Art Workshops, Classes & Retreats

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"The Art of Watercolor Workshop"
August 3-4, 2024
 

Discover the beauty and versatility of watercolor through colorful and thoughtful still life arrangements. Discussions and in-depth demonstrations will acquaint beginners and those with limited experience with basic watercolor painting materials and techniques. A variety of approaches will be explored, and students will be encouraged to engage with the medium to find their own personal means of expression.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Keith Leitner
Cost: $195
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632


"Achieving Vibrant Colors and Translucency in Watercolor"
August 22, 2024
 

Join us for an inspiring workshop with acclaimed artist Carrie Waller, titled "Achieving Vibrant Colors and Translucency in Watercolor." In this session, Carrie will share her expert techniques for creating luminous, vibrant watercolor paintings. You will learn how to layer colors effectively, master the art of translucency, and bring your artworks to life with rich, dynamic hues. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced watercolorist, this workshop offers valuable insights to elevate your skills and creativity. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a master and enhance your watercolor artistry!
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Carrie Waller
Cost: $79
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email


"The Art of Negative Painting"
August 29, 2024
 

Join acclaimed watercolor artist Anna Bucciarelli for an inspiring workshop on the art of negative painting. Negative painting is a technique that involves painting around the subject to define it, rather than painting the subject itself. This approach allows artists to create striking and dynamic compositions that bring a unique depth and dimension to their work. In this class, Anna will guide you through the fundamentals of negative painting, demonstrating how to effectively use this technique to enhance your watercolor paintings. By the end of the workshop, you'll have your own negative painting masterpiece and a deeper understanding of how to use this technique to create compelling watercolor art. All skill levels are welcome!
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Anna Bucciarelli
Cost: $79
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email


"Open Painting in The Medium of Your Choice"
Mondays, September 2-23, 2024
 

Paint with the medium of your choice, (Oil, Watercolor, Acrylic, Pastel, Charcoal, Colored Pencil), in a relaxed atmosphere with as much instructor help as you want. Bring in new or unfinished work. Short demos, techniques, and critiques will be available to assist you. Realism, impressionism, or something more modern is all welcome. This class is appropriate for beginner painters, intermediate painters and advanced painters of any medium. The main purpose of this course is one-on-one assistance from the instructor with whatever you need help with (fixing, composition, specific subjects, etc.).
 
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


"A Sense of Place in Tuscany"
September 4-11, 2024
 

Join Alison for a week of joyful exploration of Place, in the beautiful city of Cortona. Sitting in ancient squares, by fountains, or in cafes, I’ll show you some simple ways to capture buildings. In markets we’ll talk about how to include figures in your sketches. Overlooking vistas of vineyards and far off hills, we’ll explore how to simplify the scene to focus on important elements and create depth. Drawing and painting on loose pages rather than in a watercolour journal, allows us to loosen up and have fun with experimental techniques and a variety of media. We’ll work with watercolour, pen, ink, marker, on different papers, to create images, which we will curate into a concertina book.
 
Location: Cortona, Italy
Instructor: Alison Watt
Cost: From $3,790.00 per person all-inclusive
Sponsor: Toscana Americana Workshops
Website, email, 978-407-7127


"Still Life Painting in Acrylic or Oil"
September 12-15, 2024
 

Using demonstrations each day and individual assistance at each easel, Donna will explain her process of creating vibrant paintings. She will demonstrate values and color mixing and composition. Donna always asks the goals set by her students so that she might help fulfill that goal. Bland lives and paints in the Austin, Texas area. She loves to learn, create and share what she has experienced in finishing a painting. No words to describe the joy in painting outdoors in the Texas Hill Country, Colorado or Mexico. She is a member of Oil Painters of America, the American Impressionist Society, the Austin Plein Air Painters, American Women Artists and Artists of Texas. For more information, visit donnabland.com.
 
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Instructor: Donna Bland
Cost: $600 Museum members/ $650 non-members
Sponsor: Huntsville Museum of Art
Website, email, 256-535-6372


"Painting Beautiful Fruit on Vellum with Denise Walser-Kolar"
September 28 - October 5, 2024
 

Learn my approach to painting on vellum during this five-day workshop at the beautiful Clos Mirabel in South West France. We will begin by doing some exercises on small bits of vellum to learn technique and to get a feel for painting on this surface. We will explore the grounds of Clos Mirabel to choose painting subjects. Apples, pears, plums, figs, kiwis, and berries will be at their peak this time of the year. You might also choose to do a Hoefnagel inspired painting of the treasures you find in the gardens. This class is designed for students new to vellum as well as for more experienced vellum painters – to learn new tricks and techniques.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Denise Walser-Kolar
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + 450€ tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91


"Painting Mallorca in Watercolor"
September 28 - October 5, 2024
 

A Sketchbook Journaling Workshop with Karen Ramsay. Come join us and capture Mallorca in watercolor! As we fill our art travel journals with sketching and watercolors, Karen will give us tips and tricks for improving this special skill. Sketching on location, while traveling, is an art form that you can take with you on every future trip. The daily sketches that you create will become a treasured visual diary of your travel. During this week in Mallorca, we will explore the island, its many scenic areas - from the gorgeous views over the Mediterranean Sea to the small towns in the Tramuntana mountain range: the artist town of Deia, the scenic towns of Fornalutx and Valldemossa and the capital Palma.
 
Location: Valldemossa, Mallorca, Spain
Instructor: Karen Ramsay
Cost: $3,890
Sponsor: Alpine Creative Tours
Website, email, 970-846-9000


"Flowerpalooza"
September 29 - October 4, 2024
 

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


"Watercolor Fundamentals"
Wednesdays, October 2 - November 13, 2024
 

Watercolor is a wonderful painting medium due to its vibrant and translucent nature, quick drying time, and easy set-up and clean-up. Learn the tools and techniques of the medium while painting directly from engaging still life arrangements. Direct and layered painting methods, color, brushes, and the variety of papers available will all be covered. Receive helpful feedback and critique along the way. Great watercolor painters of the past and present will be discussed including John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, Charles Burchfield and Andrew Wyeth. All levels welcome, from beginner to those looking to brush up their skills. Basic materials will be supplied
 
Location: Philadelphia, PA, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Keith Leitner
Cost: $250
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio
Website, email, 267-514-8647


"Open Painting in The Medium of Your Choice"
Mondays, October 7-28, 2024
 

Paint with the medium of your choice, (Oil, Watercolor, Acrylic, Pastel, Charcoal, Colored Pencil), in a relaxed atmosphere with as much instructor help as you want. Bring in new or unfinished work. Short demos, techniques, and critiques will be available to assist you. Realism, impressionism, or something more modern is all welcome. This class is appropriate for beginner painters, intermediate painters and advanced painters of any medium. The main purpose of this course is one-on-one assistance from the instructor with whatever you need help with (fixing, composition, specific subjects, etc.).
 
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


"4-Day Workshop: Creating Expressive & Dynamic Watercolor"
October 21-24, 2024
 

Mon-Thurs Oct 21-24, 2024 from 9:30am-3:30pm. $575 Art League of OC Members, $720 Non-Members. There will be a wide variety of watercolor techniques that will be discussed and demonstrated including positive and negative painting, composition, using creative colors, glazing, charging color, and many more. Students will begin each day with a demonstration painting that will be finished before lunch. The daily demonstration will be different each day so that you will see a wide variety of subject matter and styles including landscapes, floral, stylized, and abstract. Edwards preferred method of painting is to use large brushes for most of the painting and complete the painting with a small amount of details towards the end using smaller brushes.
 
Location: Ocean City, Maryland
Instructor: Sterling Edwards
Cost: $575 ALOC Members, $720 Non-Members
Sponsor: Art League of Ocean City
Website, email, 410-524-9433


"Painting Retreat in Sicily, “Spirit, Mind, Body”"
October 27 - November 3, 2024
 

We invite you to join us in this relaxed, beautiful, historic place. Give yourself this time and space to joyfully become a better painter! The setting of Salinara, with its rustic beauty, farm fresh meals, and interesting excursions provides the perfect environment for our “Spirit,Mind,Body” experience. Your artistic SPIRIT will be recognized, encouraged, and celebrated as you work with other creative participants. Your MIND will be engaged by discussions of Art within the group, and your problem solving skills will be challenged as you are improving your painting ability. Your BODY will be nourished with fresh food, walks, biking, and yoga sessions. The emphasis on this workshop is to help promote skill-building with your painting, regardless of your level.
 
Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy
Instructor: Qiang Huang and Suzanne Enriquez Dougher
Cost: From 2000 $
Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre
Website, email


"Alla Prima Watercolor"
Fridays, November 1 - December 13, 2024
 

Explore the world of watercolor! Watercolor is a wonderful painting medium due to its vibrant and translucent nature, quick drying time, and easy set-up and clean-up. Learn the tools and techniques of the medium while painting directly from engaging still life arrangements. Direct and layered painting methods, color, brushes, and the variety of papers available will all be covered. Receive helpful feedback and critique along the way. Great watercolor painters of the past and present will be discussed including John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, Charles Burchfield and Andrew Wyeth. All levels welcome, from beginner to advanced and all forms of expression from realist to abstract.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Keith Leitner
Cost: $250
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio
Website, email, 267-514-8647


"Open Painting in The Medium of Your Choice"
Mondays, November 4-25, 2024
 

Paint with the medium of your choice, (Oil, Watercolor, Acrylic, Pastel, Charcoal, Colored Pencil), in a relaxed atmosphere with as much instructor help as you want. Bring in new or unfinished work. Short demos, techniques, and critiques will be available to assist you. Realism, impressionism, or something more modern is all welcome. This class is appropriate for beginner painters, intermediate painters and advanced painters of any medium. The main purpose of this course is one-on-one assistance from the instructor with whatever you need help with (fixing, composition, specific subjects, etc.).
 
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


"Master Class with Bill Scott: Still Life Into Abstraction"
November 23 & 24, 2024
 

Don't miss this opportunity to work with renowned painter Bill Scott to explore the sensuous yet thoughtful abstract construction of space in this two-day, intensive studio workshop. Color will be the focus as participants paint from an expansive still life environment with special prompts from Scott. This workshop is designed for intermediate/advanced painters.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Bill Scott
Cost: $395
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio
Website, email, 267-514-8647


"Blowing Flowers using Alcohol Inks"
December 10, 2024
 

Alcohol inks have such a color intensity & personality unmatched by other mediums. It's not like any other art form. It’s so exciting to watch the inks move & flow & it happens right in your hands! Anyone can do it…no need to have experience. Each painting is totally unique, bright & powerful. Julie will walk you through all the steps. We'll be using the inks on Yupo paper as well as on tiles for amazing effects! Alcohol Inks can be applied on various surfaces like Yupo paper, glossy paper, metal, shrink plastic and glass. The ink is acid-free, fade-resistant & fast-drying. Students should bring $20 cash to pay instructor, who will provide all the materials you need.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Julie Schroeder
Cost: $50
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738


"Acrylic & Palette Knife: Flower Elegance"
December 11, 2024
 

Come & have an amazing time creating a beautiful modern floral painting, no experience necessary! We'll be using a variety of palette knife techniques on canvas. You'll see just how easy it is to blend colors using a palette knife. We'll be using some really rich and creamy paints to have a lot of textures, interesting effects, (some almost like acrylic pouring), and 3-D effects. You’ll learn how to layer your paint and a achieve 3-dimensional look using a palette knife. Students should bring $20 cash to pay the instructor who will provide all materials needed.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Julie Schroeder
Cost: $50
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738


"Watercolor: Layered Papers, Reflected Light"
December 13, 2024
 

In this workshop, we will explore some amazing techniques with watercolor pencils, some traditional and some experimental. We'll be laying on beautiful color with brushes and fresh paint for some backgrounds and then layering on textures with color sanding and stencils. We will also be exploring some brush techniques. Be prepared to uncover the amazing qualities of watercolor! Students should bring $20 cash to pay instructor, who will provide most of the materials you need. You are still responsible for bringing a few small items.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Julie Schroeder
Cost: $50
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738


"Alla Prima Oil Painting Workshop"
January 11, 2025
 

Enjoy an energetic day of alla prima painting with Liz Price! Paint directly from an engaging still life with guidance and support from Liz. Learn to build an oil painting directly with emphasis on color, color mixing, light, paint fluidity, and building form into wet-into-wet painting.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Liz Price
Cost: $95
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio
Website, email, 267-514-8647


"Beginner Watercolor Painting"
January 18, 2025
 

In this class Chris will have 2 paintings prepared (floral & island landscape) to demonstrate the basics and more advanced techniques. Watercolors have been popular for centuries. Learn this intricate medium with this step-by-step approach. Chris will guide you through the techniques and help you develop skills needed to produce beautiful paintings. He will not only tell you how, but also show you! With just a few simple tools – water, pigments, brushes, and paper. In this beginner’s guide, we will explore the world of watercolor and delve into its many techniques! For more information about Chris, visit his website at www.dreyerdesign.com. This course is designed for beginner level students.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Chris Dreyer
Cost: $100
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738


"Watercolor for Intermediate to Advanced Level Artists"
Mondays, February 3-24, 2025
 

Chris will demonstrate multiple paintings (seascape, floral, & island theme) from beginning to completion. Areas of demonstrations and techniques will include, design, drawing, color, value, washes, glazing, wet in wet, masking, dry brush, lifting out and more. Chris will guide you through the techniques and help you develop skills needed to produce beautiful watercolor paintings. He will not only tell you how, but also show you! For more information about Chris, visit his website at www.dreyerdesign.com. This course is designed for intermediate and advanced level students.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Chris Dreyer
Cost: $200
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738


"Spontaneity in Your Painting in Acrylic or Oil"
February 7 & 8, 2025
 

Learn about color theory and mixing colors. Instruction will include still life, figurative and purely imaginative work. Discover ways to loosen up your brushwork through impressionistic techniques. Demos and individual assistance at each easel provided throughout the two-day workshop. Both a portrait painter and a painter of creative works, Linda Ellen was a student of Russian artist Max Heldman, her travels to Russia and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg were inspirational to her painting. She is a member of several art organizations including Oil Painters of America and Portrait Society of America. Her works are part of both private and public collections throughout the United States, Canada, South America and Europe. For more information, visit lindaellenprice.com.
 
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Instructor: Linda Ellen Price
Cost: $400 Museum members/ $450 non-members
Sponsor: Huntsville Museum of Art
Website, email, 256-535-6372


"Watercolor for Intermediate to Advanced Level Artists"
Fridays, March 7-28, 2025
 

Chris will demonstrate multiple paintings (seascape, floral, & island theme) from beginning to completion. Areas of demonstrations and techniques will include, design, drawing, color, value, washes, glazing, wet in wet, masking, dry brush, lifting out and more. Chris will guide you through the techniques and help you develop skills needed to produce beautiful watercolor paintings. He will not only tell you how, but also show you! For more information about Chris, visit his website at www.dreyerdesign.com. This course is designed for intermediate and advanced level students.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Chris Dreyer
Cost: $200
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738


"Expressive, Loose Watercolors - Flowers to Figures"
April 20-25, 2025
 

Fresh, beautiful flowers in the studio will be the inspiration for the beginning of this dynamic workshop — progressing to the head and figure. Through a series of quick and fun drawing and painting exercises, students will develop a more loose and natural approach, giving all an opportunity to be more spontaneous and expressive in their paintings. In our approach to the head and figure, we will learn to express translucent flesh tones, while focusing on the gesture of the person. Painting children will also be covered. We will work primarily from photos (you can work from mine — ones I will demo, plus extra that may interest you). Please feel free to bring your own photos also — ones that inspire you!
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Janet Rogers
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-633-7374


"Creating Contrast: Brightening Highlights and Deepening Darks with Botanical Artist Ann Swan"
April 26 - May 3, 2025
 

Join Botanical Artist Ann Swan, RHS Gold Medalist and author of ‘Botanical Painting with Coloured Pencils’ for a week of Botanical drawing with a specific focus on creating contrast using coloured pencils. In this workshop Ann will show you how to interpret light and shade and to accurately capture contrasting tonal values to create a true sense of three-dimensional form and volume in your work. Ann will demonstrate ways of creating realistic highlights and sheen and help you choose convincing shade colours to create depth in shadows whilst maintaining vibrant colours so that your work will come to life on the page.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Ann Swan
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + £400 tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91


"Techniques to make Botanical Artwork more detailed with Michelle EunYoung Song"
May 3-10, 2025
 

Join Michelle EunYoung Song (SBA Fellow) for one week of botanical art using coloured pencils. Michelle will guide you on how to capture a beautiful moment at Clos Mirabel. Together, we will explore the grounds of Clos Mirabel which has an abundance of plants growing in May. Back in the studio, Michelle will guide you through a detailed study of your specimen. You will use pencil drawings in a sketchbook that will produce data for your detailed painting. You will also practice making the proper colour using coloured pencils. The tuition is exacting and clear so that by the end of the week you will have the capacity to create a more detailed botanical painting.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Michelle EunYoung Song
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + 450€ tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91


"Watercolor Sketching and Journaling"
May 4-9, 2025
 

Join me for an unforgettable painting holiday in Santa Fe, a region famous for its stunning scenery and captivating light. During the workshop, all of the logistics will be taken care of by my good friends at French Escapade. All we have to do is relax and enjoy our days spent sketching in this strikingly beautiful part of New Mexico. We’ll have plenty of time to capture once-in-a-lifetime experiences on the pages of our watercolor journals. My teaching will focus on illustrated watercolor journaling. You’ll learn how to add style and interest to your sketchbook pages through the use of unique page layouts and borders, and we’ll cover several fun new lettering styles. I’ll offer daily demonstrations of painting techniques.
 
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Instructor: Leslie Fehling
Cost: $1,690
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713


"Watercolor Painting Workshop"
May 8-15, 2025
 

Join me in Carmel and Pacific Grove, where we’ll experience the wild beauty of rugged Pacific shores, the enchanting fairy-tale cottages, and historic Mission architecture that make this place so unique. I’ve designed this workshop to give you confidence sketching wherever you happen to be. I’ll show you how to keep your watercolour sketches loose, fresh and vibrant. And I’ll share my techniques for capturing the beauty that surrounds us, so you can savour it for years to come.
 
Location: Provence, France
Instructor: David Daniels
Cost: $3,790 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713


"Oil Painting Workshop: Acrylics, gouache and pastel welcome"
May 9-16, 2025
 

I am so excited to teach you in this inspiring place while working outdoors in Plein Air as the Impressionist masters did! Paint the crystal blue Mediterranean waters with breathtaking vistas of the Catalonia coast, a hidden gem fishing village, botanical gardens, and medieval villages. As a painter and colorist, I have learned that the best way to achieve the feeling of light and color in your paintings is to paint outdoors. I will be your guide and teacher for an incredible week of painting, sightseeing, dining, and artistic community while we all learn and grow our artistry during the week. The experience of painting with other artists will be a treasure you carry with you for a lifetime.
 
Location: Costa Brava, Spain
Instructor: Rose Irelan
Cost: $3,790 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713


"Plein Air Painting in Provence, France!"
May 15-22, 2025
 

Join me for an amazing week of plein air painting in magnificent Provence, France! This is ‘Red poppy season’ and we’ll explore and paint the exciting spring colors of glorious Provence. I’m super excited to teach you painting in such an inspiring place! We’ll paint flower fields, countryside villages, waterways and hillside castle towns, quaint, flower-filled alleyways, medieval churches, fountains and ancient archways. We’ll paint our impressions, dine exquisitely, share gorgeous sights and creative companionship, all while learning and growing our craft. I will share my methods for creating successful paintings with loose brushwork and exciting color harmonies. I will demo in oil primarily, but am proficient and happy to help with watercolor, acrylics and pastels as well.
 
Location: Provence, France
Instructor: Maggie Hellmann
Cost: $3,940 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713


"Expressive Mixed-Media Florals"
May 18-23, 2025
 

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


"Watercolor Painting Workshop"
May 23-30, 2025
 

You probably fell in love with making art before a painting holiday occurred to you. Classroom lessons, online sessions, or time in the studio are typically safe environments in which to learn. But once we venture outdoors to paint, the light can be dramatic, the air is filled with sights, sounds, and smells of nature. While this can all be new, it enriches the painting experience even more. When we arrive on the Costa Brava, my job is to help you capture the nuances of our surroundings with confidence. Even before departure I’ll provide practical pointers on what to bring, what to leave behind. My plein-air workshops are jam-packed with helpful tips to help you make powerful statements through your art.
 
Location: Costa Brava, Spain
Instructor: Randy Hale
Cost: $3,790 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713


"Botanical Offerings - A Floral Sketching and Painting Course"
May 25-30, 2025
 

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


"Botanical Sketching and Painting with Lara Call Gastinger"
June 7-14, 2025
 

During this week of Botanical Sketching and Painting in the French Pyrénées with Lara Call Gastinger we will be observing, drawing and painting the local flora of Atelier Clos Mirabel. We will go through the process of how to create a botanical painting, starting with sketching and learning the important characteristics of plants. We will seek botanical inspiration from the acreage of Atelier Clos Mirabel and with a trip to the blooming meadows of the Pyrénées. After the first day of sketching, we will focus on using watercolours to capture the colours and textures of the plants. In the end, we will work on composition and how to create a finished botanical painting. All levels are welcome.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Lara Call Gastinger
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + 450€ tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91


"Illustrating the Plants of Clos Mirabel with Catherine Watters"
June 14-21, 2025
 

Join Catherine Watters for one week of drawing and painting the incredibly diverse flora of Clos Mirabel, using watercolours and/or coloured pencils to capture the colours and textures of the plants. Discover the fascinating world of Botanical Art, starting with a walk around the magnificent property to choose your subject. A variety of plants will be in bloom including Roses, Hydrangeas, Iris, Lupin, Lilies and numerous fruits and vegetables growing in the Orchard. Catherine will introduce her 10 stages to successfully illustrate a subject. You will carefully observe, measure and draw your subject focusing on form, light and texture. All levels of experience are welcome.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Catherine Watters
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + 450€ tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91


"Loose and Free Watercolor Workshop"
June 22-29, 2025
 

In this watercolor workshop, I will help you discover new approaches to your works. Values and Color are the two main elements I will focus on and a dramatic sense of design. My personal style is basically a loose and carefree approach. Leaving a lot of the white of the paper, for me, is paramount in my watercolor work. We will work mostly from our own reference photos, in a relaxed studio environment. You can choose which genres best suit your personality - florals, landscapes, structures, etc. Critiques of the work and one-on-one directions will also be a part of this workshop. I hope you will join me in Bruges for this fantastic painting experience.
 
Location: Bruges, Belgium
Instructor: Rae Andrews
Cost: $3,840 before Nov 30th
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713


"Inspired By Nature Art Retreat"
July 20-25, 2025
 

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


"Watercolor Painting & Sketching"
August 25 - September 1, 2025
 

Join Cindy Briggs and Theresa Goesling in Bruges, Belgium and have a creative life experience. You’ll enjoy inspiring locations such as canals, wind mills, Flemish architecture, daily painting demonstrations, personalized instruction, and encouraging support from Cindy and Theresa. “We show you how to simplify and design your subject, draw confidently, jazz up your colors, paint with serendipity and experiment with new techniques. Create colorful paintings en Plein Air with an emphasis on celebrating your own unique point of view”.
 
Location: Bruges, Belgium
Instructor: Cindy Briggs & Theresa Goesling
Cost: $3,840 before Jan 31
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713


"Watercolor sketching and Journaling"
August 30 - September 6, 2025
 

Join me for an unforgettable painting holiday in Giverny, a strikingly beautiful part of France famous for its stunning scenery and captivating light. We’ll have plenty of time to capture once-in-a-lifetime experiences on the pages of our watercolor journals. You’ll learn how to add style and interest to your sketchbook pages through the use of unique page layouts and borders, and we’ll cover several fun new lettering styles. In addition, I’ll offer daily demonstrations of techniques for painting the subject matter you’ll encounter each day. And you’ll be painting right along with me, since we learn more by doing than by simply observing. The workshop is suitable for all levels, but some experience with drawing and watercolor would be helpful.
 
Location: Giverny, France
Instructor: Leslie Fehling
Cost: $3,840 before Jan 31
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713


"Watercolor Painting & Sketching"
September 4-11, 2025
 

Join Cindy Briggs and Theresa Goesling in the French Alps and have a creative life experience. You’ll enjoy inspiring locations such as mountains, lakes, chalets, meadows, daily painting demonstrations, personalized instruction, and encouraging support from Cindy and Theresa. “We show you how to simplify and design your subject, draw confidently, jazz up your colors, paint with serendipity and experiment with new techniques. Create colorful paintings en Plein Air with an emphasis on celebrating your own unique point of view”.
 
Location: Haute-Savoie, France
Instructor: Cindy Briggs & Theresa Goesling
Cost: $3,840 before Jan 31
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713


"Watercolor sketching"
September 6-13, 2025
 

Do you struggle to apply watercolour or get overwhelmed sometimes when sketching? I will help solve your problems by showing you how to make fast improvements through sharing my most successful tips with watercolour sketching. You will receive plenty of individual tuition, demonstrations and examples to support you along the way. Return home armed with new skills in watercolour and sketching as you will have learnt how to sketch confidently, understand paint consistency and application and mix wonderful glowing colours to capture the magical scenes of Giverny. I will encourage you to sketch what makes your heart sing! The subjects covered will be truly inspirational – including French buildings, landscapes, local scenes and Monet’s garden!
 
Location: Giverny, France
Instructor: Judy Salleh
Cost: $3,840 before Jan 31
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713


"Perfect Imperfection: Capturing decay & fading blooms in watercolour with Jarnie Godwin"
September 13-20, 2025
 

Study with Jarnie Godwin at Atelier Clos Mirabel during a 5-day botanical art workshop in the French Pyrenees ~ South West France. Enjoy wonderful surroundings, delightful accommodation and delicious meals. Jarnie Godwin will guide you into the ethereal mysteries of the fading bloom. As blooms begin to fade you will learn how to capture these intimate, fragile and fleeting moments of decay. Using a range of watercolour techniques, Jarnie will show you how to create the unique acute textures and colour transitions of decay and fading colour. You will learn more about the unique form and detail of fading flowers, and will gain confidence in using and manipulating watercolour to convey an intimate moment in time.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Jarnie Godwin
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + £400 tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91


"Autumn Produce of the Pyrénées with Laura Silburn"
October 11-18, 2025
 

Join Laura Silburn at Atelier Clos Mirabel for a 5-day botanical art workshop in the French Pyrenees ~ South West France. Enjoy wonderful surroundings, accommodation and delicious meals. Explore the botanical delights of this flora-rich part of the world. Laura will help you examine a chosen plant or vegetable through careful observation and sketchbook work. You will then compose an image that reflects its natural character whilst observing botanical truth. You will be guided on how to take your drawings through to a completed botanical watercolour and shown techniques for dry-brush finishing. Laura has work at Kew Gardens, The Hunt Institute, the Florilegium of the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, and the Eden Project Cornwall.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Laura Silburn
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91


"Seasonal Treasures: Celebrating Fading Flowers, Fruit and Autumnal Leaves in Watercolour"
October 18-25, 2025
 

Join Julia Trickey at Atelier Clos Mirabel for a week-long botanical art workshop in the French Pyrenees ~ South West France. Enjoy wonderful surroundings, delightful accommodation and delicious meals. Using fruit and vegetables, flowers and leaves from the gardens and grounds of Atelier Clos Mirabel, we will explore how to make less-than-perfect botanical specimens centre stage. We will start by experimenting with wet-in-wet techniques to create initial form and merging colours, before considering other techniques used to deepen colours and add details. There will also be opportunity to work larger than life or with black backgrounds. Teaching by Julia Trickey will be delivered via live demonstrations, slide presentations and lots of individual support.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Julia Trickey
Cost: 1595€ to 2695€ for accommodation + £400 tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91


"Finding Your Voice in Watercolor"
May 31 - June 5, 2026
 

Watercolor paintings can be so much more than a checklist of watercolor techniques. David goes beyond paint application basics and shows how to construct strong, vibrant, personality-filled paintings. David firmly believes that planning does not destroy creativity, but creates opportunity. Daily one-on-one critiques and demos will be vital to helping you find your watercolor voice. Students will learn: • how to find the essence of your subject matter • how to construct compelling compositions • to see shapes, not objects • how to create a color strategy • how to use frisket to achieve batik-like effects • the importance of value patterns in your work • how to paint loosely while staying true to your subject matter.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: David Daniels
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-633-7374


"Watercolor Explorer Program"
ongoing
 

Learn from the world's top watercolorists filmed in their studio and Plein-air on locations worldwide. Explore a range of techniques and weave dazzling new styles into your paintings through immersive video lessons, live workshops, and personal feedback. Engage with the artists live during weekly Zoom workshops. Instructors will take you behind the scenes as they create original works and answer your questions about their method and creative process. Hone your skills with thoughtfully designed projects and get feedback on your work from professional artists. Connect with a community of like-minded learners across all levels from around the world.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: 20+ top artists
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email


"The History and Techniques of Watercolor"
video course
 

This course is for anyone that wants to learn about watercolor and how to paint in watercolor. Learn the history of watercolor and how to use the tools and techniques of watercolor to create stunning works of art. Watercolor is a very technique driven medium and I want to show you these techniques and how to use them so that your painting experience will be more successful and more enjoyable.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Laurin Mccracken
Cost: $39
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email


"Spring Botanicals"
video course
 

Award winning watercolorist, Carol Carter has spent her career expressing her creativity through the inventive use of color. In this video course, Carol will demonstrate how you can push emotional content in your imagery and message. She’ll walk you through her set up, materials, palette, and techniques. She will cover: use of inventive color, control of water, compositional considerations, and value structure. The course was filmed in Carol’s studio in St. Louis Missouri. Included in the course are two complete painting demonstrations as well as additional tutorials of specific skills. Throughout the course, you’ll work on thoughtfully-designed exercises that help you hone your watercolor skills and projects that help you breathe life into your own paintings.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Carol Carter
Cost: $99
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email


"Textures in Watercolor"
video course
 

Award-winning watercolorist, Angus McEwan has spent his career focusing on achieving the sense of texture in realistic watercolor paintings. In this course, you will explore some of the main techniques Angus uses in the creation of his paintings. They can be loosely described as object based, atmospheric and textural, although there are common elements within each painting video. Included in the course are three complete painting demonstrations filmed in studio as well as additional tutorials of specific skills. Throughout the course, you’ll work on thoughtfully-designed exercises that help you hone your watercolor skills and projects that help you breathe life into your own paintings.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Angus McEwan
Cost: $99
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email


 

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