Wow, Gerri Willging is an amazing teacher! She freely and generously shares the knowledge she has gained from more than 50 years of painting and 40 years of teaching. At 84, she is still vibrant, energetic, and incredibly enthusiastic about helping others grow as artists. This morning was the second day of her six-week class, and it was inspiring to watch both her teaching process and the students' progress. Gerri has been teaching workshops at The Artists Playground for over

Figure 1. The finished painting. The goal was to express joy through bold color, energetic movement, and strong yellow-blue contrasts. If you've ever stared at a blank canvas and thought, "Now what?” you’re not alone. Painting rarely starts with perfect execution. It starts with an idea, followed by experimentation, uncertainty, and often a surprising number of do-overs. I wanted to share the process behind one of my recent paintings—not because it went smoothly, but because

"What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon! Loosening Up was so much fun, and seeing what others accomplished in the class was inspiring." Melissa Shea Mills At The Artists Playground, we've started offering Loosen Up workshops — three-hour sessions held on Saturday afternoons at our Newburyport studio. These workshops are built around one idea: step outside your comfort zone, try something new, and actually have fun doing it. As adults, most of us have lost the ability

Painters paint for many reasons. Some want to express themselves, while others want to depict an object realistically, almost photographically. Some chase a feeling, like joy. Others are attracted to pattern or thick brushstrokes. If a painter gets excited about sunlight and wants to show it in their work, there are several steps to follow: line, mass, form, and finally sunlight and shadows. The first three apply to the start of most paintings. After that, the painter may wan

This article comes from a workshop at The Artist’s Playground — a fun and relaxed session all about experimenting with edges in painting. Learning to control your edges is one of the clearest signs of an accomplished painter. Whether you’re painting at home or attending an art class here in Newburyport , understanding when to soften or sharpen an edge can completely change how your artwork feels. In this exercise, we’ll practice controlling edges in a relaxed, no-pressure way

Join our relaxing 6-week watercolor painting class in Newburyport, MA. Learn to paint flowers with Ashley’s kind, patient guidance. Call us!

Learn how to master warm lights, cool shadows, and shadow linking in your paintings. Join The Artist’s Playground in Newburyport, MA for hands-on adult art classes that elevate your technique.

One of the key techniques we explore in our adult art classes at The Artists Playground in Newburyport, MA is aerial perspective —a...

Learn how to use complementary colors in your paintings to create mood, contrast, and emotion. Explore fun, beginner-friendly color theory exercises from our adult art classes in Newburyport, MA.

Inspiration can come from the most unexpected places—and sometimes, from someone much younger than you might imagine. Recently, our dear...

Looking for a simple, relaxing way to spark your creativity? At The Artists Playground , we love sharing techniques that help anyone—no...

If you've ever searched for art classes in Newburyport or wanted to explore your creative side in a warm, supportive environment,...

A Powerful Tool for Creating Visual Balance Composition simply means putting things together—whether it's writing a report, arranging...

During the COVID-19 crisis in February 2021, I began what would become my Spirit Angels series — a spiritual painting series inspired by a moment of creative discovery.

We’re beyond excited to share that The Artists Playground was featured on page 60 of the Spring edition of Newburyport Magazine ! The...

We are thrilled to introduce our brand-new website and invite you to explore everything we have to offer at The Artist’s Playground in Newbu