ARTIST: Manon Sander

3-Day Studio Workshop in oils and acrylics
All Levels

Join us for an immersive painting retreat on beautiful Lake Martin where you will discover Manon’s secrets about how to paint vibrant, light filled Still Lifes by implementing techniques that will replace random decision-making with intentional choices. Manon will be arranging uniquely beautiful, colorful Still Lifes in our studio and will break down her process step by step in order to give you the confidence to use your new skills on your own. With a hands-on approach you will dive deeply into color mixing and the use of color before you begin your own painting, and you will receive plenty of attention at your easel.

This workshop will help you replace a trial-and-error approach with informed decision-making in order to capture the light in your paintings using luminous color no matter the subject. Oil is Manon’s preferred medium, but acrylics are welcome in this workshop. Class size is limited to ten students. Knowledge of your medium and basic drawing skills will be beneficial.

BOOK NOW

ARTIST: Margaret Dyer

3-Day Studio Workshop in soft pastels and oils

Join us for an all-inclusive retreat on beautiful Lake Martin.
All Levels.  Class size is limited to ten students. Margaret will instruct in both soft pastels and oils in this workshop where students will paint from their own photos or studies and from photos provided by Margaret. Learn to paint impressionistic figures in their environment whether in interior or outdoor settings.

The Blue Heron Lodge is now full for this workshop, but we have several openings for Local students or those who do not mind lodging nearby and sharing all meals with us. Please call Dorothy before booking for recommendations on nearby lodging options.

BOOK NOW

ARTIST: Amanda Lovett

3-day Studio Workshop in Oils
All Levels

Plein Air Concepts for the Studio - Oil Painting Workshop

The Blue Heron Lodge is full for this workshop, but there are still a couple of spots for Local students or for those who would like to lodge nearby. Please contact Dorothy at dorothylittleton@gmail.com for information about lodging options or to be added to a waitlist for onsite lodging.

     I Improving your understanding of basic Plein Air techniques will improve your ability to add depth, atmosphere and life to your landscapes. This workshop will cover basic to advanced techniques of painting en Plein Air as well as how to apply them to your studio paintings. It’s a matter of learning how to see, deciding what’s important to the scene and recognizing what to leave out. Amanda will share with you her short cuts that have improved her own work, and work with you on your individual struggles. Join us for three days of lively demos, hands-on painting and one-on-one instruction.

 Through her art, Amanda's goal is to capture the vibrancy and energy most people miss in the simple moments of life. Her work has been featured in Plein Air Magazine and Artwork Connoisseur. She has been accepted into numerous national and regional shows and organizations, as well as earning her Signature Status with Oil Painters of America and American Women Artists. Amanda is represented in several art galleries across the country and currently teaches workshops at venues across the southeast with a series of subject matters developed to build the core skills necessary for growth at any level.

BOOK NOW

ARTIST: GREG BARNES

4-Day Plein Air Workshop
Soft Pastels and Oils
All Levels

This workshop has a few spaces available to Local students or students who do not require onsite lodging. The Blue Heron Lodge is now full. Please contact Dorothy at (334) 332-8457 for information about nearby lodging options or to add your name to a waiting list for All-inclusive Packages. Class size is limited to ten students..

Greg welcomes students who are new to plein air painting as well as students with prior experience and provides individual attention to students at all levels. Instruction will range from advice on supplies to choosing a subject for your painting, the painting process, and adding final touches in your studio.

Greg teaches plein air painting the way he learned: By giving daily demonstrations and instruction at your easel. This format accelerates the learning process by first seeing and then by doing. While pastel is the medium Greg will employ in on site demos, oils or acrylics are welcome. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned artist, you will enjoy your experience with Greg.

Selected comments from a recent workshop:
"Wonderful experience"
"Excellent workshop - it is the best I have ever participated in"
"Felt like Greg strived very hard to make sure that everyone got personal attention and positive suggestions"
"A delightful person, who translates ‘Yes, you can’ to students"
"Wonderful workshop - please come again."

ARTIST: QIANG HUANG

4-Day Plein Air Workshop in Oils
Al Levels

Double and single-occupancy suites are still available in the Blue Heron Lodge. Please join us for 4 days of painting en plein air on and around the lake. Class size is limited to ten students.

Qiang Huang (pronounced as Chong Wong) came to the U.S. from China. He has studied art from multiple master artists including David Leffel and Sherrie McGraw. His paintings show remarkable accuracy and expressive brush strokes. Since 2004 his paintings have been selected continuously for Oil Painters of America's National Juried Exhibitions. Qiang is a signature member of OPA. His work has been featured in American Artist, Southwest Art, and Artist Magazine.

ARTIST: Kathie Odom

3-Day Studio Workshop in Oils
Intermediate to Advanced Levels

We have just received a cancellation for a Locals with Lunches Package. If you are interested in attending as a Local student, please contact Dorothy (334) 332-8457 or dorothylittleton@gmail.com to register and to ask about nearby lodging options if needed. The Blue Heron Lodge is filled, so we have no remaining all-inclusive packages for this workshop.

Kathie will teach a 3-day studio workshop in oils following her plein air workshop. The dates for the studio workshop are October 21-23, 2023 (arrival on October 20th for students purchasing All-inclusive Packages.) Class size is limited to ten students.

Kathie is a Signature member of both the American Impressionists Society and Oil Painters of America. She describes her work as Nostalgic Impressionism, and anyone familiar with her unique renderings of structures in the landscape, from old barns to antebellum homes, understands that description.. Kathie will teach through demos in our northern-light studio overlooking Lake Martin, and through one-on-one instruction while students create their own paintings using photos or plein air studies of their own..

Book Now

ARTIST: Kathie Odom

3-Day Plein Air Workshop in Oils
Intermediate to Advanced Levels

Kathie’s plein air workshop is Sold Out. If you would like to be included on our waiting list, please contact Dorothy at 334-332-8457 or dorothylittleton@gmail.com.

Kathie is a Signature member of both the American Impressionists Society and Oil Painters of America. She describes her work as Nostalgic Impressionism, and anyone familiar with her unique renderings of structures in the landscape, from old barns to antebellum homes, understands that description.

ARTIST: Chris Groves

3-Day Studio Workshop
Oils
Sold Out

Please contact Dorothy if you would like to be added to the Waiting list for this workshop.

Chris will employ a classical approach to landscape painting. Class will begin with topics on materials, palette, and composition. Chris will cover various techniques of drawing along with preliminary charcoal sketches, value and color studies, and fundamentals of color mixing in order to prepare for the final painting. Classical approach of monochromatic under painting, directed observation and application of color, followed by glazing techniques will be discussed and shown. Class will consist of lectures, slide analysis, and individual critiques, while the student paints his or her own landscape. Students are invited to bring their own reference materials, such as photos, sketches and small studies.

ARTIST: Jeanette Herron

3-Day Studio Workshop
All Levels

Jeanette Herron grew up in a family of professional artists, and honed her skills under the expertise of her mother, aunt and grandfather. While living in Italy, Jeanette studied art extensively under several schools and teachers, including the Florence Academy of Art.

Jeanette teaches her students to paint using divergent relationships,: vibrant clean colors sit next to muted grays; petals and organic forms turn under choreographed use of warm and cool colors; and bursting floral arrangements come together harmoniously using planned compositions.

During this three day workshop, students will watch demos and learn to paint from life roses and other locally available florals. Jeanette paints and demonstrates solely in oil; however, students experienced in acrylics or water mixable oils will benefit from this class as well.

BOOK NOW

ARTIST: Margaret Dyer

3-Day Studio Workshop
All Levels

This workshop has several openings for Locals who do not need lodging or would like to lodge nearby. Although the Blue Heron is full, there are nearby options available. Please contact Dorothy for more information. 334-332-8457

This studio workshop is an intense three-day class in which students are taught a traditional pastel or oil painting technique.  Margaret teaches a simple step-by-step method. Margaret’s students will explore drawing, composition, anatomy, proportion, value, color, and pastel application or oil painting method. Emphasis is on developing form using light and shadow. For those wanting to speed up and become less tight in their work, this is an excellent class to take.

Margaret Dyer has lived in Atlanta, GA, since her family moved from New York in 1960. She attended the Atlanta College of Art at the High Museum of Art and furthered her studies under painters Roman Chatov, Kate Fetterolf and Jim Richards. Margaret is a Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America, Masters Circle in the International Association of Pastel Societies and award-winner in the American Impressionist Society. 

BOOK NOW

ARTIST: Amanda Lovett

3-Day Studio Workshop
All Levels

This workshop is Sold Out. Please contact Dorothy if you would like to be on a waiting list.

Even if you never leave the studio, applying the basic plein air  techniques will improve your ability to add depth, atmosphere and life to your landscapes. This workshop will cover basic to advanced techniques of painting en plein air and how to apply them to your studio work or use them in the field.. It is a matter of learning how to see, deciding what is important to the scene, and recognizing how much information you can lose in a photo. Amanda will show you how to gather information every time you set foot outside, even when you are not painting. Please join Amanda for 3 days of lively demos, hands-on painting, and one-on-one instruction. Class size is limited to ten students.

Artist: Perry Austin

3-Day Studio Workshop
All Levels

Sold Out. We now have a waiting list for this workshop. Please contact Dorothy at 334-332-8457 or dorothylittleton@gmail.com for information.

Painting is always about controlling the viewer’s eye. Good drawing is paramount to this effort.  Perry will demonstrate painting principles each morning, then work with students individually to help them understand and apply the principles taught. Students will create several studies of
their own during the workshop that can be used for future reference or to create their own studio paintings.

Perry will bring reference photos for students to use in creating landscape paintings. Students
are invited to bring their own reference photos as well.

Painting is after all making a series of marks. Perry will concentrate on simplifying the landscape painting process using this method.

ARTIST: Chris Groves

3-Day Studio Workshop
Oils
All Levels

Special pricing applies to the “Local with Lunches” package for this workshop. The cost is $600. To register please contact Dorothy at dorothylittleton@gmail.com or 334-332-8457..

We now have a waiting list for All-inclusive packages. Please call Dorothy for information.

Chris will employ a classical approach to landscape painting. Class will begin with topics on materials, palette, and composition. Chris will cover various techniques of drawing along with preliminary charcoal sketches, value and color studies, and fundamentals of color mixing in order to prepare for the final painting. Classical approach of monochromatic under painting, directed observation and application of color, followed by glazing techniques will be discussed and shown. Class will consist of lectures, slide analysis, and individual critiques, while the student paints his or her own landscape. Students are invited to bring their own reference materials, such as photos, sketches and small studies.

ARTIST: Barbara Binford Davis

3-Day Studio Workshop
All Levels

We now have a waiting list for All-inclusive Packages. We have 3 spaces still open for Locals with Lunches Packages. Please call Dorothy for registration information. 334-332-8457.

ARTIST: Amanda Lovett

3-Day Studio Workshop
Oils
All Levels

Are you interested in “loosening up” with the intent of adding more life to your paintings? This workshop is designed to help you do just that, all the while maintaining a clean and professional appearance to your work. Through demos and one-on-one instruction, Amanda will explain techniques to explore what’s possible, and provide exercises to help you see more than just what’s in front of you. Learn alternate methods of applying paint while maintaining the visual structure of an object. Join Amanda for three days of “losing it” in order to find what matters most in your paintings. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced painter; the goal is to develop the skill to reach deeper than ever before into your own sense of artistry. Let’s see what we can create with Amanda’s guidance.

BOOK NOW

ARTIST: Kari Waltz

3-Day Studio to Plein Air Workshop
Watercolors
Beginning to Intermediate Levels

Artist’s Statement

I was born to create. Maybe this statement is an exaggeration, but God has instilled in me a thirst that can only be quenched through some form of creative outlet. I am inspired by nature and find wonderment in God's creation. Seeing the beauty of this world is an escape visually, spiritually, and emotionally. Personally, my art is a therapeutic escape that brings me peace, and I am honored to share it with others.

Watercolor Journaling

I began my love for watercolor in 2016 when I discovered an aquabrush. It carries water in its handle; because of its convenience, I've painted on a bus, in the car, on a plane, and even a kayak! This little tool allowed me to paint anywhere! I can capture a quick sketch, en plein air, or if I'm on a time frame, I work from photographs. This form of creating has allowed me to document my life in a more artistic way. My smallest watercolor travel kit weighs less than 1/2 pound, which is a good thing when I am hiking.

Workshop

This workshop is open to all levels. You do NOT need prior watercolor experience, but having some basic drawing skills is helpful. I can't wait to share this passion with you, please join me at the Tallapoosa School of Art in April, 2021!

Artist Bio

Waltz is a versatile artist who works in oils, acrylics, watercolor, graphite, pastels, charcoal, and pyrography (wood burning). Most of her work is focused on realism where she explores the play of light on a subject or captures a special moment in time. She is drawn to God’s creation and often works from plein air, while on location, or her own photographs taken from hikes in the woods with her husband or on the beach with her girl friends.

Waltz grew up in Texas and New Mexico and taught in the Texas and Georgia public school systems for 30 years. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from Lubbock Christian University and completed a Masters in Educational Leadership from Georgia College and State University. She has lived in Macon since 1986 and has been married to Brad since 1983. They have two daughters, Tawny and Kelcy.

Since her retirement in 2013, she has focused on pursuing art as a new career through commission work and teaching. She believes that learning is essential to reaching another level of skill and has attended workshops in portrait, landscape, and plein air painting. Waltz has completed portrait work for Bernice King (Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter), The Atlanta Hawks Foundation, and Mercer University and recently placed first in the open category of the Quick Draw Forgotten Coast's en Plein Air virtual competition.
She has studied with Albert Handell, Karen Margulis, Marsha Savage, Camille Przewodek, Helen Kleczynski, Rita Kirkman, Greg Barnes, and Bob Nulf. She strives to improve her craft so she can share her best with students. ​It thrills her when someone who takes a class or workshop realizes the excitement of creating. Many have never known or experienced the therapeutic benefits of working in some form of creative outlet, and many have let fears of failure or embarrassment keep them from trying. Don't let this be you! Her goal as a teacher is to instill within each student the confidence to try.

ARTIST: Sharon Gates

3-Day Studio to Plein Air Workshop
Oils
All Levels

This workshop has been postponed indefinitely due to CDC recommendations. If you are interested in studying with Sharon, please email me at  dorothylittleton@gmail.com so that I may put you on a waiting list for the rescheduling of this workshop. No deposit will be needed, and this will help us to know whether and when to reschedule. Thank you for your continued support of Tallapoosa School of Art.

Are you more comfortable painting from photos than en plein air (outdoors)? Are you overwhelmed with the abundance of information and distractions in the landscape? Then this workshop is for YOU. Sharon Gates is the Co-Chair of Plein Air South, former director of the Alabama Plein Air Artists, and has had extensive training and experience in guiding students into the enjoyment of both studio and plein air painting.

Day One, we will begin in the studio where we will

• analyze landscape and lakeside photos and computer projections, relating them to what we will see on the following days when we head outdoors to paint

• work through a series of easy to follow exercises with special tools provided, breaking down the landscape into value masses, patterns of light and shadow

• be able to locate strong compositions and create dynamic paintings like a pro

• learn how to relate values to color hues, a problem for many of us

• receive one-on-one as well as group instruction

• learn from critiques of student work, either individually or as a group

• receive the benefit of brief teacher demos

• receive valuable take-home information, exercises and value finder tools to practice what you have learned.

Day Two and Day Three, we will practice what we have learned in the studio as we travel by pontoon boat to paint the scenic marinas and gardens of Lake Martin.

ARTIST: John P. Lasater IV

4-Day workshop in Oils
Intermediate to Advanced Levels

This workshop has been postponed indefinitely due to CDC recommendations. If you are interested in studying with John, please email me at dorothylittleton@gmail.com so that I may put you on a waiting list for the rescheduling of this workshop. No deposit will be needed, and this will help us to know whether and when to reschedule. Thank you for your continued support of Tallapoosa School of Art.

Using the outdoors as your art studio isn’t always ideal, but there’s no reason it can’t be the place where you create timeless works of art. John P. Lasater IV will help you approach outdoor painting with better focus. He will teach you: 1) how to find your intention, 2) how to plan your design, and 3) how to capture the essence of what you see.

Known for his string of awards in national competitions with a staggering variety of landscape subjects, John excels at pictorial concepts, open-form painting, naturalism, sophisticated color mixing and design principles. With his years of painting and teaching experience, expect to be enlightened by his hands-on help and challenged by his lectures and demonstrations.

Teaching Objectives:

• How to choose a painting spot that has pictorial potential

• How to reduce the visual information to its essence

• Ways to start and sustain an outdoor painting

• Creating a sense of space in a painting

• When and how to utilize atmospheric perspective

• Eyeflow in design

• Finding harmony in the color relationships

• Wet-on-wet oil painting, and ways to use your tools

• Landscape painting in its current historical context and the remaining frontiers of

artistic exploration.

Agenda:

Day 1

Lecture and Demonstration

Exercises and Class Practice followed by a Critique

Optional Nocturne Demonstration after hours

Day 2

Demonstration

Exercises and Class Practice

Day 3

Demonstration

Exercises and Class Practice

Day 4

Demonstration

Exercises and Class Practice

Closing Critique

John has been influenced by many artists: directly through workshops with Israel Hershberg, C.W. Mundy, and Carolyn Anderson, and indirectly through self-study of historical sources such as Charles Hawthorne, Edwin Dickenson, Georgio Morandi, James Whistler, Edgar Degas, Andrew Wyeth, Camille Corot, Diego Velazquez, and Italian and Roman historical art.

ARTIST: DAVID BOYD JR.

3-Day Plein Air Workshop
Oils en Plein Air
All Levels

David will teach plein air painting in oils in inspiring autumn venues on Lake Martin including the Stables and Barns at Russell Crossroads (David can’t resist a rusting tractor or a red clay road) and the Dixie Sailing Club. As David describes his love of outdoor painting:

I use my plein air work as a way to “capture a feeling.” I use my camera to record a moment. Back in my studio I like to combine these into large scale paintings of those things I wish I could keep forever... old signs, decaying building, old cars, trucks and tractors, and beautiful rural landscapes. My paintings are my memories, and accordingly, some of my paintings take the angle of a child’s viewpoint; lower to the ground.

Boyd considers himself an obsessed experimenter.  Recently he has been focusing on studio and plein air oil paintings of the urban and rural landscape. Boyd has studied under Millie Gosch, Gene Costanza, Jill Steenhuis, Roger Dale Brown, Marc Chatov, Scott Christensen, Greg LaRock, Sherrie McGraw, Ken DeWaard, Marc Hanson, and James Richards.

 Boyd is a member of OPA and AIS. He has been selected for regional OPA shows and AIS National where he was awarded an Honorable Mention by the judge, Kevin McPherson. In addition, Boyd has participated in and won awards at plein air events around the southeast including the Plein Air Affair in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, where he received the 3rd place award for his quick draw painting, the Callaway Gardens Plein Air Paint Out, the Paintin' The Town plein air event in historic College Park, Georgia, where he won second place, and most recently, Boyd received the Emerging Artist award at Florida's Forgotten Coast Paint Out Quick Draw event, earning him an invitation to the Forgotten Coast Paint Out.

 Boyd’s work can be seen at Two Smith's Gallery, Duluth, Georgia; Fine Lines Gallery in Newnan, Georgia; Cecil Byrne Gallery, Charleston, SC; Two Galleries, North Atlantic Beach, NC; and Quincy Avenue Art and Things in Seaside, Florida. Boyd’s work can also be seen at his studio by appointment. View Boyd’s work at www.davidboydjr.com. You can also find him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pintrest.