05/21 Spring Plein Air Workshop

This class is designed for advanced watercolor students interested in learning new techniques such as combining watercolor with gouache, soft chalk pastel, and lifting techniques that instructor Robin Scholl has developed and taught for many years at PAL.

Whether you prefer oil, acrylic, or pastel, this class offers a hands-on journey into traditional painting techniques and the vibrant world of impressionistic color application.

This class will cover the basics of painting and drawing with soft pastels. Students will learn the various types of strokes and approaches to successful paintings which include composition, use of color, and use of value.

Are you ready to unleash your inner artist? Our Introduction to Oil Painting class with Ria Krishnan is the perfect opportunity to learn about the mesmerizing world of oil painting! In this class, you will gain expertise on various materials such as brushes, canvas, mediums, and how to work with them. Explore the different brush strokes, techniques, and how to mix colors to create your own unique style.

In this class, we will explore and capture the beauty of various locations on the San Francisco Peninsula and just across Dunbarton Bridge using soft pastels.

Unlock your creativity and immerse yourself in the magical world of watercolor painting with our comprehensive 6-week introduction class. Whether you're an aspiring artist or someone seeking a new artistic outlet, this course will provide you with the foundational skills and techniques necessary to express yourself through the captivating medium of watercolors.

In this class, students will explore the foundational techniques of painting a portrait using oil paints, working from reference photos and a live model. Whether you are a beginner looking to develop fundamental skills or an experienced artist seeking to refine your technique, this course offers a structured yet creative environment for all skill levels.

Discover the vibrant world of acrylic painting in this fun and interactive 6-week course designed for beginners! Whether you're new to painting or looking to build confidence in your skills, this class will introduce you to essential techniques, color mixing, brushwork, and composition.

Whether you prefer oil, acrylic, or pastel, this class offers a hands-on journey into traditional painting techniques and the vibrant world of impressionistic color application.

Students will start by learning core techniques such as washes, gradients, and the difference between wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry, building confidence in brush control and how the paint behaves.

This 6-week class invites artists of all levels to explore how water and pigment interact to create soft transitions, luminous layers, and unexpected textures. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your skills, this class will help you gain confidence and freedom in your painting process.

Embrace fresh beginnings in our New Starts: Encaustic Monotypes workshop. Using encaustic waxes, graphite, ink, and other mixed media, you’ll create expressive monotypes that reflect themes of renewal, change, and possibilities on the horizon.

This two-day workshop guides artists through studio exercises and plein air painting at Stanford University to build strong watercolor foundations, sharpen observation skills, and confidently capture light, atmosphere, and a sense of place in the landscape.

Immerse yourself in the beauty of summer with our Encaustic Monotypes: summer workshop. Using encaustic waxes, graphite, ink, and other materials, you'll create evocative monotypes that capture the essence of the season.

This is a comprehensive sales program oriented to the individual artist and art dealer. Be prepared for an exciting, fun-filled day of lively lectures and in-class games.

This workshop will provide a sequence of easy exercises designed to save you months of trial and error frustration. Capitalizing on the spontaneous characteristic of watercolor, this sequence of easy exercises will give you the confidence to continue on your own. During this day, you will:

Participants will learn how to plan basic shapes for precise facial proportions, employ tonal values for depth and dimension, apply light for contrast, and how to mix colors.

This engaging three-hour workshop is designed to introduce teens to the foundational skills of drawing in a supportive and encouraging environment.

This immersive three-hour Life Drawing workshop offers artists the opportunity to sharpen their observational skills while working directly from a live model.

We will be exploring safe carving techniques, accurate registration systems, ink modifiers, tips on composition, drawing and design relating your image to a successful reduction cut relief project, a look back at the history of relief printing, plus hands-on demos and personal support along the way.

The class is designed for students who want to strengthen their drawing skills while continuing to work in watercolor.

This workshop is designed to help you confidently approach plein air painting by focusing on observation, simplification, and strategy.

This class explores the exciting and direct process of painting portraits alla prima—meaning “at first attempt”—teaching students how to complete a portrait in a single sitting while capturing the immediacy, energy, and expression of the subject.

This 6-week course introduces students to the essentials of painting expressive portraits in watercolor. Through a combination of guided demonstrations and hands-on practice, students will build skills progressively each week, gaining confidence in both technique and observation.

This 3-hour workshop offers a relaxed introduction to watercolor painting, perfect for beginners. We’ll cover essential foundations such as brush control, color mixing, and wet-on-wet techniques, with guided demonstrations to help you create soft, flowing backgrounds and simple, expressive petal shapes.

Designed for all experience levels, this workshop encourages curiosity, play, and freedom from perfection. Whether you’re new to abstraction or looking to expand your practice, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of mixed media techniques and a finished piece that reflects your unique artistic voice.