*This is a week-long workshop, not consecutive with Exploring Color and Composition in Santa Fe II

Here’s your chance for an in-depth exploration of painting composition and color in beautiful Santa Fe. This intensive workshop will cover both the fundamentals and more complex approaches to designing a painting while using our location in the historic downtown as inspiration. We’ll combine a daily studio class and individual painting time with plein air painting and sketching, as well as slide talks, museum visits and personal critiques.

Medium: Oil, watercolor or acrylic (Susan instructs in oil and watercolor)
Level: Intermediate to advanced (Students should be familiar with their medium)

Sample Workshop Schedule (times and topics subject to change and may change according to weather)

Class runs from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm unless noted, with an hour for lunch between 12 and 1. Susan demonstrates in watercolor and acrylics and can also instruct in oil and gouache.
You are welcome to work lunchtimes or after class in the studio.

Monday

Historic Plaza sketchbook exploration. Studio session and demos on plein air color and composition.

Tuesday
Canyon Road plein air demo and painting. Walk to New Mexico Museum of Art for painting study and sketching.

Wednesday
Ghost Ranch plein air painting day in the footsteps of Georgia O’Keefe.

Thursday
Georgia O’Keefe Museum docent tour and sketching, plein air session in nearby town of Cerillos

Friday
Studio session and demos on plein air color and composition, independent Canyon Road gallery walk in the afternoon

Artist Statement:

My goal in teaching is to help you develop your own individual art approach while also emphasizing foundational approaches to painting. My classes emphasize understanding the language and history of visual art, especially color and composition, rather than “how-to” paint specific subjects or paint in a particular style. My goal is for you to leave our workshop enthused about your own painting and with an appreciation of art as an always challenging, ever-engaging lifelong journey.

Comments from Susan’s Students:
https://www.susanabbott.com/comments-on-teaching