Current educational opportunities

First Strokes: A Beginner’s Watercolor Workshop
Kar-keat chong

3 Days: June 11 - June 13
Time: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Location: Private Studio, 1729 North 2nd Street, Suite 303, Minneapolis, MN 55411

Discover the joy of watercolor as you explore the fundamental techniques of watercolor painting, including brush control, washes, layering, and creating tonal values with a master watercolor artist.

Kar-Keat guides participants through essential color concepts and the basics of composition and perspective, while painting simple still-life arrangements and scenic studies. Each day builds progressively, with time to practice, experiment, and gain confidence toward a sound foundation in watercolor to continue creating on your own.  Learn more and register here.

Plein Air Painting in Pastel
Lisa Stauffer

5 Days: July 6 - July 10 
Time: 9:30 - 4:30 (time may adjust due to light and weather)
Location: Grand Marais, MN

Paint outside with pastel in beautiful Grand Marais. The basics of outdoor painting will be discussed throughout the week. You will learn to choose your own subject, improve your skills in design, composition, and drawing, consider painting fundamentals, and more. Instructor demonstrations, personal assistance at your easel, and group critiques will give us a chance to learn as we explore plein air (outdoor) painting in a fun and supportive environment. Do plan to bring all the equipment you will need for your own painting set-up and comfort during our days of painting, watching demonstrations, and enjoying the beauty of Grand Marais and Cook County.

Contact Lisa for registration information or questions: email, phone (please leave a message), or via her website.

Plein Air Summer!
Matt Kania

Dates: July 13 - July 15

Location: AI Lincoln Park Building, 2229 W 2nd St., Duluth, MN 55806

The height of the summer plein air painting season is upon us! Now is a good time to refresh your landscape painting skills and make the most of painting outdoors in summer. In this 3-day rapid-fire workshop, we will cover reliable approaches to plein air painting by honing our skills at observing and translating natural colors onto the canvas. We will learn to create effective landscapes using tried-and-true methods at various locations around Duluth. Matt will demonstrate plein air painting using oil painting materials, and will work individually with students to support their own efforts. While oils are encouraged, students using other mediums are welcome. Register and find more information here.

Redwoods, Coastline, Canvas, and Cuisine:
A Luxury Plein Air Retreat with Mary Pettis

Dates: Sept. 13 - 18
Location: The Inn at Newport Ranch, 31502 N Highway 1, Fort Bragg, CA

Embrace the adventure and joy of plein air painting with ARC Living Master Mary Pettis immersed in the dramatic beauty of the Mendocino coastline and awe-inspiring redwoods! The Inn at Newport Ranch provides luxury accommodations and gourmet cuisine while students enjoy live demonstrations, personalized one-on-one instruction, and thoughtful critiques from Mary Pettis. This exclusive experience is limited to 10 artists. Contact Mercedes via phone or email for more information and registration.

Master the basics: ink & watercolor sketching with kar-keat chong

Dates: Sept. 20 - 25, 2026
Location: Dillman's Resort, 3305 Sand Lake Lodge Lane, Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538

Develop conceptual and practical skills in sketching with ink and watercolor with architect and master watercolor artist, Kar-Keat Chong. Instruction covers basic ink sketching techniques, incorporating watercolor into ink sketches as well as perspective, composition, color concepts, and design. Learn more and register here.

Ongoing Classes​

Monthly Intermediate Drawing Class
KARLYN ECKMAN

I have been offering classes since 2017, and cover basic concepts in perspective, foreshortening, value, sight-size drawing, freehand drawing, composition, tree anatomy, and other topics requested by the students. Classes are taught in Saint Anthony Park in a private studio, with frequent outdoor sessions and an occasional museum field visit. Anyone interested can contact me; there are a few OPM'ers in the group. Contact Karlyn via email or phone for more information and registration.

Portrait and Figure Drawing/Painting
OT Artists

Ongoing: Mondays, Wednesdays - 7 pm
Address: Warehouse 2 (ACVR) 4th Floor, 106 Water Street West, St. Paul, Minnesota 55107

Monday night portrait drawing/painting with a clothed model, and Wednesday night figure drawing/painting with a nude model. All sessions begin at 7:00 pm. Cost is $6/hour for alternating 2 or 3-hour sessions. For more information, visit the OT artists’ website and/or subscribe to the Life Drawing newsletter.

Color relativity fundamentals
kami mendlik

Ongoing: online course, work at your own pace

Kami Mendlik's comprehensive online course builds a deep understanding of the fundamentals behind creating light, form, and structure in your work. Through easy-to-follow step-by-step lessons, you will learn a clear strategy for painting Color Relativity that you can apply to every painting. Designed for painters who want to build confidence with paint, this course allows you to study online at your own pace—starting today! For more information and to sign up for this course, visit the artist’s websiteand/or send an email to contact Kami directly.