Explore the possibilities of palette knife painting in this six-week course led by artist Shushana Rucker. Designed for painters of all levels, the course introduces students to a range of knife techniques for applying oil paint to create bold lines and strong texture. Through demonstrations, guided exercises, and individual feedback, students will learn how to mix bold color and use texture to heighten expression and atmosphere. Working from observation and reference imagery, participants will complete several finished paintings and develop a personal approach to working with the knife. No prior palette knife experience required.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Shushana Rucker
Cost: $295
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

At the end of the 16th century, seven Netherlandish provinces joined together to form the Dutch Republic and throughout the 17th century ushered in an era of economic prosperity and military prowess. Known as the Dutch Golden Age it also produced some of the finest paintings of the time from artists such as Frans Hals, Jan van Goyen, Salomon and Jacob van Ruysdael, and Johannes Vermeer. This talk will explore the history surrounding the formation of the Dutch Republic and look closely at works by some of its most prominent painters. The talk can be enjoyed on its own or in preparation for the upcoming talk The Art of Rembrandt on April 23rd. William Perthes is an educator, author, and curator.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: William Perthes
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Spring is a joyous time as sunlight reveals fresh colors in new growth, reflections in ponds, tree shapes and textures. Our two afternoons at Jarvis Creek Park will provide a variety of subjects - water, iconic live oak trees, flowers, long vistas and land contours. Discover how freeing it can be to paint on location! Alex will show how to get started by “finding your view”, followed by a demonstration of how to paint intuitively and freely by using loose brushwork to simplify the elements of the landscape. She will cover basic color mixing to achieve distance and atmospheric perspective in your scene. The goal is to capture the essence of our scene without unnecessary detail.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Alex Sharma
Cost: $130
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

Paint from a life model in a multi-week-pose format to develop and refine your figure painting compositions. Extended poses will allow students to adjust and resolve issues of surface, color, and composition. Instruction will cover a variety of topics including glazing, broken color, surface texture, composition and design, the relationship of the figure to the environment, the creation of atmosphere and color harmony, disrupted realism, and open- versus closed-form painting. All levels welcome. Instruction will be geared toward oil, but students are welcome to draw-only, or use other appropriate media, if they wish. Note: Tuition includes a $35 models fee.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: David Wilson
Cost: $330
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

Capture the movement, light, and energy of the ocean in a lively half-day workshop designed for oil and acrylic painters of all levels. This dynamic session encourages artists to loosen up, simplify shapes, and paint with bold, confident strokes to express the ever-changing beauty of the sea. Through demonstrations and guided practice, participants will explore techniques to create compositions with depth and atmosphere, while learning how to depict realistic, well-defined waves, reflections, and shoreline details. Nancy will share her approach to painting quickly and expressively, helping artists balance accuracy with spontaneity to achieve fresh, vibrant results. Join this energizing session and discover how painting fast can lead to more confident, expressive, and visually compelling seascapes.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Nancy Mitchell
Cost: $60
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Are you an artist that wants to learn to paint with oils? This is a great opportunity to learn from David Hollander! This is a beginner class for artists that are enhancing their skills with the medium of oil. David Hollander will teach students the fundamental process of preliminary drawings, laying in an imprimatura, refining a composition, direct wet-in-wet and glazing techniques.
 
Location: Ocean City, Maryland
Instructor: David Hollander
Cost: $370 ($310 for members)
Sponsor: Art League of Ocean City
Website, email, (410) 524-9433

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 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

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

Join us for a two-day oil painting workshop focused on capturing light, movement, and confident brushwork. Day One explores painting a coastal wave from start to finish, while Day Two lets you bring your own subject and apply the same techniques. Perfect for beginners through advanced painters looking to loosen up and strengthen their process. Visit our website for full details and to register!
 
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Instructor: Laurie Snow Hein
Cost: $400
Sponsor: The New Studio for the Visual Arts
Website, email, 561-295-5712

Capture the beauty of the shoreline in this inspiring outdoor painting experience! Open to all skill levels. The beach provides an ideal setting for a first-time plein air experience, offering open vistas, large shapes, and a rich variety of values and colors. The soft morning light and the simplicity of the land and seascape create the perfect environment to observe form, color, and atmosphere. Participants will explore how to use these natural elements as guides for mixing colors, creating the illusion of distance, and achieving unity within a painting. This workshop welcomes artists working in any medium. Instruction will focus on observing and interpreting the landscape, understanding atmospheric perspective, and developing cohesive compositions inspired by the coastal environment.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Alex Sharma
Cost: $130
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

Have you been using a palette knife just to mix paint, but not sure how to use it on the canvas? In this one-day workshop, discover how to paint confidently with a knife to achieve bold texture, crisp edges, and expressive detail. Through demonstrations and hands-on practice, you’ll explore techniques for painting architecture and landscapes with depth and energy. Learn to create vibrant color, dynamic texture, and a more painterly approach in this fun, fast-paced class.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Shushana Rucker
Cost: $95
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery & Studio
Website, email, 267-514-8647

Discover the power of painting as a form of emotional expression in this half-day workshop with instructor Mary Ann Browning Ford. Designed for artists of all experience levels, this session invites participants to explore feelings that words can’t quite capture through the medium of their choice—whether acrylic, watercolor, oil, or mixed media. Mary Ann will guide participants through creative exercises that encourage intuitive mark-making, color exploration, and personal reflection, helping each artist connect more deeply with their inner voice. By the end of the workshop, attendees will leave with a meaningful, expressive piece of art and a renewed sense of creative freedom. All materials are welcome; bring whatever inspires you most.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Mary Ann Browning Ford
Cost: $50
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

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

This class offers a combination of instruction and open studio practice allowing students to explore, take chances, develop critical thinking, and cultivate their artistic voices. Participants investigate basic color theory, learn how to create strong compositions, and develop technical skills. The choice of medium is up to each individual. Supportive individual and group critiques, specific assignments and demonstrations will encourage students to pursue their personal styles and growth.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Val Rossman
Cost: $300
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Wondering what Water Mixable Oil paints are all about? During this one-day intensive workshop, Beth shares her unique techniques. Beth uses unconventional tools including squeegees and Q-tips, along with her brushes focusing on composition, values, edges, and drawing rather than color. Beth will do a demo and show how she uses photography and simple apps on her phone to simplify forms enhance value and emphasize composition. She will also discuss how to pick objects that make an exciting still life set up. Beth will have paint for her students to try as well as one of her prepared painting panels, brushes and other supplies for you to use during the workshop.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Beth Bathe
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

Learn color solutions to bring drama, harmony, and richness to your work. Award-winning artist Debra Huse will teach you how to design with strength, capture light with clarity, and use color confidently to achieve vibrant, compelling paintings. We will paint indoors and outdoors at some of the most inviting Southern California locations imaginable. There will be sparkling harbors, dramatic skies, and breathtaking coastal beauty that will fuel your creativity. Each day will be filled with fun demos, personal coaching, and fresh insights to transform your painting process and vision. Debra will share her signature techniques and help you to “Lay it Down & Leave it Alone”.
 
Location: Newport Beach, California
Instructor: Debra Huse
Cost: $995.00
Sponsor: Huse Skelly Gallery
Website, email

This 12-week course is for beginners who want to explore drawing and oil painting, and for more experienced artists who want to improve their artistic skills. Using still-life compositions, students will learn about form, space, design, value, and color through working observationally. In addition, the instructor will introduce a variety of artists who are representative of the lessons provided and conduct in-process and final critiques for a helpful synopsis of the student’s progress and ideas. The class will be broken up into two weeks of drawing and four weeks of painting, but the student is open to work in any medium if they prefer.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Annie Gardner
Cost: $210
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

This workshop is for those who are new to oil painting or have limited experience. Through discussion and demonstration, it covers all the basics such as what painting medium is for and how much to use, what different type brushes are about, and strategies for putting paint on canvas. Learn how to how to mix and use color to get the results you want. Drawing experience is recommended.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Frederick Kaplan
Cost: $95
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery & Studio
Website, email, 267-514-8647

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. This workshop is 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

Painting a face can be complex, maybe even overwhelming. Knowing where to start can be the key to a meaningful painting process and the success of your work. This workshop is devoted to the crucial first step in developing a portrait – doing a tonal study of the values or “grisaille”. Relative values and creating a sense of light will be explained and demonstrated. We will be concentrating on the proportions of the face and features, and getting a “likeness,” while painting from a live model. Students will be using a single color (or color mix) of paint during this workshop. Demos, handouts, and lots of one-on-one feedback at your easel. The workshop is geared toward oil painting but other mediums are welcome.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Ellen Cooper
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: $100 or $50 per week
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

This course will focus on issues of, composition, color, texture, measure, likeness, proportion, with special attention given to technical painting issues, like, how to translate skin’s complex surface characteristics in paint. Demonstrations of a layered painting technique to bring out the full depth and richness of color in our portraits will be presented and discussed. The class will include demonstrations, discussions of masterworks, both traditional and contemporary, and thoughtful feedback on work. The drawing course will be a valuable resource for participants of any age and skill level. This course is open to all skill levels, from beginners to advanced, encouraging all participants to deepen their knowledge of portraiture through the process of painting.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Ernie Norcia
Cost: $300
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

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: $250
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Designed for artists ready to challenge themselves and take their work to the next level, this class is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of the artist's own creative process and sensibility. A variety of subject matter will be explored. Previous drawing and painting experience is recommended.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Karen Fogarty
Cost: $350
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: $350
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: $300
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

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: $350
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Bring your current work to develop each week. The instructor will help you strengthen your existing approach and refine your paintings. All subject matter and mediums are welcome (instructor works in oil). We will explore ways to move beyond blending and over-polishing toward a more semi-abstract direction. With a focus on shape, color, and composition, your work can become more powerful as forms are distilled and the underlying painted structure emerges. *Please note this is a semi-abstract class, we will work with representation.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Claudia Rilling
Cost: $260
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Bring your own flowers and a small vase and learn how to set them up for a successful painting. We will explore shapes, lighting, and form, focusing on how they work together in a composition. Through a more gestural approach, you’ll learn how to suggest form and capture the essence of flowers without rendering small details. Medium: All (instructor works in oil).
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Claudia Rilling
Cost: $260
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Students explore all aspects of working with oils, with a strong emphasis on composition, color mixing and various painting techniques. Individual instruction provided in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Ideal for beginners as well as more experienced artists.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Stefanie Lieberman
Cost: $350
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Working in oil or pastel from photographic reference, this class is about translating the photographic image onto either canvas or paper. Focusing on color, value and mark making as essential tools, students are encouraged to move a step beyond the restraints of a camera to create a successful and personal work. Discussion will include working with painting mediums and exploring different techniques.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Anne Graham
Cost: $300
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 are welcome! All mediums and skill levels are welcome!
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Stefanie Lieberman
Cost: $350
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: $350
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: $350
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: $350
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Few artists are as universally admired as Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669). With a career spanning the 17th century Dutch Golden Age, Rembrandt created intimate and probing self portraits and monumental civic works like 1642s The Night Watch. In his lifetime Rembrandt experienced both great success and devastating failures. This talk will consider the breath of Rembrandt’s work from brash early pictures to contemplative late ones. We’ll also explore the evolution of his painting technique which has been described as a kind of alchemy. The Art of Rembrandt builds on the groundwork of the talk Dutch Golden Age Painting presented on March 12th. William Perthes is an educator, author, and curator.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: William Perthes
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

This workshop focuses on how to paint beautiful, luminous flowers with confidence and excitement! Diane Reeves is an award-winning artist and seasoned instructor whose engaging teaching style, clear explanations, and valuable demonstrations make learning new concepts and skills straightforward and enjoyable. Her goal is for every participant to leave with valuable new insights and confidence in painting their own beautiful florals! Each morning, we’ll focus on specific concepts and skills paired with a demonstration using garden flowers such as roses and hydrangeas. Each afternoon will include plenty of one-on-one assistance as participants apply that day’s lessons while painting floral setups.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Diane Reeves
Cost: $450
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

This one-day workshop will concentrate on painting one of the most beautiful and challenging aspects of a tree: its trunk and branches. Trunks are rarely perfectly round; instead, their surfaces present a combination of flat planes and rounded forms that interlock together and describe the tree's surface. The pattern of its branches, roots and rippling bark tell each tree’s life story and are influenced by interaction with other trees, the sun, and the earth. Our goal in this class is to simplify the tree's structure and capture its essence as effectively as possible. Rather than aiming for finished paintings, we will create several small studies focusing on the topography of different trunks and how we can communicate them using paint.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Claire Haik
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Given the priority of authentic light in my work, it is this element that I like to focus on during the three-day workshop. As such, we will focus on value and color temperature relationships above all else. While good drawing is paramount to our effort—since nothing spoils a painting faster than drawing errors—our time is better spent on the more difficult and crucial concepts of value and color temperature. Elements such as appropriate edges, surface texture, composition, and others will also be discussed as needed. We will be painting in oil.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Mark Boedges
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

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

Working from a limited palette, this one-day workshop focuses on ways to create expressive florals on a larger canvas exploring energetic brushstrokes to create a harmonious and vibrant garden scene of flowers. Students will work from their own or provided imagery. Examples of colorful works by Josef Klimt and Joan Mitchell will be shared to inspire your process. A short demo will be shared on color mixing and simplification of form.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Abby Ober
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

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

Qiang’s approach to still life painting will be demonstrated with particular focus on creating dramatic set ups by observing the light distribution, and using bold and loose strokes to create a powerful and accurate representation on canvas. Using demonstrations and individual assistance, Qiang will explain his process of creating energetic paintings by manipulating values, colors, edges, and brushwork. Personal attention will be given to each student according to his or her current skill level and personal goals in art. The workshop is designed for indoor practice with live settings. For more information, visit qh-art.com.
 
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Instructor: Qiang Huang
Cost: $525 Museum members/ $550 non-members
Sponsor: Huntsville Museum of Art
Website, email, 256-535-6372

This 3-Day In-Studio workshop is designed for beginner students, intermediate students and advanced students. The instructor has limited the size to ensure that this type of workshop style will be the most beneficial for every student.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Adam Clague
Cost: $550
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Join the Diamond 4 Ranch and artist John Springer to experience the grandeur of the American wilderness through the practice of oil painting. With the support of horse-pack, we will have the rare opportunity to create artwork deep within the mountains. Together we'll experience what John Muir knew: "Going to the mountains is going home." This trip is limited to 10 participants. We will spend the first three nights based from cabins, then we'll camp for three nights, and our final night will be back in the cabins. A family outfitter guiding the Wind Rivers for three generations. Licensed by USFS since 1973.
 
Location: Lander, Wyoming
Instructor: John Springer
Cost: $4250 + gratuity (suggested 15-20%)
Sponsor: Diamond 4 Ranch
Website, email, +1 (307) 332-2995

Philip Frey and Schoodic Institute are pleased to offer a plein air painting retreat designed specifically for dedicated landscape painters. Held in the picturesque landscapes of Acadia National Park, this retreat will provide an opportunity for participants to hone their skills, gain deeper knowledge of materials, and develop confidence in their creative abilities. Students will learn to capture the essence of the landscape and comprehend the interplay of color and light. Each day will start with an on-site painting session, followed by an early afternoon demonstration and critique. Participants will have ample time to engage in painting, explore the surrounding area, or relax at their leisure. Meals and a daily cocktail hour will be provided.
 
Location: Winter Harbor, Maine
Instructor: Philip Frey
Cost: Commuter $1,195; Residential $1,795
Sponsor: Schoodic Institute
Website, email, (207) 288-1310

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