My goals for each student are to help them create art works they are proud of, and add to or refine their painting technique so they have more confidence in creating better paintings on their own after the workshop. As an art educator, I specializes in teaching acrylic painting techniques and color harmonies for all art mediums. I have 3 decades of experience working with acrylic and 13 years teaching the medium. My students are artists with diverse skill levels: from someone who has never painted to professional artists who want to refine their acrylic technique or learn a new medium. My deep interest in art history is incorporated in both my paintings and how I teach.

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2025 Online Workshops

 

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WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

 

 

Technique Focus Workshops

Essential Acrylic Techniques



This is a workshop for anyone new to acrylic as well as anyone who already paints in acrylic and wants to learn more acrylic techniques. Acrylic is an incredibly versatile medium. It can be used in illustrated journals, textured abstract paintings, or traditional portrait paintings. Learning the essential techniques of acrylic painting to improve any art project.

Frequency of workshop offered: 2-4 years
Workshop was last offered: 2020

Workshop level: all skill levels
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Transitioning to Acrylic



There’s a trend of artists from other mediums like watercolor, oil, and gouache who are making the transition to acrylic for its more forgiving nature in correction, better lightfastness, possibilities in layering, and its diverse techniques and styles. If you like the versatility of acrylic but are frustrated with not getting the results you want, then this online course is for you.

Frequency of workshop offered: 2-3 years
Workshop was last offered: 1/2022

Workshop level: all skill levels
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upcoming workshop dates:

11/2, 9,& 16, 2024 (online workshop)

3 Saturday Mornings 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
$150 (workshop offered thru Northwind Art)
Register for this workshop

 

 

 

 

 

Achieving Luminosity and Depth: Transparent Acrylic Layering Techniques



Take advantage of the fast-drying nature of acrylic to create translucent and luminous paintings. In this workshop we will start with simple techniques using just a few layers and eventually working up to more complex layer techniques that require dozens of layers. These techniques are especially effective for watercolorists transitioning to acrylic.


Frequency of workshop offered:1-2 years
Workshop was last offered: 6/ 2024

Workshop level: upper beginner to intermediate
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Style Focus Workshops

Paint Like the Impressionists with Acrylic

Paint with vivid colors and motion! Learn the unique opaque layering techniques using acrylic, how to apply impressionist rationale to brush strokes, color combinations, and contrast.

Frequency of workshop offered:1-2 years
Workshop was last offered:1/ 2024

Workshop level: all skill levels
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Paint Like the Old Dutch Masters with Acrylic



Through a mixture of demos, hands-on painting sessions from photos or still life, you will learn Wayne Jiang’s unique acrylic glazing and layering techniques to paint like the old Dutch masters. You will learn the color theory behind Old Masters' paintings from the Baroque era such as Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Rubens.

Frequency of workshop offered:1-2 years
Workshop was last offered: 4/ 2024

Workshop level: intermediate to advanced
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Paint like Maxfield Parrish with Acrylic

The early 20th century painter and illustrator Maxfield Parrish was known for his saturated and colorful paintings like Daydream. To create his luminous oil paintings, he painted with many thin layers of transparent glazes. His technique is rarely replicated due to the time consuming nature of oil paint glazes. Each glaze has to be dried thoroughly before another layer of glaze is applied. It can take weeks to finish an oil painting in the Parrish technique. Taking advantage of the fact that acrylic dries much faster, Wayne has adapted the Parrish technique to acrylic. Instead of weeks, one can finish multiple layers of the Parrish technique under two hours.

Frequency of workshop offered:1-2 years
Workshop was last offered: 10/ 2023

Workshop level: intermediate to advanced
More info

 

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Color Focus Workshops

These workshops are for all painting mediums, not just acrylic.

 

Explore Color Harmonies Using Simple Logic



You will never see colors the same way after this workshop! Learn simple and logical ways to mix and create color combinations in your paintings that are just right. The slideshow presentations and painting demos will help you harmonize colors in a more logical and simplified way. Along the way we’ll expand your color ranges into previously unexplored territories.

Frequency of workshop offered: 3 years
Workshop was last offered: 9/ 2022

Workshop level: all skill levels
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Create Moods and Emotions Using Your Color Sensibilities

     

With slide presentations, color study exercises, observation trainings, and painting demos, this workshop is designed to help you understand the relationship between colors and emotions. Working with your color sensibilities, Wayne will show you how to create more engaging paintings with specific emotions or moods.

Frequency of workshop offered: 3 years
Workshop was last offered: 4/ 2024

Workshop level: all skill levels
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Apply Color Recipes to Advance Your Paintings



In cooking, a recipe is a set of instructions for preparing a particular dish, including a list of suggested ingredients. In painting, there are also recipes for particular subject matters and painting styles. Except the ingredients are the color combinations and the set of instructions is how to mix and apply these colors together to achieve the right effect. The slideshows, color exercises, and painting assignments have been designed to help you learn how to apply the color recipes from some of your favorite painters and art periods.

Frequency of workshop offered: 3 years
Workshop was last offered: 10/ 2023

Workshop level: all skill levels
More Info

 

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Subject Focus Workshops

 

Mountain and Forest Landscapes in Acrylic




Learn specific painting techniques to enable you to paint the golden hills of California to the gentle mountains and forests of the Northwest. We will also examine painting movements and famous artists from the past, to help us understand how to paint landscapes more effectively in technique and spirit.

Frequency of workshop offered: 3-4 years
Workshop was last offered: 1/ 2023

Workshop level: upper beginner to intermediate
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Oceans, Rivers, Clouds, and Skies in Realistic Acrylic Painting Style




We will produce 3 beautiful paintings in different moods of oceans and rivers with clouds and sky. With the different combinations of colors, brushstrokes, textures, and layering techniques. We will also examine works of famous artists from the past, like Winslow Homer, J. W. M. Turner, and Claude Monet to help us paint more effectively in spirit and techniques.

Frequency of workshop offered: 3-4 years
Workshop was last offered: 5/ 2023

Workshop level: upper beginner to intermediate
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Panoramic Landscapes




If you like a sense of openness and tranquility in landscapes, paint them in panoramic sizes. In this workshop we’ll create 2 landscapes paintings in unusual panoramic sizes.

Frequency of workshop offered: 3-4 years
Workshop was last offered: 4/ 2024

Workshop level:all
More Info

 

 

Painting Dramatic Sunsets




n this workshop we’ll create two realistic sunset acrylic paintings with clouds and landscape. In the process you will learn how to:

• Balance muted and saturated colors
• Apply the right amount of detail in the right place
• Create depth and space using layering and glazing techniques
• Understand the differences between sunset light and day light and how this affects landscape colors.

Frequency of workshop offered: 3-4 years
Workshop was last offered: 3/ 2024

Workshop level:all
More Info

 

 

Capture the Grace of Everyday Objects using Acrylic

 


As the old saying goes, one must stop and smell the roses to gain an appreciation of life. We can apply this philosophy to art by painting common everyday objects in simple, elegant, and thoughtful ways. In this workshop we will produce 3 paintings in this class. More advanced students are encouraged to create paintings using their own reference. You can create paintings using the same references as Wayne’s demos or create paintings from your own references.

Workshop level: upper beginner to intermediate
More Info

Frequency of workshop offered: 3-4 years
Workshop was last offered: 7/ 2022

 

upcoming workshop dates:

11/1-22, 2024(online)
4 Friday Mornings 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
$225 (workshop offered thru Winslow Art Center)

Register for this workshop

The Art of Painting White Objects




n this workshop we’ll create two realistic sunset acrylic paintings with clouds and landscape. In the process you will learn how to:

• Balance muted and saturated colors
• Apply the right amount of detail in the right place
• Create depth and space using layering and glazing techniques
• Understand the differences between sunset light and day light and how this affects landscape colors.

Frequency of workshop offered: 3-4 years
Workshop was last offered: 2/ 2022

Workshop level:all

More Info

 

 

 

Close-up Realistic Floral Paintings with Acrylic



In this workshop we will create beautiful realistic close-up floral paintings. In the process you will learn the following skills:
 
• Art of contrasting saturated and muted colors
• Creating focal points with the right amount of detail and good balance of hard and soft edges
• Creating warm and cool color shifts to enhance color vibrancy
• Using underpainting and layering to create luminous colors
• Creating good composition by balancing positive and negative spaces
• How to light and photograph flowers for best references for painting

Frequency of workshop offered: 2-3 years
Workshop was last offered: 7/ 2022

Workshop level: upper beginner to intermediate
More Info

upcoming workshop dates:

9/6-27, 2024(online)

4 Friday Mornings 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
$225 (workshop offered thru Winslow Art Center)

More information
Register for this workshop

 

 

Night Paintings in Acrylic

In the hours of night, the outside world is cast with an unusual allure, evoking sensations that cease to exist with luminous sunlight. Familiar surroundings become less defined and open to ambiguous impressions of solitude, comfort, and the curiosity of the unknown. Let’s capture the mystery of night in painting!

Frequency of workshop offered: 3 years
Workshop was last offered: 4/ 2022

Workshop level: upper beginner to intermediate
More Info

upcoming workshop dates:

10/31-11/21, 2024(online)
4 Thursday nights 6:30pm to 8:30pm
$215 ($165 for frequent students)
Register for this workshop

Floral Acrylic Paintings in the Old Masters’ Style

Inspired by all the spring flowers? Let’s capture the brilliance and subtle beauty of garden flowers in your paintings. In this workshop you will learn some of the layering and glazing acrylic techniques developed by Wayne over the last three decades, which resembles the look of the Old Masters’ oil paintings using acrylic paint. We will apply these techniques and create translucent and delicate floral acrylic paintings in the Old Masters’ style.

Frequency of workshop offered:1-2 years
Workshop was last offered: 9/ 2023

Workshop level: intermediate to advanced
More info

upcoming workshop dates:

9/21-10/12, 2024 (online)
4 Saturday mornings10:30am to12:30pm
$215 ($165 for frequent students)
Register for this workshop

 

 

 

Painting Luminous Acrylic Portraits of People or Pets

Painting luminous portraits of people or pets with acrylic is easier than you think! This workshop breaks down complex processes into simple steps. Find out how to use photo references properly, how to plan a portrait’s mood and composition before painting, and how to build up contrast and texture with underpainting glazing and layering. Learn to create subtle luminous skin tones with a limited color palette. Wayne will help you improve your painting by learning how to analyze and apply techniques from your favorite painters.

Frequency of workshop offered: unknown
Workshop was last offered: 6/ 2013

Workshop level: intermediate to advanced
More Info

 

 

Food and Still Life Acrylic Paintings in the Old Masters’ Style  

From translucent colors of a grape to the reflective surface of metal to the texture of a lemon peel, have you ever wondered how the Old Masters' were able to create food and still life paintings that are so lifelike? The short answer is they used different layering techniques using transparent and opaque paint. Learn these layering and glazing techniques developed by Wayne over the last three decades, which resembles the look of the 17th century Baroque Old Masters' oil paintings using acrylic paint.

Frequency of workshop offered: 3-4 years
Workshop was last offered: 1/ 2023

Workshop level: intermediate to advanced
More Info

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Workshop FAQs

Why Acrylic?
Acrylic is an incredibly versatile medium. It can be used in traditional portrait, landscape, still life paintings, illustrated journals, or textured abstract paintings. Acrylic is a healthier medium than oil and pastel as it does not require air ventilation and is not harmful to the skin. Acrylic has the best light fastness than other painting mediums. It does not fade over time as much as oil, pastel, and watercolor. Acrylic can be applied to a variety of primed or unprimed surfaces: wood, canvas, paper, wall, etc. This is why acrylic is the medium of choice for most outdoor muralists. In my workshops you will learn the essential techniques of acrylic painting to improve any art project.

How many paintings/artworks can I finish in each in person workshop?
During a 3-day workshop, students generally finish at least 2, or up to 4 or 5 paintings depending on the size and the student's level and speed. On the first day of a workshop, students generally finish one small painting using my step-by-step technique instruction. On the second and third days, students work with bigger and more complex paintings applying the techniques they learned the first day.

What kind of subject matters can I paint in your workshops?
In my workshops, you can paint any subject matter you choose: portraits, figures, pets, still life, landscape, or interiors. We generally paint from photo references, but will set still life if there is a request. I will bring different photo references for you to choose from.

Can I apply your painting techniques to other styles besides realistic painting?
My technique of glazing and layering acrylic is very versatile; it applies not only to realistic painting, but other paint styles like abstract, mixed medium, and plein aire.

What do I need to bring to the in person workshop?
In most of my workshops, most of the materials are included. This includes: paint, brushes, photo references, palettes, and painting surfaces (panels or canvas). In most cases, all you need to bring is yourself. If you like, you can bring your own brushes, photo references, or still life. In some cases, I might ask students to bring their own tabletop easel.

How do receive information on your upcoming workshops?
Sign up for my newsletter. You will receive my upcoming workshop schedule as well as information about my upcoming exhibits and my latest works.

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Photos from past in person workshops