Workshops

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.

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.

In Person Classes:

Distilling the Landscape, 2-day Plein Air Workshop in City Park, New Orleans
Dates: Weds., May 22nd and Thurs., May 23rd, 2024
Time: 9am - 12:30 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.

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.