Workshops
Sitka Center for Art and Ecology: Color Focus - Painting with Greens
Guinevere | ©Ruth Armitage, watermedia on paper, 29″ x 21″
June 19 – 20 at Sitka Center for Art and Ecology
Though we live in one of the greenest states, painters often struggle to use greens effectively. We can find them too garish or too muddy. Maybe we overdo the greens and ignore other colors—maybe we avoid them altogether. From mixing to developing effective color schemes, this course provides a deep dive into the many moods of green. Sitka’s landscape provides inspiration from fog to ferns, water weeds to stately evergreens. Using watercolor and high flow acrylic, artists will explore possible color ranges and intensities within a set of mixing hues as well as ways to create moods from subtle to vibrant. Suitable for painters working in both realism and abstraction.
$330 Registration opens for members on February 20 and non-members March 6.
This 2-day workshop will focus on creating interesting shapes and lines to enliven our paintings and move a bit toward abstraction. Ruth will provide focused exercises to help get the ideas flowing. Using still life as an inspiration we’ll move beyond naming the objects in our compositions toward thinking about balance, contrast and unity. Suitable for all mediums.
$295 for OSA members, $345 for non-members Click image above for registration
Ruth brings clarity to the creative process for her students. There is so much to think about: design elements, composition, content. Her goal is to help students solve the creative puzzle. She teaches them to put their inner critic to work rather than let it become an obstacle to success.
Ruth enjoys teaching the creative process and watching lightbulbs come on in her students’ eyes. She and her husband Marc maintain a small farm and studio in rural Oregon City.
Ruth Armitage is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society , Rocky Mountain National Watermedia, San Diego Watercolor Society, Watercolor West, California Watercolor Association and the Northwest Watercolor Society, and Past President of the Watercolor Society of Oregon. The Watercolor Society of Oregon has awarded her its Outstanding Service Award. Ruth’s work has received many local and national awards, including the Bronze Medal of Honor in the American Watercolor Society’s 155th International Exhibition and the Loa Ruth Sprung Award in the National Watercolor Society’s 95th Annual Exhibition. She has served as juror for local, national and international exhibitions.
“It was a very rewarding workshop. I feel everyone came away with new and exciting ideas. What I liked most was the slide examples and your description of how, why and what makes each work. No, maybe it was the exercises, no the demos, no the something different each day, or maybe it was —- everything. I felt your workshop was a good all around learning experience for everyone, any level. You have such a great since of humor, it made us all feel relaxed and right at home. “
“Ruth, I think you are a wonderful teacher. Thank you for your positive and fun attitude. I especially liked to learn from your example, and I was glad to see you paint and struggle at times too…then solve whatever problem a work presented.”
"When you start working, everybody is in your studio- the past, your friends, enemies, the art world, and above all, your own ideas- all are there. But as you continue painting, they start leaving, one by one, and you are left completely alone. Then, if you are lucky, even you leave."
Ruth is a modest and approachable professional with lots of experience she is willing to share. My learning experience in this class was better due to several types of teaching methods—- personal art evaluations, teaching time, reference examples/materials and frequent desk critiques.
I left feeling excited and inspired about my art and a new approach to my creative process.”
“I’ve taken several classes from Ruth over the years. With each class I’ve come away with gems that have remained in my tool box. In her most recent workshop, I wanted to learn more about how to implement line. I feel that I accomplished that along with so much more. Ruth is such a generous teacher, always willing to go to the next step in the process.”
“Ruth has so much to offer in many different aspects of creating artwork. She is approachable and respectful. She ranks well among the other excellent classes I have taken. Ruth is decisive and thoughtful with her answers. Her ability to be personal and honest yet gentle are commendable. The class was worth my time and money and I have come away with many ideas, both theoretical and practical to work with.”
Cancellation and Refund Policy
For workshops sponsored by outside organizations, please see their individual refund policies on their registration pages.
Workshops sponsored by Ruth Armitage Studios: Tuition is refundable less a $100.00 administrative fee, which will be retained for all cancellations to offset the considerable time involved in accounting, corresponding and registering participants. Often other artists miss out because the class is full and they are not able to register in a timely fashion. For cancellations less than 45 days before the workshop begins, tuition is non-refundable, unless a waiting list participant takes your place. No refunds for no-shows or withdrawals after a workshop has begun, regardless of the reason.
In the rare case that a workshop must be cancelled due to the illness of instructor or due to insufficient enrollment, inclement weather or acts of God, students will receive a full refund.
Interested in a Workshop in Your Area?
I am available for jurying and workshops starting in 2025. Click the Contact button below to receive a packet with course description, work samples and testimonials.
Workshops generally span 3, 4 or 5 days and can be customized for your group. Please provide information about location and the needs of your group. I look forward to hearing from you!