Two-Day Workshop April 14-15, 2026 (Tuesday/Wednesday)
10:00 AM–4:30 PM Each Day
567 Ponce de Leon Ave, NE, 7th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30308
FREE PARKING
$350 (Space is limited)
Flowers are among the most beautiful and generous models an artist can study. They quietly offer their form, color, and elegance, inviting us to observe closely and translate their beauty into art.
In this two-day workshop, you will learn how to approach flowers as compelling subjects—first through drawing and then through painting. We will explore how to understand floral structure, simplify complex forms, and build strong compositions. You will learn to see values more clearly, mix color with confidence, and handle edges with sensitivity to bring your paintings to life.
The workshop will include live drawing and painting demonstrations, along with individual guidance and critiques to help each student grow and strengthen their skills.
Day One – Drawing Flowers
We will focus on drawing as the foundation for painting. Topics include understanding structure, simplifying forms, recognizing value relationships, and developing strong compositional ideas.
Day Two – Painting Flowers
Using the knowledge from the first day, students will create a flower painting while developing a deeper understanding of color, value, and painterly techniques.
This workshop is designed to help artists see flowers—and painting itself—with greater clarity, confidence, and enjoyment.
Please bring paper that can withstand some erasing, HB pencils, a kneaded eraser, a knife for sharpening pencils, and a piece of sandpaper or a sharpening block.
For Painting
Any painting surface without pronounced texture will work well. I especially enjoy painting flowers on Centurion canvas boards or Ampersand boards. Please bring a variety of brushes—some that can make broad marks and others suitable for smaller, more precise marks. Natural hair brushes work well for washes and blocking in, while synthetic brushes are great for more detailed work. Please bring a drop cloth to protect floors from spillage and splatter.
Paints
Please bring yellow ochre pale, if you have it, or regular yellow ochre, as well as raw umber and burnt sienna. In addition, bring the colors you already have. It is helpful to have white, yellow (both warm and cool), red (warm and cool), blue (warm and cool), green (warm and cool), and black.
About the Artist/Instructor
Olena Babak is Ukrainian born, internationally recognized artist who has received awards from Plein Air Magazine, Oil Painters of America, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Art Renewal Center, Bold Brash and numerous Plein Air competitions across the country including Plein Air Easton, Door County Plein Air, Plein Air Taxes, Lighthouse Plein Air, Wayne Plein Air, Olmsted Plein Air and many more. Her work has been featured numerous times in Plein Air Magazine and Fine Art Connoisseur. Olena was also a recipient of the Hudson River Fellowship, NY and her works appear in numerous publications including "Strokes of Genius" series, the "Poet's and Artists: 100 Great Drawings," and the "Classicist." Formerly teaching graduate students at the Academy of Classical Design, Olena now enjoys traveling all over the country participating in Plein Air/Gallery competitions/events, and teaching workshops.
Selected Recent Awards:
"Matisse Award", "Second Place Quick Draw", Olmsted Plein Air 2024
"First Place", "People's Choice" & "Artist's Choice" Quick Draw Forgotten Coast Plein Air 2023
"Best Use of Light," Plein Air Easton 2023
"Second Place," Door County Plein Air 2023
Cancelation/Refund
Full payment ($350) is required for registration.
In the event of cancelation by Olmsted Arts, registrants will receive a full refund.
Registrants may cancel and request a refund up to two weeks prior to the workshop (by March 31) for a full refund minus a $15 processing fee. Cancelations less than two weeks out will forfeit full registration fee.
Failure to show will forfeit 100% of registration fee.
Questions: 404-282-8283 or phil@olmstedpleinair.com
