Description

On Sunday 5/4/2025 from 10am-1pm come experience the combined benefits of mindfulness and creativity! You are invited to join in a guided meditation, then create your inspiration with provided paint supplies and canvas. You are welcome to bring other mediums to create if you wish.

About the Instructor

Rebecca Washington, LMSW is a veteran, social worker, & artist dedicated to promoting mindfulness, self-empowerment, & community. She completed the Mindfulness Facilitator Course at Copper Beech Institute & now skillfully integrates mindfulness techniques with her social work experience to create inclusive spaces that encourage authenticity & meaningful connections. theheartspaceonline.com

Join us for an immersive watercolor workshop where you'll learn to create
expressive and dynamic landscapes using a three-wash technique incorporating
opaque washes. This hands-on session will guide you through essential elements of
composition, color palette setup, and preliminary sketching, helping you build a
strong foundation for your paintings.

Through a step-by-step demonstration during the two-hour demo session, and
guided practice during the six-hour workshop, we'll explore various texture
techniques to add depth and movement to your work. This includes wet-into-wet, dry
brushing, and scumbling. You'll also experiment with thumbnail sketches and
preliminary drawings to refine your composition before applying washes. The demo and workshop are available for purchase separately. Students are not required to attend both the demo and workshop sessions, but are highly encouraged.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist looking to expand your skills, this
workshop will provide valuable techniques and insights to elevate your watercolor
landscapes.

Materials

No materials are required for the demo; notetaking is welcome.

About the Instructor

Doug Fortin is a New England-based artist whose evocative watercolor landscapes
celebrate the natural beauty of the world around us. A graduate of the University of
Hartford Art School in 2006, Doug spent his early career in San Francisco,
immersing himself in the vibrant art scene and honing his craft as a professional
artist.

A decade ago, Doug returned to his New England roots, where he discovered a
deep connection between his two passions: painting and the great outdoors.
Specializing in plein air watercolor landscapes, his work captures the fleeting light,
shifting seasons, and timeless charm of the region. By painting directly from nature,
Doug brings an immediacy and vitality to his work that reflects his love for the
environment and his appreciation of the watercolor medium.

Doug's art invites viewers to pause, reflect, and connect with the serene yet powerful
beauty of the natural world.

See more of Doug’s work on his website or below.

Join us for an immersive watercolor workshop where you'll learn to create
expressive and dynamic landscapes using a three-wash technique incorporating
opaque washes. This hands-on session will guide you through essential elements of
composition, color palette setup, and preliminary sketching, helping you build a
strong foundation for your paintings.

Through a step-by-step demonstration during the two-hour demo session, and
guided practice during the six-hour workshop, we'll explore various texture
techniques to add depth and movement to your work. This includes wet-into-wet, dry
brushing, and scumbling. You'll also experiment with thumbnail sketches and
preliminary drawings to refine your composition before applying washes. The demo and workshop are available for purchase separately. Students are not required to attend both the demo and workshop sessions, but are highly encouraged.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist looking to expand your skills, this
workshop will provide valuable techniques and insights to elevate your watercolor
landscapes.

Materials

Doug recommends students use the following materials for the workshop. Materials will not be provided by ALNB or the instructor.

Paint

For watercolor paint brands, I recommend Holbein, Daniel Smith, or Windsor Newton. For the sake of this demo, we will be using the limited color palette below:

Cobalt Blue
Cadmium Yellow Medium
Light Red or Burnt Sienna

Paper

The most important aspect of this technique is using a rough or cold pressed watercolor paper. Arches, Saunders Waterford, or Windsor Newton works, as long as it has a rough texture or is cold pressed.

Brushes

Mop brush: size 14 or 18 (for washes and skies)
Squirrel mop brush: size 0 or 2 (for trees and texture)
Synthetic watercolor brush: sizes 8, 10, and 12

Additional Supplies

A pencil, sketchbook, atomizer (small spray bottle), and water cup will be needed for the planning and execution of the painting. For mounting your watercolor paper, bring masking tape and a watercolor block. Corrugated plastic or a hard board is a fine substitute for a watercolor block.

About the Instructor

Description

Discover the beauty of pastels while learning color composition and theory! Perfect for beginners and those new to pastels, this class explores floral still life with tulips in a vase. Students will learn blending, layering, and color harmony while creating a soft, luminous painting.

We'll also cover watercolor underpainting techniques to enhance pastel artwork. Whether working in pastel alone or combining it with watercolor, you'll gain confidence in capturing light, form, and texture.

By the end of class, you’ll have a finished painting and a solid foundation in pastels. No prior experience needed—just bring your creativity and a willingness to explore a new medium!

About the Instructor

“Creating art is a vehicle through which I can more easily communicate my impressions of the world. I enjoy using line, color and a dynamic design to tell my visual story. As I begin the creative process, the medium of pastel provides an immediate and colorful way to make painterly decisions and choices.”

Karen Israel’s pastel paintings are defined by their dynamic compositions and unique viewpoints. She is influenced by the light and mood of the subject and lets those elements dictate her approach. These subjects are rendered with a strong appreciation for the rigors of formal design coupled with a fearless array of color choices.

In addition to numerous awards, Karen’s work has garnered the honor of Signature Member with the American Artists Professional League, Master Circle with the International Association of Pastel Societies and Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America. Karen is an artist member of the,The Copley Society, Boston and the Lyme Art Association and is a past member of the Salmagundi Club, NYC.

Karen conducts many teaching demonstrations and workshops throughout the United States and she has served as juror for many national competitions.

In May 2022, Karen’s pastel paintings were on exhibit with Les Amis Des Arts in Pastels of the World in Bourbonnais, honoring American Women pastelists, Montluçon, France.

Karen’s pastel paintings were featured twice in Practique Des Arts: August 2020,July 2018 and in Southwest Art Magazine in April 2021.

In March 2024, Karen was interviewed live on FOX61 for “Creative Futures” , featuring local artists. https://artbykarenisrael.com

Description

Step outside and experience the magic of painting in the open air! This inspiring plein-air landscape painting workshop invites artists of all levels to explore the beauty of the natural world—right on the grounds or nearby scenic locations.

Led by a seasoned professional plein-air artist, the workshop covers essential techniques for composing outdoor scenes, capturing light and shadow, and understanding how colors shift in natural lighting. You’ll learn how to translate the vibrant, ever-changing qualities of the landscape onto your canvas with confidence and creativity.

Topics include:

• Outdoor composition and value studies

• Working with natural light vs. studio light

• Understanding the sun’s position and seasonal color shifts

• Embracing personal expression and interpretation

Enjoy plenty of one-on-one guidance and supportive instruction in a relaxed, encouraging environment. Bring your brushes and your curiosity—let the landscape inspire you!

Mike recommends artists bring the following materials for the class:

Paints

Artists have the choice of oils or acrylics, with preference to artist grade.

Phthalo Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Quinacridone Red
Cadmium Red Medium
Cadmium Lemon Yellow
Cadmium Yellow Medium
Large Tube of Titanium White

Brushes

One of each of the following brushes of decent quality, with emphasis on synthetic bristles being preferential for painting in acrylics.

Large Flat, about 1”
Medium Flat, about 1/2”
Medium Round
Small Round

Additional Materials

Odorless Turpenoid, preferably Gamsol
Palette Knife
Canvas; recommended size between 12”x16” to 16”x20”

Additional paints, brushes, tools, and canvas sizes are optional and welcome

About the Instructor

Mike has been drawing and painting since childhood, primarily using oil paints in the plein-air tradition. He has an intense passion for painting the natural world, with a particular fascination for trees. Much of his work focuses on the landscapes of the Farmington Valley area of Central Connecticut, as well as regular and productive painting trips to Cape Cod and Cape Ann, Massachusetts.

A dedicated and traditional painter, Mike finds endless inspiration in nature’s beauty and expressive possibilities. His work has been widely exhibited in various venues throughout Connecticut and beyond, including art galleries, art associations, and libraries.

mikeberlinskiart.com