25 April 2026
New oil pastel workshop in the ART MASTERS SERIES
“Inspired by Matisse and the colors of joyful living”
The Art Masters Series is a journey through the minds and methods of the painters who changed how we see the world — not by reproducing their iconic works, but by stepping inside their thinking. Each session, we pick up a new technique and a new way of seeing, and carry it into our own oil pastel practice.
So far we’ve slowed down with Monet to understand how background color breathes life into a composition; wandered into Klimt’s lesser-known landscapes before adding his signature golden shimmer; and roughed up the surface with Van Gogh’s bold, pastose mark-making. This time, we turn to Henri Matisse — the painter who dared to make joy a serious artistic statement.
Matisse spent his life insisting that color, pattern and light were not decorative afterthoughts, but the very architecture of emotion. His still lives and interiors are worlds unto themselves: layered with patterns and color, radiating an almost unreasonable sense of warmth and joy. We’ll use his still lives and domestic scenes as our starting point, learning to build composition the way Matisse did: through relationships between colors rather than through line and shadow alone.
This approach translates beautifully into oil pastels. The medium’s color generosity and tactility is a natural match for Matisse’s saturated palette. His influence echoes strongly through contemporary illustration and graphic art — in the flat fields of color, the bold outlines, the confidence to leave things simple and still make them sing. In this workshop, we’ll borrow a little of that confidence for ourselves.
What to expect from this workshop:
- Exploring Matisse’s color philosophy and his use of bold, expressive palettes
- Playing with pattern, flatness, and decorative composition
- Learning how to use color contrast to create mood and energy
- Step-by-step guidance
- Two levels of difficulty for you to choose from
- All materials included
- Friendly relaxed atmosphere in the heart of Dresden-Neustadt
No prior art experience required, jump right in!
The details
💰 €55 - regular price
💰 €50 - Early Bird (valid until 13th April) or Bring-a-friend price (per person)
⏰ When: 25. April (Tuesday), 11.00–13.00
📍 Where: Drinnen&Draußen, Kamenzerstr. 62, Dresden
Sign up via [email protected]
or reserve your spot immediately via PayPal [email protected]
Want an extra discount? Sign up to my “Notes from the studio” email list to get an extra 10% off the Early-bird price. Sign up here!