PAINTING

Painting

  • Journey through Abstraction

    • 7 Mar 2026
    • 28 Mar 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 5
    Register

     


    Journey through Abstraction

    taught by Ossie Jon-Nwakalo

    For the experienced artist ready to break new ground, this class offers an inspiring space to push boundaries and refine your artistic voice. Through hands-on exploration of diverse materials and techniques, you’ll discover new ways to translate your vision into abstraction. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, this class encourages you to experiment boldly, embrace creative risks, and develop a personal language within abstract art.

    Some materials will be supplied.

    4 session class, Saturdays from March 7-March 28, 2026 at 1 pm-4 pm

    $210 member/$240 non-member

    Price breakdown:

    $150 member/$180 non-member plus $60 material fee


    ossiejonnwakalo.com

    @ossiejonnwakalo

    Show details

  • Still life Oil Painting

    • 10 Mar 2026
    • 31 Mar 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 1
    Register


    Still-life Oil Painting

    taught by Lisa David

    This course is designed for students with prior oil painting experience who want to strengthen their ability to paint from direct observation and create compelling still life compositions. The class focuses on developing accuracy, sensitivity to light, and confident paint handling through close study of form, color, and surface.

    Students will work from a variety of objects, textures, and lighting conditions. Instruction will emphasize drawing for painters, proportion, color relationships, value structure, edges, and the illusion of form through light and shadow. 

    Through demonstrations, individualized instruction, and group critiques, students will complete 1-2 fully developed still life oil paintings.

    All materials will be provided orr students can bring their own. A supply list can be found here  Beginner Oil Painting Supply List. 

    4 session classes, Tuesdays, March 10-31, 2026, 6:00-9:00 PM

    Materials not Included $180.00 member/$216.00 non-member

    Materials Included $225 member/$270 non-member


    About the instructor


    Award-winning artist Lisa David was born and raised in upstate New York, where she spent much of her childhood camping in the Adirondack Mountains. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong love for the region and continue to inspire her work. A child of the sixties and seventies with a suburban upbringing that was, at times, a bit offbeat, Lisa finds beauty and nostalgia in vintage subjects—often capturing them with playful energy and a bold use of color.

    Lisa began her career running a successful production pottery business. When the physical demands of clay led her to shift focus, she pursued a teaching degree and became a National Board Certified Art Teacher. For 20 years, she taught high school art, nurturing creativity in young artists while continuing to grow her own practice.

    Now retired from public education, Lisa teaches advanced drawing and painting at the Saratoga Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY. She continues to paint from her cabin in the Adirondacks, where the landscape, light, and memories of summers past still fuel her artistic passion.

    Member, Oil Painters of America


    www.lisadavidart.com

    @lisadavidart

    Show details

  • Beginner Oil Painting

    • 12 Mar 2026
    • 23 Apr 2026
    • 6 sessions
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 6
    Register


    Beginner Oil Painting 

    taught by Luke Rockwell

    Learn the foundational principles of oil painting. In this 6 week course we will cross a divide between drawing and painting. We will start from drawing and move to underpainting and progress to overpainting. Together we will learn opaque and translucent oil painting techniques in exciting, bite-sized steps and demonstrations.

    This class is designed for adults who are new to oil painting or looking for a gentle refresher. In a friendly, community-focused setting, participants will learn the basics of oil painting, including color mixing, brush techniques, layering, and simple composition.


    All are welcome—whether you’re picking up a brush for the first time or returning to painting after a break. All materials included.

    6 Sessions, Wednesdays, March 11, 18, 25, April 1, 15, 22 (No class April 8th) from 6:00 -9:00 PM

    $275 member/$320 non-member

    $225 member/$270 non-member with $50 materials fee


    About the instructor

    I am a narrative figure painter and draughtsman living in the North Country of New York State. I received my MFA in painting from the New York Academy of Art in 2015 and have exhibited nationally since an early age.
    In my paintings and drawings, I create an uncanny world where familiar pastoral and domestic scenes are unsettled by skewed perspectives and off-kilter interactions. Narrative becomes an entry point for the viewer, inviting engagement, empathy, and at times revulsion. By probing wayward possibilities within the structures of domestic and public space, the work plays with and subverts the conventions of traditional figurative painting and cinema.
    My influences span moments across art history. I draw from Courbet, the documentary imagery of Dorothea Lange, and the cinematic language of Sergei Eisenstein. Other works take cues from N. C. Wyeth’s Treasure Island illustrations and Goya’s ¡Bárbaros! from the Disasters of War series. Just as theatrical conventions shaped paintings like David’s The Death of Socrates, my approach to mise-en-scène, perspective, and heightened drama is informed by the films of Douglas Sirk and Martin Scorsese, acknowledging cinema’s enduring impact on how we read images today.
    Across the body of work, recurring characters and settings suggest a larger, fragmented narrative. The images function like flickering scraps of film, offering glimpses of a story that resists full disclosure.

    lukerockwell.com

    Show details

  • Watercolor Basics and Beyond

    • 24 Mar 2026
    • 21 Apr 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 7
    Register

     


    Watercolor Basics and Beyond

    taught by Jo Johnson

    Make a Splash with watercolor painting!!! This class will teach the essential watercolor basics including brushwork, color mixing, and composition, along with light art history insights to provide context and inspiration. Weekly sketchbook assignments encourage experimentation and personal exploration outside of class.

    Week 1: Getting Started with Watercolor
    Explore foundational brush techniques and color mixing through hands-on exercises. Put your new skills into practice with a guided “Sunset Silhouette” painting.

    Week 2: Flora & Fauna
    Study the natural world as you paint plants and animals, focusing on texture, layering, and capturing organic forms.

    Week 3: Still Life
    Develop your eye for composition, light, and shadow while painting everyday objects in a classic still life format.

    Week 4: Portraits & Figures
    Learn the basics of painting people, with attention to proportion, expression, and skin tones.

    By the end of the course, students will have completed multiple finished paintings, built a stronger understanding of watercolor techniques, and developed a personal sketchbook practice to continue their artistic journey.

    All skill levels welcome. All supplies will be provided.

    4 session class, Tuesdays, March 24, 31, April 14, 21 (No class April 7) at 1 pm-4 pm

    $160 member/$190 non-member

    Price breakdown:

    $150 member/$180 non-member plus $10 supply fee



    Show details

  • Gouache Painting: Insect Series

    • 11 Apr 2026
    • 25 Apr 2026
    • 2 sessions
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 8
    Register



    Gouache Painting: Amazing Insects

    taught by Emily Bookmiller


    Have you been wanting to try gouache but aren’t sure where to start? Join Intro to Gouache with Emily Bookmiller, where you’ll explore the versatility of this opaque watercolor paint while creating botanical artwork. Emily will guide you step by step through essential gouache techniques that you will be able to take utilize in your future painting endeavors.


    Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this class will give you the confidence to paint with gouache and bring your botanical compositions to life.

    2 session class, Saturdays, April 11 & 25, 2026 10:00 AM-1:00 PM

    $85 member/$100 non-member

    Price breakdown:

    $75 member/$90 non-member plus $10 material fee


    Show details

  • Foundations of Character Development

    • 11 Apr 2026
    • 18 Apr 2026
    • 2 sessions
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 3
    Register


    Foundations of Character Development

    taught by Bennett Kimble-Lee

    This class introduces core principles behind creating strong, memorable characters. We’ll explore topics such as shape language, visual readability, and how a character’s design reflects their story and/or setting. Through guided prompts and in-class exercises, you’ll put these ideas into practice and develop 1–2 rough character concepts of your own.

    Whether you’re new to character design or looking to sharpen your fundamentals, this workshop will give you the tools to start designing with purpose and clarity.

    Students are encouraged to bring their own tablets/computers; if they prefer to work digitally.

    All ages welcome. Students under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

    2 Session Class-Saturdays, April 11-18, 2026, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM

    $80 member/$95 non-member

    Price breakdown:

    $75 member/$90 non-member plus $5 material fee

    Bennett Kimble-Lee is an Illustrator based out of Saratoga Springs, New York. His work mixes bold, bright colors with lighthearted subject matter. Bennett recently graduated from Lesley Art + Design and is happy to be back home. His most recent works revolve around animals, with a focus on recognizable designs and eye-catching colors. Outside of the studio, Bennett enjoys creating music and walking around Saratoga. More of Bennett’s work can be found on his website: bennettkimblelee.com.

    https://www.instagram.com/spinach.illustration/

    Show details

  • Healing through Color Expression

    • 11 Apr 2026
    • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 10
    Register


    Healing through Color Expression

    taught by Stephanie Stolar

    Feeling is healing. And what expresses, elicits, and evokes feeling like color? In this class we will explore and use different color mediums/media to express and process emotions, loss, relationships, and/or events.

    We will begin with an opening circle and check in, followed by a brief grounding, centering guided meditation. The majority of class time will be spent creating, followed by an ending circle where we will have time and space to share about and process our works.

    All experience levels are welcome. No artist talent required. All materials will be provided.

    Saturday, April 11, 2026 1:00 PM-4:00 PM

    $42.50 member/$50 non-member

    Price breakdown:

    $37.50 member/$45 non-member plus $5 material fee

    About the Instructor


    Show details

  • Feathered Friends: Inspired by Amy Tan's The Backyard Bird Chronicles

    • 14 Apr 2026
    • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 6
    Register

     


    Feathered Friends:

    Inspired by Amy Tan's The Backyard Bird Chronicles

    taught by Jo Johnson

    In this hands-on adult art class, students will explore drawing and painting birds through a variety of approachable techniques, inspired by Amy Tan’s The Backyard Bird Chronicles. We’ll begin by practicing sketching basic bird shapes using pencil, then move into expressive brush and ink work. Students will follow a step-by-step watercolor demonstration to paint a bird, enhancing details and texture with colored pencils. Drawing inspiration from Tan’s observations and artistic journaling, each student will select one of their bird studies to transform into a mixed media collage, combining drawing, painting, and layered materials for a unique final piece. No prior experience is necessary—just curiosity, creativity, and a love of birds.

    Find the book, Amy Tan's The Backyard Bird Chronicles here:

    https://www.northshire.com/book/9780593536131

    All supplies will be provided.

    1 session class, Tuesday, April 14 from 1 pm-4 pm

    $42.50 member/$50 non-member

    Price breakdown:

    $37.50 member/$45 non-member plus $5 supply fee



    Show details

  • Intermediate Oil Painting-Landscapes

    • 14 Apr 2026
    • 5 May 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 7
    Register


    Intermediate Oil Painting-Landscapes

    taught by Lisa David

    This course is designed for students who have prior experience with oil painting and wish to further develop their technical skills and personal approach to landscape painting. Students will focus on interpreting landscape subjects with a greater emphasis on light, depth, storytelling, and developing a personal approach to painting landscapes.

    Work will be completed using both photo references and direct observation. Through demonstrations and individualized instruction students will complete 1-2 landscape oil paintings.

    Materials will be provided or students can bring their own. A supply list can be found here  Beginner Oil Painting Supply List. 

    4 session classes, Tuesdays, April 14-May 5, 2026, 6:00-9:00 PM

    Materials not Included $180.00 member/$216.00 non-member

    Materials Included $225 member/$270 non-member


    About the instructor


    Award-winning artist Lisa David was born and raised in upstate New York, where she spent much of her childhood camping in the Adirondack Mountains. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong love for the region and continue to inspire her work. A child of the sixties and seventies with a suburban upbringing that was, at times, a bit offbeat, Lisa finds beauty and nostalgia in vintage subjects—often capturing them with playful energy and a bold use of color.

    Lisa began her career running a successful production pottery business. When the physical demands of clay led her to shift focus, she pursued a teaching degree and became a National Board Certified Art Teacher. For 20 years, she taught high school art, nurturing creativity in young artists while continuing to grow her own practice.

    Now retired from public education, Lisa teaches advanced drawing and painting at the Saratoga Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY. She continues to paint from her cabin in the Adirondacks, where the landscape, light, and memories of summers past still fuel her artistic passion.

    Member, Oil Painters of America


    www.lisadavidart.com

    @lisadavidart

    Show details

  • Acrylic Painting Basics

    • 16 Apr 2026
    • 7 May 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 6
    Register

     


    Acrylic Painting Basics

    taught by Caleb Lohneiss

    Unleash your creativity in this four-week acrylic painting class designed for adults of all skill levels. Whether you're brand new to painting or looking to strengthen your technique, this course will guide you through the essential foundations of painting with acrylics.

    Week 1: The Magic of Color Mixing
    Discover how to mix vibrant, harmonious colors using a limited palette. Learn about color relationships, value, temperature, and how to create depth and mood in your paintings through intentional color choices.

    Week 2: Capturing Light – Landscape Painting
    Explore how light transforms a scene. You’ll create a landscape painting while learning techniques for atmosphere, perspective, and brushwork that bring skies, water, and natural elements to life.

    Week 3: Animal Painting (Bring Your Own Reference Photo)
    Bring a favorite animal photo and learn how to translate fur, feathers, texture, and personality onto canvas. This week focuses on layering, detail work, and capturing character.

    Week 4: Portrait Painting
    Dive into the art of portraiture. Learn basic facial proportions, skin tone mixing, and how to convey expression and depth. You’ll complete a portrait that reflects both technical growth and your unique style.

    By the end of the course, students will have completed several finished paintings and gained a strong foundation in acrylic techniques, color theory, and composition — along with the confidence to continue painting on their own.

     All materials will be provided for this class.

    4 session class, Thursdays, April 16-May 7, 2026 from 6:00-9:00 pm

    $206 member/$236 non-member

    $150 member/$180 non-member with a $56 material fee


    Hello, my name is Caleb. I have been making art for as long as I can remember, beginning with pencil drawing as a child and expanding into painting and other mediums over time. I currently work as a carpenter, but maintain an active artistic practice across a range of materials, including oil paint, watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink, and graphite. I believe that once an artist’s eye is trained, it can never be turned off.

    @calebsportfolio

    Show details

  • Out Of Your Right Brain Art Challenge

    • 12 May 2026
    • 2 Jun 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 8
    Register


    Out Of Your Right Brain Art Challenge

    taught by Alice Kaplan

    Visual artists of any ability will unleash their creativity with this unique course. During each session, participants will be given a weekly challenge with progressive levels of complexity. They will create a drawing or painting that has certain specific themes and elements which will be randomly determined during each class. Through discussion, demonstration and practice we will explore the use of different media including graphite, charcoal, acrylic paint and mediums, collage and even basic elements of sculpture to create unique works of art.

    Participants will be given the opportunity to show their creations in a group show later in the year.

    All materials and tools will be provided for the class.  All skill levels are encouraged to register.

    4 session class, Tuesdays, May 12-June 2, 2026 6:00-9:00 PM  

    $160 member/$190 non-member


    Price breakdown:

    $150 member/$180 non-member plus $10 material fee


    Meet the Instructor:


    Alice Kaplan is an inter-disciplinary artist who primarily paints in oil and acrylics and also creates beaded jewelry and textile art and in original designs. She maintains a studio at 79 Beekman St. in the Saratoga Springs Art District where she has various works on display in the stairwell gallery.  She has participated in various group shows, member shows and art events in upstate NY with the Beekman Street Artists Group, Saratoga Arts and Saratoga Springs Art District Inc. 


    Alice has also volunteered for many years teaching arts and crafts to children in the Saratoga area, both as a Girl Scout leader, and as a member of the Saratoga Springs High School Drama Club technical team where she has coordinated scenic design for more than a dozen musical productions.


    akaplanstudio.com

    A Kaplan Studio (on Facebook)

    Show details

Saratoga Arts

320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
p. 518.584.4132
Office hours: Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm


Saratoga Arts' programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.  

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software