WONDROUS WAX!: Abstract Intentions with Hot Wax ( Intermediate/ Advanced)
May 25-27, Sat-Mon  10 am-4 pm 
Studio 55, 55 Howe Road, Martinez, CA
Tuition: $ 425 ( plus $ 75 materials fee directly to the instructor)
Pre-register: http://www.studio55martinez.com/ Tel:925 937 6422 mira@mirawhitefineart.com Advance registration recommended

 ABSTRACTION IN LAYERS; A MIXED MEDIA MASH-UP!
JUNE 14-17, Fri-Mon- 9:30am-4:30 pm
Mendocino Art Center, 45200 Little Lake St. PO Box 765
Mendocino, CA 95460
Tuition: $414 mac Members $460 N/M ( Additional materials fee of $30  directly to instructor)
Pre-register: 1 800 653-3328 or http://www.mendocinoartcenter.org

ABSTRACTION WITH OIL, COLD WAX & COLLAGE
AUGUST 16-18, Fri-Sun 10am-4 pm
Studio 55, 55 Howe Road, Martinez, CA
Tuition: $ 350 ( plus $ 30 materials fee directly to the instructor)
Pre-register: http://www.studio55martinez.com/ Tel:925 937 6422 mira@mirawhitefineart.com Advance registration recommended

STUNNING ABSTRACTS WITH SOFT PASTELS & MIXED MEDIA
OCTOBER 3-5, Thurs-Sat. 9am-4 pm
Dakota Pastels Art Center,17873 State Route 536 Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Tuition: $350
Pre-register: http://www.dakotapastels.com
info@dakotapastels.com / 888.345.0067 (ext 5)

THE ABSTRACT BEAUTY OF BLACK – and all the shades of grey
November 1-3,Fri-Sun 9:30 am -4:30 pm
Mendocino Art Center, 45200 Little Lake St., Mendocino, CA 95460
Tuition: $ 345
Pre-register: 1 800 653-3328 or http://www.mendocinoartcenter.org

ABSTRACTING THE FIGURE WITH MIXED MEDIA
March 21-22, 2020, Sat-Sun 10 am-4 pm
Marin MOCA,781 Hamilton Parkway
Novato, CA
Tuition $ 275 ( plus additional materials fee of $ 25 to the instructor)
Pre-register: http://www.marinmoca.org

WONDROUS WAX!: Abstract Intentions with Hot Wax & Mixed Media
April 24-26, 2020  Fri-Mon  10 am-4 pm 
Jen Tough Gallery, 942 Tyler St. Suite #28
Tuition: $ 425 ( plus $ 75 materials fee directly to the instructor)
Pre-register:https://jentough.gallery/workshops or mira@mirawhitefineart.com
Advance registration required ( enrollment limited to 6)

To register for my private workshops: 925 947-5773 / mira@mirawhitefineart.com
REFUND & CANCELLATION POLICY FOR MY PRIVATE WORKSHOPS: Cancellation will yield a refund only if cancellation occurs no later than 2 weeks before said workshop.

APRIL 26-28

                                                JEN TOUGH GALLERY

This workshop offers new possibilities for artists who want to enrich their work by incorporating multiple media.  It focuses on the amazing possibilities available in combining acrylics, soft pastels & oil pigment sticks.. It is also about creating work that strikes a deeper meaning for you.  We will be building layers, adding, subtracting, scraping, using both homemade and commercial stencils, using soft pastels as both a drawing and painting mediums.

Acrylics, soft pastels, water soluble graphite sticks, water soluble oil pastels and oil pigment sticks will all contribute to this mixed media mash up!  I hope you will join me!

Who should take this workshop:

You are fascinated with Abstraction as a way to bring more personal meaning, excitement and  drama into your work.

You want to learn more about combining  soft pastels with oil pigment sticks  and how to incorporate it into your paintings.

You are obsessed with color, texture, and design and want to incorporate these elements more fully into your work:

You are fascinated with layering processes and the possibilities of layering and excavating- it is kind of an archeological dig.

You want to learn how to combine acrylics with pastels and oil pigment sticks  in a way that enhances rather than muddies.

 You want to experiment with  mark making, doodling and develop a  more personal   calligraphy and visual vocabulary.

JEN TOUGH GALLERY                                       Tuition: $ 425 ( Includes lunch daily)
942 Tyler St., Suite E                                           Register: 1-833-278-5683
Benicia, CA 94510

MATERIALS LIST:

Paints:Your collection of  acrylic paints , including Titanium White ( or gesso),
                Black Gesso( densest black in acrylics
               Oil Pigment Sticks : I like R& F but  Sennelier or Winsor Newton are fine

Dry Media:Water soluble Graphite tools: Lyra, Art Graf
                      Soft Pastels :Your collection of assorted Soft Pastels, grading from hard to very soft   (  try to include Schminke Deep Violet and Prussian Blue)

Surfaces
       10 sheets hardware grade wet/dry sandpaper 320 or 400 grit ( black) ( for warm up exercises
       Arches Oil Paper pad 9″x12″  or 3 sheets 140 lb watercolor paper  22”x30” cut into quarters (   for warm ups)
       2 sheets Watercolor Paper hot or cold press ( 140 lb OR 300 lb)( pre-gesso)
       2 Cradled Wood Panels 16”x20” or much larger

Brushes: An assortment of inexpensive hog bristle brushes that can withstand sanded pastel papers, alcohol and acrylics ( include a 1 1/2″ and a 2″ brush

Additional materials:

1 pint Liquitex Clear Gesso ( has pumice-for priming watercolor paper- only this brand
2″ or wider Masking Tape, Bull dog Clips, Blending Stumps, Q Tips
Scraping tools : be resourceful!
Acrylic Gel medium for gluing
Wax paper ( for alcohol, pigment transfer paper)
1 qt. 70%  isopropyl rubbing alcohol
Plastic tarp / table cloth for work surface and floor- the dollar tree store has $1 shower curtains)
Protective gloves and/ or hand creme
Utility Knife
Drawing board to fit paper
Portable Easel ( optional)
Glassine paper ( or wax paper) for protective work and portfolio for storing work

Fixative recipe:1 Pre-Val Paint Sprayer for fixative( aerosol can and glass jar- at any paint store
1 small container fat free milk
1 small container 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol
MIX 50% alcohol & 50% fat free milk into glass jar of paint sprayer

MARCH 21-22, 2020

Everything & Nothing #3 Soft Pastel

Figure #4 Acrylic, Soft Pastel

Figure #5 Acrylic, Gesso, Soft Pastel

      Join me for an exhilarating adventure in contemporary figure painting with soft pastels and mixed  media. During this workshop you will initially work from a model. Focusing first on observation, then using your drawings as starting points, work toward interpretive abstraction using multiple processes. Recommended for continuing artists and very adventurous beginners who have some experience in figure drawing/painting.

 Sat- Sun 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Marin MOCA,  500 Palm Drive
(Studio is at :781 Hamilton Parkway, behind Beso Cafe)

  Fee: Members $225;  Non-members $250 (plus model fee of $40, paid to instructor)  Register online at www.marinmoca.org  Visa and MasterCard welcome.
Registration forms are also available in the MarinMOCA lobby, 500 Palm Drive, or in theclassroom building, 781 Hamilton Parkway.

More info:  MarinMOCA office at 415.506.0137, Wednesday – Friday, 11am to 4pm or Saturday – Sunday 11am to 5pm.

Materials list: TBA

 3 Day Intensive Encaustic Workshop
FEBRUARY 8-10, 2019

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

Feb 8-10, 2019
Tuition: $ 250 ( plus additional materials fee of $ 75 directly to the instructor
Fri-Sun  10 am-4 pm                                    Pre-register: http://www.therac.org/ 510-620-6772
Tuition: $ 250 ( additional materials fee of $ 85 directly to the instructor)
Richmond Art Center
2540 Barrett Ave.
Richmond, CA

 MATERIALS LIST

Due to the nature of this workshop, the Instructor is supplying many of the materials and requires a materials fee of $75  to  help defray the costs. Please pay at the workshop. CASH is preferred payment.  

 INSTRUCTOR  BRINGS :

 1 Cradled, primed Birch Panels 8’x8”  for each student
 3 8 ply museum mat board , small pieces for mounting  8”x8” for practice pieces
Paint Brushes
Encaustic Medium ( wax with damar resin)
Encaustic Paint ( the rainbow spectrum plus white)
Heat Guns, torches, heating surfaces ( electric griddles, fry pans)
Graphite Powder, Charcoal powder
Some scraping tools
Some Collage tools
Some Oil Pastels , soft pastels & Drawing Media, watercolor in spray bottles
Tubs for pouring Wax

MATERIALS YOU BRING :  

1. You will need 300 lb w/c paper or 4 or 8 ply museum board – 1 full sheet cut up in 8 “ squares for exercises
2. Your collection of watercolor, drawing, oil  and collage materials including:
   Watercolor crayons, charcoal, oil pastels, water based graphite pencils, colored pencils, Oil paint sticks, graphite pencils. Wax loves Oil. No acrylic paint
3. 3  Additonal Surfaces to work on:  Must be Absorbent and Inflexible
   2 Wood *or prepared Encaustic panels—8”x8” up to 14”
   * 1/2″  birch or finished plywood is great

ADDITIONAL:

           3 Bristle utility brushes ,  variety of sizes ½”, 1”, 2” – cheap are fine.
           Scissors, Tweezers,
           Collage materials: Papers, Threads, Xerox images, photos
          Masking Tape for stenciling—1/2 “ , 1”
          Rags/ Wear crummy clothes, bring an oven mitt
          The following mediums are entirely optional but extremely useful

               Oil Paint Sticks ( Sennelier or R&F are best)
               Oil Pastels
               Woody Stabilo pencils
Soft Pastels  – both stick and/or Pan pastels                                        

APRIL 26-28

                                                JEN TOUGH GALLERY

This workshop offers new possibilities for artists who want to enrich their work by incorporating multiple media.  It focuses on the amazing possibilities available in combining acrylics, soft pastels & oil pigment sticks.. It is also about creating work that strikes a deeper meaning for you.  We will be building layers, adding, subtracting, scraping, using both homemade and commercial stencils, using soft pastels as both a drawing and painting mediums.

Acrylics, soft pastels, water soluble graphite sticks, water soluble oil pastels and oil pigment sticks will all contribute to this mixed media mash up!  I hope you will join me!

Who should take this workshop:

You are fascinated with Abstraction as a way to bring more personal meaning, excitement and  drama into your work.

You want to learn more about combining  soft pastels with oil pigment sticks  and how to incorporate it into your paintings.

You are obsessed with color, texture, and design and want to incorporate these elements more fully into your work:

You are fascinated with layering processes and the possibilities of layering and excavating- it is kind of an archeological dig.

You want to learn how to combine acrylics with pastels and oil pigment sticks  in a way that enhances rather than muddies.

 You want to experiment with  mark making, doodling and develop a  more personal   calligraphy and visual vocabulary.

JEN TOUGH GALLERY                                       Tuition: $ 425 ( Includes lunch daily)
942 Tyler St., Suite E                                           Register: 1-833-278-5683
Benicia, CA 94510

MATERIALS LIST:

Paints:Your collection of  acrylic paints , including Titanium White ( or gesso),
                Black Gesso( densest black in acrylics
               Oil Pigment Sticks : I like R& F but  Sennelier or Winsor Newton are fine

Dry Media:Water soluble Graphite tools: Lyra, Art Graf
                      Soft Pastels :Your collection of assorted Soft Pastels, grading from hard to very soft   (  try to include Schminke Deep Violet and Prussian Blue)

Surfaces
       10 sheets hardware grade wet/dry sandpaper 320 or 400 grit ( black) ( for warm up exercises
       Arches Oil Paper pad 9″x12″  or 3 sheets 140 lb watercolor paper  22”x30” cut into quarters (   for warm ups)
       2 sheets Watercolor Paper hot or cold press ( 140 lb OR 300 lb)( pre-gesso)
       2 Cradled Wood Panels 16”x20” or much larger

Brushes: An assortment of inexpensive hog bristle brushes that can withstand sanded pastel papers, alcohol and acrylics ( include a 1 1/2″ and a 2″ brush

Additional materials:

1 pint Liquitex Clear Gesso ( has pumice-for priming watercolor paper- only this brand
2″ or wider Masking Tape, Bull dog Clips, Blending Stumps, Q Tips
Scraping tools : be resourceful!
Acrylic Gel medium for gluing
Wax paper ( for alcohol, pigment transfer paper)
1 qt. 70%  isopropyl rubbing alcohol
Plastic tarp / table cloth for work surface and floor- the dollar tree store has $1 shower curtains)
Protective gloves and/ or hand creme
Utility Knife
Drawing board to fit paper
Portable Easel ( optional)
Glassine paper ( or wax paper) for protective work and portfolio for storing work

Fixative recipe:1 Pre-Val Paint Sprayer for fixative( aerosol can and glass jar- at any paint store
1 small container fat free milk
1 small container 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol
MIX 50% alcohol & 50% fat free milk into glass jar of paint sprayer

This vibrant workshop explores abstraction with multiple layers and multiple media techniques.  Oil, cold wax, pigment sticks and collage converse on a variety of surfaces, emphasizing unity of design, texture and color.  We  work with a combination of both dry & wet media, including soft pastels, watercolor, oil paint, pigment sticks, charcoal, graphite and collage.  Acrylic media can serve as a base underpainting.  All imagery applicable.  Appropriate for continuing painters.

   June 14-17, 2019                                            

Friday- Monday 9:30-4:30 pm
Mendocino Art Center
45200 Little Lake St.  Mendocino, CA 95460

Tuition: $ 350 plus $40 materials fee directly to instructor
Pre-register: 800-653-3328 or http://www.mendocinoartcenter.org

MATERIALS LIST:

PAINTS: Your collection of both oils and acrylic paints.  Please include white,  black, yellow or raw sienna, scarlet red, rose red, ultra and pthalo blue- other colors viable.
OIL PIGMENT STICKS:  I like R &F but others are fine
DRY MEDIA: Soft Pastels- the softer the better
MEDIUM: Gamblin Galkyd Gel or solvent free gel.
SURFACES: 2 Arches Oil Paper pads 9″x12d” or 12″x16″ or 1 of each ( for warm ups)
                     3  sheets Arches oil paper 22″x30″ ( 3 pack Amazon) or 3 sheets D-Arches
                         watercolor paper 22″x30″ primed with gesso.  
                     2 or 3 cradled panels at least 12″x12″
TOOLS & ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
2-3 different palette knives and scraping tools
Bowl silicon scraper – Messermeister from Amazon
Smooth foam rollers- a contractor pack with handle
Assorted brushes
Waxed paper or freezer paper
Palette of some sort
Masking Tape
Protective nitrile gloves
Collage papers of choice

(The materials fee will cover the additional materials I will be bringing up for group use: graphite, some pigments, additional pastels and pigment sticks, powders, cold wax medium)

 August 16-18, 2019

This vibrant workshop combines multiple media techniques with oil, cold wax , pigment sticks and collage on a variety of surfaces, emphasizing unity of design, texture and color. We work with a combination of both dry and wet media, including soft pastels , watercolor, oil paint/ sticks/ pastels., charcoal, graphite and collage. Acrylic media can serve as a base underpainting. . All Imagery applicable. Appropriate for continuing painters. 

 Sat-Mon.10 am-4 pm                         Tuition: $ 350
Studio 55,  55 Howe Road                  Materials fee $ 30 to instructor
Martinez, CA                                         Register:online:www.studio55martinez.com
94553                                                        (through PayPal)
Tel. 925 937-6422                                 mira@mirawhitefineart.com

MATERIALS LIST:

PAINTS: Your collection of oil paints, including white , black, yellow and /or   raw sienna scarlet red, rose red, ultra  and pthalo blue- other colors viable.

PIGMENT STICKS: R & F or Sennelier or Paul de Marrais(online only)

MEDIUM: Gamblin Cold Wax medium or Dorlands( prefer Gamblin)Gamblin  Gamblin Galkyd Gel tube

SOLVENT: Citra Solv ( pint or quart)- container with lid and spray bottle

SURFACES:

2 Arches Oil Paper pad–9×12” or 12×16” or 1 of each
3 sheets Arches oil paper 22×30” available (3 pack @ Amazon)2 or cradled 2 or 3 cradled panels- no smaller than 12”x12”

TOOLS & ADDITIONAL MATERIALS

2-3 palette knives (trowel type blade) , any additional scraping tools bowl Bowl silicon scraper–Messermeister from Amazon. Smooth foam rollers Color Shapers 2” or 3”(from Jerry’s or Amazon) Smooth foam SmoothSmooth Foam rollers  Assorted Brushes, Masking Tape Powdered Graphite Powder and/or powdered pigments Masking Tape, Assorted Assorted Brushes Waxed Paper
Art Graf black carbon square or
Art Graf set of 3 carbon squares black, graphite  white gloves or protective Protective nitrile gloves cream for hands photos or sketches for NewsprintNewsprint  and other collage papers of choice