Painting Abstract Landscapes - my workshop this weekend

I'll be teaching three more workshops this summer, Painting Abstract Landscapes this weekend, Soft Block Printmaking on July 24th, and Costumed Model Painting on August 14th, all at the Calistoga Art Center.

Painting Abstract Landscapes is a significant one for me; it gets at the heart of what I do as a painter, simplifying shapes and capturing the essence of a landscape, in pigment on canvas. There are many ways of approaching this – no doubt, one for every painter. We're going to dive into three different ways of approaching painting abstract landscapes, to give workshop painters a feel for the possibilities, an opportunity to try on different methods, to see what works best for them.

I've been very excited about the methods, and the painters I've been looking at as I prepare for this. We'll gather for it this Saturday, July 10th, at the Calistoga Art Center, 1336 Lincoln Avenue (2nd floor) in Calistoga, from 10 to 5. It's a full day, and it will be fun! In keeping with the times, I've kept the price down, so it's affordable, too. It's good for beginning or more experienced painters interested in diving right into the essence of landscape.

Summer Art Workshops, finally!

At last, the subjects and dates are confirmed, and everything is set – the workshops I will be teaching this summer will be:

• Exploring Acrylic Paints
• Mixed Media Painting with Fabric and Collage
• Painting Abstract Landscapes
• Soft Block Printing (a two-day workshop! But it can also be taken for the first day only)
• Painting the Costumed Model

It's been tough deciding which classes to teach. I have a couple of other ones that I'll put on hold for a bit yet. I am looking forward to them (and these)!

These will all be taught at the Calistoga Art Center, here in Calistoga, California. I have listed more information on both the workshops and my classes here on my blog – just click on the tabs near the top of the page (under the banner) to find out more.

Workshops this summer

I'm still debating about the subjects of the workshops I'm planning to teach this summer, though I need to firm everything up within the week. Exploring Acrylic Paints and Soft Block Printing are definite. Creating Abstract Landscape Paintings, Portrait Painting (maybe in two sessions), and Mixed Media Painting with Collage are all possible — and maybe Watercolor Painting with Acrylics (using acrylics like watercolors).

I won't be teaching them all, but choosing is hard! I'll consider requests and preferences when making my decisions, for anyone who wants to chip in their two cents' worth....

Acrylic Painting classes at the Calistoga Art Center

The times, they are a-changing, but we're all rolling with the changes.... I've been teaching my Acrylic Painting classes through Napa Valley College Community Education – and, let me tell you, the people who run that program are stellar. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with and for them.

Interior of the current Calistoga Art Center, in the Masonic Building in Calistoga

photo © 2010 Karen Lynn Ingalls

Now that the state is no longer funding the program, the Calistoga Art Center, where I've been teaching the classes, is going to administer the program. I will continue to teach two Acrylic Painting classes this summer, one on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 4:00, and one on Fridays from 1:00 to 4:00. I'm waiting to get confirmation on my workshop dates, and I should know soon.