Transform the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains into a vibrant mosaic of color, shape, and pattern! In this three-hour watercolor workshop, you'll learn how to break down a mountain landscape into interlocking shapes and paint it using brilliant, layered color.

Students will learn to:

• Simplify a landscape into mosaic-like shapes and forms

• Create depth through color, value, and layering of pigments

• Design strong compositions inspired by our local mountain vistas

• Balance precision and creativity in a classroom environment!

Working from a simple mountain reference, you'll complete a colorful, contemporary landscape that celebrates the rhythm and beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Suitable for adventurous beginners and experienced painters alike, this workshop offers a fresh approach to landscape painting through color, pattern, and design.

Monday, October 12th, 1pm to 4pm - $140 - All materials included!

This class seats 10 students. Cancellation and transfer policies can be found at the link in the navigation bar. Please call (828) 776 2716 or email gallery@310art.com for any questions concerning classes.

Originally a medical illustrator, Miriam Hughes works in gouache, watercolors, pens, collage and fibers and makes time to create art daily. She exhibits widely and teaches art in a number of topics.

Saturday, April 2nd (10am-3pm ET) 2022

In this workshop we will learn how to revive, recreate and even start new watercolors, by adding collage elements to our paintings. We will also discuss how to recover from mistakes, either fixing them or incorporating them into your work. For beginners create watercolor sketches and learn how to go further with collage!

For those who have worked in watercolor, do you have a pile of watercolors where something just did not work, but you hate to throw it away? Or are you often faced with the decision to “do more” with a painting, but aren’t sure what more could be?

Watercolor is the perfect medium to mix with collage using a variety of exotic, handmade papers. We will incorporate papers from a variety of sources from old lottery tickets, newspapers, wrapping papers and even labels from our favorite (or not so favorite foods). Start collecting now and bring some of you own papers, however this workshop includes supplies and paper from Miriam’s treasure trove.

All levels of experience will enjoy this workshop and if you don’t have a stockpile of questionable work, we will create some pieces in class as your starting point!

Saturday, May 14 - 10 am to 3 pm

Working small does not have to be tedious or overly detailed. Creating a series or a theme and working small is a rewarding way to explore new mediums. Either working in one medium alone or mixing the water-based mediums available, we will create small treasures from 1” – 4” square. Learn how to create a powerful composition in a tiny space and leave with frameable artwork. One frame per participant is included in the fee. The frames are all 5” square with a 3.75”” open space for the image.

This workshop explores the value of creating a series of small paintings which tells a story (the seasons, blossoming of a flower, etc.) or be abstract with a continuous link between each piece. Let your imagination unfold as we create petit quartets.

Series work can lead to fascinating subject explorations!

The class fee includes watercolor paints, brushes, paper and other supplies but please feel free to bring other similar supplies that you would like to try out. More frames can be purchased in class or ordered on line.

Please read our new safety guidelines below as recommended by the CDC. Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe. Participants must be vaccinated.

Learn how to create the same subject in four different mediums.!

Working from photographs of your pet(s), you will create four distinct and varied pieces of art. One will be a drawing, then watercolor, collage and the final created in a medium of your choice - a combination of the three you have already learned.

Our subject matter (your dog, cat, mouse or bird) will be created in a similar size for each piece so that you can display them together. Allowing our selves to work in several mediums using the same subject matter is an excellent way to push yourself out of boundaries in art you may have set up for yourself.

Be prepared for a fun and energizing workshop as we explore and create!

Class Description

Paint your own lovely color wheel that has both function and beauty. Using a traced decorative wheel in a mandala design, you will use your own palettes to make a huge variety of colors to guide you and delight you!! We will send you the template, some instructions to print before class, and the link to the class when you register.

Frame your color wheel if you like and keep it handy for quick color mixing references!

This class will be a bit longer than our usual watercolor class, so be ready with your set up, the traced wheel, some snacks and have fun painting with Miriam! Invite a friend!

WHY IS THE COLOR WHEEL SO IMPORTANT?

1. You will learn to create 48 colors with three tubes of paint and a tiny bit of black.

2. By creating your own color wheel you will learn how to mix colors, how much water or pigment to use to get the effect you want and how to use complementary colors instead of blacks or just adding more of the same color to make it dark enough (it does not work that way in watercolor)

3. You will begin to want to create more color wheels with different primary base colors to learn what your favorite palette is and how to create new color palettes in your work.

4. You will save money on paint!

See suggested materials list below

Duration: Class may run longer depending on the number of participants. Class will consist of live demonstrations with students working along with the instruction. There will be time for questions and answers.

Please make sure you can attend the class you signed up for as we cannot transfer tuition. Due to privacy issues we will not be able to distribute videos of these live classes. Thank you.

Supply List

• Watercolors – a minimum of three colors – red, yellow and blue.  I use a variety of watercolor brands and types but tubes are essential for this workshop: Ultramarine Blue, New Gamboge (yellow)  or a yellow of your choice but no cadmium colors, and Crimson (or any red, yellow or blue) Additional colors of your choice are encouraged.

• One tube of Black (Peach Black) or Payne’s Gray

• A number #10 or #12 Simply Simmons Round Watercolor (or whatever you have as long as it is a round) Watercolor paper – I use 140lb Arches Cold press paper.  It has a tooth to it, absorbs colors well.  Right now use what you have but results will vary on cheaper paper.

• Water – any source is good, and a water container

• A large flat surface to mix your paints – a palette or several white plates (paper or plastic)

• Paper towels – about three sheets in a pile 4”x4” square will be fine.  Scrap paper to test colors is helpful

• Tracing paper or carbon paper. Or you can turn the printed wheel over and cover the back with soft graphite (6B to 8B pencil) Turn back over and draw the lines on your watercolor paper. Clean up smudges with an eraser.