Classes

Energy as Color, Sound & Movement:
A Multi-Sensory Retreat

Explore Qigong, Painting and the Healing Quality of Sound in Napa, CA

Sunday, August 30, 11am – 5pm
$320 includes a delicious lunch

Imagine giving yourself an entire day to recharge, to move, create, listen, and simply be. This intimate retreat is an invitation to explore energy through three restorative experiences: movement, color, and sound.

We’ll begin with the expansive, flowing movement of Qigong with Darlene Meltzer, allowing the body to soften, open, and connect with the energy within and around us.

From there, we’ll move into a hands-on visual art experience with painter Elana Kundell, exploring the energy of color and discovering how the movement of the body can flow through the brush and onto the canvas. You do not need to consider yourself an artist. There is no right or wrong way to create. Just bring your curiosity and allow yourself to explore.

We’ll share a delicious lunch together and later settle into a deeply relaxing sound bath, allowing the vibrations and sounds to wash over us and bring the day to a restorative close.

The Language of Painting: Part 1 – Foundations

An excellent introduction to painting for those who are new or returning.

Tuesdays, 4 – 6 pm
Small group class format.

Tuition: $260/month
Meets 3 weeks per month with individual guidance on the 4th week.

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 and receive the supply list. You may secure your spot via check, Venmo (@ekundell), Zelle or Paypal (ekundell@gmail.com).

Please Note: this class is currently a Level 1/2 hybrid class.

The Language of Painting: Part 2 – Color & Composition

An ongoing class to help you gain confidence in painting, with guided projects in a small group setting.

Tuesdays, 11 am – 2 pm or 4 – 6 pm

Currently a hybrid class. Meets 3 weeks per month with individual guidance on the 4th week.

Create your own original paintings inspired by the works of great artists. Expand your painting skills, deepen your understanding of color relationships, and learn compositional strategies that help your paintings feel more alive and cohesive.

In this ongoing class, you will:

• Learn how to create more dynamic paintings with depth, rhythm and visual flow
• Develop a stronger command of color and create emotional resonance
• Work intentionally with surface and layers – brushwork, transparency and revision – to handle paint more expressively
• Build fluency in seeing and discussing abstraction, learning how to recognize what’s happening in your painting and what it needs next
• Apply core principles of design to strengthen and clarify your compositions
• Bring ideas to life through projects that facilitate experimentation and growth

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 supportive community of peers.
Suggested prerequisite: The Language of Painting Part 1 or equivalent experience.

Please email ekundell@gmail.com with any questions and to register for this class.

You may secure your spot via check, Venmo (@ekundell), Zelle or Paypal (ekundell@gmail.com).
Image: Joan Mitchell, Weeds, 1976

Please Note: this class is currently taught alongside Level 1 (Tuesdays, 4-6 pm) and Level 3 (Tuesdays 11 am – 2 pm). Please contact me to explore the best fit for you.

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

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

Tuesdays, 11 am – 2 pm

Tuition: $315 / month
Meets 3 weeks per month with individual guidance on the 4th week.

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.

Please email ekundell@gmail.com with any questions and to confirm space availability.
You may secure your spot via check, Venmo (@ekundell), Zelle or Paypal (ekundell@gmail.com).

Image: Freeform, ©Elana Kundell, 2021

Exploring Abstraction: A Four-Day Painting Retreat

Fall Dates TBD
Monday–Thursday, 11 am – 3 pm with a lunch break (Tuesday includes a museum visit).
Small Group Workshop. Ideal for Advanced Beginners +

How do abstract artists approach their work to build cohesive paintings with emotional impact?

In this hands-on retreat, we’ll explore practical approaches to abstraction that will help you develop stronger compositions while learning to trust your intuition.

Students may leave supplies set up in the studio, to allow for ease and a more immersive creative flow.

This retreat offers a calm, focused environment where you can slow down, explore, and connect with the pleasure of painting.

Limited to four participants.
Suggested prerequisite: Language of Painting Level 1 or equivalent experience.

Please email ekundell@gmail.com with any questions and to be included in the waitlist.

Exploring Abstraction from the Landscape (Part 1):
A One-Day Painting Workshop

Sunday, July 12th, 11am – 5pm (Includes lunch break)
Tuition: $260

In this one-day painting retreat, we will explore approaches to abstraction inspired by the landscape.

We’ll learn from master paintings and explore methods to move beyond observation and express your experiences, emotions and ideas more deeply in your work. This workshop includes plenty of hands-on painting.

For Adventurous Beginner/Intermediate students +

Limited space. Students are welcome to use oils or acrylics and mixed media. Please email ekundell@gmail.com to enroll (supply list will be provided).

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.

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.