Workshops
WORKSHOPS IN 2024-25

Returning artist and teacher Eric March will conduct “Figure Drawing from Composition Toward Completion”. Scheduled for Sunday, March 30th from noon to 4:00 pm at the Eli Whitney Museum’s Carter Workshop. Space is limited to 20. Priority will be given to Hamden Art League members. Eric has been a favorite instructor of HAL members. This workshop will walk through how to conceptualize and plan a figure drawing as well as the key steps to take in the beginning of the drawing process to end up with a piece that hits the marks of your composition-while creating good proportions and accurate form modeling. Students will practice this process with several quick “starts” and then move on to develop one drawing to a more completed state. Students are encouraged to work in charcoal on tone paper but pencil is fine too. The class will consist of demonstrations in charcoal, short lectures and individual coaching. We will work from a live clothed model.
The cost is $48.50 via PayPal for members and $58.50 via PayPal for non-members. Registration and payment is through the website. Registration is a 2 step process; click on https://forms.gle/rdXzTfn5SqWzqD6z6 to begin the process.
The cost is $48.50 via PayPal for members and $58.50 via PayPal for non-members. Registration and payment is through the website. Registration is a 2 step process; click on https://forms.gle/rdXzTfn5SqWzqD6z6 to begin the process.

Our final spring workshop will be “From Realism to Abstraction” with Stephen Henderson, at Quinnipiac University on Sunday, April 13th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Stephen Henderson recently spoke to HAL about "Abstracting Your Art", and this is an excellent chance to loosen up and experiment with various media and materials.
We are also opening up this workshop to QU students and faculty, 16 people max., so register early. The cost is $26.50 via PayPal. Registration and payment is through the website. Registration is a 2-step process.
Click on https://forms.gle/dmSg6NrGDDgNvFvR6 to begin the process.
We are also opening up this workshop to QU students and faculty, 16 people max., so register early. The cost is $26.50 via PayPal. Registration and payment is through the website. Registration is a 2-step process.
Click on https://forms.gle/dmSg6NrGDDgNvFvR6 to begin the process.
Jeanne Ciravolo critiqued and encouraged the work of several artists on Saturday, March 8th at Miller Library in
Jeanne Ciravolo is an Assistant Professor in Residence and the Director of the Alexey von Schlippe Gallery at the University of Connecticut where she teaches drawing, painting, and art appreciation to undergraduates, and mentors Master of Fine Arts graduate students. Through her experience as an artist and an educator, Jeanne suggested how each artist could improve their pieces.
Jeanne Ciravolo is an Assistant Professor in Residence and the Director of the Alexey von Schlippe Gallery at the University of Connecticut where she teaches drawing, painting, and art appreciation to undergraduates, and mentors Master of Fine Arts graduate students. Through her experience as an artist and an educator, Jeanne suggested how each artist could improve their pieces.
Eric March returned to do "Drawing a Still Life Workshop" on Sunday, October 27 at the Eli Whitney Museum, Water Center. This workshop was specifically designed to assist beginners through advanced artists enhance their drawing skills.
HAL welcomed back Frank Bruckmann for “Landscapes in Plein Air”on Thursday, September 19 at Lockwood Farm. The group was treated to beautiful vistas and clear skies. Frank demonstrated his basic steps for plein air painting in oils and explained his process, creating the pictured work in an hour. Attendees spent the next several hours working on their own paintings under Frank Bruckmann's guidance.

On Sunday, August 25, 2024 the Hamden Art League sponsored “Watercolor Landscape with Architecture” with Joan Cho at the Eli Whitney Museum, Carter Studio in Hamden. The workshop focused on the "wet on wet" watercolor technique, with each participant using the same reference photo. Joan Cho guided the group through four areas of focus to complete the piece.
'23-'24 Workshops
On Thursday, June 20, 2024, The Hamden Art League sponsored a Watercolor Collage Open Studio at Lockwood Farm, in Hamden. This was a free HAL sponsored event. There was no instructor. It was simply a gathering of artists in a plein air setting, trying "new to them" techniques.
On Sunday, May 5, 2024 the Hamden Art League sponsored a Watercolor Portrait Workshop with Jeanne Carol Potter. It was from 12-4:00 pm at the Eli Whitney Museum, Carter Studio in Hamden. Jeanne Carol Potter assisted attendees with mixing skin shades, discovering light, shadow and form of the face and capturing the translucent look of watercolor portraits. 4 hours flew by. Many left wanting watercolor portraits Part 2.
On Sunday, March 3, 2024 the Hamden Art League sponsored a Critique with Eric March.
It was from 1:30-4:00 pm at the Eli Whitney Museum, Water Center program room in Hamden. Each artist brought 3 pieces, varying in theme and medium. Eric March's experienced eye examined each piece for value, focal points, drawing skill and color temperature relationships. Eric suggested how each artist could improve their piece, and what areas of study would improve the overall quality of their art.
It was from 1:30-4:00 pm at the Eli Whitney Museum, Water Center program room in Hamden. Each artist brought 3 pieces, varying in theme and medium. Eric March's experienced eye examined each piece for value, focal points, drawing skill and color temperature relationships. Eric suggested how each artist could improve their piece, and what areas of study would improve the overall quality of their art.
Hamden Art League sponsored a portrait painting workshop on Sunday, October 22, 2023, 10-2 pm at the Eli Whitney Museum by New Haven artist Heidi Harrington. . This workshop entitled “Painting the Eyes, Nose and Mouth” explored these features of the face. Short painting demos were followed by working from a live model.
The first workshop of the '23-24 year was on a gorgeous Thursday, September 21, 2023, as the Hamden Art League sponsored a Plein Air Workshop with Eileen Eder at Lockwood Farm, Hamden. Students were encouraged to focus on the large shapes, their value, and color.
'22-'23 Workshops
The last workshop of the '22-23 year was Sunday, June 4, 2023, as the Hamden Art League sponsored a Portrait Drawing Workshop with Eric March at the Eli Whitney Museum, Carter Studio, Hamden. This wonderful, over-subscribed class encouraged students to see a portrait as a collection of simple value shapes that come together to communicate form, features and character.
On Sunday, March 5, 2023 the Hamden Art League held a Critique with Eileen Eder.
It was from 2:00-4:00 pm at the Eli Whitney Museum, Water Center program room in Hamden. Each artist brought 3 pieces, varying in theme and medium. Eileen Eder's experienced eye helped to examine each piece for value, harmony, focal points and color temperature relationships. Through this focus Eileen suggested how each artist could improve their piece.
It was from 2:00-4:00 pm at the Eli Whitney Museum, Water Center program room in Hamden. Each artist brought 3 pieces, varying in theme and medium. Eileen Eder's experienced eye helped to examine each piece for value, harmony, focal points and color temperature relationships. Through this focus Eileen suggested how each artist could improve their piece.
On Sunday, December 4, 2022 Howard Park and Lisa Miceli held Still Life Speed Painting workshop from 11:00-3:00 pm at the Eli Whitney Museum, Carter Studio in Hamden. 20 minutes is very little time to paint a still life, especially as they get more complex.
On Saturday, November 12, 2022 HAL sponsored a critique, from 1:00-3:30 pm at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall at Brooksvale Park in Hamden. Sandra Wakeen, our October presenter, critiqued works from 13 artists.
On Thursday, September 29, 2022 HAL offered a Plein Air Workshop with Frank Bruckmann at one of our favorite locations, Lockwood Farm. Frank demonstrated his basic steps for plein air painting in oils and explained his process, creating a pictured work in an hour. Attendees spent the next several hours working on their own paintings under Frank Bruckmann's guidance.
The Hamden Art League in cooperation with the Hamden Library offered "Improvisational Fabric and Paper Collage workshop with Ed Johnetta Miller" at Miller Library on Saturday, September 24, 2022. Attended by 19 from the community it was a smashing success.
"Support has been provided to Hamden Art League from CT Humanities (CTH), with funding provided by the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) from the Connecticut State Legislature".