A three-part workshop co-taught by Mia Bergeron & Christopher Groves.
2024
Part I:
Lecture/Demo via ZOOM
Sundays, February 11,18,25 & March 3
2-4 pm EST
Part II:
Feedback | Check-in Session via ZOOM
Sunday, March 24
2-5 pm EST
Part III:
Putting it All Together:
In-Person Workshop @Townsend Atelier
April 26 & 27
10 am-4 pm EST
“How do you come up with your ideas for your paintings”? This is a question that arises for many artists as they want to move beyond focusing solely on technique or copying from a photograph. This three-part workshop has been designed by two professional artists who are continually exploring how to build ideas for content and narrative into their own work. Chris Groves and Mia Bergeron will share how they develop, cull, prioritize and refine their ideas prior to ever putting brush to canvas.
Some examples of ideas that will be discussed:
Synesthesia
Writing for visual brainstorming
Visual attention in daily life
Power of sketch
Abstractions around us
Nostalgia and Memory as muses
Compiling, studying, and sifting through subjects
Studying other art forms for inspiration
THE FORMAT:
This three-part workshop has been designed to help artists find, develop, and execute ideas for their paintings. The first two sessions will be held via ZOOM over the course of several months to give everyone plenty of time to build their ideas and get feedback from the instructors. The final session will culminate with an in-person workshop at Townsend Atelier where participants will work on their paintings with the guidance of both Mia and Chris in the studio.
Part I: LECTURES | DEMOS via ZOOM
Sundays, February 11,18, 25, March 3
2-4 pm EST
Mia and Chris will each give two lectures focused on explaining how they process and think about painting ideas. Images, Photoshop, and demonstrations with explanations will all be covered. The first 2 Zoom lectures will cover various brainstorming methods in order to create the idea, intention, or theme for the painting. The remaining 2 Zoom lectures will cover the gathering of information, research, and initial development of the painting process, with respect to the selected idea.
This lecture session will also be open to the public and will be recorded. As a participant in the workshop, you will automatically be enrolled and will receive the recordings.
Part II: CHECK-IN | FEEDBACK SESSION
Sunday, March 24
2-5 pm EST
This is a Zoom session dedicated to individual feedback. Co-taught by Chris and Mia, participants will use some of the ideas and skills discussed in the prior lectures to have a dialogue with Chris and Mia and work at culling ideas of their own for future paintings.
Part III: PAINTING WORKSHOP
April 26 & 27 | 10 am-4 pm EST
in person at Townsend Atelier
In-depth teachings, discussions, and demonstrations by both Mia and Chris. Participants will have all their information and images ready prior to this workshop (through the feedback Zoom session). Technical painting help will be given throughout the workshop, and in-person feedback, tips, tools, and advice will be at the core of this two-day session. The goal of this class is to share, engage, re-imagine the process, and have ideas sculpted into usefulness in the studio. Participants will work independently, in a group, and assisted, reflective of the fluctuations of a creative life. Open to all artists with intermediate technical skills. This workshop will be taught in oils, but acrylics are also welcome.
About the artists: 
Mia Bergeron is a classically trained oil painter that uses modern techniques and concepts to create layered imaginative works. Imagery in her work often oscillates between the fictitious and the observed in equal parts.
Rooted in her upbringing in New York City with continuous exposure to modern art, her paintings also reveal her choice to study classical painting in Florence, Italy under Charles H. Cecil in her twenties. Heavily influenced by historical artists such as Diego Velázquez, Titian, Anthony van Dyck, and John Singer Sargent, her paintings are also shaped by contemporary artists such as Alex Kanevsky, Ann Gale, and Adrian Ghenie.
For Mia, the process of making paintings is similar to meditation. Each painting is the listening and contemplating of the surrounding world. The minutes at the easel are similar to focusing on the breath- there are times when the scrutiny is welcomed and quiet, and other times when the mind is loud and unintelligible. It is this dynamic contrast that is at the center of Mia’s paintings. This dualistic nature of life is what pushes and inspires her work.
Mia has been published numerous times in international magazines. Her painting “Tranquil Ghosts” was the cover image for the January 2022 Issue of American Art Collector Magazine. She continues to teach workshops at Townsend Atelier, Chattanooga. She and her husband, artist John McLeod, live in Red Bank.
Christopher E . Groves:
OPA, ASMA studied at the Florence Academy of Art, Italy, and the CAA Atelier Colorado– Classical Academy where he was the lead Landscape Instructor from 2004-2008. He also has a BFA in Environmental Design/Architecture from Colorado University. He is a member of Oil Painters of America – Signature Membership, American Impressionist Society, American Society of Marine Artists – Signature Membership, and Plein Air Painters of the Southeast. He has received numerous awards for his work including: the OPA National Juried Exhibition 2016, Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX; Virtuosos of the OPA Exhibition 2015, Salmagundi Club, NYC, NY; OPA National Juried Exhibition 2014, Bennington Fine Art, Bennington, VT. His work can be found at Anderson Fine Art – St Simons, GA; Horton Hayes Fine Arts – Charleston, SC; Lagerquist Gallery – Atlanta, GA; Shain Gallery – Charlotte, NC; CAG – Greenville, NC; Mary Williams Fine Art – Boulder, CO; and Mackinac Fine Art – Mackinac Island, MI.
We are unable to issue refunds or exchanges for visiting artist workshops unless the workshop is cancelled by Townsend Atelier or unless we have a waiting list and can fill the cancelled spot with another student.
