Two Events You Should Consider!

Looking for something to creatively kickstart your summer?

I've got two events coming up for your consideration - a weeklong retreat in Connecticut and a weeklong vacation workshop in Quebec City, Canada!

The Poetry of Pastel, June 7-12, 2026 Artists Rising Retreats Glastonbury, CT

The fantastic folks at Artists Rising in Glastonbury, CT have graciously invited me to bring my pastels and teach guests how to enhance their skills at their lovely facility between June 7-12, 2026, and I cannot wait!

Each day in this workshop, I will demonstrate landscapes – from bucolic scenes to sandy beaches – and still life arrangements while I share the secrets of the pastel medium. From choosing the right papers to create your best work to learning the basics of value, composition and color that apply to all disciplines, a new world of artistic possibilities will open up for you. I will show you how to produce loosely expressive, impressionistic works on a small scale, but with techniques that can be translated into larger pieces. You’ll learn what tools to use, get practical guidance on developing skies, water, trees, flowers and more, explore framing options, and discover application tips and tricks to take your art to the next level.

If you are looking for a balance between control and expressiveness, color confidence and greater mastery, this workshop will allow you to learn by doing to enhance your artistic practice, but please note that the deadline to register is April 7. Right now, Artists Rising is offering a discount on ALL their workshops by using the code: ARTLOVE26. Space is limited, so visit their website here for more information and to sign up today!

Quebec City Artists Retreat Aug. 6-10, 2026 Studio 56 Boutique

If you're looking to go a bit further, but still stay on this side of the pond, there are still a few spaces left for my upcoming vacation workshop with Studio 56 Boutique to Quebec City, Canada on Aug. 6-10, 2026.

Explore the historic streets of old Quebec City, learn more about Quebecois culture and enjoy five great pastel classes with me! I call this a vacation workshop because it's part vacation and part an artistic learning experience all wrapped into one week of immersive exploration.

We'll start with a walking tour, paint outside at the lovely park called the Plains of Abraham, explore more than 400 years of French-Canadian culture during a museum visit, take in a high tea and an art gallery crawl and visit L'Ile d'Orleans where we will paint on the grounds of a winery and visit Montmorency Falls. How fantastic is that?!?

But again, there is a deadline for registering. If you register here by Mar. 9, you'll receive a $200 discount, so keep that in mind.

Whichever experience you choose, I will be here to guide your way in the wonderful medium of pastels. These excursions are for beginners and those who are looking to brush up on their skills, so what are you waiting for?

As always, I'm here to help you with any questions you may have, so feel free to email me at bkjartist@gmail.com, but I am most looking forward to getting to know you and your work better soon!