UPCOMING CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
​
Painting from Photos:
An Old Photo, A New Look
In person
Munroe Center for the Arts​
5 Tuesdays 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/14, 10/21 10AM – 1PM
​
It’s time to give your painting a push!
Join us for a partial semester to develop a painting from photographic inspiration!
Using a photo only as a reference and starting point…Emily will encourage you to take some chances, and break through fears about your painting process. Through a series of guided exercises, she will assist you to find fresh ways of seeing an old photo, cropping information, inventing color and creating composition. Push to loosen up and follow new techniques to bring more expression and immediacy to your work.
The class will cover composition, value control, and color power and is for oil or acrylic painters. It is ideal for painters with some experience, whether recent or returning to the craft after a break!
Each class consists of a demo, an exercise and a critique. Emily’s classes are hardworking yet informal.
"The Garage" Oil on paper
Watercolor and Ink Nature Sketching
In person
5 Thursdays 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16 10AM – 1PM
​
Join us for a partial semester to develop drawings through ink and watercolor, inspired by botanical subject matter!
This class will explore techniques using watercolor and ink to capture the subject with a loose, fresh style. It is ideal for painters with some experience, whether recent or returning to the craft after a break!
Each class consists of a demo, an exercise and a critique. Emily’s classes are hardworking yet informal.
​
Painting from Photos:
An Old Photo A New Look
in person
5 Fridays 11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 12/5, 12/12 10AM – 1PM
It’s time to give your painting a push.
Using a photo only as a reference and starting point Emily will encourage you to take some chances, and break through fears about your painting process.
Through a series of guided exercises, she will assist you to find fresh ways of seeing an old photo, cropping information, inventing color and creating composition. Push to loosen up and follow new techniques to bring more expression and immediacy to your work.
The class will cover composition, value control, and color power. This class is for oil or acrylic painters, intermediate or advanced.
Each class consists of a demo, an exercise and a critique. Emily’s classes are hardworking yet informal.
"Route 111" Oil on canvas
Painting From Photos
​
online
​
6 Wednesdays 9/10, 9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15 10AM – 1PM
It’s time to give your painting a push!
Using a photo only as a reference and starting point…Emily will encourage you to take some chances, and break through fears about your painting process. Through a series of guided exercises, she will assist you to find fresh ways of seeing an old photo, cropping information, inventing color and creating composition. Push to loosen up and follow new techniques to bring more expression and immediacy to your work.
The class will cover composition, value control, and color power. This class is for oil or acrylic painters, intermediate or advanced. Each class consists of a demo, an exercise and a critique. Emily’s classes are hardworking yet informal.
​
NOTE: Emily's online classes require each artist to use PADLET, an app that allows for easy image sharing. Instructions will be sent.
"Gloucester Rooftops" Oil on canvas
Expressive Landscapes:
Quick Sketches to Final Works​
in person
​
6 Mondays 10AM – 2PM 11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 21/1, 12/8
​
It’s time to give your painting a push!
This engaging landscape painting class (for oil or acrylic painters) is designed for artists who want to enhance their skills in capturing the beauty of nature.
Participants will focus on making quick, expressive paint sketches to develop their observational skills and understanding of composition, color, and light. These sketches will serve as the foundation for creating a final, polished landscape painting.
Through a combination of demonstrations, hands-on exercises, and personalized feedback, students will learn techniques for working efficiently while maintaining artistic integrity.
Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your practice, join us to explore the joy of landscape painting from initial inspiration to finished piece!
​
Emily’s classes are hardworking yet informal.
"Concord Art Patio" Oil on canvas
Just Ink​
online
Diablo Valley Community College​
​
5 Fridays, 1PM- 3PM EST
(10AM-Noon PST)
​
In this course, we'll delve into a variety of drawing methods exclusively using ink. Whether you're an avid traveler or a passionate sketchbook enthusiast, this skill is perfect for capturing moments on the go.
​
We'll explore different ink techniques, including the use of washes, brushes, and dip pens, to make dynamic and expressive sketches. Additionally, we'll discuss the importance of selecting the right paper and sketchbooks that work best for you.
​
We'll use views from the window, photographs, and natural flora as subject matter.
Each class consists of a demo, an exercise and a critique. Emily’s classes are hardworking yet informal.
​
NOTE: Emily's online classes require each artist to use PADLET, an app that allows for easy image sharing. Instructions will be sent.
"Provincetown Dock" Oil on canvas
Venice Sketchbook:
Capture the Elegance with Ink and Watercolor
in person in Venice, Italy
Venice, Italy
​
October 10–17, 2026
​
Learn techniques to make ink and watercolor sketches using a fine-quality sketchbook, delicate black lines, and splashes of watercolor to capture and simplify the elegant beauty of Venice.
​
Join us along the alleys and canals of Venice, Italy, where artists will learn sketching and watercolor techniques to grab the essence of this beautiful city.
​
Artists will blend the fluid, transparent watercolor with the spontaneity of ink lines and washes to capture the vibrant spirit of the city. This experience is perfect for those looking to infuse their sketching with greater freedom, creativity, and a fresh perspective while immersing themselves in Venice’s iconic landscape.
​
Whether you’re drawn to the city’s canals, sunlit squares, or historic architecture, the goal is to create finished works that retain the charm of a spontaneous sketch, embracing the immediacy of the moment, the play of light, and the depth of shadow.
Emily on the Grand Canal in Venice
Fridays in the Studio
10am – 2pm
Find the dates that work for you!
August 15
ONE SPACE LEFT
​
$100 for each 4-hr session
Reserve early – 5 artists max for each session
​
Email Emily to reserve
Join me in the barn this summer. Seven Fridays throughout the season, I'm opening my doors to fellow painters.
Whether you need help with color mixing, want to overcome an artistic block, need guidance setting up a still life, or simply crave the company of other artists, this is the place to be. We'll have inspiring conversations, art books to browse, and a supportive atmosphere for sharing ideas.
Enjoy plein air painting at an outdoor table under a tent, or stay cool and comfortable inside with the AC. Bring your lunch and your creative spirit – I'll provide cool drinks, snacks, and motivation.
​
Private sessions
Private sessions with Emily in the studio are available in summer 2025.
Each hour-long private session is $110. Use this as a critique or a private lesson.
Email me
