Watercolor Painting Workshop in Santa Fe with Brienne M. Brown
Painting Workshops.
When quality matters!
When quality matters!
Santa Fe-Brienne Brown
Bringing the Everyday to Life in Santa Fe: Workshop Description
“If you want to improve your painting skills, you need to get outside and paint!”
Learning to paint on-location is not only fun and exciting, but can help you with your studio work. In addition, painting in beautiful Santa Fe will provide a deeper more meaningful experience.
During this workshop, Brienne will demonstrate and explain her painting process for plein air painting, sharing some great exercises and practices that will help you become a better plein air and studio watercolor artist. With the use of strong value sketches, bold washes, and quick energetic strokes, Brienne will demonstrate how to unify and bring excitement into your watercolor paintings. No experience with watercolor painting is necessary, but some drawing experience is recommended. 
If you are new to plein air painting, it can be scary and hard to know where to start, know what to paint, and how to deal with the elements. Don’t worry! Brienne will teach and guide you through the process of painting with watercolors on-location. Her enthusiasm about watercolor and plein air is infectious and you can’t help but have a good time while learning and exploring Santa Fe. You will be spending some time in the studio and sometime painting outdoors. Each morning the class will meet in the studio to discuss the day’s plan and some concepts. We will then venture outside to paint. Brienne will do several demonstrations throughout the workshop, but students will also have plenty of painting time with help and personal critiques from Brienne. In case of inclement weather we will be indoors, but we will still discuss painting on-location.
Brienne M. Brown's Biography
Much to her mother’s indignation, Brienne owned little clothing that was not covered in paint. From a young age, Brienne showed talent in art and music, but wanted to pursue a career in the sciences. She started her education at the University of Utah as a double major (Art and Chemistry), eventually receiving a BS in Chemistry and finishing with a Master’s degree in 2004. After graduation, Brienne worked in a Toxicology lab. Though she painted some by taking an occasional class, as the years wore on, she realized she wanted more art in her life than a career in science would allow. She was surprised and delighted to find great fulfillment in painting. In fact, it became a necessity.
After leaving her job as a toxicologist to raise her first child in 2008, Brienne had the opportunity to paint more consistently. Prioritizing painting and taking workshops from artists she admired paid off. Soon she was not only exhibiting and entering shows regularly, but also winning awards. 
Brienne holds signature membership status for the National Watercolor Society, American Impressionist Society, and several other watercolor societies. Every year, she participates is several national juried and invitational plein air events, teaches workshops all over the country, and holds online courses. Her work has been published in Splash 17 Best of Watercolor: Inspired Subjects, PleinAir Magazine, Southwest Art Magazine, and Watercolor Artist Magazine.
Brienne’s passion is watercolor and plein air painting. “I especially enjoy painting en plein air, where each painting reminds me of where I was, of the experiences I had, the sounds, smells, and the people I met. As I try and capture the essence of a scene, my paintings are always more about a moment in time than about a particular location. I enjoy sharing how I see the world.”
Website: www.briennembrown.com
E-mail: bbtravelingcolors@gmail.com
More Samples of Brienne M. Brown's Art
Click on any picture to enlarge.
Santa Fe is one of America’s most historic, artistic, and fascinating cities.
Known as “The City Different,” the nation’s oldest state capital city is a place unlike in other in the world.
There are scores of art galleries, restaurants, places to shop as well as a dozen museums featuring culture, history and traditions of this region and the world.
Santa Fe feels like a giant art museum, given how much amazing creativity is all around the city
Day 1: Orientation Meeting and Welcome Dinner
5 pm: Meet your fellow travelers, your instructor Brienne B. Brown and your two tour leaders, Valerie and Jackie, at our selected hotel in Santa Fe for our orientation meeting.
We will go over the schedule for the workshop and treat you for a welcome dinner to celebrate the beginning of a week full of laughter, painting and new friendships.
Days 2 to 5: Painting in Santa Fe
Here is a list of some emblematic spots of Santa Fe but not necessary our painting sites.
The charm of the adobe-constructed buildings.
Native American Culture
Colored doors striking on adobe buildings
One of the most striking churches in the Southwest
Mexican tile design on stair cases, Andalusian inspiration
Dried red chilies and spices everywhere
A day in Ghost Ranch, Georgia O'Keefe's home
The landscape of Ghost Ranch is colorful and dramatic due to the red and yellow cliffs. It encompasses 21,000 acres of towering rock walls, vivid colors and vast skies. It was the home and studio of Georgia O’Keeffe, as well as the subject of many of her paintings. Although we can’t visit Georgia’s home, painting the same dramatic sceneries will be a unique experience.
Magnificent red rock formations
Red canyon painted by Brienne
Little wood hut at the entrance of the park
Our treat in a hidden garden
We would like to share with you a secluded hidden gem, an outdoor garden located in the heart of Santa Fe.
At the end of a painting day, we will treat you to appetizers and drinks in this peaceful desert oasis garden, surrounded with works of art.
End of Day 5: Show and Tell and Farewell Dinner
Afternoon:
It is time to finish up some of the paintings started this week. The sketching workshop will end with a little “Show and Tell”.
We will then treat you for the farewell dinner before saying goodbye.
Day 6: Departure
You can leave at your convenience or extend your stay to enjoy this wonderful place. If you live close to Santa Fe, you can leave the night before after the farewell dinner.
We have selected a very charming hotel located only 2 blocks from the main plaza.
The tour leaders as well as the art instructor will stay there. We recommend you stay with the group so you can benefit from the studio.
We have booked some rooms for the group at a discounted price. Email us to get the code and the hotel info. You need to call the hotel directly in order together the discounted price. The hotel will not charge your card. They offer free cancellation until 5 days prior to the workshop. However, because of the limited number of rooms we were able to secure, please do not book a room if you are unsure you will stay there.
The air-conditioned rooms are designed with Spanish art work and include amenities such as free Wi-FI, bathrobes and refrigerators. Cable TVs, coffee makers and ironing facilities are provided.
They also offer free full breakfast and free parking.
Price varies with the dates and type of rooms: it starts at $199 + tax for a traditional room.
Dates and Rates
May 5-10, 2024 –open
Price: $1,690
The hotel is not included, see below
What is included in the price
Includes
- A welcome reception
- 2 dinners: one welcome dinner on day 1 and one farewell dinner on day 5
- Drinks and appetizers in an outdoor garden
- All art classes (daily demos, one-on-one support and instructions)
- Transportation and entrance to Ghost Ranch
- Transportation of all participant’s painting supplies to the painting locations
- The use of folding chairs
- Complementary snacks and drinks brought to the painting sites
- A tour leader throughout the week
- The use of a studio
Excludes
- Your hotel. We have booked some rooms for the participants interested in staying at the hotel where the teacher and the tour leaders are staying. Check the hotel info here. Email us to get the hotel name and discount code.
- Some meals (the ones not listed as included)
- Painting supplies (folding chairs will be provided)
How to Book
To reserve your spot, please complete the form below (one per person) and pay US$ 600 deposit. After receiving your form, we will send you the information for the payment. Note that the deposit is not refundable but US$ 300 is transferrable within one year. See our cancelation policy below.
You will be able to pay:
1- By check
2- Via ZELLE, free instant pay, offered by many major US banks
3- By bank transfer
4- By credit card