Create Your Own Experience

All of our workshops are meant for everyone, regardless of experience level. Whether you have never painted before or you are an experienced artist our pedagogy adapts to each participant wherever they are on their artistic journey.

John Springer is a practicing artist and teacher spending his time between France and the United States. He holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree from the American College of the Mediterranean with an emphasis on oil painting, 19th century European art history and art criticism. He has several years of experience teaching courses in Europe and the United States. Learn more about John here.

We have the capacity to run workshops of all mediums and duration both inside and outside. Indoor workshops have the benefit of not being weather dependent, and it allows for the space to have hands-on discussions on color theory, set up still life or have intensive drawing exercises. Whether it is in a private residence, a local venue, or an art studio we can accommodate to any space.

Outdoor workshops provide the unparalleled opportunity to paint or draw directly from nature. As Renoir said, to be an artist, one must first know the laws of nature. It is our belief at Society of Irregulars that they greatest learnings in art come from working directly from the visible world. In our workshops, we look to take advantage of local spaces that offer a bit of nature whether it is a private garden, a neighborhood park, the unique architecture of a town or a nearby wild space.

Hybrid workshops that combine both indoor and outdoor components can lend to great experiences as well.

All materials are provided in all our workshops, meaning all you need to bring is yourself.

Drawing: For our drawing sessions each participant is provided a sketchbook and we work with graphite pencil as well as charcoal on paper. Drawing courses can run in duration from half day sessions to multi-day workshops. We will work very quickly and it is the expectation that the participants will complete numerous drawings in any given session. Drawing offers the versatility to work in all types of settings with quick installation and takedown. Ideal for shorter workshops or settings with limited space, time or weather constraints.

Painting: For the painting workshops we work in oil. There is no better medium for exploring the world of color harmony than oil paint. Understanding the general principles of color harmony will open your eyes to nature and art in a way that you may have previously overlooked. The instructor guides the students in how to mix their own palettes from the primary colors. We work on canvas, use sturdy field easels and white palettes. Generally the expectation is for participants to complete one to two paintings within the course of the day. Our painting workshops generally include an initial drawing session as it is in synthesis with the painting process. Painting workshops are ideal for groups keen on longer in-depth experiences. A full-day is needed for an oil painting workshop, and multi-days are preferable.

Pastels: Workshops in pastels offers a unique hybrid opportunity combining elements of our oil painting and drawing curriculums. Using soft pastels or oil pastels, the instructor will guide you in the basics of color theory and how to find color harmonies as well as light and dark relationships in nature. These workshops are ideal for groups who want to work outside with color and have time constraints. Minimal space is needed.

Drawing from Drawings - Sketching the Whole

Drawing in Nature - Searching for Patterns

Finding Form - Painting Studies from Artwork of the Past

Painting Landscape - Finding Motifs in Your Backyard

Still Life - A Study in Color Harmony and Movement

View Course Catalogue Here

In America we are lucky enough to have artistic treasures in many of our backyard museums. Whether in small regional museums or the large national galleries with a diverse enough collection to compare works from across artistic movements, Society of Irregulars has the capacity to run single and multi-day workshops in art appreciation. In these workshops we engage with the artwork as it is before us, not exclusively in the context of the past. There is a drawing component as well as introductory conversations on color theory. We look to the artists’ visible rending, observing closely the paintings’ form, and through group discussion attempt to unearth the content within. How can the artwork of the past be relevant to our own life experience and what can it teach us about the world today? Museums have an immense value to society and it is a part of our mission to encourage engagement within communities with these gifts of the past.

We run half-day, full-day and multi-day workshops. Our pricing is subject to the specifics of the arrangement. The base rate for full-days is $150 per person. For half days the cost is $100 per person. Group rates can be applied for groups of eight or more people. Additional materials needed for specific workshops such as still life, models, rented space can increase the price.

For full-day museum workshops the fee is $100-$150 depending on ticketing and museum fees.

Lunch is not included in workshops unless previously arranged.