Currently Available Online Classes & Workshops
With Helen Klebesadel
New Offerings!
Virtual Offerings in 2023
See options for ongoing creativity and art career coaching here.
(Inquire about full or partial scholarships if you something you should be doing that is beyond your means.)
Virtual Watercolor Workshops On-Demand
Go At Your Own Pace For A Year
Watercolor: A New Beginning -6 lessons
Advancing Your Watercolors - 6 Lessons
Combined Year-long Watercolor Intensive- go at your own pace
The Process
Originally a 12 week online watercolor intensive developed the winter of 2021 made up of two 6-lesson workshops. Now available as on-demand lessons with individualized feedback from instructor Helen Klebesadel.
Workshop Curriculum
Watercolor: A New Beginning for beginners and a good review for more experienced painters and self-taught who have been away from watercolor for a while and are ready for a refresher.
Module 1 - Basic Washes and Mark-making
Module 2 - Controlling Wet-into-Wet
Module 3 - To Resist is Good.
Module 4 - Texture and Adulterations
Module 5 - Photo Reference and Image Transfer
Module 6 - Application Approaches to Color Mixing to Avoid Muddy Colors
Advancing Your Watercolors for intermediate or advanced painters, including anyone who has taken a beginning workshop with Helen before.
Module 1 - A Review of Key Techniques & Painting Approaches
Module 2 - Watercolor with Mixed Media
Module 3 - Positive Shape Painting
Module 4 - Negative Shape Painting
Module 5 - Inspired By Chance I
Module 6 - Inspired By Chance II ~With Intention
Or combine both workshops ~ and plan to do one lesson a month (2 to 5 curriculum videos to guide you per lesson with personalized feedback to guide you) for a year of guided watercolor fun!
The on-demand combine workshop watercolor intensive covers a curriculum similar to Helen's past college level watercolor classes.
Materials are not provided. A supply list (with links to where they can be purchased) will be provided upon registration
Go At Your Own Pace For A Year
Watercolor: A New Beginning -6 lessons
Advancing Your Watercolors - 6 Lessons
Combined Year-long Watercolor Intensive- go at your own pace
The Process
Originally a 12 week online watercolor intensive developed the winter of 2021 made up of two 6-lesson workshops. Now available as on-demand lessons with individualized feedback from instructor Helen Klebesadel.
- Both recorded workshops are now available as self-guided text and video based lessons, with individual feedback from instructor Helen Klebesadel via email or online on the workshop website.
- Each workshop is made up of 6 scaffolded lessons.
- Each lesson contains one or more videos introducing the technique followed by one or more videos demos of suggested paintings that can be created using the techniques.
- Participants will share their work on the workshop website and/or on an optional private Facebook Page for group feedback from past workshop participants
- These are designed to be a ‘go at your own pace’ workshop. Sign up and take up to a year to complete all of the lessons.
Workshop Curriculum
Watercolor: A New Beginning for beginners and a good review for more experienced painters and self-taught who have been away from watercolor for a while and are ready for a refresher.
Module 1 - Basic Washes and Mark-making
Module 2 - Controlling Wet-into-Wet
Module 3 - To Resist is Good.
Module 4 - Texture and Adulterations
Module 5 - Photo Reference and Image Transfer
Module 6 - Application Approaches to Color Mixing to Avoid Muddy Colors
Advancing Your Watercolors for intermediate or advanced painters, including anyone who has taken a beginning workshop with Helen before.
Module 1 - A Review of Key Techniques & Painting Approaches
Module 2 - Watercolor with Mixed Media
Module 3 - Positive Shape Painting
Module 4 - Negative Shape Painting
Module 5 - Inspired By Chance I
Module 6 - Inspired By Chance II ~With Intention
Or combine both workshops ~ and plan to do one lesson a month (2 to 5 curriculum videos to guide you per lesson with personalized feedback to guide you) for a year of guided watercolor fun!
The on-demand combine workshop watercolor intensive covers a curriculum similar to Helen's past college level watercolor classes.
Materials are not provided. A supply list (with links to where they can be purchased) will be provided upon registration
Watercolor: A New Beginning Virtually
$490.00
$325.00
A 6 lesson on-demand watercolor workshop appropriate for beginners or review for experienced painters.Personal online critiques and support by Instructor Helen Klebesadel. Take a year to complete.
Advancing Your Watercolors Virtually
$490.00
$325.00
This 6 lesson watercolor workshop is for intermediate or advanced and set-taught watercolor painters, and those who have taken face-to-face workshops with Helen. Sign up and take up to a year to complete
Combined Virtual Workshop Year-long Watercolor Intensive
$900.00
$600.00
Combines the two virtual workshops into a year long watercolor intensive with monthly lessons, Go at your own pace, but commit to complete at least one lesson a month with individualized on-line feedback from instructor Helen Klebesadel
Ongoing Individualized Offerings
Individualized on-line workshops, classes, and consultations
Art Mentoring:
An Independent and Personalized Art Exploration
in the media of your choice.
This is a distance critique and advising course which provides one-on-one guidance to visual artists no matter where they live (Face to face versions of this workshop are available for people in the Madison area). Artists receive detailed feedback and focused help to develop a cohesive body of work.
(This can be a great follow up experience for those who have taken Helen's workshops and would like to continue receiving feedback on their art.)
Enjoy individual guidance from an experienced teacher, coach, and artist.as you create art. What is your next step as an artist? Is it a new medium or a more cohesive portfolio of work? Do you desire improved drawing or painting skills; support for color, composition, or content development; feedback on your current work in any media, with guidance for next steps? Do you have an activist art project you would like to launch, but would like help planning it through?
You choose! Collaborate with the instructor on designing a five-lesson plan focused on what you want and need plus a sixth overview session to discuss where you will go next. Submit art by mail or online for feedback. Work at your own pace and take up to a year to finish. (Artists living in the Madison area can inquire if face-to-face sessions are possible for some of the feedback.)
(This can be a great follow up experience for those who have taken Helen's workshops and would like to continue receiving feedback on their art.)
Enjoy individual guidance from an experienced teacher, coach, and artist.as you create art. What is your next step as an artist? Is it a new medium or a more cohesive portfolio of work? Do you desire improved drawing or painting skills; support for color, composition, or content development; feedback on your current work in any media, with guidance for next steps? Do you have an activist art project you would like to launch, but would like help planning it through?
You choose! Collaborate with the instructor on designing a five-lesson plan focused on what you want and need plus a sixth overview session to discuss where you will go next. Submit art by mail or online for feedback. Work at your own pace and take up to a year to finish. (Artists living in the Madison area can inquire if face-to-face sessions are possible for some of the feedback.)
Register for Art Mentoring: Independent and Personalized Art Exploration
$
350.00
~Creativity Coaching through Art ~
Finding Your Voice as an Artist-Mixed Media
Enjoy individualized guided creative process oriented exercises using collage and mixed media designed to help you identify and expand your creative voice. Using step-by-step lessons and ongoing communications by email, blog, or mail, Helen will guide you through a series of exercises aimed at helping you find and expand your creative thinking and learn what you need to support you voice as an artist. Helen teaches 'Finding Your Voice Mixed-Media as a series of guided exercises using image-making and short writing exercises and mixed-media collage. There is an introductory get-to-know-each other session followed by five guided lessons to the workshop. The final lesson develops an individualized mixed-media artwork. Work at your own pace and take up to a year to finish.
Register for Finding Your Voice As An Artist-Mixed Media
Participate in individualized guided creative process oriented exercises using collage and mixed media designed to help you identify and expand your creative voice.
Initial review and six guided mixed-media lessons , including final project, aimed at expanding creative thinking and developing personal artistic voice.
$
350.00
Eight Weeks to Advance Your Watercolor Paintings
This is not your everyday watercolor workshop. It is a commitment to yourself to focus on advancing your watercolors for the next two months.. During that time I will not be teaching you to paint like me. Rather, I will support you to build on whatever foundation you have now for your art and advance to the next level This workshop is a focus on improving your painting process, and resulting work, quickly with focused attention and studio practice. This is an opportunity to have a personal art instructor, coach and/or mentor working with you for eight weeks from your chosen starting date.
Do any of these creativity roadblocks sound familiar?
This can be your personal online class for learning, coaching, mentoring and accountability. You will create a painting a week (I recommend no larger than 22x15), photograph it and email it to me for comment by the end of the week. I will have 3 days to share a supportive critique of your painting in writing, outlining its strengths and possible directions for improvement as you tackle your next painting. We will do 8 paintings in 8 to 10 weeks (wiggle room) from the start date. Building on consistent studio practice, accountability, feedback, and coaching around creativity and learning strategies for overcoming what holds us back, you will complete the workshop with a series of eight new paintings through which you will be able to see and feel your own improvement. Are you ready to challenge yourself?
Do any of these creativity roadblocks sound familiar?
- The weeks go by without you scheduling time to paint
- You want technical help on how to improve but you do not have access to knowledgeable people you feel comfortable asking for advice
- You are not yet comfortable showing your paintings to other artists in workshop or organizational critiques
- You would like to have help and encouragement beyond the usual 2 days of watercolor workshop instruction
- You want your own unique style, and subject matter to come through - not just to learning how to paint like the instructors available to you
- You want to move beyond perfecting techniques and create works of art that have deeper, richer, and more personally meaningful content
This can be your personal online class for learning, coaching, mentoring and accountability. You will create a painting a week (I recommend no larger than 22x15), photograph it and email it to me for comment by the end of the week. I will have 3 days to share a supportive critique of your painting in writing, outlining its strengths and possible directions for improvement as you tackle your next painting. We will do 8 paintings in 8 to 10 weeks (wiggle room) from the start date. Building on consistent studio practice, accountability, feedback, and coaching around creativity and learning strategies for overcoming what holds us back, you will complete the workshop with a series of eight new paintings through which you will be able to see and feel your own improvement. Are you ready to challenge yourself?
Register for the Personal Eight Week to Advance Your Watercolors Challenge
This workshop is a focus on improving your painting process and resulting work in watercolor. You will work quickly with focused attention and begin to develop a regular studio practice. This is an opportunity to have a personal art instructor, coach and/or mentor working with you for eight weeks from your chosen starting date. Dates to be determined in consultation
$
390.00
Eight Weeks to Advance Your Art in Any Media
Personal on-line workshop
This is not your everyday art workshop, it is a commitment to yourself to focus on advancing your creative work over the next two months through learning, coaching, mentoring and accountability. During that time I will not be teaching you to make art like me, Rather, I will support you to build on whatever foundation you have now for your art and advance to the next level This workshop is a focus on improving your art process and resulting work quickly with focused attention and studio practice. This is an opportunity to have a personal art instructor, coach and mentor working with you for eight weeks from your chosen starting date.
Do any of these creativity roadblocks sound familiar?
- The weeks go by without you scheduling time to paint
- You want technical help on how to improve but you do not have access to knowledgeable people you feel comfortable asking for advice
- You are not yet comfortable showing your paintings to other artists in workshop or organizational critiques
- You would like to have help and encouragement beyond the usual 2 days of workshop instruction
- You want your own unique style, and subject matter to come through - not just to learn how to make art just like the instructors available to you
- You want to move beyond perfecting techniques and create works of art that have deeper, richer, and more personally meaningful content
You will create an artwork a week (3-d artists and oil painters may want to focus on maquettes or studies), photograph it and email it to me for comment by the end of the given week. I will have 3 days to share a supportive critique of your artwork in writing outlining its strengths and possible directions for improvement as you tackle your next art piece We will do 8 artworks in from 8 to 10 weeks (wiggle room) from the start date. Building on consistent studio practice, accountability, feedback, and coaching around creativity and learning strategies for overcoming what holds us back, you will complete the workshop with a series of eight new artworks in which you will be able to see and feel your own improvement.
Are you ready to give yourself this challenge?
Register for Personal Eight Week to Advance Your Art Challenge
This workshop is a focus on improving your art process and resulting work quickly with focused attention and studio practice. This is an opportunity to have a personal art instructor, coach and mentor working with you for eight weeks from your chosen starting date.
$
390.00
Written Consultation or In-Person Critique
For the Artist who would benefit from a written analysis and critique of their art.
You’ll receive a written review and insightful analysis of each work you send in, and of your body of work as a whole. Emphasis will be on both formal issues of composition and basic elements and principals of design, as well as effective content communication. You’ll receive supportive feedback regarding patterns of strength (and potential weakness) in your work. You will also receive specific recommendations and suggestions for improving your compositions and the effectiveness of the strategies for communication you are using.
Review includes analysis of up to six works. Directions for submission will be sent upon payment.
Artists in the Madison, Wisconsin area can request an in-person analysis of their work in my studio instead of a written analysis.
You’ll receive a written review and insightful analysis of each work you send in, and of your body of work as a whole. Emphasis will be on both formal issues of composition and basic elements and principals of design, as well as effective content communication. You’ll receive supportive feedback regarding patterns of strength (and potential weakness) in your work. You will also receive specific recommendations and suggestions for improving your compositions and the effectiveness of the strategies for communication you are using.
Review includes analysis of up to six works. Directions for submission will be sent upon payment.
Artists in the Madison, Wisconsin area can request an in-person analysis of their work in my studio instead of a written analysis.
Register for Written or In-person Critique/consultation
Written or in-person review and analysis of up to six artworks.
$
150.00
Advanced Critique for Artists
Experience individual guidance and supportive critique from experienced teacher, coach, and artist. Are you seeking authentic voice, a stronger more consistent body of work, or a new direction? All media are welcome. Artwork is submitted by mail or digitally online. You receive an initial assessment plus five feedback contacts on what matters most to you. (6 sessions) Work at your own pace and take up to a year to finish. (Artists living in the Madison area can inquire if face-to-face sessions are possible for some of the feedback.)
Register for Advanced Critique
Initial review, useful critique and feedback plus review and feedback on five progressive lessons. May be repeated.
$
350.00
Past Virtual Workshops - Inquire When They Will Be Offered Again Next
************************************
Envisioning The Art Career You Actually Want to Have
With Helen Klebesadel
Presented virtually for River Arts on Water Gallery
April 16 – May 13
Deadline to register: April 9 by 5pm
Ages 16+ | $120/person
You cannot have it if you cannot imagine it.
This virtual month-long workshop will focus on the participant’s art and/or life passion, talents, and desires, to create a vision for a the meaningful career/business that they actually want to have. Through a series of self-reflective exercises we will develop an initial planning process to articulate your vision for the art career that is meaningful to you. We will also imagine the first steps toward realizing that vision. Discussions and exercises on the workshop website and through optional weekly zoom discussions will help participants define what success looks like for themselves and decide how to use their personal values and goals to inform their choices.
Go here for in-depth schedule and registration.
Deadline to register: April 9 by 5pm
Ages 16+ | $120/person
You cannot have it if you cannot imagine it.
This virtual month-long workshop will focus on the participant’s art and/or life passion, talents, and desires, to create a vision for a the meaningful career/business that they actually want to have. Through a series of self-reflective exercises we will develop an initial planning process to articulate your vision for the art career that is meaningful to you. We will also imagine the first steps toward realizing that vision. Discussions and exercises on the workshop website and through optional weekly zoom discussions will help participants define what success looks like for themselves and decide how to use their personal values and goals to inform their choices.
Go here for in-depth schedule and registration.
Wearing Your Art on Your Sleeves
and Everywhere Else
(Now a Virtual Workshop!)
Wearing Your Art on Your Sleeves
and Everywhere Else
(Now a Virtual Workshop!)
Save the Dates July 17-August 14, 2021
Schedule: 1-2 pm - 5 Saturdays via Zoom
Registration Deadline: July 5
Learn how to prepare your art images for print-on-demand fabric, wallpaper, and wrapping paper
using Spoonflower.com from the comfort of your home.
Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts
Mineral Point, WI
Registration limited to 20
$70.00 per participant
Registration through
Shake Rag Ally Center for the Arts here
DescriptionNOW A VIRTUAL WORKSHOP! Have you been thinking about printing your artwork on fabric? It seems complicated, but Helen will guide you through the process of using Spoonflower, a custom printer that gives artists the ability to design their own fabrics from the comfort of a home computer. She’ll show you how to do a simple replication of images for projects on cloth, how to put your image in repeat (called “tiling”) and endless other project possibilities like making large-scale wall works, patterns for dolls or stuffed toys, and placement of images for apparel design. This isn’t just a lecture — you will actually be doing the work with your own images during class and end with submission-ready designs.
This isn’t just a lecture
— you will actually be doing the work with your own images and end with submission ready designs.
The Process
There will be a pre-workshop message sent July 5 with instructions on how to prepare for the workshop.
There will be a pre-workshop message sent July 5 with instructions on how to prepare for the workshop.
- Participants will be invited to an (optional) introductory Zoom meeting to meet one another virtually at 1-2 pm Saturday,
- July 17, and there will be optional weekly Zoom meetings to check in and share questions every Saturday until the the final Zoom meeting at 1-2 pm Saturday,
- August 14. Lessons will be shared on a Ruzuku Workshop website. Participants will be invited to access the lessons, create designs at their own pace over the course of a month.
- Helen will work individually with each of the participants using email, an optional class Facebook Group, and the Ruzuku class website to guide the process and share images as participants develop and complete at least one design for printing.
- The class will end with a closing (optional) Zoom meeting at 1-2 pm Sunday, August 15, to share their accomplishments.
Virtual Watercolor Intensive
Available Soon As An On-Demand Workshop
Watercolor: A New Beginning -5 lessons
Advancing Your Watercolors -5 Lessons +
Or combined for a Virtual Watercolor Intensive ~10 lessons +
The Process
Originally a 10 week watercolor intensive made up of two 5-week classes.
Self-guided text and video based lessons.
Participants will share their work on an optional private Facebook Page for group feedback
Two workshops are made up of scaffolded lessons.
Each topic includes a recorded lesson introducing techniques and a recording of a live-streamed lesson creating paintings using the techniques.
This is designed to be a ‘go at your own pace’ workshop.
Participants will be invited to an optional private Facebook Page where we are building a creative community of mutual support and share our paintings for feedback.
Workshop Curriculums
Watercolor: A New Beginning for beginners and a good review for more experienced painters
Module 1-Basic Washes and Mark-making
Module 2 - Controlling Wet-into-Wet
Module 3 - To Resist is Good.
Module 4 - Texture and Adulterations
Module 5 - Photo Reference and Image Transfer
Advancing Your Watercolors for intermediate or advanced painters, including anyone who has taken a beginning workshop with Helen.
Welcome and review of Module 5: Key Techniques & Painting Approaches
Module 6 - Watercolor with Mixed Media
Module 7 - Positive Shape Painting
Module 8 - Negative Shape Painting
Module 9 - Inspired By Chance I
Module 10 - Inspired By Chance II ~With Intention
Or Combine for weeks of watercolor fun!
Materials are not provided. A materials list (with links to where they can be purchased) will be provided upon registration
The above workshops are being offered at introductory pandemic prices, because. they are virtual for the first time and...it is still a pandemic and we all require all the art and creativity in our lives we can get.
Once the workshops are underway they will still be available as recorded lessons. Workshop materials will be available to registered participants for 6 months after the workshop ends.
If you would really like to take a workshop but it is beyond your means right now please contact me to discuss what would work for you. I am reserving some scholarship and partial scholarship spots in the workshops.
Check in with Helen for any more specific questions! Helen(at)Klebesadel.com
These workshops will be taught again in 2021 at the regular pricing.
Do not see what you were hoping for?
Contact Helen for the possibility of something designed to fit your needs. Helen(at)Klebesadel.com
Helen Klebesadel (MFA 1989). In addition to teaching workshops nationally and internationally, Helen has taught for UW-Madison, Beloit College, and Lawrence University, where she taught for ten years, earned tenure and chaired the art department. She has taught contemporary theory, art foundations, 2-D and 3-D art courses and workshops for 30 years. In addition to her expertise in watercolors and other painting media, she has taught all forms of printmaking, as well as drawing, mixed media, computer aided imaging and some book arts. While she is not a photographer she has also helped photo students expand the quality and content of their work as well.
Helen is also a certified Creativity Coach through the Creativity Coaching Association. In addition to traditional 'talk' coaching, she regularly uses mixed media and collage as part of her arts-based creativity coaching workshops. Helen believes art-making is a form of pre-verbal thinking and problem solving that can be applied to our work to enhance and expand the place of creativity in our lives.
Helen also has a line of fabric and wallpaper based on her watercolors for sale at http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/helenklebesadel
Helen is also a certified Creativity Coach through the Creativity Coaching Association. In addition to traditional 'talk' coaching, she regularly uses mixed media and collage as part of her arts-based creativity coaching workshops. Helen believes art-making is a form of pre-verbal thinking and problem solving that can be applied to our work to enhance and expand the place of creativity in our lives.
Helen also has a line of fabric and wallpaper based on her watercolors for sale at http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/helenklebesadel