kirah van sickle : the classroom
"I learned more in a week with Kirah than ten years of classes."
Kirah offers a variety of educational opportunities. As a certified Golden Artist-Educator, Marabu USA Artist-Educator, and Silver Brush Educator, Kirah has tremendous insight and experience with materials, and professional history in both traditional and contemporary processes. She teaches acrylics, watercolors, oils, pastel, mixed media, monoprinting (gelli arts), and creates custom programming and mentorship for the individual or small groups.
CRITIQUE PUNCHCARD
Interested in a critique or consulting session? Perhaps a painting session to work on a specific issue or technique. The punchcard is $60, can be used to get insights/advice on up to three works in progress, or a painting session, juried show submissions, grant proposals, art biz advice, materials questions, or push past blocks.
This can be in person or virtual. Available in the art "store."
2025 WORKSHOPS & LECTURES
Interested in custom private or semi-private, in-person or virtual studio sessions?
Kirah works with student-artists from beginner to professional in building painting confidence and art biz insights. Contact here.
ABSTRACTING FROM BOTANICALS: PAINTING FUNDAMENTALS
Centers for Arts-Bonita Springs, FL
Wednesday & Thursday, February 12 - 13, 2025
9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Botanical landscapes and still lifes will be our inspiration in this two-day
exploration of abstraction. Focusing on the fundamentals of line, shape
and color, we will use a variety of techniques to distill complex form into
dynamic abstract studies. Through instructor demos, handouts and historical
context, the abstract garden awaits! Beginner (with some basic painting
experience) to advanced; your preferred painting medium welcome. Instructor
will demo in acrylic and watercolor.
Adult: All Levels/Beginners with some experience
Cost: $240 Member/ $290 Non-member
SINGLE OBJECT STILL LIFE
Centers for Arts-Bonita Springs
Friday & Saturday, February 14 - 15, 2025
9:30 - 4:30 pm
Let's kick up our watercolor wrangling skills a notch and explore intermediate
and advanced color theory and painting techniques. This one-day workshop
focuses on building depth, powerful color, brush-handling confidence and is
great for the student-artist ready to expand on watercolor fundamentals.
Seasoned beginners to experienced levels welcome.
Adult: All Levels/Beginners with some experience
Cost: $240 Member/ $290 Non-member
Call 239-495-8989 for registration
PATHWAYS TO ABSTRACTION
Arts League of Leland
Thursday - Friday, March 13 - 14th, 2025
10:00 - 4:00 pm
Are you ready to loosen up and incorporate more abstract marks into your
painting practice? This workshop will provide a foundation of abstract color and
composition fundamentals of various abstract styles. Through the lens of modern
masters, various still life setups, photo references, demos and handouts, Kirah
will share a variety of techniques and templates to build painting confidence.
Beginners (with some basic painting experience) to advanced are welcome.
Kirah will demo in acrylicand watercolor. Your preferred medium is welcomed.
Location: Leland Center of Brunswick Community College
2045 Enterprise Blvd, Leland, NC 28451
Cost: $200 Member/ $225 Non-member
COLOR 101: THE POST-IMPRESSIONIST STILL LIFE
Cameron Art Museum - Pancoe Studio
Tuesdays, March 18 - April 8
9:00 - 12:00 pm
Ready for some fun color and expressive still lifes? Let's take a page from the post-Impressionists, (think Matisse, Van Gogh, Cezanne, for starters), and expand our
color language in expressive ways. With the still life as our subject and inspiration,
students will build confidence in brush-handling and dynamic color and compositions. Beginner (with basic painting familiarity) to advanced. All painting mediums welcome.
Adult: All Levels
CAM Member $256 / Not-yet member $320
PAINT LIKE THE MASTERS: HELEN FRANKENTHALER
Cameron Art Museum - Pascoe Studio
Sunday, May 4th, 2025
10:00 - 4:00 pm
As a member of the New York School, Helen Frankenthaler's color field painting
style is expressive, nature and landscape-inspired. This one day intensive is an
opportunity to explore color and abstracting with brushes and an array of alternative
painting tools: scrapers, trowels, sponges, sticks and pouring. Our medium of choice
will be acrylic on watercolor paper. Beginner to advanced levels welcome. All levels.
Image: Helen Frankenthaler, Nature Abhors a Vacuum, 1973, Acrylic on canvas,
National Gallery of Art
CAM Member/ $112 Not-yet member $140
2025 ART + TRAVEL WORKSHOPS
PAWLEYS ISLAND SPRING ARTIST RETREAT
(Full with Waiting List)
Friday, April 18 - Friday, April 25, 2025
Join Kirah for the 45th Annual Plein Air Workshop at Sea View Inn
Spring is the perfect time for this beloved annual workshop combining great
low country painting sites, food, cultural and natural history and the historic
Sea View Inn. Every April Kirah and the artists take over the charming shabby
chic inn for plenty of plein air sketching, painting fundamentals, art history,
and gorgeous coastal inspiration. This fills up fast!
Contact the inn directly here for 2025 pricing and availability.
CAVES OF PAINTED DREAMS WORKSHOP (Full)
Dordogne, France
Wednesday, September 10 - Friday, September 19, 2025
Dreams, Symbolism and ART in the Painted Caves of France
with Carol Aalbers PhD & Artist Kirah Van Sickle
Nestled in the Dordogne Region we find some of our oldest and most notable
cave art sties in the world. Paleolithic art, which likely functioned as sacred
spaces for early humans, is our focus. Our artist-ancestors maintained a
sophisticated art and crafts practice that mystifies and inspires. By exploring
through art the archetypal images in the caves, in our dreams, and in the
landscape and villages of the Dordogne Valley, we connect to creativity,
personal iconography, and to what makes us human. Utilizing active imagination
and recording our own dream images with various art mediums, will enhance
our experience and aid in our inner journey.
Contact Kirah at kirahart@yahoo.com for workshop brochure, itinerary, and pricing details.
CIAO, ITALIA!
Plein Air Sketching and Painting in Rome and Umbria
October 3 - 12, 2025
Sketching & Painting the History and Colors of Rome
and the Gems of Umbria
This custom plein air Italy adventure begins with two nights in
Rome, with Etruscan masterpieces, Roman frescoes, sketching
Palatine Hill, and off-the-beaten path art museums; We then head
into the green heart of Italy - Umbria, with 6 nights at our home base,
Spello. This is the perfect location to explore the history, art, food
and wine, of Assisi, Perugia, and the Montefalco wine region.
Artists and companions welcome. Maximum 14.
Artists will work with a limited travel palette, explore plein air sketching techniques including loose, quick watercolor studies and small painting studies in acrylic, gouache or oil.
Pricing includes transfers, hotels, entrance fees, tasting, cooking course, breakfast, and most meals. Air and travel insurance not included. Deposit due March 31.
For itinerary, pricing, and trip details, click here!
