handling that includes accents of opaque watercolor and loose washes, work in this tradition captures subject matter with dazzling light-filled effects. Practice these classic methods and learn to incorporate them into your own artwork to achieve a greater freedom of expression as well as adaptability and control in the way that you paint. Demonstrations and art historical discussions will be combined with short and more extensive still life and self-portrait exercises. This course is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Richard Estell
Cost: $295
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632


"Moving Along in Watercolor"
Wednesdays, March 11 - April 8, 2026
 

Students will strengthen core watercolor skills while learning how to paint atmospheric landscapes, convincing reflections in water, and lively streetscapes. Each week builds on the last, introducing new techniques, composition strategies, and subject challenges. Lets have fun painting in a loose, impressionistic manner by learning how to simplify and edit scenes to come up with convincing paintings using your own photographs. Hands on step-by-step guidance and instruction will be provided.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Radhika Srinivas
Cost: $240
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"Family Day of Clay: Woodland Gnome (Ages 6+ with Adult)"
March 14, 2026
 

Bring a little magic to your home -- make your own whimsical woodland gnome complete with a beard and pointy hat! Join us for an afternoon of clay together with your child to create a little gnome sculpture all your own. Learn the basics of working with kiln-fired clay and colorful glazes while you make one project together with your child. If you each want to create your own project, please register yourself and each child separately. Ages 6 and up with an adult. All works created will be fired and ready for pick up approximately two weeks from the date of the workshop.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Cost: $55
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"Master Class with Stuart Shils: Emphasizing Abstraction"
March 21 & 22, 2026
 

These two carefully guided, immersive days in the studio will focus on nurturing perceptual discrimination and clarifying observation, asking questions about not what we see, but more importantly, how we see, within the experience of visual encounter. Working both the from the model and from reproductions (including older and 20th century masters,) we’ll paint our way through a sequence of playful visual exercises and explorations, to understand that abstraction – composition/design with color and shape – is THE foundation, the great engine behind all painting.
 
Location: Philadelphia, PA, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Stuart Shils
Cost: $395
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio
Website, email, 267-514-8647


"The Colors of Palette Knife Plus"
April 11-12, 2026
 

This workshop will provide an opportunity for those interested in the palette knife and other alternative painting tools to broaden horizons and creative skills. While all mediums are invited, the workshop is particularly geared to those working in oils or acrylics. The format, while reinforcing the basic skills needed for the creation of well-balanced colorful images, is individualized to accommodate a wide variety of experience levels as well as styles of painting; and from those interested in representational to abstract imagery. This is the perfect workshop for those wishing to introduce new tools to their repertoire, better master color usage, and gain a range of techniques for applying paint.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Cynthia Rosen
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


"Principles of Abstraction XL"
June 1-5, 2026
 

Exploring abstracts on a larger scale in the medium of your choosing, this 5-day class will push you into new territory where growth lives… only upsized, because bigger risks equal bigger rewards. You will be shown a system for developing your artistic voice, with a focus on design principles and the language of abstraction. The emphasis is on creative process, exploring new ways to develop and build paintings, create inventive compositions, and build authentic intent in your work. The class is as much a challenge for the experienced as it is for the developing artist, but it’s not for the rank beginner. Bring a sense of humor, a fearless creative spirit, and an open mind.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Larry Moore
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553


 

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