New Mexico Art League

Just Added: July Workshop

DANCE OF THE BRUSH: ASIAN BRUSHWORK
with Pat Marsello

July 21, 22, 23
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
10 AM - 3 PM

Brushwork is an artform that is ancient in its tradition, beginning with the first use of brushes in China 4000 years ago. From the established artist to the first-time painter, control of the brush is essential, and that control is the focus of this 3-day workshop.

After a review of the 5 main brushstrokes, we will learn modified versions of these strokes as well as introducing color and washes, always returning to a focus on the dance between brush, ink and paper. Digging deeply into the nuance of each stroke; noting the charge, the conditioning and the pressure on the brush; all of this combined will build an awareness of just how much one stroke can accomplish. We will paint a bird, a flower and a simple landscape and one of these subjects you will use to paint the scroll you take home.

All painting levels are welcome, from complete beginners to experienced artists seeking to strengthen their brushwork and expand their artistic vocabulary.

Visit http://bit.ly/NMArtLeague for more information and to register.

Dive into a world of microscopic inspiration, using collage, paint, ink, and found materials to build richly layered biomorphic artworks inspired by nature's most intricate forms.

BIOMORPHIC ABSTRACTION:
MIXED MEDIA ART INSPIRED BY NATURE
with Lea Anderson

July 6 - July 10
Monday - Friday
10AM - 3PM

Are you inspired by the intricate designs found in nature? In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore an exciting mix of collage, ink, acrylic media, and found materials to create richly layered, biomorphic compositions. Drawing inspiration from cells, fungi, diatoms, amoebae, pollen, and other microscopic and organic forms, you’ll experiment, layer, and invent, building your own imagined natural worlds through texture, pattern, and abstraction.

Visit http://bit.ly/NMArtLeague for more information and to register.

Learn Figure Drawing from Tony Ryder

INTRODUCTION TO FIGURE DRAWING
IN GRAPHITE AND WHITE CHALK ON TONED PAPER
with Tony Ryder

August 3 - August 7
Monday - Friday
9AM - 4PM

Days begin with a two-hour demonstration, during which Tony talks about what and how he’s drawing and how he’s thinking while he draws. Students draw from the model for the remainder of the day while Tony works with each in turn, offering individualized advice. Participants learn a refined, articulate, "long pose" drawing style, working on a single drawing for the week, and focusing on patience, craft and observation.

The traditional art of figure drawing, from the Renaissance until the present day, incorporates two major areas of study, one outward, visible and practical, having to do with how to draw, and the other inward and theoretical, having to do with what we draw: our awareness of visual experience. The quality and grace of a draftsman’s work are based on these two factors.

Anthony Ryder is an able and energetic instructor with forty years of experience as a teacher of drawing and oil painting from life. His unique instructional style combines careful personal attention to each student with in-depth class demonstrations. He studied for six years in New York and France with the renowned oil painter Ted Seth Jacobs. He has taught at the Art Students League of New York, New York Academy of Art, Ecole Albert Defois, Studio Escalier, Gage Academy, BACAA, and numerous other schools. He is the owner and principal instructor of The Ryder Studio school (theryderstudio.com) in Santa Fe, NM, and the author of The Artist's Complete Guide to Figure Drawing, published by Watson-Guptill in 2000.

Visit http://bit.ly/NMArtLeague for more information and to register.

Explore the fundamentals of strong visual design using text through a series of striking black-and-white mixed media compositions.

BLACK & WHITE COMPOSITIONS: EXPLORING TEXT IN ABSTRACT ART
with Laura Balombini

July 24, 25, 26
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
10AM - 3PM

What’s one of the most essential elements in creating a strong work of art? Composition. In this class, we’ll explore that idea through a bold black-and-white approach, using contrast, balance, and visual rhythm to guide our designs. Working on three 8" x 8" cradled wood panels, you’ll experiment with paper, paint, and text in a variety of forms. Text will become a key design element—applied through collage, block printing, stenciling, or direct writing—to help unify your work. By creating a small series, you’ll have the opportunity to test ideas, refine your approach, and develop a cohesive abstract vision across multiple surfaces.

Visit http://bit.ly/NMArtLeague for more information and to register.

Discover the timeless appeal of mandalas as you create artwork that reflects balance, meaning, and personal expression.

MANDALA STUDIO: EXPLORE PATTERN, COLOR AND FORM
with Pamela Barcita

August 11 - August 14
Tuesday - Friday
10AM - 3PM

Discover the beauty and meaning of mandalas in this inspiring, hands-on workshop. Derived from the Sanskrit word for “circle,” mandalas have been created across cultures for centuries, symbolizing unity, balance, and the cycle of life. Today, they are also widely used as a calming, meditative art form. In this workshop, you’ll create one or more of your own unique mandalas, drawing on traditional inspiration or your own contemporary style. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to explore. Work in any medium you enjoy, from pencil and paint to collage, mixed media, or fabric. The instructor will share examples and guidance throughout, helping you relax, spark your creativity, and create artwork that is both meaningful and uniquely yours.

Visit http://bit.ly/NMArtLeague for more information and to register.

CELEBRATE ART AND NATURE WITH OUR FEATURED ARTISTS

"Meet the Artists" Reception
TOMORROW, Saturday, June 13 from 4pm - 6pm

"The Natural World"

From delicate butterflies to majestic elephants, from cascading waterfalls and towering mountains to oceans, jungles, and blooming flowers, this exhibition celebrates the wonder, diversity, and interconnections of life on Earth. Artists capture the beauty, power, and mystery of our shared natural world.

Exhibition Dates:
May 28 - July 7, 2026

Visit http://bit.ly/NMArtLeague to view online gallery.

All works are by New Mexico artists.
All works are for sale.

images:
Oh! A Beauty Photo
by Sharon Mikkelson
pastel, 9" x 7"

Great Pacific
by Brooke Reedlunn
watercolor, 14" x 10"

Porcupine Lazy Days
by Colleen Shackley
watercolor, 8 x 10”

Murmurs through the Aspen Grove
by Gaylene Harms
oil on canvas, 30" x 24"

CALL FOR ENTRIES
"Land of Enchantment"

Inspired by New Mexico's sweeping vistas, dramatic skies, and luminous light, this exhibition celebrates the landscapes that define our region. From desert horizons to mountain peaks, artists are invited to capture the awe and spirit of a place that has long stirred creativity and wonder.

Exhibition Dates:
September 3 - October 10, 2026

Entry Deadline: July 11, 2026

This exhibit will be in the gallery and online. The New Mexico Art League Exhibition Committee will jury exhibit.

Visit http://bit.ly/NMArtLeague for prospectus and entry form.

image by J. Waid Griffin

Transform still lifes and landscapes into vibrant, intuitive works through energetic mark-making, layered textures, and fearless experimentation. Using acrylics, spray paint, stencils, metal leaf, and collage, you’ll create dynamic large-scale paintings while exploring the exciting space between representation and abstraction.

MIXED MEDIA MAGIC
with Alice Webb

July 27 - July 31, Monday - Friday
10 AM - 3 PM

Visit http://bit.ly/NMArtLeague for more information and to register.

Discover a fresh way to display watercolor and gouache... no glass, no glare required. Learn how to paint on prepared panels, seal your work for a clean contemporary finish, and even frame it yourself so you leave with small works ready to hang and enjoy.

GOUACHE, WATERCOLOR, AND FRAMING WITHOUT GLASS
with Cynthia Inson

June 16 - June 19, Tuesday - Friday
10 AM - 3 PM

Visit http://bit.ly/NMArtLeague for more information and to register.