Art Workshops, Classes & Retreats
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April 21-23, 2023
Are you frustrated with your paintings lately..feel like they lack something that you can't quite put your finger on. Join me for this three-day Plein Air painting intensive to jumpstart your work to another level. Much of the success of any painting is the strength of its initial design and your ability to keep your intention flowing with excitement. I will introduce some new ways of handling the paint to help energize your work while reviewing the basic principles of solid picture-making. Open to all levels, however, prior experience painting on location is mandatory. Register soon, Class size is limited to 12.
Location: Newport Beach, California
Instructor: Randall Sexton, www.rcsexton.com
Cost: $575
Website, email

April 29-30, 2023
This popular weekend class focuses on the figure and portrait in a series of exercises designed to challenge artists at every experience level, but especially for intermediate to advanced painters. Class size is limited to 9 students. There will be plenty of room to view demonstrations and lots of individual feedback. Saturday is an “aerobic work-out” of short poses (25 to 40 minutes), while Sunday consists of longer poses - (one in the AM and one in the PM). A supply list will be sent out upon registration. Working from life, students come away with a new understanding of the human form, color-mixing, composition, and paint-handling.
Location: Saratoga, California
Instructor: Randall Sexton, www.rcsexton.com
Cost: $475
Website, email

June 12-14, 2023
Are your paintings muddy and well, …kinda grey? In this in-person plein air workshop, you will learn how color secrets can transform your paintings! Many times, paintings end up looking too blue and green or grey. Learn how to push reds into your paintings in unexpected ways and places. Learn how to warm up a blue so it shimmers. Unlock the secrets to sparkle on the water! Award-winning artist Debra Huse is a great teacher, sharing every aspect of her techniques to achieve successful paintings. Break old habits and bring a new, more confident, approach to your work.
Location: Carmel, California
Instructor: Debra Huse
Cost: $595.00
Sponsor: Carmel Visual Arts
Website

September 25-27, 2023
Come paint the Monterey and Carmel Coastline with award-winning California artist Randall Sexton. This 3-day workshop is open to all levels—but it is especially geared to push the experienced artist to greater heights. Randy will review the basics of solid picture making… while sharing his own methods for “Simplifying the Complex.” Three days will be spent on location (gathering direct experience en plein air.) Daily demonstrations will be followed up with “one-on-one” assistance at the easel. Hosted by Carmel Visual Arts, Sexton returns to lead his seventh workshop in the Monterey Peninsula. Class size is limited and they tend to fill up quickly so don’t hesitate to register. Hope you can join us!
Location: Carmel, California
Instructor: Randall Sexton, www.rcsexton.com
Cost: $600
Sponsor: Carmel Visual Arts
Website, (831) 620-2955

October 8-13, 2023
Join me for 4 days of sketching with watercolor in beautiful Carmel-by-the-sea. We’ll enjoy the free-flowing and colorful nature of watercolor at its best while sketching and having fun! I’ll help you develop observation skills, color awareness, simple design principles and learn about light and shadows. We’ll investigate various techniques, sketching tools, and approaches to watercolor. Enjoy time with fellow artists, instruction and friendly critiques. Space is very limited (max 15 participants). Brenda Swenson is the artist author of two books, Keeping a Watercolor Sketchbook (Finalist, Award of Excellence) and Steps to Success in Watercolor.
Location: Carmel & Pacific Grove, California
Instructor: Brenda Swenson
Cost: $1,590
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

October 15-20, 2023
Join me for 4 days of sketching with watercolor in beautiful Carmel-by-the-sea. We’ll enjoy the free-flowing and colorful nature of watercolor at its best while sketching and having fun! I’ll help you develop observation skills, color awareness, simple design principles and learn about light and shadows. We’ll investigate various techniques, sketching tools, and approaches to watercolor. Enjoy time with fellow artists, instruction and friendly critiques. Space is very limited (max 15 participants). Brenda Swenson is the artist author of two books, Keeping a Watercolor Sketchbook (Finalist, Award of Excellence) and Steps to Success in Watercolor.
Location: Carmel & Pacific Grove, California
Instructor: Brenda Swenson
Cost: $1,590
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

October 22-27, 2023
Close by or across the globe, travel light and capture your views with pop and zing.
All it takes is a small watercolor palette (with five basic primary colors), a classic Ticonderoga pencil, a black office pen, a medium size watercolor brush, a small water container, and a medium-size sketch book. You are now at the ready to knock off joyful sketches!
To keep those sketches rolling, I’ll teach you how to visually K.I.S.S. (Keep It Supper Simple) what you see and what you draw and paint.
Location: Carmel, Pacific Grove & Monterey , California
Instructor: David Lobenberg
Cost: $1,490
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

November 6-10, 2023
Enjoy painting indoors and outdoors in Southern California as you learn to "Lay It Down & Leave It Alone"! Award-winning artist Debra Huse will teach you three things you must always do for a successful painting and the Impressionist masters' secrets that she has uncovered. Let Debra “hold your hand” to get the correct feel of the brush and how to apply paint. Learn the secrets to capturing clouds, mountains, water, boats, skies, and trees. Enjoy positive, upbeat and insightful instruction. Break old habits and bring a new, more confident, approach to your work. Class size is limited to ensure individual attention and instruction.
Location: Newport Beach, California
Instructor: Debra Huse
Cost: $795.00
Sponsor: Huse Skelly Fine Art Gallery
Website, email
