“There is no such thing as bad weather, only poor clothing.”
-Norwegian saying

One of the great things about Minnesota is our four seasons. Painting winter offers a unique opportunity to study light and form in the landscape. It is one of my favorite seasons to paint. Painting in the cold is not without its challenges, but if you are ready to leave that bug spray behind and see what winter has to offer, this class may be right for you! The class will have short lectures discussing how to analyze the value of the snow, overall value structure in the landscape, and mixing chromatic neutrals. We will also touch on color temperature shifts. Class may be taught partially indoors, or via Zoom depending on the weather and COVID-19. Class may be cancelled in the case of inclement weather (less than 15 degrees or heavy snow). Class will be taught in oils. Yes, we will be painting outside. We will be practicing safety first by social distancing, and wearing masks when in a group. This class will be tailored to all skill levels. Beginners are welcome. Please contact Bridget if you have questions. She may be reached via email at BridgetErtl@hotmail.com. Materials list & class information will be sent upon payment.

Painting the landscape from nature with its infinite variables can be one of the most difficult of subject matters that the painter can attempt. From the rapidly fleeting light effects to uncomfortable weather conditions, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to know where or how to begin. Fortunately, a path has been cleared by master painters before us, and we have the benefit today to learn from their achievements of interpreting nature from life. In this 3-day intensive course, students will explore the techniques of the great landscape artists to strategize an approach, prioritize information, and simplify details by painting directly from high-res landscape masterpieces. The goal is to be familiarized with how these skills can apply when taken out of the studio to painting en pleinair, how to paint quickly, and how to craft an interesting design and choose a composition that displays the story that the painter wants to express. This workshop is designed to cater toward all skill levels.

One intense week is offered for those who wish to experience, in concentrated form, our full time program. The daily study in this program creates momentum for individual growth. We give intense one-on-one instruction tailored to individual needs.

One intense week is offered for those who wish to experience, in concentrated form, our full time program. The daily study in this program creates momentum for individual growth. We give intense one-on-one instruction tailored to individual needs.

One intense week is offered for those who wish to experience, in concentrated form, our full time program. The daily study in this program creates momentum for individual growth. We give intense one-on-one instruction tailored to individual needs.

This two-day workshop includes a new lecture and images and demonstration on the use of controlled lighting for a consistent light source, resembling natural light, that will allow you to be able to use light and shadow as part of your compositional elements. The hands-on portion of the workshop will be a day and a half of working together on still life setups. The first portion of the afternoon workshop will assign specific elements to use for a composition. Once a satisfactory setup has been established with the still life, the participants will be given the task of how to best create a lighting scenario that both enhances the set up and helps tell a story using light and shadow as part of the compositional tale.

This class includes a lecture and hands-on workshop. Joy’s lecture will discuss how to present your art professionally on an artist’s budget, designing an efficient workspace, and the basic tools of the trade needed to repurpose and craft beautiful one-of-a-kind frames. She will give a demonstration on constructing a frame, glass cutting, and assembling a framed piece of art with basic framing tools. You will walk away with a list of tools and knowledge to create your own winning combinations.