Scottsdale Artists' School

03/05/2025

Landscape Painting in Gouache

Edward Sprafkin

April 5

Enjoy an immersive one-day workshop exploring the fundamentals and practices of gouache through landscape painting. This hands-on session will cover color-mixing, layering, and blending techniques. The class will start with a short lecture on creating solid compositions and then jump into value and color. Students will have painting time to apply these methods to their artwork. The instructor will provide personalized feedback throughout the day. Students will leave with a newfound confidence in using the unique and expressive medium.

Register: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/events/243/

03/05/2025

Impressionistic Insights: Mastering Loose Oil Techniques

Jake Songer

May 5 - 8

This course invites you to explore the vibrant world of impressionistic figures, where light, shadow, and fluid brushwork come to life on canvas. Guided by a humorous and experienced instructor, you’ll learn to capture the essence of the human form in a relaxed and expressive style. Perfect for artists of all levels, this class emphasizes freeing your brushstrokes and embracing the spontaneity of oil painting. Join us for an inspiring journey to enhance your skills and bring dynamic, luminous figures to your artwork. Includes plenty of personal attention and a mild emphasis on seaside settings. Some previous oil painting experience is recommended. Prepare to loosen up and paint with joy! (Material fee covers several canvases provided by the instructor).

Register: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/events/336/

03/04/2025

Big Cat Intensive

Guy Combes

May 5 - 9

Endangered big cats of the world have always held a particular fascination for Guy Combes, and in this workshop, he returns to share his interest in painting them. Having grown up in Africa surrounded by lions, leopards and cheetahs, his interest has also extended to the large felines of the Americas and Asia. Following in the footsteps of his father’s Great Cat series, Guy has made it his mission to document all these species from his in-person experiences of them. The class will Include anatomy study, rendering of detail, and the process of researching each subject.

Register: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/events/330/

03/03/2025

Simple Perspective for Landscape and Cityscape Paintings

Rob Adamson

May 5 - 8

Award-winning artist and art professor, Rob Adamson, will teach a four-day workshop on the painting fundamentals needed to create stunning, vibrant day and night cityscapes and landscapes. On the first day of the workshop, participants will learn a simplified version of one-point perspective from photo references provided by the instructor. On the second day, participants will learn a simplified version of two-point perspective from photo references. During the last two days, participants will apply their new knowledge to create memorable paintings of their own favorite locations using their own photo references. Added workshop bonuses: Learn the principles of composition, simplified value, color, color glazing and edges. Rob will provide lectures, demonstrations, and individual instruction, working with each student at their own pace.

Register: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/events/153/

03/03/2025

Intuitive Painting

Stan Kurth

April 3 - 5

This workshop is designed to teach all levels of students to paint intuitively, starting without preconceived notions or outcome. There will be no preliminary planning or drawing. Process will dictate direction as students use watercolor, ink and gouache to implement elements and principles of design. Instruction will start with random ink marks, then color using a mixture of ink, watercolor and gouache to create a library of design elements. There will be regular comments and evaluation of work in progress concerning relationships between elements and principles. It is entirely possible finished work may be representational, but the goal is work which is compositionally pleasing and aligned with the artist’s personal aesthetic.

Register: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/events/240/

Fine art training for artists and aspiring artists of all ages and skill levels.

02/28/2025

Harmony and the Landscape

Cindy Baron

April 28 - May 1

his four-day workshop is loaded with enthusiasm and energy. The workshop is designed to show how to take a tonal painting and build layers of color and harmonize in an unusual approach to creating successful paintings. There will be demonstrations in class that will talk about techniques, composition and design that are essential to all painting styles. Want to learn about the atmosphere, then this is the class for you. There will be individual help for each student in gaining a better knowledge of the medium as we work to complete a painting. Design, values, and colors will be discussed along with a critique at the end of the workshop. Photo references will be supplied, or you may bring your own. Beginner to advanced students are all welcome.

Register: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/events/149/

02/28/2025

Birds in Sculpture

Sandy Scott

April 28 - May 2

The class begins with a discussion of bird anatomy, comparative anatomy, the principles of aerodynamics, the importance of drawing and assembling shapes, and how to achieve the illusion of movement in sculptures of birds in flight. Students will learn how to construct an armature for blocking in birds in flight. Sandy will help students determine the difference between a sculpture that is technically adequate and one that has spirit and life. All aspects of modeling in oil-based clay will be explored and beginning students are welcome. Students will learn the importance of assembling strong, meaningful shapes and how eliminating unimportant details can create the bird’s essence. Students will work from computer imagery, photography, drawings, field guides, and a printed workbook. Sandy has instructed bird sculpture for over 35 years and is recognized as one of America’s leading wildlife artists.

Register: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/events/24/

Fine art training for artists and aspiring artists of all ages and skill levels.

02/27/2025

Creating Form with Color in Portrait

Victoria Kalaichi & Denis Sarazhin

April 28 - May 2

Have you ever wondered why certain paintings sell, while others languish in obscurity? What makes a great portrait? What does it take to capture the essence of someone and translate that into paint on canvas? In this workshop, you will learn how to create an engaging portrait by using advanced painting techniques and different approaches from two instructors who share a common artistic tradition. There will also be the opportunity to discover how form affects value and color in a painting, as well as develop your knowledge of the structure of the human head by using color temperature and value. This workshop is open only to students with experience painting from a live model and knowledge of the anatomical structure of the human skull.

Register: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/events/185/

Fine art training for artists and aspiring artists of all ages and skill levels.

02/26/2025

SCHEDULE CHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT!

Art Studio Session for ages 10 - 15 will be starting TUESDAY, MARCH 4th, 6:15pm - 7:15pm

SCHOLARSHIPS & LIMITED SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE

Register: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/events/391/

Fine art training for artists and aspiring artists of all ages and skill levels.

02/26/2025

Expressive Portrait Mastery

Zin Lim

April 28 - May 2

Day one and two will focus on expressive head drawing. Discover the dynamics of expression through Drawing. Dive into the world of expressive drawing with renowned artist Zin Lim, who brings his unique perspective from South Korea to guide you through creating emotionally charged, rhythmical, and movement-filled drawings. This segment focuses on the expressive potential of the charcoal medium, encouraging artists at all levels to find their inner voice and translate it into striking visual marks. Day three through five will then focus on Alla Prima portrait painting. Experience the vibrancy of expressive portrait painting. Transition into the realm of painting, where Zin Lim will lead you through the exhilarating process of Alla Prima painting, characterized by its spontaneous and vibrant approach. This workshop is designed to liberate you from the constraints of meticulous portrait painting, allowing for the exploration of texture, color, and brushwork in creating expressive portraits.

Register: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/events/134/

Fine art training for artists and aspiring artists of all ages and skill levels.

02/26/2025

Join us for our spring Extended Studies classes!

See weekly schedule below:

MONDAYS
Drawing with Mike Little
March 24 - June 2

TUESDAYS
Painting & Drawing with Mike Little
March 25 - May 27

WEDNESDAYS
Painting with Robert Lemler
March 26 - May 28

THURSDAYS
Painting with Nancy Chaboun
March 27 - May 29

FRIDAYS
Painting with Robert Lemler
March 28 - May 30

Register: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/events/category/5/

02/24/2025

Painting with Gouache and Acrylic Gouache

Mike Hernandez

April 24 - 26

A strong understanding of natural color and lighting is an important asset to any environment artist or fine art painter. Among the challenges of outdoor painting, desert scenes with rock and foliage tend to be a couple of the most difficult subjects to paint. They need to come across as both effortless and convincing. A painter needs to also understand the dynamics of atmospheric perspective to know how to change the color of rocks and foliage as they move back into the landscape. In this three-day gouache workshop, Mike Hernandez will share his methods for tackling simple and complex desert scenes. Through his studio demos and lectures, he will show you how to address every aspect of your work, from value, composition design, shape and color hierarchies, paint texture, brushwork, and more. This is a great workshop for anyone interested in painting and who would like to learn how to capture a rich sense of natural lighting and color into their artwork. You can choose any medium to paint with—Mike will be using gouache and acryla gouache. All levels from beginner to advanced are welcome.

Register: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/events/337/

02/24/2025

The Language of Sketching

Duane Blossom

March 24 - 25

The class focuses on sketching techniques with emphasis line work, composition, light & shadow and editing; and enhancing sketches with color. Duane, is a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects and registered landscape architect (RLA), and certified planner (AICP). His research and professional interests include urban sketching, storyboard and conceptual diagramming with a passion for pen & ink sketching. He received his BSLA from Kansas State University, and MLA from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Duane’s background includes over 40 years of professional practice in the private consulting sector with a midcareer break teaching at the University of Colorado, Denver, with later teaching assignments at Arizona State University.

Register: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/events/372/
Via

Fine art training for artists and aspiring artists of all ages and skill levels.

02/24/2025

Loose Realism: Painting the Still Life

Sarah Sedwick

April 24 - 26

Paint more loosely and confidently during this workshop with Oregon artist Sarah Sedwick! Take a step-by-step approach to alla prima oil painting, from black-and-white studies to brilliant color. Build a beautiful composition with life and movement. Focus on keeping the freshness you crave and avoid overworking your paintings! Using a split primary palette of six colors and white, students will learn Sarah’s favorite exercises to warm up, or simply shake things up! Explore how limitations can be freeing by creating a painting in 20 brushstrokes or 20 minutes. Learn the fundamentals of good design, walk step-by-step through Sarah’s alla prima process, and create a dynamic still life! Sarah will demonstrate and work with each student individually. Instruction is in oil, acrylics welcome - particularly open acrylics, that stay wet longer. All levels welcome, age 15 and up.

Register: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/events/186/

02/22/2025

Pushing Abstraction in the Landscape

Linda Pullinsi

March 22

We all want to create exciting paintings that capture the viewer’s eye, that flirt with abstraction enough to tantalize the senses. Completely realistic paintings often feel boring. Discover techniques to push abstraction by learning to see the subtle color shifts of light. Learn to add drama, excitement, and texture. Spend the afternoon applying all the new techniques with plenty of individual attention.

Register: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/events/376/

02/21/2025

Luminous Paintings in Watercolor

Betty Carr

April 21 - 23

Capturing the beauty of light through the study of light/ shadow and value/color relationships is a goal for this workshop in watercolor. Subjects include painting a colorful floral still life and landscape including water. As a Master in the American Impressionist Society, Carr will emphasize achieving dynamic paintings using confident, loose, and impressionistic brush strokes in watercolor. Organizing values and perspectives both linear and atmospheric will be covered. Students will enjoy gaining painting skills while exploring a variety of watercolor techniques such as value sketch, textural, glazing, palette knife, etc. Through individual instruction and critiques, students will develop their own artistic approaches as well as gain inspiration and enthusiasm for future paintings. Photos will be provided but students are welcome to bring their favorites. Suggested reading: “Seeing the Light, an Artist’s Guide”, North Light Pub., Betty Carr, Author. Come and enjoy painting luminous light in a painting!

Register: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/events/182/

Fine art training for artists and aspiring artists of all ages and skill levels.

02/20/2025

Scottsdale Artists’ School sent their Youth Academy Instructors for a day of fun at the Raising Arizona Kids Camp Fair at the Phoenix Zoo on Sat, Feb 15. Camp Fair AZ is a free event for families to meet and greet staff from summertime day camps. Our team shared a fun “Frog & Fly Game” art activity with parents and kids. Join us for Summer Camp Open House on April 12, 10-2 for another family fun day. Summer Camp Registration will be available February 21 at https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org

02/20/2025

Portrait and Figure: Drawing and Alla Prima

Robert Liberace

April 21 - 25

This class will explore both the organized and elegant manner of classical drawing, and the dynamic, fresh approach of contemporary Alla Prima painting. Though each style has a distinctive character, together they provide the artist with a more complete understanding of artistic technique. The first part of the week will focus on drawing methods with an emphasis on form and light. The latter part will concentrate on the spirited technique of Alla Prima, (wet-into-wet application of paint) which will center on color and paint dynamics. Demonstrations will be given each day which will illustrate each approach.

Register: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/events/331/