Classes

The Language of Painting: Part 1 – Foundations

An accessible 4-week class to get you moving with the basics of painting, color-mixing and the elements of design.

Two Sessions this Fall

Session 1: Thursdays, 12 – 2 pm, Sept. 25 – Oct. 16
Session 2: Thursdays, 6 – 8 pm, Nov. 6 – Dec. 4 (no class on 11/27)
Students may sign up for one or both sessions. (Repeatable)

Tuition: $320

If you’ve been wanting to paint but aren’t sure where to start, this class is for you! We’ll explore the building blocks of painting—mixing the colors you want to see, handling brushes and materials with greater ease, and playing with the elements of design through fun, bite-sized studies.
You’ll leave with more confidence, a stronger foundation, and the excitement to take your painting further.

The Language of Painting: Part 1 is best for students who are somewhat new to painting, as well as for returning painters looking for a jumpstart in the fundamentals.

In this class, you will:

• Learn how to mix, see, and apply color
• Build fluency with brushes, paint handling and core materials
• Explore the essential elements of design and composition.
• Complete small weekly studies to practice fundamentals.
• Strengthen your foundation so you can step into more ambitious projects.

Please email ekundell@gmail.com to register for this class.

The Language of Painting: Part 2 – Learning from the Masters

An ongoing class to help you gain confidence in painting, with guided projects inspired by great abstract artists

Two Sessions this Fall
Tuesdays, 11:30 am – 2:30 pm

Session 1: Sept. 30 – Oct. 21 (4 weeks)
Session 2: Nov. 4 – Dec. 9 (5 weeks, no class on 11/25)
Students may sign up for one or both sessions.

Tuition: $395 | $320 for 4-week session

Create your own original paintings inspired by the works of great abstract artists as you learn to apply the principles of design to your work. Through guided projects, this ongoing five-week class will help you gain confidence in paint-handling, color choices and compositional principles to help you bring the qualities you desire into your work.

The Language of Painting: Part 2 is for Advanced Beginner and Intermediate students who want to improve their painting and compositional skills with guided projects in a community of peers.

Only 5 spaces available per class.
Please email ekundell@gmail.com with any questions and to register for this class.
Image: Joan Mitchell, Weeds, 1976

The Language of Painting: Part 3 – Creating Your Body of Work

An ongoing class in color, abstraction and developing your unique voice.

Two Sessions this Fall
Mondays, 11 am – 2 pm

Session 1: Sept. 29 – Oct. 20 (4 weeks)
Session 2: Nov. 3 – Dec. 8 (5 weeks, no class on 11/24)
Students may sign up for one or both sessions.
Limited to 5 students.

Tuition: $395 | $320 for 4-week session

This artist mentorship group supports students in developing confidence and skill as they create a new body of work.

Through teachings on the interaction of color, brushwork, composition and abstraction, and with thoughtful individualized guidance in a small group setting, students will grow their ability to make more meaningful, expressive and unique work.

The Language of Painting: Part 3 is for Intermediate or Advanced students who want to create artwork that is more personally meaningful, and who want to grow a body of work in a small and supportive community of peers.

Students may enroll concurrently in Levels 2 and 3. Please
email ekundell@gmail.com with any questions and to enroll.
Image: Freeform, ©Elana Kundell, 2021

The Art of Inquiry: A Four-Day Studio Immersion

Fall Dates: Oct. 27 – 30, 2025

Schedule: Monday–Thursday, 11–4 (11–5 on Tuesday).
Tuition: $980 / $840 early bird sign-up by Sept. 30.
Payment plan available. Limited to 4 students.

Idea → Insight → Process → Painting

If you’ve ever felt the nudge of a good idea but weren’t sure how to grow it into a strong painting, this week is for you. 

We’ll begin by harvesting your best inklings—brainstorming, layering ideas, and creating clarifying sketches—so your work starts with intention. 

On Tuesday morning, we head to the Santa Barbara Art Museum, followed by stimulating conversation over lunch, then we’ll come right back to the studio to translate and integrate the inspiration while it’s alive. 

From there, you’ll dive into a substantial piece, learning how to navigate the beautiful, messy middle of the process with curiosity and greater confidence. 

We’ll finish by refining, reflecting, and mapping your next steps—so that you leave the workshop with studies, a significant work-in-progress, and a clear plan for creating artwork that is stronger and more meaningful to you.  

Small group with lots of individual coaching.

This workshop was developed to help students learn new methods for creative inquiry inside and outside the studio in order to strengthen their art practice. The Art of Inquiry is best for students with some painting experience. Adventurous Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced painting students and Professional Artists are welcome.

I am all fired up with energy and curiosity to apply the new learning. You did an excellent job with your new workshop! 

I would recommend it to anybody who is interested in boosting their knowledge / ideas / inspiration and to get more clarity about themselves, about what drives them to paint and about what they want to paint.

Thanks again for a wonderful and inspiring learning experience.

– Margaretha Van Oostenrijk
(Image: Sketches and work in progress from the Art of Inquiry workshop)

Limited to four participants. Space still available.
Please email ekundell@gmail.com with any questions and to register for this immersive studio experience.

Painting with Pizzazz

A fun and accessible Sunday afternoon workshop where you’ll experiment with simple techniques to create your own original abstract painting. Each session brings a different theme and new techniques to try, with all materials provided. No experience needed.

Three Workshops this Fall
Sundays, 3 – 5 pm

Dates: Sept. 28, Oct. 19, Nov. 16, 3 – 5pm
Tuition: $95 per class (Basic materials included)
Students may sign up for one, two or all three sessions.

All levels welcome.

Please email ekundell@gmail.com to register.

The Abstract Figure

Students will paint from the live model and explore the work of great 20th century and contemporary painters working with the figure in abstraction.

For Adventurous Beginner students +

Please email ekundell@gmail.com to be included on the waiting list.

Image: Study of Lula, ©Elana Kundell, 2024

Create Your Personal Color Palette

In this exciting, fun class for adults, we explore the interdependent nature of color and its ability to evoke mood and emotion.

• Gain confidence in color mixing
• Learn how to express mood through color
• Use your tools with greater self-expression
• Deepen your understanding of painting

All levels welcome.

Please email ekundell@gmail.com to be included on the waiting list.

Exploring Abstraction
One-Day Painting Workshops

New Dates and Topics TBD

There are many ways to look at and communicate through abstraction. In this one-day painting retreat, we will begin to explore different modes of abstraction with plenty of hands on painting.

For Adventurous Beginner students +

Limited space. Class is customized for students. Please email ekundell@gmail.com to be included on the waiting list.

Connect & Create

Desperate times called for creative measures.
In the early days of the pandemic, Spring and Summer of 2020, we gathered online for creative nourishment, community and co-working time. All sessions began with improvisational play in a variety of media and topics, from poetry and paint to performance.