Capture the mood and abstract nature of the urban landscape using oil paint and charcoal from photo references. Use drawing to build structure and form in combination with paint to create interesting textures and atmosphere.
 
Location: Philadelphia, PA, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Mashiul Chowdhury
Cost: $95
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio
Website, email, 267-514-8647

A comprehensive examination of the history, theories, and practices of color in painting. This hands-on course focuses on the practical understanding and application of how to use color. Included are an overview of color history in painting and how it has evolved to the present, a survey of the major theories and their practical applications in art making, a hands-on study of the most useful color charts, gradations and mixing, studio exercises implementing the use of color aesthetics and practices in artmaking and visits to the PAFA museum to study and analyze color in masterworks. Projects include color in figures, portraits, landscapes, self-portraits, glazing, color expression and color in abstraction. Open to all media and levels of experience.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Al Gury
Cost: $1,400
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

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: $480
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Working from still life set-ups, learn the various techniques of aqueous media used for creating light, structure, texture, transparency and opacity. While the focus of the class is water-based acrylics, students are welcome to work in pastels or oil if they prefer. Instructor demonstrations and group discussion, as well as individual attention, provided during each class session.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Joeseph Sweeney
Cost: $480
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Take your work to the next level under the mentoring guidance of artist/critic Kassem Amoudi. In this live focused open studio environment, all levels of students will discover how to enhance their own visual language and interests exploring new ways of painting. Expert instruction and advice from the instructor will push students to explore new possibilities and work more intuitively, allowing unplanned marks and passages to become artistic breakthroughs. Examples from contemporary and modern art will be examined to promote a broader understanding of the abstract qualities of space, line and color. Advance beyond confined lines and hard edges to a more liberated way of painting. It does not matter What you paint. It is the How you paint it.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Kassem Amoudi
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Led by master artist Michael Doyle, students consider the composition of a figure within an interior setting. Students may elect to draw or paint, using a variety of materials.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Michael Doyle
Cost: $655
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: $575
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Working from your own reference material, we will spend each week focusing on a particular aspect of landscape painting. Individual techniques will be taught each session in a supportive atmosphere. Syllabus will be provided. Please bring painting materials to the first class. All mediums welcomed.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Bonnie Mettler
Cost: $570
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

In this guided acrylic class, students will all paint the same image using a photo reference while following a step-by-step demonstration by the instructor. Throughout the session, students will explore a variety of subjects. From serene landscapes to vibrant still lifes and intriguing textures, each painting process will help build skills and confidence with every brushstroke. Perfect for beginners or anyone looking to refine their technique in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Nicole Lee
Cost: $240
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: $575
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

This course is designed to create paintings that we will build from a loose, underpainting and refine as we go along. This class is ideal for those painters who want to break out of the habit of focusing in on details and let the paint create a more expressive piece. Attention will be paid to composition, color mixing, paint application and technique. All skill levels welcome in a fun and relaxing atmosphere!
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Stefanie Lieberman
Cost: $575
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Uncovering the connection between your identity and your artwork can be both liberating and inspiring. In this class, we will explore methods designed to help you discover and develop your unique aesthetic and artistic voice. Our focus will be on paint handling, color selection, and composition. You will learn to manage your palette, make intentional color choices, and understand their impact on your work. Play will be encouraged! Music will serve as our muse, providing inspiration as you select your subject matter with guided support. This journey encourages mindfulness and self-discovery, and connects us more deeply with the world around us and ourselves. All skill levels are welcome and valued in this class.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Heidi Techner
Cost: $575
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Discover the joy of painting with the natural world as inspiration. In this gentle, exploratory class, students of all levels are invited to slow down, observe, and draw inspiration from the colors, textures, and rhythms of nature. Using flowers, trees, landscapes, and seasonal changes as starting points, we’ll experiment with playful techniques and creative prompts that spark imagination and personal expression. Rather than striving for perfect results, this course celebrates process over product...finding peace, presence, and delight in the act of painting itself. Along the way, you’ll cultivate a deeper connection to both nature and your own creativity. No prior painting experience is needed—just curiosity, openness, and a willingness to explore.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Heidi Techner
Cost: $480
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

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

Unleash your creativity in a fun, relaxed studio setting where you can paint your way! Choose your favorite medium—oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, charcoal, or colored pencil—and dive into new projects or bring along unfinished pieces to refine. Enjoy as much one-on-one guidance from Dennis as you like, plus technique tips and helpful critiques to elevate your work. Whether your style leans toward realism, impressionism, or bold modern expression, this open painting session is your space to explore, create, and grow.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Dennis Lake
Cost: $150 or $50 per week
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Students study composition, perspective and shading as they gain exposure to a variety of mediums including graduated pencils, charcoal, pastels, watercolor and acrylic paints. Drawing from still life set-ups, painting in the garden 'plein air' style and self-portraiture are just some of the techniques that may be introduced during this drawing and painting class. This is a 10-week, 1.5 hour, after school class.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Carolyn Kline-Coyle
Cost: $280
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Imagine the creative possibilities! Discover the expressive power of painting with a palette knife—a richly tactile and dynamic alternative to the brush. In this course, you’ll explore how to create both smooth and textured strokes, using bold or subtle color to infuse your paintings with life and energy. Emphasis will be placed on mastering palette knife techniques, achieving luminous color, and composing exciting, well-balanced paintings—the essential ingredients of strong artistic work. Working from studio still life setups and photo references, you’ll complete a finished painting in each class. The course includes live demonstrations, focused technique exercises, detailed handouts, personalized instruction, and constructive critiques. Suitable for all levels of experience.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Alex Sharma
Cost: $200
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Unlock the magic of color in this inspiring half-day class with artist Alex Sharma—perfect for both beginners and experienced painters! Discover how just three essential colors—reds, blues, and yellows—can open up a world of endless possibilities, transforming the way you see and mix color. Learn to create luminous, vibrant paintings filled with depth, distance, and energy as Alex shares surprising color combinations that make your work come alive. Whether you paint in watercolor, acrylic, or oil, this class will refresh your palette, sharpen your skills, and reignite your passion for painting. This class requires zero experience. It is perfect for beginners, or for students with experience wanting a brush-up or refresher of color theory!
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Alex Sharma
Cost: $50
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

This workshop focuses on discovering your unique abstract voice. Through a series of small paintings created on the first day, you'll begin to recognize the development of your authentic expression and how it distinguishes you from other artists. These initial works may also reveal insights into how adjusting your approach to using visual language can more powerfully express your abstract voice. The second day features group discussion exploring how artistic inspiration shapes color and composition differently for each artist, followed by individual consultations on integrating the workshop's insights into your personal practice. For artists with some painting experience and artists with a lot of painting experience.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Marianne Mitchell
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Unleash your creativity in a fun, relaxed studio setting where you can paint your way! Choose your favorite medium—oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, charcoal, or colored pencil—and dive into new projects or bring along unfinished pieces to refine. Enjoy as much one-on-one guidance from Dennis as you like, plus technique tips and helpful critiques to elevate your work. Whether your style leans toward realism, impressionism, or bold modern expression, this open painting session is your space to explore, create, and grow.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Dennis Lake
Cost: $200 or $50 per week
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

We invite you to register for this exciting 2-Day Palette Knife Workshop for oil & acrylic painters of all levels of experience. This workshop is designed to enhance your painting skills by focusing on palette knife techniques, enabling you to create impressionistic art with complementary colors. You'll learn to integrate these techniques with composition and color theory to elevate your paintings. Through daily demonstrations on various subjects and surfaces, you'll discover the joy of clean color and vibrant energy in your work. Whether you paint in a studio or en plein air, these skills will add excitement and versatility to your art. Don't miss this opportunity to expand your artistic toolbox and transform your source materials into dynamic compositions.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Trish Weeks
Cost: $330
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

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

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

Discover how to transform your simple photos into vibrant, expressive paintings with Carole Forêt—an accomplished, widely respected artist with over 35 years of professional experience. Whether you're a beginner eager to learn the fundamentals or an intermediate artist ready to deepen your skills, this immersive two-day workshop will elevate your art practice. Bring 2-3 favorite photos (landscape/cityscape, printed or on a charged device. Through live demos, individual guidance, and a thoughtfully paced structure, Carole will teach you how to see like an artist—focusing on composition, value, color, and perspective. You'll also learn her signature process: building dynamic acrylic duo-tonal underpaintings that set the stage for luminous, colorful oil finishes. For more information, visit caroleforet.com.
 
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Instructor: Carole Forêt
Cost: $600 Museum members/ $650 non-members
Sponsor: Huntsville Museum of Art
Website, email, 256-535-6372

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

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

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

In this one-day workshop, you'll learn how to use color for emotional impact and scenic clarity in your landscape paintings. We will discuss how color is used to create depth, atmosphere, and mood in a painting and how the color of the sky disperses itself throughout a landscape, unifying and harmonizing everything you see. Students will work from photographs in the studio, and together we will do small painting exercises using a limited set of colors. This simplified approach is a great way to learn how to mix and use color effectively and will help you create subtle and sophisticated color worlds. Suitable for anyone excited about slowing down and mixing intentional colors. Students are welcome to work in oil, acrylic, or gouache.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Claire Haik
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Join award winning artist and popular instructor, Eric Jacobsen, for this painting workshop where you will learn to loosen up your style and paint expressive landscapes. This oil and acrylics workshop is for students of all levels, beginner through advanced. We will focus on the fundamentals of good painting as it relates to landscape painting. We will cover the following topics: Composition, Value, Design, Choosing a Motif, Identifying and mixing accurate Warm and Cool Colors, Establishing a Focal Point as well as Tips and Do’s and Don’ts for the Landscape Painter. The workshop will be complete with informal lectures, instructor demos, group critiques and plenty of individual instruction. Please come and join Eric for an informative and enjoyable workshop experience.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Eric Jacobsen
Cost: $400
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

In this guided acrylic class, students will all paint the same image using a photo reference while following a step-by-step demonstration by the instructor. Throughout the session, students will explore a variety of subjects. From serene landscapes to vibrant still lifes and intriguing textures, each painting process will help build skills and confidence with every brushstroke. Perfect for beginners or anyone looking to refine their technique in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Nicole Lee
Cost: $240
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Unleash your creativity in a fun, relaxed studio setting where you can paint your way! Choose your favorite medium—oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, charcoal, or colored pencil—and dive into new projects or bring along unfinished pieces to refine. Enjoy as much one-on-one guidance from Dennis as you like, plus technique tips and helpful critiques to elevate your work. Whether your style leans toward realism, impressionism, or bold modern expression, this open painting session is your space to explore, create, and grow.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Dennis Lake
Cost: $250 or $50 per week
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

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

Acrylic pouring is a captivating process where fluid acrylic paints, thinned with a special medium, are poured directly onto the canvas—no brushes required. The result is a stunning interplay of color and movement, with organic patterns that flow, merge, and transform into glossy, abstract designs. In this workshop, you’ll explore advanced methods such as dirty pours, swirls, flip cups, tree rings, string pulls, and balloon kisses, as well as innovative ways to create landscape-inspired pours. Learn how to control fluid movement, enhance color blending, and experiment with composition while still embracing the spontaneity that makes acrylic pouring so exciting. Bring $30 cash for your supplies.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Julie Schroeder
Cost: $60
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

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. You can use, oil paint, acrylic paint, gouache or pastel.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Peter Van Dyck
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Join Minnesota-based artist Julie Schroeder for a relaxed, inspiring art class designed for students of all levels. In this welcoming, non-intimidating environment, Julie will guide you step-by-step in using a palette knife and acrylic paint to create a stunning seascape or landscape. Explore the beauty of impasto texture as you layer rich, luscious color and bring depth and movement to your canvas. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced painter, this class offers a fun, creative space to experiment, learn, and express your artistic style. All supplies are included in the cost of this workshop. All participants must be age 21+. Limited complementary wine will be provided but you are welcome to BYOB.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Julie Schroeder
Cost: $60
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Gain the basics you need to step into an acrylic painting practice! Learn to use quick-drying acrylics in thin, transparent layers as well as thicker, more opaque applications that produce textural and impasto effects. Materials like fluid mediums, gels, and pastes will be demonstrated, along with both brush and palette knife techniques. Experiment with both limited and expanded color palettes as you work from still life subjects. This workshop is ideal for students looking for a non-toxic, flexible painting medium, as well as anyone seeking to explore acrylics’ excellent potential for representational and abstract work. Drawing experience is recommended.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Frederic Kaplan
Cost: $195
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

Unlocking Composition is a two-day immersive workshop that helps artists create stronger, more visually engaging paintings by putting theory into practice. Working from their own photos, participants will learn to break down complex scenes into simplified shapes and values. They’ll learn how to make and use focal areas that guide the viewer’s eye. On the second day, we’ll delve into understanding balance and unity to create harmony in a painting. Through lectures, demonstrations, and one-on-one- instruction, artists will learn the tools Mark uses to analyze and design a painting. By the end, artists will have practical tools and strategies to approach composition confidently and apply key principles to their own work, helping their paintings feel more cohesive and engaging.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Mark Vander Vinne
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

This workshop will focus on painting “alla prima” (all at once) as well as developing greater skills of observation, simplification and painting “wet on wet” to create strong “painterly” paintings. The first morning of the workshop begins with a discussion of painting basics (from materials to paint handling) and will also address the fundamentals of color, value, edges, perspective and other “practical” elements that make a successful painting. Each day participants will work on a series of timed painting exercises incorporating the techniques discussed while developing their skills of observation, simplification, bold brushwork and painting in a “decisive” and “intentional” manner. Each morning of the workshop will include a short painting demo by Dan with an explanation of his process.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Dan Graziano
Cost: $550
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Unity ties a painting together—think matching colors, similar brushstrokes, and overall vibe. Rhythm keeps things lively by guiding your eye with repeated shapes, lines, and energetic brushstrokes and marks. When both qualities interact, something remarkable happens: the painting becomes a seamless blend of order and vitality and true beauty emerges. This workshop is all about Unity and Rhythm, and we'll keep things hands-on with some basic techniques you can actually use. Students are encouraged to paint what they love. You can bring objects from home to build your own still life arrangements or bring photo references you like. I will provide a still life arrangement. All skill levels welcome. Work in oil, acrylic, or gouache.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Fred Jackson
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

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

Capture the small-town beauty Manayunk's hilly streets, rowhomes, and storefronts. Learn to create a convincing sense of space, light and time of day while depicting streetscapes, trees, water and sky. Color mixing and painting techniques for oils will be demonstrated, but all drawing/painting media are welcome. Located just 15 minutes outside of Philadelphia, Manayunk offers engaging urban and riverside neighborhood subjects with parking, shade, provisions and facilities available. Note: Students are responsible for their own transportation to painting locations.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Larry Francis
Cost: $295
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

Unleash your creativity in a fun, relaxed studio setting where you can paint your way! Choose your favorite medium—oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, charcoal, or colored pencil—and dive into new projects or bring along unfinished pieces to refine. Enjoy as much one-on-one guidance from Dennis as you like, plus technique tips and helpful critiques to elevate your work. Whether your style leans toward realism, impressionism, or bold modern expression, this open painting session is your space to explore, create, and grow.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Dennis Lake
Cost: $100 or $50 per week
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Water-based paints such as watercolor, gouache, and fluid acrylics are the perfect mediums for landscape painting in the open air! Work in your choice of these portable, fast-drying, and easy-to-clean-up alternatives to oils as you portray the beauty of spring in Philadelphia’s parks in your own personal style. Learn how to choose a composition and mix color for depth and expressive effects as you complete a series of rapid sketches and at least one sustained painting. Explore techniques for achieving transparency effects with stained gesso, working fat over lean, and rendering with ink over washes. Open to all levels. Painting locations feature shade, restrooms, and other amenities. Note: Students are responsible for their own transportation to painting locations.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Michelle Oosterbaan
Cost: $260
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

Join veteran plein air artist Joe Sweeney for a unique opportunity to paint inside one of the oldest rowing clubs in Philadelphia: the Bachelors Barge Club on Boathouse Row. Work from picturesque views of the Schuylkill River with the benefit of full access to the historic building with access to the dock, rain-/sun-sheltered porch, and amenities including restrooms. Experienced guidance will cover tactics for working efficiently outdoors, selecting a composition, color mixing, and capturing time of day and atmospheric effects. Instruction and demonstrations will be geared toward acrylic, oil, and pastel painting, but experienced watercolorists are welcome to participate. Note: Students are responsible for their own transportation to painting locations.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Joseph Sweeney
Cost: $195
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

Do you often wonder how to make your paintings stand out? This workshop will explore ways to make more compelling and powerful visual statements, focusing on the landscape for inspiration and subject matter. The workshop will consist of demos, painting exercises, group discussions, positive critiques and lots of hands-on individual attention. Oil and Acrylic painters are welcome to attend; however, demos will be done in pastel and then Mayfield will work individually with you in your medium. Make your paintings more expressive and visually interesting from start to finish, from choosing subject matter, editing reference photos, simplifying and improving design and composition, using dynamic value contrasts, pushing color schemes, and using color temperature to create mood and emotion.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Susan Mayfield
Cost: $330
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

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

In this workshop, students will work in the Alla Prima method to paint three still-life paintings, one each day. Alla prima translates to “in the first” and is a wet-into-wet painting technique. Students are encouraged to bring their own props to create meaningful paintings. Each morning, the instructor will do a demonstration, and in the afternoon, students will work on their paintings and receive individual critiques. An emphasis on mark making, painting loosely, expressive color, and making a picture will be discussed. All levels are welcome.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Todd Casey
Cost: $550
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

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