October 28 – 30, 2025 | Tuesday-Thursday | 10 am – 5 pm
Medium: Encaustic Painting
Experience Level: Willingness to explore is all you need.
Registration: Each student must register individually. Click the Cancellation Policy tab above for more info.
Materials List: Please click on the tab above to review suggested materials to bring, in addition to what is provided.
Materials Fee: $50 materials fee paid to the instructor on the first day. See Materials List tab above.
Location: Plein Air and in studio/Sedona Arts Center, Theatre Studio.
Join Laura Martinez-Bianco for a three day workshop exploring and creating with encaustics. Laura is New York based artist that works with pastels and encaustics. Many times Laura can be found working with pastels en plein air. Painting on site provides Laura with inspiration and an understanding of light, space and atmosphere. Many of Laura’s pastels become the starting point and often the underpainting for her encaustic work. Laura’s encaustics have been exhibited nationally and belong to many private collections. She has been featured in Encaustic Arts Magazine Winter 2022 – Authentic Serendipity.
This workshop will introduce participants to the medium of encaustic. Encaustic is bees wax/resin and pigment – manipulated and adhered to a rigid surface while molten. This workshop is an introduction to the serendipity of the medium – each participant will create paintings in a safe and controlled environment. During the time allowed participants will work en plein air sketching and gathering information and inspiration for the encaustics they will create. The class structure also provides time for discussion of the history of this ancient medium, view work of contemporary encaustic artists, demonstrations and instruction in application and manipulation of techniques, time to explore and work independently with group critiques.
Laura Martinez-Bianco
Laura Martinez-Bianco lives in the Hudson Valley and appreciates and values the beauty of its landscape. Her paintings are inspired by her surroundings, whether at home or abroad. Laura received her Masters degree in Art Education from SUNY New Paltz and continued to study painting with local artists in the Hudson Valley. After years teaching in the public school and bringing art to students of all ages, Laura continues to teach and host painting workshops in New York, Massachusetts and abroad. Workshops provide her with an opportunity to paint and teach others about the creative painting process. Laura’s work spans a variety of media including pastels and encaustics. Her paintings have been juried into regional and national exhibits receiving numerous awards.
Bristol Museum of Art, RI – 2023 Monumental Miniature Exhibit -Juror’s Award
PPSCC National Pastel Exhibit, MA – 2022 Barbara Stone Memorial Award
Marais Plein Air, MI – 2022 Beauty of Pastel Award
West Reading Plein Air, PA – 2022 Honorable Mention
Sedona Plein Air Festival, AZ – 2021 Quick Draw 3rd place
Artists on Location Knoxville, TN – 2021 Best Landscape Award
Plein Air Plus 2021 National Juried Competition, NJ – 2020 3rd Place
Plein Air Show, Rice Gallery, Overlook KA – 2020 Honorable Mention
Harford Plein Air Festival, Havre de Grace, MD – 2019 People’s Choice Award
Barrett House Juried Members Exhibit, Poughkeepsie, NY – 2018 Juror’s Award
Small Works Exhibit WAAM, Woodstock, NY – 2017
Adirondack Pastel Society National Exhibit, Glens Falls, NY – 2017 Juror’s Award
Adirondack Plein Air Festival and Exhibit, Saranac Lake, NY – 2015 Outstanding Pastel
Solo Exhibit Locust Grove Museum Gallery, Poughkeepsie, NY – 2011
A $50 additional fee paid to the instructor for materials provided-.
Instructor will provide all pastels, paper and encaustic medium, encaustic colors, tools as well as panels.
Participants are welcome to bring their own supplies- soft pastels, paper, unprimed natural wood panels, introductory encaustic color. Old brushes are welcome as well.
Email Laura with any questions about supplies or scope the class: laurambianco@aol.com
Cancellation Policy
Registration and Cancellation Policies
Registration
Each student must enroll individually.
Classes must be paid in full upon registration.
Students may register online or call Sedona Arts Center Office at 928-282-3809, Ext 1 or toll free at 866-282-3809 Ext 1.
Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express are accepted or student may pay with cash or check by registering in person during office hours Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm.
In-Person and Online Classes Cancellation
Payment in full is due upon registration, or a payment plan can be put in place by the student upon check-out through Sezzle.
There is a $125 Cancellation Fee for any cancellations made before September 28, 2025. Remaining balance will be refunded.
There are no refunds after September 28, 2025.
If Sedona Arts Center cancels the workshop for any reason, all payments made will be refunded in full.
Note: If traveling to Sedona, we strongly urge students to purchase refundable airline tickets or travel insurance in case of workshop cancellation due to insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen changes. Sedona Arts Center is not responsible for non-refundable ticket purchases or lodging fees.
Important Message
Sedona Arts Center is not responsible for providing make-up sessions or issuing refunds, credits, or transfers for courses missed as a result of illness, emergencies, or other events beyond our control. There are absolutely no refunds after the cut-off date for any reason, unless Sedona Arts Center has to cancel the workshop, then all fees paid will be refunded in full.
