Art Workshops

A Napa Valley Art Workshop on October 25 & 26, 2014

October 2014

Create Compositions That Work

with Karen Lynn Ingalls

October 25th and 26th, 2014, from 10 AM to 4 PM both days — bring a lunch!

How many times have you been stuck on a painting, not knowing just what it was that wasn't working? Frustrating, isn't it?


In this workshop, you'll get specific, practical tools and know-how to help you spot what makes a painting work, and fix it when it's not.



Karen Lynn Ingalls paints Sunset Meadow in her Franz Valley studio

Whether you paint landscapes, still lifes, portraits, or abstracts, or work in any other genre, the same principles apply. 



The Romance of Books • 24" x 30" • acrylics on canvas • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

We'll also conduct this as a kind of clinic for paintings — bring two or three of your own paintings that aren't working, any photographs you have of your sources for each painting, and one or two canvases or panels on which you can work out new solutions to the painting or paintings of your choice.



Breakfast al Fresco • 12" x 12" • acrylics on canvas • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

You'll go home with a "toolbox" of solutions you can use to get out of — and avoid — those painting predicaments from here on out. 


Join us, and learn to create compositions that work!


You can learn more information here — at www.NapaValleyArtWorkshops.com.


Where: Calistoga Art Center, 1435 North Oak Street, Calistoga, California (at the Napa County Fairgrounds)

When: October 25 & 26, 2014, from 10 AM to 4 PM both days — bring a lunch!
Cost: $180 (or $150 for Calistoga Art Center members)
Sign up by Thursday, October 23, 2014 — maximum of 12 people


Karen also teaches Acrylic Painting 101, Landscape Painting, and Abstract Landscape Painting workshops, as well as a few others...

Dragonfly   © 2003 Karen Lynn Ingalls

Soft Block Printmaking Weekend

Learn all the basics of printmaking with soft blocks (similar to, but much easier to work with, than linoleum block or wood block printing) and non-toxic, water-soluble inks. You will learn how to design and cut the block for printing, how to ink and print greeting cards and fine art prints on paper, how to print multiple colors, and how to print on fabric (whatever fabrics you bring – check also with Karen to find out about printing on silk). 

Angel of Peace  © 2003 Karen Lynn Ingalls

Bring your own materials, including potential design ideas (see materials list below *), or a $25 materials fee (fabric not included for both days, $18 for first day only (fabric not included) covers all you'll need.


Karen Lynn Ingalls demonstrates painting a self portrait
in a recent acrylic painting class

Painting the Costumed Model



Interested in portrait or figurative painting? Learn to paint from a clothed model. You will learn how to check the proportions of the figure, how to create and develop your composition, and how to paint light and dark colors of skin and clothes. 

Previous painting experience required.

Family Patriarchs  © Karen Lynn Ingalls

Bring your own acrylic paints (no solvents!) and painting materials (see materials list), or get the materials you will need when you arrive for $15 (call Karen in advance to let her know you will need them). 


Sign up in advance, by Thursday, August 5th.  Minimum of 8 students required for the workshop. $15 model fee (it goes to the model) for all day.


More about the workshops...


The art center is located in the Cropp Building
at the Napa County Fairgrounds, in Calistoga

  • All workshops given at the Calistoga Art Center, at the Napa County Fairgrounds, in the Cropp Building – 1435 North Oak Street, Calistoga, California 
  • Workshop times: 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.
  • Call Karen for more information at (707) 942-0197 
  • Register for workshops online at www.calistogaartcenter.org, or call them at (707) 942-2278
  • Materials fees pay for all the materials you need for the workshop. Check with Karen – email karenATkarenlynningalls.com, or call (707) 942-0197 – for a materials list if you would like to bring your own materials and supplies. 

More about the artist...

Karen Lynn Ingalls is a working artist and California credentialed teacher whose artwork, including paintings, drawings, collages, and life-sized painted sculptures, have been exhibited on both west and east coasts. 

Karen has taught art classes and workshops in subjects including acrylic painting, collage, mixed media, drawing, portrait painting, landscape painting, and soft block printing, to adults and children in Napa, Sonoma, and Monterey counties. 


She believes that making art in the spirit of experimentation and discovery is good for both the soul and the art. You can look at her artwork at www.KarenLynnIngalls.com, and see her art teaching blog at www.NapaValleyArtCamp.com. You can also see more information about current and upcoming workshop listings at www.NapaValleyArtWorkshops.com.


Please contact Karen for more information at (707) 942-0197 or email: karenATkarenlynningalls.com (rewritten to avoid spammers)



* Soft Block Printing Materials List

•   Water-soluble ink in color or colors of your choice (more than one if you want to do multiple layers of color)

•   Disposable paper palette (used for acrylic painting) for inking
•   Soft rubber brayer for inking
•    Large wooden spoon, hard rubber or acrylic brayer, or Baren for printing

•   Linoleum block cutter (preferably LinoZips safety cutter, available at Village Art Supply     in Santa Rosa) – a handle with cutting blades in a range of shapes and sizes

•    Soft blocks for block printing – preferably the pink Speedy Carve blocks from Speedball, in 4"x6" (one for the first day; two or more if you want to try multiple layers of color or create more than one block). It looks like eraser material.
      Other types of soft blocks include beige Speedy-Cut soft block from Speedball (less durable) or Staedtler Master Carve gray soft block.

•   Card stock in white and your choice of colors for printing greeting cards

•   Paper for block printing (rice or mulberry paper, if you like) to make fine art prints
•   Paper for test prints (copy paper works fine)
•   Graphite paper (one or two small sheets is fine)
•   Tracing paper, if you need to trace your design or drawing for transfer to the block
•   Pencil
•   Painter's tape or masking tape
•   Paper towels
•   Drawings, photos, and designs you would like to work from


Optional Materials  (depending on what you want to do)


•   Foam core board to make a key for registration, if you want to print more than one color

•   Exacto knife or mat cutting knife, if you have one, for registration key (we can share)
•   Fabric to print on, if you'd like to try fabric printing (check Dharma Trading Company online if you want to try painting on silk). Non-silk options for fabrics include: cotton shirts from thrift or consignment shops, pieces of old sheets (bring several for experimentation and a special project!), white dish towels, canvas tote bags, T-shirts (although they're a bit stretchy)
•   For fabric printing, fabric paint in your choice of colors (note that some fabric paints are heat-set and some are not)
•   Foam paint brushes and a foam sponge (household type sponge)
•   Toothbrush to clean block