Mary Padgett Fine Art

In my workshop programs I create a supportive and inspiring environment where artists learn from me as well as one another. My studio workshops are offered for all levels. Participants may choose to work from any subject matter and to explore various pastel techniques including mixed media and custom surfaces. Each session ends with a group critique, offering not only a chance to assess paintings but to share ideas about both concept and craft.  

My plein air workshops are offered for all portable media. My emphasis is on the process of working, of focusing on the landscape with all of our senses, filtering what we see to create a visual record. I offer individualized instruction on technique, the universal elements of picture making, and assistance in developing a personal style. My role is to create a supportive working environment, encouraging creative exploration, and furthering each participant's evolution as an artist.

I cannot thank you enough for sharing your time and experience with us again this fall. It is so refreshing to get out of my studio to be among other artists ... learning from each other ... and to share in your supportive and creative direction. 

— Barbara F.

Check my Events page for workshops offered in Central New York.

DESTINATION WORKSHOPS:

There is no better way to travel than as an artist.  Not just a tourist passing through, we take time looking and then creating a visual record of our experience. Working plein air we absorb the landscape with all of our senses. This immersion brings a deep understanding of a place, not only of its visual uniqueness but also of its history, culture, and our shared humanity. 

Since 2011 I’ve been creating memorable experiences in select spots with special providers for groups of artists and those who appreciate art and travel. I’ve taken groups to Asturias in northern Spain, to the Gascony region in France, and in Italy to Tuscany and Venice. In every instance our painting was rewarding and our foreign cultural experience inspiring. The best take-aways were the friendships we created with our hosts, guides, and one another.

As a painter, I’m grateful to have had the chance to look at the landscapes in Asturias so intensely, in that the images have etched themselves more deeply in my memory.  That intensity lingers, as I view other scapes, almost as if I’m seeing things in italics.
You are such a great teacher and guide, Mary. You had a way of seeing into me when we spoke together about creating art. It made for me a deep resonant connection with you and your vision of art and artists. 

– Jay P.

I’m thrilled to announce a new plein air program in Burgundy, France, September 14-21, 2025. You’ll find information for Plein Air en Bourgogne here.

Stay tuned for an announcement of other 2025 destination workshops!