Paint like yourself. Only better.
Paint like yourself. Only better.
Get essential skills from classical art without the rigidity.
Universal visual principles + your special sauce = true excellence.
Make great work. Become the impactful artist you know you are.
Upcoming Classes
Two-Day Workshops
Thursday and Friday, 10am - 3 pm, various datesIn-Person Workshops
with Sarah Burns
Join me in my home studio in Phoenix, OR for a two day, intensive painting workshop.
Focus on composition, design, color, light, handling materials -
or whatever you need to move the needle in your art practice!
This class is designed for artists who have an artistic practice but would like to grow and expand their classical and technical skills, as well as artistic expression. Perfect for students who have taken my in-depth classes (like Drawing: The Foundation of Everything or The Science and Practice of Color).
Set up your own still life. Bring your own still life subjects or choose from my collection of cloth, objects and flowers.
Use this time to integrate classical principles into your personal artistic expression.
Bring your favorite materials and substrate.
Held on Thursday and Friday, 10 am - 3 pM. Lunch is provided.
Limited to FOUR students (who know me IRL.)
Get ready for a fun, deep growing experience!
$235 for each two-day class. See dates below.
Special Workshop with Visiting Artist
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 16-18, 2026 9:00 AM - 3:00 PMPainting the Human-Land Connection
at Vesper Meadow
Narrative Environments and the Arriving Figure
with Lupe Galvan
This intensive three-day workshop, with artist and teacher Lupe Galvan, invites experienced artists to deepen their practice by exploring the symbiotic relationship between body, landscape and narrative. Moving beyond literal representation, participants will use the environment as a "charged space" of possibility, or consider the human figure as either a harmonious extension of the land or an intentional source of tension.
The course is designed for those ready to take creative risks and push through the "unknowns" of their process. By shifting focus from what a place looks like to how it feels to be there, you will learn to bridge the gap between person and place through experimental color, texture, and technical storytelling. Get lost in a process and learn to find your way through.
Clothed models will be on site daily in a beautiful, natural setting. This is a mostly outdoors workshop - with shade and a barn for shelter.
Work in style and media of your choice.
$325 for this three day workshop.
A limited number of student/ low-income discount tickets are available - email Jeanine@VesperMeadow.org to inquire.
Space is limited, register in advance:
ARTIST BIO: LUPE GALVÁN
Early Life and Education Born in 1981, Lupe Galván grew up in the rural Snake River Valley of Owyhee County, Idaho, on the historic lands of the Shoshone people. Raised in a family of farmworkers, Galván spent much of his youth working in the fields, an experience he describes as physically demanding and isolating. During these years, he often found escape through art, imagining himself painting en plein air (outdoors) while working on the hillsides.
He went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Illustration from Boise State University in 2006, followed by a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from the New York Academy of Art in 2009.
Artistic Style and Philosophy Galván’s work is a sophisticated blend of classical European painting traditions and his own Hispano-Indigenous heritage. He describes his creative process as "recontextualizing" European art to tell non-European stories. By utilizing the compositional strategies and techniques of Old Master, Galván explores themes of post-colonialism, identity, memory, and "indigeneity. “He often reimagines classical myths or historical scenes by substituting European figures with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) bodies—specifically those reminiscent of his own family and community.
Career and Community Impact As an educator, Galván has taught at several institutions, including Southern Oregon University, Boise State University, Fleisher Art Memorial, Yavapai College, and the College of Idaho. He currently serves as a drawing and painting instructor at College of The Redwoods.
January - March 2026 In-person
Drawing: The Foundation of Everything
The Science and Practice of Color
Enrollment in this class is closed.
Questions About Materials?
Whether you’re using oils, acrylic, gouache/watercolor - here are my favorite products, advice and lists. Find articles on easels, palettes, framing, drawing materials and more.
What Students are Saying….
“Sarah's classes provided me with solid skills that I will always rely on in my work.”
“I'm a full-time painter and was shocked at how much I learned from Sarah's expertise.
It was enlightening to see improvements in my paintings and hear feedback that worked!"
“If you're looking for a skilled artist and teacher to take your skills to the next level, Sarah is hands-down the best!"
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Info about new classes, events, new paintings, sometimes it’s blog posts and educational info.