Youth ages 7 & up
Private Art Instruction

Lessons in materials, studio safety, and techniques empower your young artist to develop in drawing and painting while gaining a foundation in fine art. Emphasis is on personal advancement. Brief demonstrations and shared examples reinforce the process of learning while sparking inspiration!

A strong foundation in art includes learning: Learn how to compose, identify shapes and relationships etc. techniques such as hatching, cross hatching, how to blend/soften, how to see and interpret shapes and values, color theory (color values) and how to apply it in practice, how to interpret and sketch from life, how to create volume of form through developing values and most importantly, develop an internal artist’s dialogue.

Email ShawnaLee with your student’s interest and availability.

Locations:

Your location*, Instructor’s multipurpose studio in Middlebury, or via Zoom.

Cost:

Private instruction: $75/hour plus a Materials fee for instructor demonstrations (typically $20 to start will cover five lessons). A commitment of at least ten classes is recommended.

Portfolio development lesson program starts at $100/hr.

*travel fees apply for lessons farther than 10 miles.

Youth ages 7 & up
Semi-Private Art Instruction

Grab some friends for your very own Semi-Private Art Lessons!

Learning how to see like an artist is a very important visual skill that becomes a part of your student for the rest of their life. Sharing this with your friends? A cherished lifelong memory!

Semi-Private instruction is tailored to your students current goals and skill set. All lessons are kind and inclusive!

Locations:

Your location*, Instructors multipurpose studio in Middlebury, or via zoom.

Cost:

Up to three students: $100/hr. Thirty dollars each additional student plus materials fee for instructor demonstrations.

A Recommended Materials List for your young artists group will be shared, or you may opt for all materials to be provided by the instructor for an additional fee based on the groups desired focus.

Email ShawnaLee with your student’s interest and availability.

*travel fees apply for lessons farther than 10 miles.

Teens / Adults

Private Art Instruction

Locations: En Plein Air such as a park or other public space; Via Zoom; or other mutually agreeable local space.*

Improve your game with lessons tailored to give you the skills you need to enjoy your time as an artist. Private instruction is tailored to your current skill and directed to provide you with skills that typically take years to master. Lessons in materials, studio safety, and techniques give you the confidence you need to make heads turn.

Learn Drawing, Watercolors, Acrylics, Oils, Pen & ink, Papier mache, hand formed Clay, Pastels, Printmaking etc..

Email ShawnaLee with your student’s interest and availability.

A recommended Materials List for students available upon request.

Private instruction starts at $75/hour plus Materials fee for instructor demonstrations (typically $20 to start covers about 5 classes). Evaluations, if requested, start at $200 and are generally geared towards those wishing for a program specific for portfolio development.

Portfolio development starts at $100/hr.

*travel fees apply for lessons farther than 10 miles.

Woodbury public library

YOUTH: Wednesday July 16th at 3:30pm

ADULT: Saturday July 26th 2pm

register through the library.

Color Our World with Artist ShawnaLee In-Person

This summer our theme is "Color Our World" and artist ShawnaLee will be helping us do just that! 

Embark on a journey of art and creativity, celebrating the myriad ways in which art enriches our lives right here in Woodbury, CT! Our World is an open book! Let’s color it! Learn how to creatively capture the elegant beauty of Our World with colored pencils! From brainstorming & compositional tips to mark making and layering of colors, youth artists will be lead through the process of creating their own drawings that reflect Our World here in Woodbury CT.

You can to bring printed inspirational photographs to reference during our class.*

Adults: You are invited to bring printed photographs of favorite Woodbury scenes to reference. All materials provided, but you are welcome to bring their own.

*if you love to garden, bring photos of your plants! If you love dancing, bring photos of dancers! If you just want to color, we will have you covered here too!

All materials are provided at this fun, hands-on workshop. *recommendations of how art & creativity thrive in our lives includes sports, hobbies, passions, music, fine arts, gardening—anything that captures our hearts and senses! What do you love? Bring pics to be inspired by!!!

This program is sponsored by The Friends of the Woodbury Library!

All classes held at Watertown HS.

SKETCHING ANIMALS 

Wed. Sept 24th; five weeks

Discover how to create more lifelike sketches of your favorite animals! Skills covered in this course include sketching techniques and lessons on how to interpret eyes, ears, noses and fur. Create several sketches of animals of your choosing. The instructor will provide a supply list prior to the first class. S. Kwashnak 

WATERCOLORS OF Autumn

Tuesdays Oct 28th; four weeks

Learn how to paint the vibrant & nuanced colors of Autumn in New England. Skills covered in this course include watercolor techniques, sketching tips, and color mixing. Create your own painting of your favorite Autumn landscape or foliage study. The instructor will provide a supply list prior to the first class. 

Renaissance Inspired Watercolor Painting ONLINE CLASS

Update: Interested? This class (different inspiration) will be offered again soon.)

Thursday Mornings

10-12noon ZOOM

April 10th - May 29th 2025; Next session starts June 5th. (6/5,12,19; skip 26th. July 3, skip 10th, 17,24; Aug. 7,14.)

Fall Class begins Aug. 28th,

Thursdays 10-12 noon
$335 for 8 weeks

Interest/Questions/Register DIRECT with ShawnaLee artist@shawnalee.com

Join ShawnaLee in this eight week online watercolor class. Students will take their inspiration right out of 16th century manuscripts that were illuminated with incredibly detailed paintings of flora, fauna, fruits, and seeds! The first class will focus on exploring and getting comfortable with the drawing and painting techniques involved. In subsequent classes we explore the step-by-step process of creating a Renaissance inspired painting together.  A  PDF of our subject will be emailed to students for convenience printing.

A Zoom link will be sent to registered students by email prior to the start of class. Register and pay directly to the instructor. artist@shawnalee.com

Materials Needed:
Watercolors (choose W&N pan), rinse cup, paper towels, paint brushes (liner & round, and a 1” flat such as from a hardware store), mixing plate/tray, pad of watercolor paper about 11x15” - (hot or cold press is fine), an “H” pencil, kneaded eraser, chopsticks, and low-tack tape.  More specific information on materials may be requested from the instructor: artist@shawnalee.com

Brookfield Craft Center

Watercolors of Fall

Fridays 6 weeks Sept. 19th - Oct. 24th, 9-12 noon

In this six-week watercolor class with ShawnaLee, experience the joy of painting with watercolors!  Learn about the materials and tools for success in addition to techniques fundamental to creating more lifelike art.  Students will gain a deeper understanding of studio practices, exercises and further develop painting skills!  Techniques taught will include washes, charging, color mixing theory etc..  All levels are welcome to join us!  We will be inspired by gathered leaves and acorns and transition to painting autumn views. Students are invited to gather their favorite fall foliage photographs (printed 8x10”ish) for painting later in our course.

Brookfield Craft Center

Sketching Nature

Fridays 6 weeks Sept. 19th - Oct. 24th, 12:30-3:30pm

Albert Einstein once said: “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”  Sketching is a perfect way to help you look deep into nature!  Come join Professional Portrait Artist, ShawnaLee, as you fill your soul and heighten your observational skills in this six-week class. Learn about the materials and tools for sketching in addition to techniques fundamental to creating more lifelike art. Students will benefit from weekly warm up exercises, brief instructor demonstrations and supported practice sketching from life.  All levels welcome. 

Brookfield Craft Center

Mondays  5 weeks Sept. 29th - Oct. 27th 2025, 9-12noon

Watercolor Flowers

Why should spring get all the fun?  Flowers fill our souls and captivate our senses. Georgia O’Keefe once said “if you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for a moment”.

Portraitist, ShawnaLee W. Kwashnak, will lead a five week watercolor class that will enhance each participant’s experience for creating beautiful flower paintings.

Each class will begin with exercises in sketching and watercolor techniques, followed by sketching flowers from life and printed inspirations.  All levels are welcome.

Brookfield Craft Center

Mondays  5 weeks Sept. 29th - Oct. 27th 2025, 12:30-3:30pm

Sketching Cats

Leonardo da Vinci once said that “The smallest feline is a masterpiece.”  Indeed they are!  From outstretched paws to a kitten’s sweet little whiskers, come join Pet Portrait Artist, ShawnaLee W. Kwashnak, as we explore sketching our favorite feline friends!  In this five-week class, students will hone their skills at capturing the masterful details of kitty fur, eyes and pose.  Students will be guided through the process of creating a more lifelike sketch. Weekly warm up exercises and brief instructor demonstrations will be followed by supported sketching of our feline friends.  All levels welcome.

Turn your board room into an art studio! 

Discover your teams artistic side while fostering camaraderie and boosting creativity!  Group lessons begin with learning about materials and practicing  techniques needed to create a more  lifelike sketch. ShawnaLee provides a group demonstration and a pdf visual handout for each member followed by individual support. 

Team members take away new skills, build confidence as artists and art    connoisseurs, foster new hobbies in personal growth and enhance mental health.

 Choose your subject!  Popular group subjects include: Leaves, Acorns, Seashells, pumpkins, winter landscape scenes, Seed Pods, doorways, flowers, etc. Please inquire for subjects specific to your groups wishes!

Two hours; up to 25 team members: Starting at: $350*   $15 each additional person. Plus materials (priced per your groups needs). Program fees may vary.

Book your Group Experience today! artist@shawnalee.com

*plus travel expenses beyond 30 minutes from the artists studio.

Inquire for pricing for Special programming for your group!

Available! Book this class for your group!

ONLINE course (in person if you have a space for us to use. (Space Hosts take the class for free).

four weeks / 2 hour classes

Please let me know your interest and availability - This would be a terrific class for any art group!

$125 pp min. four paid students.

Acclimate yourself to oils in this beginner’s class! Learn basics to understand and successfully create oil paintings. Lessons include palette set-up, tips on mixing colors and studio safety tips.Students will gain experience with Alla-Prima Painting a simple fall foliage landscape.Time allowing, we will explore other approaches such as Grisaille and glazing. A more detailed recommended materials list will be shared with registered students. Class will be taught via Zoom where students have the direct benefit of seeing slides, brief demonstrations, and interactive feedback. Instruction will take place through Zoom.

For more information: artist@shawnalee.com

Available! Book this class for your group!!!

2 hour one time class - great for groups of 10-25!

Capture the beauty of Pumpkins! Symbolic for abundance and our connection with friends and family, the simple pumpkin makes a perfect Autumn subject. From basic mark making to a more developed sketch, ShawnaLee will lead participants through the process of creating their own drawings of Pumpkins!

Guests may bring their own pumpkins and pencils, or sketch from class examples.

All materials provided (and you are welcome to bring your own).

artist@shawnalee.com

Available! Book this class for your group!

4 weeks-6 weeks

2-3 hours / class

Gather your group of artists and host this class at your location!

Oil painters, or beginners looking to hone their observation skills will gain a deeper appreciation for drawing skills as they apply to the oil painting process.

By focusing on leaves or acorns, students will learn how to model the form and experience the subtle shifts of color that create the illusion of 3D on their canvas.

Students will need drawing materials in addition to the oil painting ensemble. More information provided to booked classes.

Watch for future classes! Have a space and a group? Hosts get to take the class for free!

This class is great as a two hour or three hour block. Four, six or eight weeks make nice courses. Interested in an ongoing sketching group that would love opening pointers and support? Let me know!

Artists of all abilities will improve their skill in mark making, observation and ability to model the form.  Lessons will include techniques and methods for creating sketches.  Students will create several small studies with instructor support and gain confidence for creating their own drawings.

Many students take this class to improve their understanding of form for improving their painting process.

For more information: artist@shawnalee.com

Available for booking! Will most likely be scheduled Fall 2025. A three hour block is a nice amount of time per session. Recommended min. of four weeks. Want to move past beginner stage? We’ll need 8-10 weeks! Min. 3 students.

Watercolors are a perfect media for capturing the brilliance of fall foliage!

In this four week class, learn and experience the joy of painting with watercolors. Participants will learn about the materials and techniques that will make watercolor painting a joy! Classes start off with practicing the various techniques together and then transition to self-directed paintings. We will work from fall foliage still lives and learn how to interpret our favorite fall foliage photographs for painting. Different methods of “drawing” for the purpose of watercolor painting will be covered.

Recommended Watercolor class materials for students to gather available: Questions gladly addressed.

Watercolor paper 11×14″ is a good size. Instructor loves 1264 Fabriano or Strathmore watercolor papers.
Assortment of brushes – various sizes and types. (ShawnaLee loves her “mops” size 2 & 8, a liner sized 2; an acrylic round #2, and a 1” flat house brush).
Watercolor paints* – Tube or solid (tube paints need a palette). W&N Cotman or better is recommended. Nice set example here.
Mixing tray/plate
Pencil and an eraser
Paper towels & large rinse cup

Helpful optional items that you may bring for yourself, or borrow from the instructor: Salt, light colored crayons or wax, natural sponge, old toothbrush.

Available!

Watch for when this class is offered again, or host this class for your group!

Artists of all abilities will improve their skill in mark making, observation and ability to model the form.  Lessons will include techniques and methods for creating sketches.  Students will create several small studies and create their own drawing.

Ask about this class! Plan one for your location!

Drawing with Charcoals and finishing with soft pastels is a technique made famous by Edgar Degas (1885) for his “Woman Bathing in Shallow Tub”. In this four week class, learn and experience for yourself the joy of sketching and drawing with Charcoals and pastels!

Participants will learn about the materials and techniques to create dramatic works of art. Artists of all levels are welcome to join! We will be inspired by natural still lives and time allowing, learn how to interpret photographic references.

The instructor will provide a recommended materials list.

These materials are recommended:

Drawing or Sketch paper (you choose the size you are comfortable with) 11x14 through 16x20 is reasonable.
Charcoals – a small assortment of soft vine and pencils. Soft Vine charcoal example. Example set of Generals.
Kneaded eraser
Vinyl eraser
Soft Pastels: Mungyo Gallery Artists' Square Soft Pastels Set of 12 , Asst. Colors SoHo Urban Artist Soft Pastel Half Stick Sets or similar.

Please do not get oil pastels.