*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)

Classes from 9 am to 4:30 pm unless noted, with an hour for lunch between 12 and 1.
You are welcome to work lunchtimes or after class in the studio.

Monday
AM Studio session on color theory for painters using Santa Fe subjects.
PM Plaza sketchbook Treasure Hunt outside, then continue studio session. Go over our plein air set-ups in preparation for Tuesday.
5:30 Group dinner

Tuesday
Meet at 8:30 in the lobby with your plein air supplies and sketchbook for a one hour drive to Ghost Ranch. We’ll be stopping in the village of Abiquiu to sketch on the way. Susan watercolor demo and all-day class painting session. Picnic lunch.

Wednesday
AM Slide show on Southwest art in studio and then walk to New Mexico Museum of Art for composition lecture and sketching.
PM Studio class on color composition with Santa Fe subjects.

Thursday
AM Studio class on using complements and a Georgia O’Keefe slideshow.
PM Walk to Georgia O’Keefe museum for sketching and painting study.

Friday
AM Studio session on using analogous and focal point colors, Susan oil demo
PM Canyon Road gallery walk or additional studio time with Susan.

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