August 15-17, 2014

Perspective is important for everything you paint because in every subject, there is a point of view and a horizon line. At this workshop, learn simple techniques for identifying and capturing a perspective that adds great interest to your paintings. Seamus will cover how to identify the vanishing point, horizon line, create perspective in foreshortening, shadows and ellipses. This is an opportunity to approach your paintings in a whole new way.

As with all classes instructed by Seamus Berkeley, the intent will be on learning the fundamentals, leaving you, the artist, to develop your unique expression and vision. Focal points of this workshop will be:

• Orchestrating a cohesive composition
• Proper set up & measuring
• Perspective from every angle: vanishing points, foreshortening, shadows & ellipses
• Expanding your confidence painting still life and real world environments

Join Seamus Berkeley in order to learn from a lifetime of painting, and to better orient yourself in front of the canvas; Seamus’s skillful advice and delight in teaching might just push you toward surmounting hurdles within your work which have been (knowingly or not) holding you back from accelerating to the next level.

This workshop is useful for painters at all levels; emphasis on oil paints, other media welcome. Some painting experience necessary. Please see materials list for suggested supplies – some easels are available.

Instructor: Seamus Berkeley as an international award winning painter and portrait specialist with studios in Berkeley, CA and Taos, NM.

Please register online now—class is limited to 12 students.

Convenient bicycle friendly Berkeley location, bus stops within 2 blocks and available street parking.

For more information, call 510.984.1850 or email.

“He gives good attention to each student and the individual work during the class, as well as occasional painting technique demonstrations. The location is convenient with plenty of parking. The other students have a range of abilities, and they add to the overall class atmosphere.” ~Gina P.

July 18-20, 2014

How do you transfer the composition that you envision onto your canvas? This is one of the trickiest skills to learn, without which, your painting will not materialize according to your expectations.

In this workshop, you will learn how to correctly measure, transfer measurements to the canvas, use vertical and horizontal drop lines, and to relate shapes to each other in order to maintain the original composition. By applying these useful techniques, your paintings will get closer to coming alive in the way that you want them to!

Join this workshop in order to:

• Perfect measuring techniques for a truly life-like appeal
• Learn what the heck drop lines are and how to use them!
• Approach your canvas with fresh eyes & expand your field of perception
• Add new tools to your artistic arsenal of skills!

This workshop is useful for painters at all levels; emphasis on oil paints, other media welcome. Some painting experience necessary. Please see materials list for suggested supplies – some easels are available.

Instructor: Seamus Berkeley as an international award winning painter and portrait specialist with studios in Berkeley, CA and Taos, NM.

Seamus has mastered the tricks necessary for his compositions to achieve desired results, and he thrives off of sharing his knowledge with eager artists. As a lifelong student and enthusiastic teacher, he looks forward to enriching your painting expression, which his workshops can bring to you.

Please register online now—class is limited to 12 students.

Convenient bicycle friendly Berkeley location, bus stops within 2 blocks and available street parking.

For more information, call 510.984.1850 or email.

“With gentle coaching, he empowers each student to fully express their inner vision. Don’t miss The Fundamentals of Painting video produced by Seamus! You’re gonna like the way you paint!” ~Maggie C.

June 20-22, 2014

Continuing in this fundamentals series, this workshop will concentrate on composition: how to organize your ideas for a painting, on the canvas. Areas covered include planning the setup, measuring, and placement of desired subjects on the canvas. Thinking outside the box is always welcomed! Studying composition with an experienced painter and alongside other students may help inspire and challenge you to push the limits of your personal palette of creativity.

Attend this workshop if you want to:

• Learn specific tools for measuring space on your canvas
• Be exposed to new techniques for placing and orienting your subjects
• Think differently about your blank canvas: the opportunities are endless!

The workshop will include demonstration, as well as group and individual instruction.

This workshop is useful for painters at all levels; emphasis on oil paints, other media welcome. Some painting experience necessary. Please see materials list for suggested supplies – some easels are available.

Instructor: Seamus Berkeley as an international award winning painter and portrait specialist with studios in Berkeley, CA and Taos, NM.

Please register online now—class is limited to 12 students.

Convenient bicycle friendly Berkeley location, bus stops within 2 blocks and available street parking.

For more information, call 510.984.1850 or email.

“Seamus Berkeley’s oil painting classes are well organized, clear and provide a supportive atmosphere for learning.” ~Gina P.

May 23-25, 2014

We often tend to focus on the beauty of the color of objects and light and shy away from investigating the darks. Overlooking this aspect of our environment tends to limit the range of our expression.

We will explore how to assess values, and then how to create that corresponding value with the paint. We’ll also practice letting go of the hesitancy to use the full range of values. This practice creates more dynamic paintings.

In this workshop, you can expect to:

• Redefine contrast among lights, darks, shadows & find balance on a canvas
• Differentiate between hue values and the end result values of your materials
• Challenge your understanding of contrast in a painting

Taking a deeper look into the darks and learning how to integrate them correctly, according to your artistic vision (and regardless of subject) can enrich and enliven all of your paintings. Definitely fun… and a bit of a challenge!

The workshop will include demonstration, as well as group and individual instruction.

This series is useful for both beginning and intermediate painters; emphasis on oil paints, other media welcome. Some painting experience necessary. Please see materials list for suggested supplies – some easels are available.

This workshop is useful for both beginning and intermediate painters. Some painting experience necessary. Group and individual instruction provided, with demonstrations throughout; emphasis on oil painting, all media welcome.

Instructor: Seamus Berkeley as an international award winning painter and portrait specialist with studios in Berkeley, CA and Taos, NM.

Please register online now—class is limited to 12 students.

Convenient bicycle friendly Berkeley location, bus stops within 2 blocks and available street parking.

For more information, call 510.984.1850 or email.

“The opportunity to study with Seamus Berkeley is a gift. An accomplished Fine Artist, Seamus shares his vast knowledge by effectively demonstrating a wide variety of oil painting techniques and tools..” ~Maggie C.

March 28-30, 2014

This workshop will cover the basics of portrait painting. Instruction will be with a model, the best way to paint a portrait!

It’s time to get past the rush to get paint on the canvas. There is more to painting the likeness of a person than just getting the technical details exactly correct. Setting up the model means getting that person in their comfort zone allowing their expression to capture their essence.

This workshop will focus on how to see the person and translate that seeing onto the canvas in front of you.

Portraits are more than just painting the face correctly. A well planned portrait includes the environment of the sitter as it relates to the person’s character.

This workshop is useful for both beginning and intermediate painters. Some painting experience necessary. Group and individual instruction provided, with demonstrations throughout; emphasis on oil painting, all media welcome.

Instructor: Seamus Berkeley as an international award winning painter and portrait specialist with studios in Berkeley, CA and Taos, NM.

Please see materials list for suggested supplies – some easels are available.

Convenient bicycle friendly Berkeley location, bus stops within 2 blocks and available street parking.

Please register online now—class is limited to 12 students.

For more information, call 510.984.1850 or email.

“Seamus prioritizes his passion for painting and teaching in his life, and his commitment to making good art shows in his ability to convey complex concepts to his students of a variety of skill levels.” ~Workshop participant

February 28—March 2, 2014

Do you feel frustrated figuring out how to mix the exact color you want, like you’re starting from scratch every time you paint? Do you want a simple and easy method for mixing the correct color consistently? Seamus will cover palette layout, use of grayscale, color mixing, exercises in creating color harmonies, working with contrasts and color temperature.

Learn how to keep yourself organized by setting up and using your palette efficiently. This simple technique will allow you more freedom in your painting process.

This workshop will focus on developing methods for finding and mixing the color you want every time you paint. We’ll be creating color charts and grey scales that will become a permanent record that you can use as your personal mixing reference for years! You will learn the steps necessary to complete your personalized charts during the weeks after the workshop. As this weekend will concentrate on practical methods, it will be beneficial to painters working in any genre.

Topics covered will include:

• color mixing
• color value
• creating color charts

All media is welcome with the instruction given specifically for oil paints. Please see materials list for suggested supplies – some easels are available.

The workshop will include demonstration, as well as group and individual instruction.

This workshop is useful for both beginning and intermediate painters; some painting experience necessary.

Instructor: Seamus Berkeley as an international award-winning painter and portrait specialist with studios in Berkeley, CA and Taos, NM.

This full-time artist will teach you how to experience the magic that can happen with excellent instruction. You can expect animated teaching tailored to each student’s needs.

Please register online now—class is limited to 12 students.

Please see materials list for suggested supplies – some easels are available.

Convenient bicycle friendly Berkeley location, bus stops within 2 blocks and available street parking.

For more information, call 510.984.1850 or email.

“Seamus is a wonderful teacher, bringing excitement and encouragement to his classroom. I always come home with a new tidbit to make my paintings even better, even though I have been painting for several years. I recommend him as a teacher 100%.” ~ Shanna

January 10-12, 2014

Did anyone ever tell you that you couldn’t paint? Do you still believe that? Would you like to let that go and learn now? Award-winning painter and skillful instructor Seamus Berkeley can help you work toward your artistic goals.

Seamus shares his in-depth knowledge of painting in a comfortable group setting and provides you critical individual attention, with strategic demonstrations throughout the class.

This particular workshop will focus on fundamentals of painting, including topics such as drawing, values, edges, and color, as well as tips and techniques for using various tools and materials. All media is welcome with instruction given specifically for oil paints. Please see materials list for suggested supplies – some easels are available.

Class open to all levels. Beginners can expect to gain confidence and understand how to use paints; intermediate students will refine their skills to enhance their paintings.

Instructor: Seamus Berkeley as an international award winning painter and portrait specialist with studios in Berkeley, CA and Taos, NM.

This full-time artist will teach you how to experience the magic that can happen with excellent instruction. You can expect animated teaching tailored to each student’s needs.

Please register online now—class is limited to 12 students.

Please see materials list for suggested supplies – some easels are available.

Convenient bicycle friendly Berkeley location, bus stops within 2 blocks and available street parking.

For more information, call 510.984.1850 or email.

“Seamus is a wonderful teacher, bringing excitement and encouragement to his classroom. I always come home with a new tidbit to make my paintings even better, even though I have been painting for several years. I recommend him as a teacher 100%.” ~ Shanna

November 15-17, 2013

Are you ready to enhance your paintings, and learn the skills needed to take your work to the next level? In this class, we will focus on advancing your ability to apply techniques in seeing, identifying, and controlling edges, allowing you to create more vivid and dynamic paintings. When applying paint to a canvas, the tangent space, or edge, between two colors can be characterized as soft, hard or lost, and this class will help you clarify when and how to zone in on these unique concepts, including how to:

• Recognize the relationship of shapes within your painting.
• Use brush strokes to create hard, soft, solid, broken and lost edges.
• Manage a range of tools including brushes, painting knives and rags for maximum effect.
• Mix paints effectively to achieve the appropriate texture.

First, we will investigate how to see these edges, then we will discuss ways to establish corresponding qualities in the work using a range of tools, including brushes, painting knives and rags.

Plenty of painting will happen in class, and Seamus’s passion for painting ensures every lesson is fun! It is an engaging opportunist to develop your expression and vision.

This series is useful for both beginning and intermediate painters; emphasis on oil paints, other media welcome. Some painting experience necessary. Please see materials list for suggested supplies – some easels are available.

Class limited to 12 students.

Seamus Berkeley is an international award-winning painter and portrait specialist with studios in Berkeley, CA and Taos, NM.

For more information, call 510.984.1850 or email.

“Seamus is a wonderful teacher, bringing excitement and encouragement to his classroom. I always come home with a new tidbit to make my paintings even better, even though I have been painting for several years. I recommend him as a teacher 100%.” ~ Shanna