The workshop includes a short lecture and presentation highlighting storytelling through mixed media collage with the use of historical imagery. Participants will observe a demonstration and view artwork made by the artist instructor. A hands-on session follows, covering the use of mixed media collage including examples of methods and projects as well as reference materials for the classroom. Lavett Ballard is a female mixed media visual artist, art historian, curator and author. She holds a dual Bachelor’s in Studio Art and Art History with a minor in Museum Studies from Rutgers University- Camden and an MFA in Studio Art from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Ballard’s art has been commissioned twice as a cover for Time Magazine.
 
Location: Key West, Florida
Instructor: Lavett Ballard
Cost: $100 / $75 for members
Sponsor: The Studios of Key West
Website, email, (305) 296-0458

Join Anne Hebebrand for three days of working with cold wax and oil paint. Whether you are a newcomer to this medium or more experienced, you're welcome to participate at any skill level. She will offer guidance and ample demonstrations, allowing you to progress at your own pace. Students will delve into various techniques, composition, color theory and editing. Explore unique techniques including building layers, working with contrast, veils of color, brayer and transfer techniques, mark-making, masking and stenciling, reductive techniques, compression and blotting. Workshop setting is in a barn at the Haley House in Kittery Maine, ten minutes from Portsmouth, New Hampshire and one hour away from Logan Airport in Boston. All meals provided.
 
Location: Kittery, Maine
Instructor: Anne Hebebrand
Cost: $750
Sponsor: Anne Hebebrand
Website, email, 857-930-9849

Washi Tape is a not-very-sticky masking tape made from rice paper. It comes in rolls of solid colors, as well as patterns, and provides adherence to a variety of surfaces. This course taught by local artist Joan Moreau McKeever will teach you how to create your very own realistic or abstract collages using washi tape! Students will learn the technique of creating with this new art form. Landscapes, Flowers, People, Abstracts.... No Limit! Washi Tape is primarily used for crafting, but we are going to take it to a whole new level! No experience necessary! In addition to the registration fee, students should bring $30 cash to pay the instructor for materials, all of which will be provided for you.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Joan Moreau McKeever
Cost: $150
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Special Interest 9 day Plein Air Painting/Sketching Workshop in Grand Canyon National Park *Painting White Water, Side Canyons and Botany * Managing artwork in the wilderness, Setting up quick compositions *Talks on Art History in Grand Canyon *Workshops on sketching, limiting colors and quick composition
 
Location: Grand Canyon, Arizona
Instructor: Ani Eastwood with Grand Canyon Expeditions
Sponsor: Grand Canyon Expeditions Company
Website, email, 1-800-544-2691

Explore your creativity, open your senses and sharpen your mind to new realms of art-making with noted artist Mikel Elam. Mikel will help you articulate your vision and bring it to concrete reality in the form of a finished work. Explore techniques new and old with paint, paper, found objects and ephemera to best express both representational and abstract perspectives. Channel ideas of progressive artists from the past and present including Henri Matisse, Romare Bearden, Cecily Brown, Joan Mitchell while finding your own voice.
 
Location: Philadelphia, PA, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Mikel Elam
Cost: $250
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio
Website, email, 267-514-8647

Immerse yourself in a deep dive into the creative process of Abstract Painting with elements of collage and mixed media. Students who have a desire to find their own personal voice and style while learning the fundamentals of painting with acrylics (and mixed media) in an abstract manner, will find many opportunities to flourish in this robust workshop. Jodi Ohl, artist and author of “Abstracts in Acrylic and Ink,” will guide students through a variety of inspiring chats, comprehensive demonstrations, and provide personal guidance daily. Students can expect to work on multiple pieces on both paper and canvas (or hardboard) to develop their own personal style and build on their body of existing work.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Jodi Ohl
Cost: $975+
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-633-7374

I love painting florals!!! And I work in different techniques and mediums… including watercolor, acrylics, and alcohol inks. At this retreat, I will share all kinds of approaches to capturing the joyous spirit of flowers!!! We will play with drawing, stenciling, collaging and painting my very favorite subject matter… glorious flowers!!! It will be a Flowerpalooza!!! Any skill level is completely welcome!!! From beginner to established. I really enjoy bringing out the creativity in everyone at my retreats. And we will laugh, share and maybe even dance a little?? Being with kindred spirits is pure joy!!!
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Lori Siebert
Cost: $975+
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-633-7374

Washi Tape is a not-very-sticky masking tape made from rice paper. It comes in rolls of solid colors, as well as patterns, and provides adherence to a variety of surfaces. This course taught by local artist Joan Moreau McKeever will teach you how to create your very own realistic or abstract collages using washi tape! Students will learn the technique of creating with this new art form. Landscapes, Flowers, People, Abstracts.... No Limit! Washi Tape is primarily used for crafting, but we are going to take it to a whole new level! No experience necessary! In addition to the registration fee, students should bring $30 cash to pay the instructor for materials, all of which will be provided for you.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Joan Moreau McKeever
Cost: $150
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Join us for this exciting class with Julie Schroeder. Discover and energize your inner artist and loosen up with exciting new watercolor techniques. This will be a fun class with watercolor techniques. Using color, texture, layering, expressive mark making, & splattering, we'll be experimenting with different professional papers. In this workshop, our main project will be a lovely landscape created with handmade papers on 140lb watercolor paper. We'll be layering on beautiful rich color in a wet into wet beginning with a special technique combining papers layered onto the watercolor paper. This creates a beautiful textured 3-D look! Experienced painters as well as those who are new to watercolors will both enjoy this fun and exciting exploration of watercolor.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Julie Schroeder
Cost: $180
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

You'll create a wonderful coastal seascape with colors and the lighthouse of your choice! We will be achieving textures with many layers of paint and media. We will experiment with torn papers, string, napkins, stenciling, glue, paint, glitter and a variety of other interesting materials. Come let your creativity loose and have fun making this 3-Dimensional piece of art! Students should bring $20 cash to pay instructor for materials, which will all be provided for you.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Julie Schroeder
Cost: $60
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Enhance your creativity with the highly individual medium of collage! Learn how to bring together random materials to create your own unique images, patterns and textures. Alicia will guide you through the process as you compose a layout, create surfaces, gather materials according to color, texture and pattern, and paste up your composition. Enjoy a day of artistic exploration and have fun discovering the numerous ways to manipulate paper, cardboard, fabric and more!
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Alicia Mino Gonzalez
Cost: $85
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio
Website, email, 267-514-8647

In this two-day workshop, we will explore the many different sides of art journals from getting past the blank pages to tips and techniques in capturing your words and imagery. An art journal is a combination of visual and written imagery that captures thoughts, ideas and images in a visual way. They can be travel logs, dream diaries, art techniques, therapy logs, storybooks, or anything. Anything goes in an art journal from using mixed media and collage, to paint, to pen and charcoal. For more information, visit lesliewoodarts.com.
 
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Instructor: Leslie Wood
Cost: $350 Museum members/ $400 non-members
Sponsor: Huntsville Museum of Art
Website, email, 256-535-6372

Expand your artist’s eye by learning different ways of seeing, loosen your grip on realism, and move into an exploration of essence. In this workshop, you’ll interpret your observations of the surrounding natural environment to create abstract art that is wholly your own. With an iterative approach, you’ll lean into different mediums, including watercolor, graphite, oil pastel and cut paper, to distill the characteristics of landscape. Along the way, creative process insights are shared that can free your hand and strengthen your visual voice. This workshop is appropriate for all levels of students.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Meg Kaczyk
Cost: $350
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Want more expressive art? Want more confidence in yourself and your art? Want to have a transformative experience with like-minded people? This class will take you beyond predictable painting methods. We will experiment with innovative techniques and a mindset of relaxed awareness, which have been designed to cultivate curiosity and self-confidence. Inspiring demos, lots of time to paint, and group critiques will reinforce design and mindset objectives. Critiques will model how to discuss paintings with non-judgmental language that educates you to “see” more and to appreciate whatever might show up so that you and your art will flourish. Discussions will address confidence, procrastination, vulnerability, curiosity, courage, inspiration, and more! All levels of experience are encouraged to attend.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Joan Fullerton
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-633-7374

For me there is nothing more joyful and relaxing than making art! I love allowing my intuition to guide me as I develop a work of art. I also find so much inspiration in nature, and I love including natural forms and textures, along with botanical elements, in my artwork. I invite you to join me to develop a series of abstract watercolor & mixed media paintings. Over the course of the workshop, I will demonstrate and provide guidance through many of my favorite painting techniques. We’ll create custom blends of color, learn techniques for layering and adding texture to our watercolors, explore the fundamentals of composition, and take lots of inspiration from the Connecticut springtime blooms.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Jocelyn Benford
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-633-7374

A mixed media workshop discovering your language though materials, process and observation. This workshop is based on demonstrations of a variety of materials, prompts and exercises to get to the core of personal meaning. The focus is on exploration, intuition, and pushing out of your comfort zone. Directives include formal elements such as line, shape, space, color, and composition with fast-paced timing based on discovery rather than finished products. Techniques will focus on markmaking, layering, collaging, excavating, combining materials, and more. Materials include: dirt, coffee, natural materials, inks, acrylic mediums and paint plus cold wax and R&F Pigment Sticks. Participants will create many small works to let go of the "precious" mentality. Freedom of expression is emphasized!
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Lisa Pressman
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-633-7374

During this exciting retreat, you will learn to paint florals, looking at colour, composition and techniques and how to approach flower painting creatively with a focus on the process rather than the outcome. Victoria will demonstrate a wide variety of materials and show you how to be explorative and experimental, letting go of the fear of making mistakes. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced level artist, you’ll develop the confidence and skills to creatively loosen up, be more spontaneous, and let go of self-doubt. You’ll be provided with a huge array of gorgeous flowers as inspiration. Quick and easy exercises will introduce you to collage and mixed media techniques. Victoria will be on hand, offering support and advice.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Victoria Johnson
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-633-7374

In this exciting and inspiring art adventure for budding artists, teens will tap into their creativity as they learn to express themselves through art. Receive one-on-one customized art instruction with professional artists. Explore a variety of painting, drawing and mixed-media art projects, materials and technique. Explore acrylic paint on canvas, oil pastels, charcoal, mixed-media expression, ink, portraiture and more! Learn artistic techniques such as line quality, composition, shading, texture, personal expression, color, art history, realism, abstraction and more! Celebrate with a group art exhibition of artwork created. Classes are offered on Mondays and Saturdays.
 
Location: Bryan, Texas
Cost: $35 per class or $95/month
Sponsor: Degallery
Website, email, +1(979)704-3090

Why flowers? I have always been drawn to painting flowers in my work. To me, flowers represent the healing power of beauty. I believe that the world could use a little more beauty (and art). I am delighted to share my love of flowers and my process of painting with all of you! Come arrange, sketch and paint flowers with me. During this five-day intensive workshop, we will explore shape, line, and color through a variety of expressions, including sketching, collage, and painting. We will use mixed media techniques to layer and create beautiful expressive florals. I will be walking artists through exercises to loosen up their process, create from a place of joy, play with color, and explore composition.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Wendy Brightbill
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-633-7374

Explore textile pattern design using DIY acrylic inks and textile paints that will leave your fabric with a soft hand and give you exactly the colors you want. Explore a multitude of ways to create richly textured “base” fabrics by applying acrylics inks with different types of brush-strokes, sponges, altering ink and water ratios, adding salt, mono-printing, and scrunching, as well as pleating, stitching, clamping and pole wrapping fabric with a variety of shibori techniques. Learn how to successfully print with foam, rubber and wood stamps. Master screen printing with thermofax screens, then apply pattern design principles using various types of repeats to print on your textured “base” fabrics. It’ll be a blast of inspiration, innovation, information and fun.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Judy Coates Perez
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-633-7374

I am constantly in awe and inspired by nature and I believe she’s our best teacher! I cannot wait to lead you in this exploratory workshop where we will use and study elements from nature to create a wide variety of beautiful art. From watercolor and stamped flowers, pressed elements and mark making in sketchbooks and journals, to mixed media, collage work and pattern play… it will be a wonderful, creative time together!! Whether you haven’t picked up a paintbrush since elementary school or you create art daily, I love teaching new techniques, sharing my process and favorite materials and I promise you will learn a lot, love what you create, and have fun and be inspired by nature!
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Caroline Simas
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-633-7374

A playful and colorful exploration of animals, heart-shaped art, and other whimsical things that create joy! We will get loose and let happiness flow onto our canvases! How does a cheery color-coordinated theme party sound for opening night? (e.g. - we dress up in our favorite pinks!) We’ll live, laugh, and… eat! There will be plenty of time to unwind, relax, chat, tell stories and/or listen to others’, and just get to know each other. Perhaps one or more long-lasting friendships will be made! Even if you don’t believe that you have it in you to paint complicated images, I’ll demonstrate for you some techniques that will make it easy. I will strive to make us all walk away smiling!
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Allison Luci
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-633-7374

Join me and immerse yourself in the creative process. The experience begins the moment you register as you source, find, and gather your own personal collection of papers, fibers, ephemera, and other bits & pieces that will become the basis of your creation. As the workshop begins and unfolds, we will gather together, both within the workshop space at The Connecticut River Valley Inn and at some special, local locations. You will spend your time transforming your treasures into a series of what might loosely be called artist books. Instruction will cover the range of techniques used in mixed media: surface designing, using paints and inks, hand stitching, book binding, rusting, dyeing, embossing, mark making, gel printing, collaging, creative layering, and more.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Seth Apter
Cost: $975 + Materials fee & Ct Sales Tax
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-633-7374

Learn a non-traditional approach to oil painting or explore oils for the first time. Cold wax medium is an additive that thickens oil paint, speeds up the drying time (a bit), and neutralizes the paint so there’s no concern about “fat over lean” rules. We will be using R&F’s Pigment Sticks (compressed oil paints) along with tube oils to create paintings without brushes or smelly solvents. You will discover new tools and methods for creating rich and authentic small works on paper and Ampersand’s Gessoboard. With Arches oil paper as our primary substrate, you’ll have several paintings going at once. This workshop is fun, a bit messy, and will change the way you think about oil painting.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Julie Snidle
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-633-7374

Open to students of all artistic levels, Paper and Book Artistry is for those who are ready to ditch perfection, get messy, and play with no rules. Roben-Marie’s teaching style is friendly and easy going with a focus on having fun and playing with supplies in non-traditional ways. Join Roben-Marie in a lovely historic inn located in The Connecticut River Valley for an inspiring and joyful workshop designed to help you with creative play, building up a stash of amazing art papers, and exploring the mixing of different mediums and journal making. Paper and Book Artistry is more than creative time…it’s time brimming with togetherness and friendship.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Roben Marie Smith
Cost: $975 + Materials fee & Ct Sales Tax
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-633-7374