New Mexico Art League
                  Art School ∙ Gallery 


 
 
 
 

 

Classes & Workshops - Registration Links

Upcoming events

    • 10/28/2026
    • 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • Art League Studios
    • 10
    Register

     - SOLVENT FREE STUDIO -

    The New Mexico Art League now holds Wednesday Life Drawing Sessions each week with a  different classical nude pose.

    We will begin with quick warm-up poses so artists can capture the figure in motion and move to extended poses during the 2 1/2 hour session.

    These drawing sessions are open to artists of all levels. Artists should bring their own materials and drawing surface. Easels and drawing benches are provided for your use. 

    These sessions do require advance registration.  

    Please check your calendar! Payment is not transferable or refundable.

    Please sign up early; each group is limited to 12 artists.



    Payment must be made at the time of registration

    in order to hold your place.

    Without payment your place will be cancelled.

    • 11/01/2026
    • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • Art League Studios
    • 10
    Register

     The New Mexico Art League holds Sunday Life Drawing Sessions each week with either a clothed or nude model.

    We will begin with quick warm-up poses so artists can capture the figure in motion and move to extended poses during the 3 hour session. These drawing sessions are open to artists of all levels. Artists should bring their own materials and drawing surface. Easels and drawing benches are provided for your use. 



    These sessions do require advance registration.  


    Please check your calendar! Payment is not transferable or refundable.

    Please sign up early; each group is limited to 12 artists.

    Payment must be made at the time of registration in order to hold your place.

    Without payment your place will be cancelled.

    • 11/06/2026
    • 9:00 AM
    • 11/08/2026
    • 4:00 PM
    • Art League Studios
    • 8
    Register

    Join encaustic artist, Carolyn Berry, in this fun and experimental workshop where the sky is the limit! Encaustic wax is a versatile medium made from beeswax, damar resin and powdered pigments that can be used for traditional painting techniques as well as a way to add texture, layer and join mixed media materials together. We will explore experimental techniques of painting, drawing, collage, stenciling, photo transfer, wax fusing and surface manipulation. Be inspired to create artwork with a unique surface using melted wax and pigments. Using magazine images, photo images and found collage materials students will achieve successful and personal imagery in this creative medium. No previous art experience is necessary, only an adventurous spirit.


    Materials List *

    * There will be an additional $50 materials fee to be paid directly to the instructor on the first day of the workshop.  If you have attended this workshop in the past, then your materials fee may require an upcharge for use of extra materials on your "advanced" activities.

    NMAL waiver.pdf

    Please sign waiver and return it to the Art League before the workshop begins.

    Carolyn Berry has been passionate about teaching art for over 25 years. As a public school teacher, she has been named Outstanding Kansas Educator of the Year and has taught workshops for the Kansas City Art Institute Continuing Education, the Nelson Atkins Museum, Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts and various art centers. Working primarily with collage, photography and encaustic wax, her encaustic mixed media work can be seen in the recent North Light Book publications, Incite 3 and Incite 4. She maintains a studio and exhibits in the Albuquerque, NM area.  http://www.carolynberryart.com/

    • 11/16/2026
    • 11/19/2026
    • 4 sessions
    • Art League Studios
    • 6
    Register

    Dive into the creative challenge of painting an important, colorful part of our NM culture, the Flamenco Dancer! We will paint the costumed live model in repose, as a dancer resting and contemplating between performances, as well as in dramatic, theatrical poses of this beautiful dance form. The contemporary approach is to simplify the gestural movements of the model into simplified shapes with defined light/shadow patterns, developing skills in gesture, shape, design, composition, and value. We’ll begin with Notans, then move into value studies and finally color. Poses will start short to quickly encourage the artist to “design the big, important shapes & gestures,” gradually moving to longer poses that incorporate background shapes and more descriptive, larger paintings. By pre-mixing correct color values, we are free to paint with a fresh response to the drama of the model while learning to see and mix accurate color relationships. Michelle is an oil painter, but all mediums are welcome, as well as all levels of painter.


    Materials List Coming Soon...


    Michelle Chrisman is an established painter of Northern New Mexico landscapes.  In her 20's, she studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, drawing fashion models, & School of Visual Arts in Graphic Design. Later, she studied at Denver Art Students League with Kim English, learning the power of the short pose in  figure painting, then with well-known figure painter, Peggi Kroll Roberts at Scottsdale Artist School.  Her work is represented at Wilder Nightingale Gallery, Taos, NM, Abiquiu Inn, Weems Gallery & Romero Street Gallery in ABQ. www.MichelleChrisman.com

    • 01/04/2027
    • 02/22/2027
    • 8 sessions
    • Art League Studios
    • 12
    Register

         

    This course introduces and reinforces the core principles of watercolor painting while helping students build technical skill, confidence, and a loose, expressive approach to the medium. Students will develop essential skills in design, composition, color mixing, brushwork, and planning while learning how watercolor behaves and how to use it with clarity and intention. Through instructor demonstrations, guided practice, and individualized feedback, students will strengthen their understanding of watercolor techniques and apply them across a variety of subjects. The emphasis is on developing transferable skills that support all watercolor painting rather than focusing on any single subject. Designed as a progressive foundation course, each session builds on the previous one, helping students steadily develop both technical ability and artistic confidence. Students will leave with a solid foundation for continued watercolor study and a greater ability to plan and complete expressive watercolor paintings.


    Materials List


    Dave Cook, an artist and architect, explores the beauty of the created world through vivid, colorful shape-dominated paintings.  His approach to water media painting is varied and explorative; he paints landscapes often with references to buildings and structures as a natural outgrowth of his architectural background.  HIs cityscapes, portraits and animal paintings are expressive studies with dramatic light interplay.  The techniques he employs are often spontaneous with energy and emotion.  He paints somewhere between realism and abstraction, using water media on paper, often using various textures, strokes and effects.  www.dcookart.com/

    • 01/06/2027
    • 02/24/2027
    • 8 sessions
    • Art League Studios
    • 2
    Register

    The class will focus primarily on creating vibrant, luminous paintings by acquainting students with traditional and contemporary techniques in drawing and painting, in order to give them the skills and confidence to develop their own style. Color , Composition, Light, Perspective, Atmospheric Effects will be covered along with the Principles of Design. Students will have the choice to work with their favorite mediums: oil, pastel, acrylic or watercolor, as well as working from still life arrangements, their own photographic materials or any other images of their choosing. Students will also be strongly encouraged and receive personal guidance to work on individual projects and personal ideas. There will be  basic homework assignments related to the themes covered in class.


    Materials List


    Maria C. Cole is a graduate of Rutgers University where she earned a Master’s Degree in Art History, also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Montclair State and completed studies at the Art Students League of New York City.  During her student years she was fortunate to enjoy the guidance of master pastelist Albert Handell, and renowned drawing and anatomy instructor Michael Burban.  www.maria-cole.com/

    • 01/06/2027
    • 02/24/2027
    • 8 sessions
    • Art League Studios
    • 12
    Register

    Experience the rich tradition of oil painting through the lens of time-honored methods developed by the great painters. In this course, students will sharpen their powers of observation and deepen their understanding of how color creates atmosphere, light, and form. The instructor will work closely with each student, offering guidance tailored to individual skill levels and artistic goals. While rooted in classical fundamentals, such as composition, depth of field, aesthetic and visual balance, the direct painting method presented also encourages creative interpretation and personal expression. Class size is limited to 12 students.


    Materials List


    J. Waid Griffin has painted the mountains and deserts of the southwest for thirty-five years. He is a Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America and a member of the New Mexico Plein Air Painters, and the Rio Grande Art Association. He holds a BFA in Painting from Texas Tech University and has studied with Michael Lynch, Mark Daily, and Kevin MacPherson, among others. He holds a Master of Music in Theory and Composition, also from Texas Tech. Waid has also taught music and art to high school students in the Albuquerque area. Waid has received numerous awards for his paintings, including the Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2008 Masterworks art show, and most recently, 2nd Prize in Oil Painting at the 2020 Phippen Museum Art Show & Sale. www.griffin-art.com

    • 01/07/2027
    • 02/25/2027
    • 8 sessions
    • Art League Studios
    • 11
    Register

    Deepen your understanding of light and color and discover how these relationships can transform your artwork. In this course, we'll explore how light transforms color, how color relationships create the illusion of form and space, and how understanding these visual principles can bring greater harmony and expression to your work. We'll discover how a limited palette can sharpen your understanding of color relationships and make mixing more intuitive and expressive. Whether you work with a few carefully chosen pigments or a full range of colors, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how colors interact and how to use them with greater confidence. Most drawing and painting media are welcome. Bring the materials you enjoy using. My materials list is intended for beginners who would like guidance in selecting a simple, limited palette. We'll discuss color choices and materials during the first class, so there's no need to purchase anything new before then.


    Materials List


    An active plein-air painter as well as a studio painter, David Schwindt is known for his landscape paintings of the Southwest. He graduated from Fort Lewis College with a degree in Art and minors in Music and Humanities, studied with watercolor masters, Millard Sheets, Milford Zornes, and others through the New Mexico Watercolor Society where he served as President. He studied oil painting with Wilson Hurley, Zhang Wenxin, Clyde Aspevig and others, and has passed on his knowledge by teaching at the Scottsdale Artists School, Albuquerque Academy, and workshops around the Southwest. He has published articles in The Artist’s Magazine and has been featured in many other art publications. He currently lives in the North Valley of Albuquerque and paints outdoors regularly with old friends and new. www.davidschwindtartist.com

    • 01/08/2027
    • 02/26/2027
    • 8 sessions
    • Art League Studios
    • 11
    Register

    Ready to move beyond the usual and break the mold with your art? This 8-week course invites you to explore the boundless possibilities of abstraction, encouraging bold experimentation with form, color, and concept. Whether you work with dry drawing materials, water-based media, oils, or acrylics, this class supports a flexible, student-driven approach.You’ll choose your own tools and timing, with the exception of weekly homework assignments, which will always be completed on paper. The structure of the class is adaptable: those looking for more guidance can follow weekly in-class prompts, while independent-minded artists may use the time as open studio to dive into personal projects.Through discussions of both contemporary and historical artists, we’ll situate our work within a broader cultural context. Group critiques will open up valuable conversations about process, meaning, and creative intention. Whether you're refining your visual language or just beginning to explore abstraction, this class offers a space to take risks, expand your thinking, and have fun while doing it.

    Please sign up early; class size is limited to 12 students.


    Materials List


    Born in Long Island, Michael Ottersen attended Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia and spent three semesters studying in Rome in Tyler's overseas program. He later moved to New York City where he lived and worked for twelve years in magazine production and design. Later relocating to Seattle, Washington, Michael began teaching at various schools and colleges in the Pacific Northwest for the next nineteen years which included the Gage Academy of Art, Pratt Fine Art Center, the Northwest College of Art and Design and Kirkland Art Center. Returning to New Mexico, he continues to teach classes at The Art League.  www.michaelottersen.com

    • 01/08/2027
    • 02/26/2027
    • 8 sessions
    • Art League Studios
    • 10
    Register

    This class will explore the very essence of how ideas are formed from your sketchbook. Practice makes perfect and, in this case, it is so true. By developing the habit of taking your sketchbook with you everywhere, you will begin to notice more and hone your ability to see and then draw very personal glimpses Regardless of your artistic genre, whether it’s abstraction or realism, this class will show you how to develop your creative process through a daily record of expressive thoughts. Sketchbooks also serve as a place to work out compositions, ideas for a series,  preliminary drawing for a painting or any work of art. Sue will guide you through a progression of exercises that will review drawing methods and principles that will become second nature to you as you develop the routine of sketching and drawing every day. Students will be encouraged to incorporate an assortment of markings executed with pencils, inks, gouache / watercolors, and adhered ephemera for collage-effect. Possibilities are endless! This class is open to artists at all levels. Class size is limited to 12 students.  


    Materials List


    Albuquerque multidisciplinary artist Susan E. Roden, attended the Cleveland Institute of Art and the Houston Art Institute. Her art is exhibited nationally and she is the recipient of awards including Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club’s Award (NY) and the Yarka Award from the Salmagundi Club (NY). She attended residencies to Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park (2009) and California’s Desert Dairy Farm (2021, 2022). Roden was featured on the cover of the Pastel Artist International Magazine (2002) with an accompanied article of her technique and cited in the Southwest Art Magazine. She has taught at the University of California San Diego Extension, San Diego Museum of Art and Oasis /Albuquerque. 

    • 01/09/2027
    • 02/27/2027
    • 8 sessions
    • Art League Studios
    • 5
    Register

    This 8-week class is for intermediate artists who want to go to the next level. If you are asking yourself “Where do I go from here?”, this class will give you the direction you are seeking. Alice will be working with each student individually to determine how to build on your strengths and how to turn weaknesses into assets. Together you will clarify your visual voice and understand how your personal creative vocabulary is already apparent in your work. Alice will encourage an investigation of the imagery, color choices and composition you are presently using and guide you to a strong individual path in your painting.  

    Please bring your preferred materials. All media, charcoal and pencil, pastels, oils, acrylics and watercolors, are welcome. 


    Please sign up early; class size is limited to 12 students.


    Alice Webb  After a short stint at the University of Texas where I studied drawing and design, I moved to Taos. During the seventies I designed jewelry, studied tapestry weaving, created fiber sculptures, and continued to hone my drawing skills. By the late seventies I knew I had to return to painting. Although I now have a Bachelors of Fine Art and a Masters of Art Education from the University of New Mexico, it was by studying the Taos founders and painting in the very spots they frequented that I truly learned to paint. Over the past thirty-five years I have exhibited work nationally. My paintings and prints are included in numerous public and private collections.  www.alicewebbart.com.






    • 01/09/2027
    • 01/30/2027
    • 4 sessions
    • Art League Studios
    • 10
    Register



    Do you love to paint and draw? Join artist and teacher, Susan Roden, for a comprehensive 4-week skill-building course covering areas of study in two-dimensional art and three-dimensional sculpture, offered several times a year. Students will create multiple painting, drawing and design projects. As well as making your own work, you will look at and learn from artists of the past and present to fuel your own unique art. Come ready to ask questions, share ideas and create. This is a no-pressure environment where all levels are welcome. Individualized guidance and constructive feedback will be given. 


    Most materials will be provided for you, included in the price of the course. Students will need to purchase a small amount of personal supplies.  

    Materials List and Syllabus coming soon... 


    Albuquerque multidisciplinary artist Susan E. Roden, attended the Cleveland Institute of Art and the Houston Art Institute. Her art is exhibited nationally and she is the recipient of awards including Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club’s Award (NY) and the Yarka Award from the Salmagundi Club (NY). She attended residencies to Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park (2009) and California’s Desert Dairy Farm (2021, 2022). Roden was featured on the cover of the Pastel Artist International Magazine (2002) with an accompanied article of her technique and cited in the Southwest Art Magazine. She has taught at the University of California San Diego Extension, San Diego Museum of Art and Oasis /Albuquerque. Roden is juried member with the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club (NY), Distinguished Pastelist and Past President of the Pastel Society of New Mexico, member of the Women Entrepreneurs of New Mexico and the New Mexican Chapter of the National Museum of Women in the Arts.  www.susaneroden.com


    • 02/06/2027
    • 02/27/2027
    • 4 sessions
    • Art League Studios
    • 10
    Register



    Do you love to paint and draw? Join artist and teacher, Susan Roden, for a comprehensive 4-week skill-building course covering areas of study in two-dimensional art and three-dimensional sculpture, offered several times a year. Students will create multiple painting, drawing and design projects. As well as making your own work, you will look at and learn from artists of the past and present to fuel your own unique art. Come ready to ask questions, share ideas and create. This is a no-pressure environment where all levels are welcome. Individualized guidance and constructive feedback will be given. 


    Most materials will be provided for you, included in the price of the course. Students will need to purchase a small amount of personal supplies.  

    Materials List and Syllabus coming soon...


    Albuquerque multidisciplinary artist Susan E. Roden, attended the Cleveland Institute of Art and the Houston Art Institute. Her art is exhibited nationally and she is the recipient of awards including Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club’s Award (NY) and the Yarka Award from the Salmagundi Club (NY). She attended residencies to Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park (2009) and California’s Desert Dairy Farm (2021, 2022). Roden was featured on the cover of the Pastel Artist International Magazine (2002) with an accompanied article of her technique and cited in the Southwest Art Magazine. She has taught at the University of California San Diego Extension, San Diego Museum of Art and Oasis /Albuquerque. Roden is juried member with the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club (NY), Distinguished Pastelist and Past President of the Pastel Society of New Mexico, member of the Women Entrepreneurs of New Mexico and the New Mexican Chapter of the National Museum of Women in the Arts.  www.susaneroden.com


Gallery Hours: 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday - Saturday  505-293-5034

3409 Juan Tabo Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87111     Map It  

Mailing address: P.O. Box 16554, Albuquerque, NM 87191                              

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