Workshops

Online Workshops

Seeing and Mixing Color with Sensitivity with Winslow Art Center
Dates: Wednesdays, April 16, 23, and 30, 2025
Times: 9:00-11:30 AM Pacific Time, 11:00 AM-1:30 PM Central Time, 12:00-2:30 PM Eastern Time, 5:00-7:30 PM London Time
Price: $225
Description: Color is fundamental to any kind of painting, but it is also one of the most complex, challenging, and personal aspects. During this 3 session class, we will develop our skills in perceiving, mixing, and using color with sensitivity. We will do a series of exercises to help you get to know your palette, expand your personal color vocabulary, and observe and mix any color with greater acuity.

During the first session, we will dig into how we think about mixing colors, get close with the various color “personalities” on our palette, and experiment with ways to use our palette to mix any color we want. During the following sessions, we will work on still life set ups that challenge us by targeting specific aspects of color.

There will be demos, presentations, and plenty of time for questions. You are encouraged to partake in some of the shorter exercises during class, and work on the longer still life projects outside of class for review the following week. In addition to what we work on during the three sessions, this class will leave you with plenty of exercises to continue practicing after class. All classes will be recorded and available to watch after live classes. This class would be great for beginning to advanced painters, but some prior painting experience is necessary. It is open to acrylic or oil painters.


In Person Workshops and Classes:

Painting New Orleans at Night, One-Day Workshop at The Ogden Museum of Southern Art
Date: May 24 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Price: $45 member/ $50 not-yet-member
Description: Join teaching artist Ben Hamburger in painting New Orleans’ cityscapes in this artist workshop.

The qualities of light, color and atmosphere shift dramatically as the sun goes down. The challenge of nocturne painting can increase our sensitivity to color and provide unique opportunities to play with light.

During the workshop participants will explore works from the exhibition, Crescent Cityscapes: Images of New Orleans from the Permanent Collection and touch on nocturne painting tips before painting their own cityscape of New Orleans at night. Participants are encouraged to bring photo reference images for the workshop. All painting levels are welcome, but some painting experience will be helpful. All materials are provided and all levels welcomed.

Working Out: Exercises for Observational Painters at The Bascom in Highlands, NC
Dates: 7/30 - 8/1/2025, 10am - 4pm
Price: $500
Description: Both seeing and manipulating paint are skills that can be strengthened like muscles. This class focuses on developing perceptual and tactile painting abilities through a series of exercises or “painting challenges” based on direct observation and still-life setups. Specific exercises target skillsets such as color, composition/design, and paint application. Some exercises reinforce familiar techniques, while others challenge participants to step out of their comfort zones. Group critiques help identify and enhance the unique qualities that make each artist’s work authentic. This class is designed for individuals with previous painting experience and an understanding of fundamentals who are looking to advance their skills. Both acrylic and oil painters are welcome, with demonstrations provided in both mediums.


Online Technique Takeaway Recordings

Plein Air Strategies at Night- Online Class Recording with Winslow Art Center
Price: $40.00 for up to 60 days
Description: During this 1.5 hour presentation and demo, Ben Hamburger will discuss the challenging but exciting practice of painting on-site, en plein air at night time. He will go over his set up and equipment, provide some practical tips for painting nocturnally, and share a demonstration of his plein air nocturne painting process. There will be ample time for questions.

The Power of Neutrals Online Class Recording with Winslow Art Center
Price: $40.00 for up to 60 days
Description: Lots of people are worried about mixing mud, but when used well, a range of “muddy colors” not only make your saturated colors sing, but can enhance and enliven a painting. Also, most of the things we see are relatively neutral, so as a representational painter, the more you understand about mixing them, the better you will get at painting what you see with sensitivity. During this 1.5 hour Technique Takeaway, artist Ben Hamburger will demonstrate and discuss how he mixes and uses neutral colors in his work to add depth, variety, and mood. Though no feedback on student work will be provided, suggested exercises will be provided to help you mix rich neutral colors.