New Painting Workshop: Saltbox Bucket on 1/27/18

Come paint a primitive saltbox house with a winter landscape on an oval burgundy bucket. Customize your house and door color as well as your composition. No experience necessary. All supplies are included. Bucket measures 10"l x 4.5"w x 4"h. Greenery not included.

Saturday, January 27th 12-3PM

Cost: $25

Studio Location

A Whole New Light

328 Harding Highway

Elmer, NJ 08318

To register, click here

How My Painting Workshops Are Different

You've seen them: Painting parties, paint and sips, canvas mixers. They. are. EVERYWHERE. Don't get me wrong, I am so glad that creating art has become the "it thing to do". Getting more people to think creatively and try new things is what I am all about.

I'm always nervous when a customer shares they have been to "one of those wine painting classes" before but they quickly follow up that they enjoyed my experience better. So I decided to take notes from customers who have been to other painting events and share with you their reasons as to how my painting workshops are different.

1. "I love that you take time with everyone and make sure they love their creation."

My goal is to make sure everyone leaves with a piece that they absolutely love; I don't want their painting ending up hiding in a closet or car trunk! Making my way to check on everyone throughout the workshop is in part of my elementary art teaching background where I had 25 students who constantly needed my help. I can always tell from conversations or facial expressions when someone is in need of assistance, I am always willing to lend a hand!

2. "Your projects are ones that I actually want to hang in my house!"

Some customers have admitted to going to a painting event but not liking the image they created. The workshops I have been teaching so far are country/primitive and some canvas art that I feel will fit into many people's home decorating styles. I always ask for customer feed back for future workshop ideas. If you ever want to paint something to put in your home, let me know. You can email me your idea by clicking here.

3. "I like that we all sit at the same table and get to talk to new people. It's so much more intimate than doing an event with 40+ people."

My workshops are limited to 10 people which is a much smaller group than what I am used to teaching but have embraced the small class size to enhance everyone's experience (mine and the customers). It is really nice to see strangers connecting with each other through art. I've even met some new friends through these classes!

4. "I was concentrating so much that I didn't even end up drinking" / "I drank too much and my painting didn't turn out!"

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy drinking with my girlfriends just as much as anyone else. But the truth is, when you are trying to learn and concentrate on creating a work of art, it is not the best time to be drinking. Like my customers have said, you either don't drink at all or have way too much and the experience just isn't what you were hoping for. That's why I have coffee, tea, or hot cocoa to enhance that warm, fuzzy feeling you get from painting :)

5. "I love the size of your projects. I felt so overwhelmed when I was painting at the other place."

Most painting events paint on 16" x 20" canvases. That is an intimidating amount of white space to fill in a two hour session even for a professional artist like myself. It IS overwhelming. I have found from public school teaching and adult workshops that anxieties grow as the paper/canvas size gets larger. As a result, the quality of the final art product also suffers. To keep my workshops affordable and stress free, I opt for 11" x 14" canvases and wood products such as 10" wooden plates. 

I also think about storing the art that you create: where would you put a 16" x 20" canvas of a snowman when it's summer time?! I think it's a lot easier to store the projects from my painting workshops in your seasonal Rubbermaid totes until the next year.

If you've been to my workshops, what was your favorite part? If you haven't been, what would you want to paint? I'd love to hear from you!

Painting Workshops

This fall I am offering painting workshops at A Whole New Light. The adult workshops are one day events where participants create a work of art and take it home that day. To register online, click here.

Pumpkin Plate Painting Workshop
Saturday, September 20th, 2014 - SOLD OUT
Saturday, September 27th, 2014 – SOLD OUT
Saturday, October 4th, 2014 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $20

Join me for an exciting make and take painting workshop! You will learn how to paint pumpkins with acrylic paints to create a beautiful display plate for your home. Emphasis will be placed upon shading to create a realistic look.
All supplies are included in the price of the workshop.


Candy Corn Painting Workshop
Friday, September 26th, 2014 – SOLD OUT

Friday, October 3rd, 2014 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $20

Who doesn't love Halloween? Shading and highlighting will be used to create the iconic candy of the Halloween season. Lettering will be added to complete the composition. All supplies are included in the price of the workshop.


Birds of a Feather Painting Workshop
Friday, October 10th, 2014 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $20

Need a girls night out? Come paint with me and relax with a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate! Represent your family in this symbolic 11" x 14" canvas painting. Each bird can represent a person in your family or your group of friends! Color relationships will be discussed and the choice of background colors is left up to you. Brushwork and line weight will be explored to create realistic branches and birds. All supplies are included in the price of the workshop.


Give Thanks Painting Workshop
Saturday October 25th, 2014 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $20

Learn to paint a primitive saltbox house with folk art hills and weeping willow. Colors and details are your choice! All supplies are included in the price of the workshop.


Laurel Burch Inspired Cat Canvas
Saturday, November 8th, 2014 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $20

Love Cats? Come paint a colorful, whimsical cat inspired by artist Laurel Burch! Examples of Burch's work will be studied for style and serve as a starting point for your own cat painting. Color theory will be discussed to help you choose the colors for your 8” x 10” canvas masterpiece. All supplies are included in the price of the workshop.


Snowman Plate Painting Workshop
Saturday, November 15th, 2014 – SOLD OUT
Saturday, November 22nd, 2014 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Cost $20

Get in the spirit of winter with this painting workshop for a primitive snowman plate! Many different styles and techniques will be demonstrated with the final choice up to you. All supplies are included in the price of the workshop.


Candy Cane Painting Workshop
Saturday, December 6th, 2014 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Cost: $20

Learn how to draw and paint a candy cane with holly accents on a wooden plaque. Shading and brush work will be used to create a rustic appearance. All supplies are included in the price of the workshop


Mittens Painting Workshop
Saturday, December 20th, 2014 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Cost: 20

Come get cozy with this mitten painting workshop! Participants will create their own mitten design and decide of the color choice. Each painting will be one-of-a-kind! All supplies are included in the price of the workshop.

2013 Arts in Bloom

It's that time of year again! Salem County's Arts in Bloom tour is this weekend and I am preparing for a great weekend. I will be at the same location as last year, A Whole New Light, 328 Route 40 Elmer, NJ. Come visit to see new paintings, classes and things to come for the remainder of 2013. We will have refreshments and snacks for visitors. Hope to see you this weekend!

Below is a picture of the prints that will be available for purchase. 

Full size prints of paintings are also available this year!