The #1 Gallery For Art Workshops & Classes
Descriptions & Schedules

We are moving in February to our New Gallery and Fabulous New Class Space at 719 N Person...right next to our current gallery.
Once we are moved in...classes will pick up right away...so don't forget to email us on which clases interest you so that we can start scheduling based on demand asap!
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View images of our Teachers and Students workshops in the gallery and out in the field!!

IMPORTANT! registration and cancellation policies directions and parking :
1. Registration/Cancellation Policy -One day workshops
2.Registration/Cancellation Policy -Multi-day workshops & national instructors!!
DIRECTIONS to Nicole's Studio -715 N. Person St Raleigh, NC• 919 838 8580

Classes taught previously are listed on the bottom, scroll down and let us know if you are interested in us scheduling it again!! We love getting feedback on your workshop interests! Tell us what you want to learn---email Kelly
If you don't see a scheduled date for a class that interests you, please click the link to be waitlisted.

1 DAY Workshop
No dates currently scheduled, add your name to the waitlist for future classes
COST: $115


Click Here for Supply List

~ OR ~ For only $40, you may purchase from the gallery a kit which includes 6 tubes of Nicole's colors, 3 filbert brushes, paper palette and several small canvas boards. ($80 retail value)
Please specify whether you prefer oil or acrylic...we have them both!

Register for this class

The Nuts and Bolts of Painting
Using Oil or Acrylic
with Kimberlee Maselli or Nicole Kennedy

A great class follow-up class for those who have taken a Beginning Oil or Acrylic class, or someone who hasn't painted in awhile and is feeling "rusty" and needs a refersher

We've had so many students who loved our Beginner workshops the past couple of years, and everyone asks "what is my next step?" It's Nuts and Bolts!

In this class we will work with each student individually in the medium of their choice. Many students leave with one or two completed paintings, some of which they even frame....

The following topics will be covered:
• How to simplify the subject matter into very basic shapes
• Basic Drawing skills
• A brush up on color mixing
• Getting past the difficult details and learning how to stay loose!!
• More instruction on how to use the brushes and other techniques

We will provide photos and still life from which students will paint. She will also demo throughout the class

MEDIUM: Oil or Acrylic


Registration/ Cancellation Policy for this class

1 Afternoon Workshop
Thursday, Feb 9
1-6pm

COST: $115

Please bring the following Supplies OR...

For only $40, you may purchase from the gallery a kit which includes 6 tubes of Nicole's colors, 3 filbert brushes, paper palette and and several small canvas boards. ($80 retail value)
Please specify whether you prefer oil or acrylic...we have them both!

Register for this class

Wednesday Mornings
10:15am - 1:15pm
First Class: $50
Subsequent Classes(ongoing): - $40


CLASS SCHEDULE-
Please RSVP via Email BY Tuesday 12 pm!!!
4 students min:

Jan 25 - Class (last class scehduled)
Feb 1, 8 & 15 all tentative. Will email
March 7th -First Class in new space (tentative)

Painting FIGURES and STILL LIFE--
Inside & Out with Peggi Kroll Roberts
American Impressionist Society Master Painter (AISM) & Nationally Recognized Artist/Instructor

Peggi Kroll Roberts in internationally renowned for her joyful figures and still life paintings, and Nicole's Studio is thrilled to announce she will be at the galley in April 2012 teaching two consecutive workshops!

Peggi worked as a fashion illustraator before making the transition into fine art. Using intense color and value to accentuate her subject, she moved into fine art with a bold palette, a love for small paintings and a very loose style that achieves much with few but energetic brushstrokes. She prefers to suggest reality rather than render it.

Peggi has been teaching for over 25 years and students rave about how much they learn in her workshop. A recent student had this to say about Peggi's workshop: "Part of the journey of being an artist is to never stop learning. Sometimes that journey is more rewarding than others...Peggi Kroll Roberts falls under the category of a great teacher. She is generous with her knowledge and gives the student the tools to move to another level".

Day 1 will be spent indoors painting still life. Days 2 and 3 will be spent painting models (clothed) both inside and out, weather permitting. Course cost includes model fees.

Intended Audience: Anyone except beginning students. Please call the gallery if you have questions.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: This class is appropriate for intermediate to advanced and professional painters. Please feel free to contact Nicole.

TWO Consecutive (identical)
Workshops:

April 23 - 25 (Mon-Wed)
9am - 4pm
$ 450 (includes models)

(Class is filled - please email us to waitlist for this class)
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April 26 - 28 (Thurs-Sat)
9am - 4pm
$ 450 (includes models)

(Class is filled - please email us to waitlist for this class)

Please read our Registration and Cancellation Policy


View Supply List

This workshop focuses on taking your plein air studies (you can bring photos if you need) to the next level...translating your "field" work into a dynamic studio piece while retaining the spontaneity and "honesty" of the plein air study. This is so much more challenging than it seems...a great class for any representational painter or landscape painter.

Day one will be devoted to outdoor plein air painting, then Days 2 and 3 will be inside and students will translate their plein air study into finished studio pieces. McClure's workshop will explore fundamental painting principles that include: Materials, Composition, Values, Shapes, Edges, Color Distribution, and specific Brush Technique. McClure is a master of color "temperature"shifts and focal point brushwork.

Painting with Rick McClure is a great opportunity for all artists from emerging to professional to help create more harmonious and focused results in your paintings.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: This class is appropriate for any level but Beginner. Rick is very accustomed to working with students at all skill levels. If you are unsure please call the gallery and speak with Kelly or Nicole.

SUPPLIES: Please bring the following supplies

3 Day Workshop
June 6-8 (Wed - Fri)
9am - 4pm
$375

Register

Please read our Registration and Cancellation Policy for this workshop

EXCITING WORKSHOPS.....SOON TO BE SCHEDULED BELOW. Check them out !!

Painting the Colors of NC- Plein Air Workshop
with Nicole Kennedy

**Nicole taught this workshop in Lee County last fall... Next workshop may be in West Cary, Chatham or North Raleigh. If you have a group of painters who are interested in having Nicole come teach in your area, please call to discuss**

It's no surprise that those who can master plein air painting have the ability to translate and transform their studio pieces into better works of art. Capturing the scene in a short period takes skill and practice.

So many of us want to paint loose but get caught up with details that fight for our attention. NIcole will teach students some tricks of plein air painting and help you see the scene in terms of shapes, values and colors and eliminate the unnesessary details. In other words, learn to paint the dog not the fleas!

This 2-day plein-air workshop will focus on capturing the beauty that NC has to offer, from serene fields to quaint scenes, there will be something for everyone! Nicole loves this area and can't wait to share it with her students.

The specific locations are T.B.D. but Nicole will spend the first couple of hours doing a demo painting on location to get you started. Students will need to have "en plein air" painting supplies, click here to view the basic and inexpensive setup NIcole uses.


INTENDED AUDIENCE: Anyone with basic painting experience who wants to learn more about painting en plein air

Please bring smaller canvases (panels best) 8 x 10 - 11 x 14 best for plein air. the following Supplies note the limited palette. Acrylic painters bring spray water botttles and wet palettes if possible.

2 Day Workshop

No dates currently scheduled, add your name to the waitlist for future classes


COST: $200

Registration/ Cancellation Policy for this class

PLEIN AIR SET UP NOTE: If you do not have plein air gear..Nicole recommends buying a French easel or HALF French easel that are usually on sale at Jerry's for under $100. You may also puchase a Soltek or Open Box for a considerable amount if you plan on painting a lot of plein air and travelling.

Or you can rig something yourself on the cheap, here's an example. There are also very good but pricey options created specifically for plein air painters: Here is an example of a budget plein air paintng setup, you don't need anything fancy!

Take the Fear Out of Figurative Painting
with award wining figurative artist, Nicole Kennedy

Nicole is taking a new and different approach to this workshop and students will be painting from a LIVE, clothed model during this workshop. The focus will not be on painting detailed faces or portraiture but rather capturing the shapes, values and essence of the figure.

Students who have taken this workshop are amazed at how much they learn and are much less intimidated when painting figures!

Topics include:
•Drawing the basic large and simple shapes
• Knowing where to simplify and where to add detail
• Lights and shadows to enhance the three dimension of the figure


MEDIUM: Oil or Acrylic

INTENDED AUDIENCE: This class is designed for any student except beginners. If you have taken Nicole's Figurative classes in the past, this is also designed for you as the approach will be differ from previous workshop

Click Here for Suggested Supplies

(Sample of NIcole's award winning Beach People)

1 Day Workshop-

No dates currently scheduled, add your name to the waitlist for future classes

COST: $115
+ $10 model fee per student

Class is Full: Waitlist for this class

Walking on Water
with Nicole Kennedy
Nicole has spent the last decade studying the nuances of painting water, recently winning major national awards with the American Impressionist Society and Audubon Artists in NYC .

Water is one of the most important elements to learn how to paint, simply because it appears in so many scenes and creates beauty like nothing else.

Nicole will share with you some tricks on how best to problem solve a few common water scenarios that best illustrate water properties; reflections on a calm surface, a coastal wave and the beauty of transparency.

Topics include:
• Identifying the deceptive colors and values that make up water.
• Creating reflections using simple brushstrokes
• Finding simple abstract shapes that define the water mass
• Determining light effects based on time of day
• Transparency and the play of shapes

MEDIUM: Oil or Acrylic

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Anyone who would like to learn to paint water or improve if ou are a seasoned painter(not intended for very beginners)

SUPPLIES: Nicole will provide photos to paint from. Please bring Nicole's paint supply list, several canvases, no larger than 12 x 16 and a portable easel if you have one.

Click Here for Suggested Supplies

1 Day Workshop-

No dates currently scheduled, add your name to the waitlist for future classes

COST: $115

The Secret To Painting Great Landscapes Using Shapes and Less Drawing Nicole Kennedy

Learn how to simplify all those distracting details that make up the objects and group them into shapes. When you take this process one step further, you can break the entire painting down into a collection of shapes and values.

If you think this all through BEFORE you start painting, you’ll be amazed at the results. We will have a brief review of values; then learn to identify three to five basic and interesting value shapes in your photo, block in value shapes correctly from the beginning of the painting, and get it right from the get-go!

Nicole will provide photo references to paint from, but students are encouraged to bring in one of their own photos and Nicole will help you decide which one to use.

MEDIUM: Oil or Acrylic

INTENDED AUDIENCE: This class is designed for any student except first time painters. No matter what your level, painting with shapes is the underlying secret to better pantings


Click Here for Supplies : Suggested Canvas sizes
11 x 14 through 16 x 20.

1 Day Workshop
COST: $115

No dates currently scheduled, add your name to the waitlist for future classes

Basic Drawing Skills - with Dan Nelson
Everyone loves to jump right into painting, but if you don't understand the basics of drawing, learning to paint can be MUCH more challenging. This class help you improve your painings immensely!

Drawing skills are learned and improve with practice, and all successful paintings start with the fundemental drawing skills.

This workshop gets you started on the ABC's of drawing. Dan starts with the very basics and builds upon those principles to help students improve their drawing skills. The drawing required to start a painting will be much less daunting after taking this class! Topics include:

• Training your brain to draw what it sees
• Drawing techniques
•Basics of persepective
• Pencil and paper positioning and their influence on drawing
• Values, lights and darks and shading

INTENDED AUDIENCE: ANYONE who would like to improve their drawing skills

1 Day Workshop
COST: $115

No dates currently scheduled, add your name to the waitlist for future classes

From Photo to Paper in Pastels
with Diana Coidan

Diana will show students how your photos are a wonderful source of material for pastel paintings. They enable you to work with a familiar subject and your personal involvement with the scene is revealed in your work! Whether it's clouds moving rapidly by or a landscape that catches your eye, you will learn to be selective and imaginative in your use of the camera. After evaluating your photos Diana will show you step by step how to transform them into a beautiful pastel painting....all in a 3 hour workshop!

TOPICS COVERED:
• how to take photos that will make even better paintings
• how to modify even a mediocre photo to a better painting
• pastel techniques to help you complete your piece


INTENDED AUDIENCE: This workshop is designed for ALL levels

Diana Coidan is an award winning pastel artist, well known for her amazing clouds. Come and find out Diana's secret for capturing the stunning beauty that nature paints in our seas, skies and more!

Registration/ Cancellation Policy for this class

3 Hour Workshop

COST: $65

No dates currently scheduled, add your name to the waitlist for future classes

Click here for the supply list
OR The gallery will provide all pastels sticks
and paper for a fee of $20/student.....
Great if you have never used pastels but would like to "try before you buy" all the supplies!

Advanced Painting Workshop with Nationally Renowned Landscape and Plein Air Artist,
John Poon- Acrylics only for this class, no oils.

In this workshop students will develop a full studio painting under John's guidance. John will have a mixture of lecture and demos in addition to student painting time.

Topics covered include (but are not limited to):
• Translating your subject matter into a larger studio painting
• Value, color & shapes
• Perspective -- using it to increase drama in your paintings
• Simplifying details and losing edges

In 4 days John Poon will cover an extraordinary amount of academic and intuitive info . This class goes beyond the basics and he will hone in on advanced nuances of value relationships, big shapes, color, temperature, lighting, shadows and the importance of their relationships to create the scene.

As an advanced intermediate or professional painter, this will PUSH you to the next level.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: This class is appropriate for strong intermediate to advanced and professional painters. You have taken one of John's classes or one with an equivilent national level instructor. If you have taken Nicole's Nuts & Bolts plus another class or two within the past year you are probably ready for this class, please feel free to contact Nicole.

Please visit John's web site www.johnpoon.com
John Poon is represented in NC by
Walls Gallery in Wilmington
http://www.wallsgallery.com/

4 or 5 Day Workshop - to come
Email Kelly to be waitlisted for a future class

SUPPLIES: Specifics of Acrylic Colors To Come for those interested in John Poon's color palette

For John Poon's health reasons oil painters must switch to Acrylic for this class, you can change back to oils at home. John uses a limited palette and will make suggestions, but you can use what you have. Specifics to come later.

FOR THIS WORKSHOP ONLY, students must confirm seat with a check, no credit cards accepted.

Please read our Registration and Cancellation Policy for this workshop

Let There Be Light!
with Dan Nelson

Lighting is the one aspect of påinting that helps tell the story, creates the drama and draws the viewer in. Seeing a beautifully lit painting makes your eye linger and wonder. Dan Nelson has spent the last few years focusing on painting the light and it shows.

This workshop will use several painting exercises to illustrate the difference good lighting will make in your paintings.

Dan will provide ALL photo references for the class, students should not bring their own photos to paint from.

Topics Include:
• Evaluating which photos are properly list to make a good painting
• Light values - which ones make the most dramatic lighting
• Difference between morning and evening lights and warm vs. cool light

Intended Audience: Advanced beginner to advanced student, Dan will work with students individually as they paint.

Dan Nelson's Supplies

1 Day Workshop
COST: $115

No dates currently scheduled, add your name to the waitlist for future classes


Dan Nelson's Supplies

Registration/ Cancellation Policy for this class

For only $40, you may purchase from the gallery a kit which includes 6 tubes of Nicole's colors, 3 filbert brushes, paper palette and several small canvas boards. ($80 retail value)

NEW! Photo Editing Workhop#1 - How to Edit Your Photos to Make Better Paintings
with Nicole Kennedy

Students have been asking for this workshop for years! This new workshop will cover the basics of editing photos using the Photoshop application. However, some of the skills you will learn can be applied to all photo editing tools--including the ones that come standard with Windows or Mac and even the s/w that comes with digital cameras.

Nicole will demonstrate on her computer projected onto a screen. Then each student will get to work on your own photo (email one to the gallery) while it is projected. You do not need to bring in a computer!

Synopsis:
This class will teach you how to edit your photos so that the outcome is more about your painting vision rather than copying a picture. Learning to properly edit/retouch your photos prior to starting a painting will help the photo work FOR you.

Topics include:

• Cropping and how critical it is to good painting composition.
• Use of levels to correct lighting ,hues and unwanted contrast that digital cameras can add.
• Basic color and value correction to help mantain (or create) big shapes and value areas.
•Selecting specific areas to manipulate while not effecting other areas.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Anyone who knows how to take digital photos, import them into their computer and print them out. You do NOT need to have any experience with Photoshop.

PURCHASING PHOTOSHOP OR PHOTO ELEMENTS: You don't need a copy of Photoshop to take the class, but you do need "Photoshop Elements" and it is widely available for under $100. The standard Photoshop software costs around $500-600 and is designed for professional or business users. Photoshop Elements will do absolutely everything you will learn about in this class.

NEW!Finishing Your Paintings with Sparkle and Finesse
Nicole Kennedy

Do you look at your paintings and think "something is missing". It looks good but maybe it needs one more step for the painting to "zing". It could be a few final brushstrokes that transform your works from "OK" to "Wow". Or a few strategically placed accents of dancing light or color that sparkle. Nicole has designed this workshop to help you learn how to follow through with those final steps.

Students will bring 1 or 2 paintings they have been working on and consider almost finished. Nicole will work with each student to find those finishing touches that finish it with finesse!

MEDIUM: Oil or Acrylic

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Anyone who has comleted a few paintings.

Please bring some of your pantings 50% compete to finished.
BRING YOUR OWN SUPPLIES

Click Here for Suggested Supplies

Acrylic Painting 101
with Bob Rankin

Bob Rankin is a master of acrylic painting, with decades of experience teaching art to high school students.

The first half of this workshop will be spent learning the basics of painting in the acrylic medium. Bob will bring many different mediums for you to experiment with along with exercises to teach you how to incorporate them into your paintings.

The remainder of the day will be spent with students painting from their own photos (or gallery supplied photos) while Bob helps students individually. Even if you have taken this class in the past, Bob works with students individually so you learn something new every time!

Students will work from their own photos, please bring several to choose from, Bob will help you select.

The following basics will be covered:
• The basics of acrylic paint and mediums
• The essentials of color mixing
• Basic drawing techniques
• Values - the importance of lights and darks


Please bring the following supplies

1 DAY Workshop
No dates currently scheduled, add your name to the waitlist for future classes
COST: $115

All supplies provided for
additional $15...email for details

"It's Not You... It's Your Photo! "
with Nicole Kennedy

It's not you, it's the photo!! This class addresses the #1 problem Nicole Kennedy has seen from students and professionals alike...photos that do not translate well into a painting and the inevitable frustration that follows. Painting is so much easier when you have the right photos.

After going over Nicole's and your photos...you will pick your best photo and do a painting from it!
Please no photos of other artist's paintings.

You will learn:
•How to choose photos based on their lighting and composition
• Underanding values and color to create harmony, drama and focal
• KNowing what your focal point is
• Choosing the correct canvas shape for your photo
• Tricks on manipulating your photo in the computer
• and finally, putting the photo aside and doing what's best for the painting!

MEDIUM: Any medium OK

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Anyone who has taken a basic painting class in the past.

PHOTOS: Bring 3 of your best photos you want to paint from

1 DAY Workshop
No dates currently scheduled, add your name to the waitlist for future classes
COST: $115



(Students: Bring at least 3 of your best photos and a variety of canvas sizes and shapes/or canvas boards)

Please bring the following Supplies OR...

For only $40, you may purchase from the gallery a kit which includes 6 tubes of Nicole's colors, 3 filbert brushes, paper palette and several small canvas boards. ($80 retail value)

Registration/ Cancellation Policy for this class

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Using slides, discussion, and classroom work, this workshop is directed to the intermediate/advanced painter. Come prepared to experiment and explore. This workshop promises to help both studio and plein painters produce more exciting, engaging paintings.

Day one: Will be spent exploring advanced color thinking ideas, observing the effects of saturated and neutral colors, examining color vibration and illusion, and learning to communicate visual intention through color. (This is NOT a color "mixing" class.)

The Day 1 morning and afternoon sessions will each begin with a 30-45 minute lecture/slides/demo time followed by student painting time. Students do NOT need to bring their own photo references, Lori will provide them. She will provide one on one assistance as students paint.

Day two: Will be spent examining your tendencies-- both those that make your work good and uniquely yours, as well as those habits that are holding you back. Thinking "outside the box," students will use their own, "so-so" paintings as resources to paint new, successful works of art.

In the morning Lori will lead a group evaluation of at least 2 of each student's previous works. The afternoon will be spent working on paintings based on the feedback Lori gives you with one on one guidance.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: This class is for intermediate to advanced painters who are comfortable with basic drawing, color mixing and composition.

View workshop supply list

2 Day Workshop

Add yourself to the waitlist for future classes

Students who take BOTH workshops receive a $25 discount, total for both classes is: $425

Please read our Registration and Cancellation Policy for this workshop

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:
Weather (and moon) permitting, we will paint en plein air paying particular attention to the changing of light, its color, and effects.*

This class is designed for taking advantage of the best light for plein air painting and October is the most beautiful time of year to paint in NC. One day, we will begin at 8:00 a.m. and end early afternoon; the other day will begin mid-afternoon and paint through early evening hopefully catching some moonlight. That's 6 types of light to paint! To get the most out of your learning experience, you will want to paint small, 6x8 or 8x10.

Lori will do a plein air demo for approximately 1/2 of Day 1. The remainder of the sessions will be student painting time with individual instruction from Lori. She will also set up and do a couple of 20-minute sketches at various times for anyone interested in seeing how she captures the light.

*In the event of inclement weather, alternative classroom plans covering these same topics will be provided and/or covered outdoor locals.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: This class is for any level except very beginning painters. Since the class will be taught primarily outdoors, student will need plen air painting supplies.


View workshop supply list

Freedom of Abstraction
with Joseph DiGiulio

Experience the freedom of expression using the four basic elements of abstraction, Line, Shape, Color and Texture. Joe will give you tips and techniques for expressing yourself in a non representational style of painting that will surely rid your inhibitions about putting paint to canvas.

Joe's Black Bag exercise will get the new artist freed up to start expressing themselves right away and will help to loosen up the established artist to take the next step towards artistic development while tapping into your inner source of creativity. Allow the intuitive you to flourish in this one day painting free for all!

This workshop is back by popular demand....students in the previous workshop REALLY enjoyed Joseph's excellent instruction skills and enthusiasm and everyone walked out with some really great paintings!


INTENDED AUDIENCE: Anyone with basic painting experience who wants to loosen up and learn more about abstraction. Great for traditional and abstract alike!

1 Day Workshop
No dates currently scheduled, add your name to the waitlist for future classes

COST: $115

Register for this class

Students should bring the following supplies. Gallery can provide supplies (paints, brushes, canvases, medium for a $40 fee)

Registration/ Cancellation Policy for this class