Workshops

Workshops

To stay up to date with virtual and in-person workshops, sign up here.

Please reach out to inquire about private, group, or workshops at your institution. I am always happy to discuss possibilities.

Online Workshops

Plein Air in the Urban Landscape, Online with Winslow Art Center
Date: Tuesdays, April 16 & 23, 2024
Time: 11:30 AM-1:30 PM Pacific Time, 1:30-3:30 Central time, 2:30-4:30 PM Eastern Time, 7:30-9:30 PM London Time
Price: $140
When painting the landscape, dealing with architectural elements, cars, roads and sidewalks can be intimidating. This concern for perspective, straight lines, and rigid shapes can make our paintings feel stiff or overworked. During this three session workshop, we will discuss methods to let go of some of the pressure to paint things ‘correctly’ in the urban landscape and to consider things like architecture, roads, etc. as integral shapes of your paintings- and ones that are fun to paint! We will touch on composition, simplification and massing, painting process and paint application. During classes, we will look at some artworks from throughout history as inspiration, discuss techniques, watch demonstrations, and do some brief painting and drawing exercises. Outside of class, students should work on their own paintings to be reviewed the following week. This class is open to acrylic and/or oil painters.

Recording of Past Technique Takeaway: The Power of Neutrals 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 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. This recorded demo and talk will be available to students for 60 days.

In Person Classes:

Distilling the Landscape in Sedona With Sedona Art Center, 1-Day Intensive
Date/Time: Saturday, March 16th, 9am - 3pm
Price: $400
Description: Simplifying what you see is a necessary component of observational painting. But it can also be used as a liberating constraint to explore design, composition, and color. During this class, we will focus on distilling our surroundings into compositions that convey both the essence of the landscape around us and our individual artistic voices. We will begin by focusing on selection and composition exercises before moving on to full color paintings. Discussions on theory and demonstrations will be followed by painting time with guidance by the instructor and group critique. Beginner and experienced plein air painters are welcome, however, this class is a class for people with some substantial painting experience. While demos will be provided in oil paint, both oils and acrylic painters are welcome.

Alla Prima Still Life Painting at New Orleans Academy of Fine Art In-person, 6 weeks SOLD OUT
Dates: Wednesdays 6:00PM-9:00PM, March 20 - May 1 (No class on April 3)
Description: Alla Prima refers to the process of applying color straight away, without a developed underpainting. As opposed to more traditional layered (or ‘indirect’) painting processes, direct painting asks artists to consider color/value relationships simultaneously and apply confident, opaque marks to describe their subject. There is a spectrum from indirect to direct painting that we will explore in class. Rather than prioritizing smoothly rendered realism, we will appreciate the brushwork and shapes of color that accumulate to depict space, light, and form.

Throughout the course, we will study paint application, process, color perception, color mixing, simplifying subject matter, and more. Short skill-building exercises will be interspersed with longer, more in-depth painting projects. We will begin with various still life exercises and may eventually broaden our subject matter to include other topics of personal interest. This is an intermediate painting class and some foundational painting experience is required. Acrylic and/or oil painters are welcome.

Distilling the Landscape, 2-day Plein Air Workshop in City Park, New Orleans
Dates: Weds., May 22nd and Thurs., May 23rd, 2024
Time: 10am - 1:30 pm
Cost: $210 (Since I am running this class myself, I have a couple sliding scale payment options available. If the price is a barrier for you, please let me know and we can discuss options.)
Description: We will meet at one of my favorite painting spots in the belly of City Park filled with lush foliage and a waterway with great opportunities to paint reflections. This class will feature demonstrations, guidance and feedback throughout your painting process, and critique at the end. The first day, we will spend more time focusing on composition, design, and massing/simplification by drawing with paint. Then, we will get into full color paintings of the landscape. This class is open to beginning, intermediate, and advanced plein air painters, but you should have some experience painting and a grasp of the fundamentals. While I will be demonstrating in oils, this class is open to acrylic or oil painters. Students are responsible for bringing their own supplies. I have a couple loaner easels, so let me know in advance if you need one. This class is subject to weather and in the case of inclement weather, we will reschedule at the most convenient time for the group. A material list and specific location will be emailed after registration. Register via paypal in the link above. Please make sure the email address associated with the paypal account you use to pay is the one best used for communication. If it is not, no prob, just email me and let me know.

Plein Air in the Urban Landscape, two-day workshop in New Orleans
Dates: Weds., May 29th- Thurs., May 30th, 2024
Times: 10am - 1:30pm
Cost: $210 (Since I am running this class myself, I have a couple sliding scale payment options available. If the price is a barrier for you, please let me know and we can discuss options.)
Description: To me, the combination of foliage, architecture, colors, and slight disarray make the streets of New Orleans a painter's paradise. During this class, we will meet in neighborhoods in New Orleans to practice the challenge of observationally painting the man made environment. Painting buildings and cars can be intimidating, but during this class I will demonstrate how I break things down into more simple shapes to allow more painterly freedom while retaining a sense of place. The first day will focus on practicing simplifying things and creating a basic composition before moving on to full color paintings. This class is open to intermediate, and advanced plein air painters, and probably is not best for those just trying out painting outdoors for the first time. While I will be demonstrating in oils, this class is open to acrylic or oil painters. Students are responsible for bringing their own supplies. This class is subject to weather and in the case of inclement weather, we will reschedule at the most convenient time for the group. A material list and specific location will be emailed after registration. Register via paypal in the link above. Please make sure the email address associated with the paypal account you use to pay is the one best used for communication. If it is not, no prob, just email me and let me know.

Embracing the Unknown in Landscape Painting at The Bascom Center for Visual Arts in Highlands, NC 3-day Workshop SOLD OUT
Dates/Times: June 19-21, 2024, 10am-4pm
Price: $500 for Members; $575 for Non-Members
Description: As landscape painters, even when we become proficient at painting our desired subjects, the work can sometimes lack a deeper energy or sense of wonder. Often, the power of art lies beyond the subject, and within the interaction between artist and materials. I find that getting to that special place involves a balance of control and chaos. And chaos can be scary!

During this class, we will delve into some landscape painting fundamentals such as composition, value structure, and massing to develop a strong foundation from which we can play and experiment. Later, we will get into some creative constraints and non-traditional paint application techniques to get you out of your comfort zone and into the unknown. This class will include some lecture, discussion of paintings from throughout history, demonstrations, plenty of time for creative experimentation, and critiques.

While we will be working mostly from reference photos (or previously made landscape studies), the concepts in this class will also apply well to onsite observational and imaginative work. This class is open to acrylic and/or oil painters of all abilities.