Artists Nancy Willis and Helen Wilson lead a painting workshop for working artists or beginning painters who want to immerse themselves in a weekend of painting Jan. 4, 5 6 at Nimbus Arts in St. Helena.

Combining good food, drink, and discourse as a healthy part of engaged art making, the instructors will lead participants through a painting obstacle course. From beginning a painting conceptually to finding solutions to painting problems, this workshop will help prepare artists for the unexpected or that which they cannot control.

Participating artists will discover more about their own decision making process and how to expand their technical repertoire and approaches. Beginning artists will get a comprehensive introduction into art making. Working artists will see their work in new and interesting ways. “With emphasis on large fast work and concentrated painting time, the  workshop will be fun, rigorous and intoxicating,” the artists said.

The weekend begins with an introduction and appetizer of what is to come on Friday night. Saturday the painting gymnastics begin bright and early and continue after lunch. The painting continues Sunday morning and ends with a critique Sunday afternoon.

Both Willis and Wilson have known the pain and pleasure of receiving their MFA’s from San Francisco Art Institute  in 2005. Willis teaches drawing and painting at the Napa Valley College and has lead painting tours to France for artists. Her recent exhibit “A Sense of Place” at Sundance featured work with themes of intimacy and visibility. Willis can most often be found looking to stir things up in and out of her studio in St. Helena.

Wilson teaches art history and drawing in San Diego. After losing her home/studio in the San Diego fires she is “free” to fan the flames of creative thinking.

 The $375 price includes instruction, Friday night wine and hors d’oeurves, breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday and most painting supplies. Times are Friday 5-8 p.m.,  Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.          Nimbus Arts is at 3111 St. Helena Highway, # 1B. Info, 963-5278 or  info@nimbusarts.org

                   

Paintings and drawings by award-winning Choctaw artist Karen Clarkson will be featured during January at the Napa Main Library. Specializing in portraiture, Clarkson uses a variety of media to depict in faces what she senses to be the “inner voice” of the person portrayed.

Each month the Art in the Library program displays a collection of artwork selected by juried competition. For more information about the program,  call 253-4223. The Napa Main Library is at 580 Coombs St.