Please scroll down this listing for fuller descriptions of workshop and classes OR click on the menu on the right to go to specific classes and workshops to register.

WEEKLY CLASSES

PRIVATE MENTORING: By arrangement
Contact mira: mira@mirawhitefineart.com
$75hr w/2 hour minimum

BEGINNING WATERCOLOR(  7 sessions). 
May 6-June 10
Summer: June 24-August 12
Wednesdays6:30-9:30 pm
Studio One Art Center
365 45th St. Oakland, CA 94610
Register:https://www.studiooneartcenter.net/ 510 597-5027
Tuition: $280 ( resident)

 MIX THOSE MEDIA! (7 sessions)
May 7- June 11
Summer: June 25- August 13
Thursdays  6:30-9:30 pm,
Studio One Art Center, 365 45th St. Oakland, 94610
Register: https://www.studiooneartcenter.net/ 510 597-5027
Tuition: $280 ( resident)

PAINTING WITH SOFT PASTELS : ( 7 sessions)
May 9- June 13
Summer: June 24- August 12
Saturdays 10 am-1 pm
Studio One Art Center
365 45th St. Oakland, CA 94610
Register: https://www.studiooneartcenter.net/ 510 597-5027
Tuition: $280 ( resident)

 BEYOND THE BASICS IN WATERCOLOR  ( 6 sessions)
May 5- June 9
Summer: June 23- August 11
Tuesdays, 6:30-9:30 pm
Studio One Art Center
365 45th St. Oakland, CA 94610
Register:https://www.studiooneartcenter.net/ 510 597-5027
 $240 ( Resident)

WORKSHOPS 2026

WONDROUS WAX: Melted Wax meets Mixed Media  FULL
March 20-22, Friday-Sunday 10am-4 pm,
Studio 55, 55 Howe Road, Martinez, CA
Register: https://www.studio55martinez.com
Tuition: $ 400 plus materials fee to instructor ( see materials list

THE FIGURE ON THE EDGE OF VISIBILITY:Abstracting the Figure with Mixed Media 
June 6-7, 10-4 pm
Marin MOCA
1210 Fifth Ave. San Rafael, CA 94901
Register: https://www.maricmoca.org
Tuition: MarinMOCA Members: $255; Non-members $300

If you are an artist who is passionate about working with the figure, you will love this workshop. Designed for continuing and advanced artists, you will explore expressing the figure in a way that expresses intuitive and personal vision – visual storytelling with the figure as the main protagonist.You will bring figure sketches and studies to use as references for this experimental approach to contemporary figure work that utilizes collage and multiple mixed media. Each class will begin with warm-up exercises that delve in to moods, atmosphere, and symbols.This is a workshop devoted to expressing feelings about our humanity, its current predicaments, and its joys. It will enrich and expand your personal practice with a combination of exercises, discussions, and very focused time to paint your subjective vision.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FLOWERS
JUNE 14, 21, 28 10 am-1pm 
Studio 55, 55 Howe Road, Martinez
Register:$250 https://www.studio55martinez.com
This workshop is a celebration and a meditation on the flower kingdom. We will be working with living flowers, a selection of seasonal images, arranged both individually and in bouquets for artistic focus. Our medium is watercolor because of its luminosity and capability to translate the subtlety and richness of this important gift from our earth. Experience with watercolor is a necessity. Material list available upon registration

To register for my private classes & workshops: 925 -282-5045 mira@mirawhitefineart.com

REFUND & CANCELLATION POLICY FOR MY PRIVATE  CLASSES & WORKSHOPS: Cancellation will yield a refund only if cancellation occurs no later than 2 weeks before said workshop.

                                                March 20-22, 2026

This vibrant workshop combines multiple media techniques with melted beeswax on a variety of surfaces, emphasizing unity of design, texture & color.  We work with a combination of both dry & wet media, including soft pastels, watercolor, oil paint/ sticks, charcoal, graphite & collage. No acrylic media. All imagery applicable. Use mediums of choice. Appropriate for continuing painters and collagists. Beginners in Encaustic are welcome.  Instructor supplies the wax medium, wax paint, heating tools, practice surfaces and 1 panel per student. Continue reading →

June 6-7, 2026

For this workshop, participants will bring their figure drawings/ studies to use as reference for this experimental approach to contemporary figure work. Possibilities for expression will include collage as well as multiple mixed media.The structure of the workshop will begin, initially with warm up exercises that delve into moods , atmosphere ,and symbols. It is my hope that each person will leave the workshop with at least one finished work on paper,  canvas or panel.

Are you an artist who loves working with the figure?  I am fascinated by the prospect of visual storytelling with the figure as the main protagonist. I invite continuing and advanced artists who are passionate about working with the figure in a way that expresses intuitive and personal vision. We do dream  in galaxies!  This is a workshop devoted to expressing feelings about our humanity, its current predicaments and joys, through figure images derived from your drawings and photos.  It  strives to enrich & expand your personal practice with a combination of exercises, discussions and very focused time to paint your subjective vision.

Marin Museum of Contemporary Art ( MOCA)
1210 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA,94901
Register: https://www.marinmoca.org
Tuition: $300 (members 15% discount)

MATERIALS LIST:

YOU BRING:

Paints and other media: Your collection of acrylic and/ or watercolor paints, colored inks, collage papers, colored pencil, oil pastels, graphite tools

Soft Chalk Pastels ( optional): Your collection of soft pastels, preferably Schminke, Sennelier or Great
American Artworks (the richer and softer pigment load make for a more vibrant result) and 1 set of Rembrandts for foundation work.

Brushes: Your collection of all manner of marking tools

Papers:Surfaces

2 sheets full size ( 22″x30″) gesso primed 140 lb or 300 lb watercolor paper ( both sides)
2 12″x12″ cradled panels, primed with 2 coats gesso ( panels can be larger)
10 sheets hardware grade320 -400 grit wet/dry sand paper (8″x10″ black or lavender) for warm up exercises
Brushes: an assortment of inexpensive hog bristle brushes that can withstand sanded papers, acrylic paint and painting with rubbing alcohol on a roughened surface ( hardware store brushes are fine)

Additional materials:

Acrylic gel medium for gluing collage papers
1 pint Liquitex Clear Gesso ( has pumice, for layered priming- only this brand)
1 pint 70 %isopropyl rubbing alcohol
Trigger sprayer with variable spray ( 8 oz.- best on Amazon)
2 ” or wider masking tape, bull dog clips, blending stumps, Q tips
Surgical, protective gloves
Utility knife
Drawing Board to fit size of paper ( I use 1/2″ foam core or white corrugated plastic- no weight)
Some sort of portfolio for storing work
Fixative: Use Spectrafix or my own mix:
1 part fat free milk ( non-fat)
1 part 70%isopropyl rubbing alcohol/ combine in a sterile sprayer with a fine mist ( Amazon)

INSTRUCTOR BRINGS: Graphite powder, dry pigments, additional tools and mediums

March 1-3, 2025

MATERIALS LIST:

Liquid Media:Your collection of acrylic paints
                        White & Black Gesso
                        Acrylic gloss medium
                       Matt or Gloss Acrylic Gel

                        Golden or Nova Molding Paste ( not the light)

Liquid Media:Your collection of acrylic paints
                        White & Black Gesso
                        Acrylic gloss medium
                       Matt or Gloss Acrylic Gel

                        Golden or Nova Molding Paste ( not the light)

Dry Media:    Soft Chalk  Pastels( should include  Sennelier or Schminke or
                         Great American Artworks)Pan Pastels can be included
                         Colored Pencils, Watercolor Pencils, Water-soluble Oil Pastels
                         Water Soluble Graphite ( Lyra brand from Amazon or Blick)
                          Dry pigments ( optional)

Collage Papers: Your collection of both bleeding and non-bleeding tissue , hand painted ,           decorative papers- all workable

Surfaces:       2 sheets full size  Gessoed watercolor paper, 140 lb or 300 lb hot or cold press
                      10 pieces smaller sheets of Strathmore watercolor for exercises
                      2 same size size cradled wood panel at least 12″  for o focused diptych

 Mediums: Gel medium- mat or gloss &  Liquitex Clear Gesso

Additional Tools:

6 small spray misters (order from amazon or Bed, Bath & Beyond

Palette of some form- Cookie sheet or tray is great
Wax Paper or freezer paper
2 Spray bottles 1 for water and 1 for Alcohol
Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol 70%
Dense Foam smooth rollers – contractors pack- roller handles are separate
Your collection of brushes and scraping tools
Drawing board of some kind- 1/2″  foam core is great- and light

      April 19-20, 2025

Join me for a wonderful opportunity to experiment with multiple water-based media in combination with soft pastels and collage.  We explore the versatility of the soft pastel medium, painting with water & alcohol ( no petroleum-based solvents). We layer with both dry & wet media, possibly incorporating rich texture. Lots of exuberant mark making on several surfaces! Open to continuing artists of all levels & to adventurous beginners wh want to explore the untapped versatility of this stunning combination.  Material list available on both Studio 55 website and my website https://www.miraMwhitefineartworkshops.com

April 19-20, Sat-Sun 10 am-4 pm             Register: https://www.studio55martinez.com  Studio 55, 55 Howe Road, Martinez, CA                     Tuition: $ 375

MATERIALS LIST:YOU BRING:

Soft  Chalk Pastels: Your collection of soft chalk pastels, . For this workshopany of the relatively inexpensive sets of chalk pastels ( Koss,  Rembrandt, Alphacolor, Blick) are fine. If you have the richer, highly pigmented brands that i(s also good( Schmincke, Sennelier, or Great American ArtWorks) Just get a set of at least 24 colors  , 

 Papers: Surfaces

  2 sheets  22″x30″140 lb  watercolor paper( can be Strathmore or Arches) that has been prepared with 1 good coat of white gesso on both sides
10 sheets black or lavender 320grit commercial sandpaper  that is 10″x8″( these are for warm up exercises 
Lots of extra paper for collage work( newsprint, sketch paper  , etc

Paints : Your collection of acrylic paints ( preferably fluid),/ colored inks, watercolor paints ( if you use them- tubes, not pan colors)

 Brushes: An assortment of inexpensive hog bristle brushes that can withstand sanded pastel papers,acrylic paint, and painting with rubbing alcohol on a roughened surface.
Contractors pack of smooth foam rollers 3″ or 6# with appropriate handles.

Additional materials:

White Liquitex or Golden Acrylic Gesso 1 pint
Black Liquitex or Golden Acrylic Gesso 1 pint
Liquitex CLEAR  Gesso 1 pint(only this brand)
 Liquitex or Golden Acrylic Gel Medium for gluing collage papers
 70 % isopropyl rubbing alcohol 1 qt.
 Trigger sprayer with variable spray ( 8 oz size) (Amazon)6 20z cosmetic sprayers( misters) Amazon or Bed Bath & Beyond)
 2 “ or wider Masking tape, Bull dog clips , Blending stumps/Q tips

 Surgical/protective gloves/ protective hand creme

 Utility knife
, Scissors
  Drawing board to fit size of paper, ( I use 1/2″ foam core or sturdy cardboard
 Glassine paper for protecting work. and portfolio ( can be homemade & cardboard) for storing work
 INSTRUCTOR BRINGS:


Graphite powder and dry pigments, fixativ
Additional tools and mediums
Extra mark making tools

Mail Order Suppliers:  Dakota Pastels http://www.dakotapastels.com

Continue reading →

                                                March 20-22, 2026

Continue reading →