Create with me

Painting Classes Painting Classes

“I never imagined I could paint like this. Elisabeth’s classes gave me the tools and confidence to start creating finally, and I haven’t stopped since!” Susan M.

Always wanted to paint but didn’t know where to start? Or maybe you’ve been painting for years and just want to feel excited about it again. Either way, you’re in the right place.

I teach acrylic and oil painting classes for adults, who want to learn, explore, and express themselves without being bogged down by too many rules or rigid techniques. Whether you join me online or in person, you’ll get a mix of solid skills, inspiring art history, and intuitive freedom that brings your creativity to life.

Summer Classes 2026

In Person – Yellow Barn

Intuitive Painting

Thu August 6-20, 2026, 1-3:30pm

Supply list provided after registration

Fall Classes 2026

Virtual – Yellow Barn

The Language of Color

Tue Sep 22-Nov 10, 2026, 4-6:30pm

Supply list provided upon request

Virtual – Yellow Barn

Fearless Abstraction

Thu Sep 24-Nov 19, 2026, 12-2:30pm

Supply list provided upon request

Fearless Abstraction – Explained

Discover the rich and ever-evolving language of abstract painting.

Whether you’re new to abstraction or have been painting for years, understanding where abstract art came from opens the door to seeing, and painting,in an entirely new way.

This nine-week course combines art history, contemporary inspiration, thoughtful discussion, and hands-on studio practice. We’ll begin with Matthew Collings’ acclaimed documentary series The Rules of Abstraction, exploring the revolutionary ideas that transformed the history of art and continue to influence artists today.

From there, we’ll move beyond the familiar names. While we’ll certainly discuss influential artists such as Kandinsky, Mondrian, Rothko, Pollock, Diebenkorn, Mitchell, Frankenthaler, and others, we’ll also discover remarkable painters whose work deserves far more attention. Each week introduces artists with distinct voices, approaches, and visual languages, giving you a broader and richer understanding of what abstraction can be.

Rather than studying artists to imitate them, we’ll ask deeper questions:
What makes this work compelling? How does an artist create tension, harmony, movement, or emotion? Which ideas resonate with you, and how can they inform your own paintings?

Sessions include demonstrations, painting exercises, discussions, and individual guidance designed to help you experiment with greater confidence while developing your own visual language.

Topics include:

The history and evolution of abstract art
Matthew Collings’ The Rules of Abstraction
Influential post-war and contemporary abstract painters
Hidden gems and lesser-known artists from around the world
Composition, color, rhythm, shape, texture, and mark-making
Finding your own voice instead of copying someone else’s
Individual feedback in a supportive, encouraging environment

Each semester features a different selection of artists, making the course equally rewarding for both new and returning students. You’ll gain a deeper appreciation of abstract art while continually discovering fresh ideas to bring into your own work.

The Language of Color – Explained

What if color is speaking to us all the time, and we simply haven’t learned its language yet?

Most of us learned a color wheel somewhere along the way. But color is far more than a collection of rules. It influences what we notice, what we feel, how we experience space, and even how we respond before we are consciously aware of it.

In this nine-week online course, we’ll explore color through the eyes of both artists and curious observers. We’ll certainly mix color, but we’ll also discover why colors appear to change depending on their surroundings, why our eyes sometimes deceive us, why certain paintings seem to glow from within, and why one artist’s palette can evoke an entirely different emotional response than another’s.

We’ll experiment with modern color mixing using cyan, magenta, and yellow, investigate value, chroma, temperature, and color relationships, and discover practical tools that will strengthen every painting, regardless of your style.

Along the way we’ll venture beyond traditional color theory. We’ll explore how artists such as Matisse, Diebenkorn, Rothko, and Josef Albers understood color, how different cultures have interpreted it, and how symbolism, memory, and personal experience influence the colors we choose.

Most importantly, we’ll cultivate a different way of seeing.

Each class combines observation, discussion, demonstrations, and painting exercises designed to help you become more fluent in the language of color. Rather than memorizing rules, you’ll learn to ask better questions, trust your own observations, and discover how color can become one of the most expressive elements in your work.

Whether you’re new to painting or have years of experience, this course will deepen your understanding of color while opening the door to fresh possibilities in your own creative practice.

Retreat 2027 in the Studio in Hedgesville, WV

Soul Retreat: $475 (early bird $425

June 11 (4pm) – 13 (4pm), 2027

Yellow Barn Online Classes Submitted For Fall/Winter

FALL 2026: Fearless Abstraction; The Language of Color

WINTER 2027: The Art of Composition; Fearless Abstraction

Feel more confident, creative, and clearon the canvas and in your life.

Whether you're picking up a brush for the first time or returning after years, my programs help you trust your instincts, quiet the inner critic, and reconnect with your unique voice.

Through painting, retreats, and coaching, we don't just make art we make space for you to feel alive again. This isn’t a step-by-step formula. It’s a return to yourself through painting, reflection, intuition, or conversation.

Whether you're drawn to a retreat, curious about intuitive painting, or looking for a coach to help you move forward, everything I offer is grounded in the same belief: you already hold the answers. My role is to help you hear them.

You’ll walk away with

A renewed sense of creative confidence
Tools to express yourself with more freedom
Insight into what’s holding you back and how to move through it
The joy of making something that feels like you
Courage to take imperfect action, in art and in life

Scroll down and follow what pulls you in. And if you’re not sure where to start reach out.

Matisse & the Magic of Cut-Outs

I’ve loved cut-outs since I was five, sitting at a kindergarten table with scissors in hand, watching simple shapes transform into something magical. That early fascination never left me, and now, inspired by Henri Matisse, I’m sharing it with students in a playful, intuitive online class. Over three sessions, we’ll explore color, shape, and space, trusting intuition, discovering unexpected forms, and enjoying the creative process as much as the outcome.

New work by students

Master Mixing Colors Weekend Workshop in the Yellow Barn July 2026

What Students Are Saying

Before taking this Master Mixing Colors Workshop, what were you hoping to learn? Did the workshop meet those expectations?

– I wanted to learn about different color mixes and value ranges. The workshop was right on target!! Having each of us go thru the process was invaluable from a learning standpoint (and we have reference panels!!)

What was your favorite part of the workshop?

– Spending the day discovering about color, lunch with the instructor and participants and Elisabeth teaching me how to mix colors in a more efficient manner.

What did you learn or discover about color?

– How many individual colors can be mixed to get the same color, which colors create a rich black and the effects of tinting across all colors.

How has the workshop influenced your painting?
– It made me more confident in being able to mix a certain color (without having to ask google.

Would you recommend this workshop to others? Why?
– Yes indeed. You need to take the time to understand color and color relationships.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Thank you Elisabeth for holding this course and for your patience and how insightful it was!!!

Recent Student Review of an Online Class

Section 1: Overall Experience (Rate on a scale of 1-5)
1 = Strongly Disagree, 3 = Neutral, 5 = Strongly Agree
The class was engaging and enjoyable overall. 5
The pacing of the 3 sessions felt appropriate (not too rushed or too slow). 5
The techniques, projects, or topics covered met my expectations. 5
I felt motivated to create art during the sessions. 5
The class inspired me to continue making art outside of the sessions. 5
I gained new confidence in my artistic abilities. 5
Section 2: Impact on Your Art Journey (Open-ended)
What was your favorite part of the class, and why? I enjoyed the entire class. One of my favorite parts was learning about Kadinsky, the person and artist. I appreciated Elisabeth’s PowerPoint’s that she shared about Kadinsky. I could see that she put in a lot of time and energy and the wealth of information was interesting and inspiring.
How did this mini class affect your motivation or enthusiasm for your own art practice? I find that each of the classes I have taken with Elisabeth inspires to create and paint. As a novice painter, her encouragement results in my excitement to paint during the week and her enthusiasm is contagious!
In what ways (if any) has this class inspired you or influenced your personal art journey? It is because of Elisabeth’s classes that I have a personal art journey!
Did the class introduce any new ideas, techniques, or perspectives that you’ll carry forward in your own work? Please describe. I think the idea of intuitive painting is emphasized and discussed and very helpful, especially for someone like me so tied to shapes, so being a bit freer with brushstroke and staying in the moment.
What could be improved for future mini classes (e.g., more time on certain topics, different materials, etc.)? I find it especially helpful when there is a demonstration. Not improvement, but I’d love a class that focuses on brushwork and color.
Would you recommend this mini class to others? Why or why not? Absolutely YES! If someone wants an interesting, informative, fun class, take this wonderful class!
Any additional comments or suggestions? Please keep teaching!

Explore painting techniques, develop your style, and find creative freedom.

My classes are for curious beginners and experienced artists alike. You'll learn brushwork, color theory, and composition while exploring your unique voice. We’ll weave in art history to inspire and enrich your process.

Whether we’re painting flowers or playing with abstraction, you’ll leave with more confidence and clarity. Offered online and occasionally in-person in the Yellow Barn, Glen Echo MD.

You’ll gain

Painting techniques that build confidence
Guidance in developing your personal style
Space to experiment and grow
“She gave me permission to let go of perfection.”

Nourish Your Soul: A Weekend to Reconnect

Imagine a weekend where time slows down. Where you’re surrounded by trees, fresh air, and an intimate small group of women who are just like you ready to reconnect with what really matters to you.

These 3-day retreats are a unique blend of painting, poetry, movement, journaling, clay, and nature. Each activity builds on the last, helping you loosen up, go inward, and rediscover what’s true for you. You’ll leave not only rested, but more alive.

You’ll experience

Deep creative flow through multiple art forms
The power of nature to quiet the mind
A safe, soulful community of like-hearted women

Rooted in the Creative Connection method by Natalie Rogers, these retreats are truly transformational.

“I came back from this retreat feeling more like myself than I have in years.”

Intuitive Painting in Progress

Go deeper than words. Let images lead.

Visual journaling is a gentle yet powerful way to explore your inner world. In small online groups, we combine guided prompts with painting your feelings in simple shapes and colors. Carl Jung is seen as the poster child of journaling with images (the Red Book).

You’ll discover

New perspectives and personal insight
Safe space for expression and reflection
A creative ritual that transforms.
“It’s like therapy, without the therapy.”

“Elisabeth has a special gift to connect with her students and help them to create their own approach to art.”

“Elisabeth always makes every class she offers very personable and fun. She engages each student to introspectively “feel” how they want to create art which is so inspiring.”

Past Classes in 2026

Online Women of Abstraction: Thu 04/23-05/28, 1-3:30pm

Online Matisses Cut-Outs: Mon 04/06-20/, 1-3pm

Online Play with Abstraction: Thu 01/29-03/19, 1-3:30pm

Master Mixing Colors Workshop: Sa/Su 07/25+26, 9:30-4pm

Past Classes in 2025

Online Play with Abstraction: Wed: 01/29-03/19, 1-3:30pm

Online Postwar Abstract Women: Thu 03/20-04/03, 1-3:30pm

Online Monoprint Postwar Women: Thu 04/24-05/15, 10am 12pm

Online Abstract Exploration: Thu 05/29-06/19, 10am-12pm

In person Intuitive Painting Workshop: Sat July 12 9:30am-4pm

Online Acrylic Painting for Beginners: Thu July 10-31, 10am-12pm

Play with Abstraction: Thu 9/25-11/20, 1-3:30pm

Vasily Kandinsky: Thu 12/3-18, 1-3pm

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