Inspiration Starts Here!

Do you struggle with finding subject matter or with staying inspired to paint? Have you thought about exploring different subject matter? Join Melinda in this fast paced workshop where we work with multiple subjects including landscape, still life, figure and abstract to re-ignite excitement in your own work. We will start each morning with “Spark it!” projects to get your creative juices flowing and continue with afternoon painting sessions where Melinda will focus on each individual student.

Projects will include:

• Image to abstract - Using a photo to inspire a loose abstracted paintings
• Flattening a Floral - Distorting perspective to create a unique still life
• Faces and Masks - Creating expressive and intuitive faces
• Abstract with Color - Focusing on color to create abstract compositions
• And more…

“I feel that working with different subject matter and looking at different approaches will ignite your personal work with renewed energy.” ~Melinda

Students will leave with:

• Experience with landscape, still life and abstract painting
• New ideas for creating a painting routine
• Inspiration for new and different approaches to their own work
• Renewed confidence
• The fundamentals of composition and color
• Exposure to contemporary and historic artists who will inspire your work

This three-day workshop is for intermediate to advanced level students. Oil paint or Acrylic paint is acceptable. Knowledge of your medium is required, however you do NOT need experience painting all of the subject matter we will explore.

Dates: Friday, June 27-Sunday, June 29, 2025, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Melinda Cootsona has been teaching painting to students of all levels for over 21 years. Beginning with weekly classes in her home studio, her career evolved into teaching workshops throughout the U.S. and Europe. Additionally, Melinda has been on the forefront of eCourse instruction developing her first course in 2012. Known for giving specific feedback and quality, constructive critiques, her courses are in high demand. Teaching creativity and art to students all over the world is an essential part of Melinda’s work.

Greatly influenced by the Bay Area artistic tradition, her paintings focus on the strength of the female figure. Created with layers of oil paint, applied and then scraped away, her paintings reveal figures that fill the canvas in varying poses of contemplation or reflection in abstracted surroundings. Whether in a soft or harsh surrounding, the strength of the female figure is primary.

Melinda’s work has been included in exhibitions at the Bakersfield Museum of Art and the Triton Museum in California, The San Francisco Art Market, The Coos Bay Museum of Art in Oregon, and Art Basel Miami, as well as many group and solo shows throughout the U.S.

Cootsona received her BA from the California College of the Arts. Her work can be found in collections in the United States, Europe, Australia, and China. She is represented by Seager Gray Gallery, in Mill Valley, CA and The Studio Shop, in Burlingame, CA.

Host or Publisher Palo Alto Art Center Foundation