Making Your Colors Come Alive: Painting Vibrantly from Photos

Description

Making Your Colors Come Alive: Painting Vibrantly from Photos
with Howard Friedland, OPAM AISM PAPA

Wednesday-Friday | May 13-15, 2026 | 9 am – 4 pm

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome
Medium: Oil
Materials List: Click the tab above for a list of materials students need to bring with them.
Registration: Each student needs to enroll individually.
Location: Sedona Arts Center, Art Barn building.

When we conduct field studies on location, we have a short window of time to find an appealing subject, compose it, and get the values and colors right. All this while the light is rapidly changing!

Taking a photo is a good way to capture a moment in time. The problem with photos is, they don’t usually capture the excitement that you felt when you were there.

In this studio painting workshop, you’ll learn how to interpret photo reference without copying it. I will demonstrate how to create atmosphere and harmony in your work, bringing your paintings to life with vibrant, expressive color that goes far beyond the information in your photo.

Lectures, demonstrations, and critiques will be offered.

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Howard Friedland

Howard Friedland was born in New York City and showed an early aptitude for the arts. He attended the prestigious High School of Music and Art, where his artistic journey began in earnest. He went on to study graphic arts at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in Manhattan, one of the nation’s top schools for visual arts.

After college, Friedland began a successful career in advertising, serving as an art director at prominent agencies along Madison Avenue. In 1972, he relocated to Miami, Florida, continuing his work in advertising while rekindling his passion for ﬁne art. He began studying oil and pastel painting at the Miami Art Center, attending night classes to reﬁne his technique and rediscover his artistic voice.

Driven by a desire to fully immerse himself in the art world, Friedland moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. There, he balanced agency work with a deepening commitment to painting, inspired by the region’s stunning landscapes and rich culture. In 1995, he moved to Taos, New Mexico—an iconic American art colony—where the dramatic scenery and vibrant artistic community profoundly inﬂuenced his work.

In 1997, Friedland met acclaimed watercolorist Susan Blackwood. Their connection was immediate and powerful, and within six months, he relocated to Bozeman, Montana, to be with her. They married soon after and began a remarkable creative partnership. Together, they nurtured their painting careers, earning numerous top awards and invitations to teach workshops across the globe.
Howard Friedland is known for his luminous landscapes and masterful use of color and light. His work is widely collected, and his inﬂuence as both a teacher and mentor continues to inspire artists around the world.

A Master Signature Member of both the Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society, Friedland is also a Signature Member of the prestigious Plein Air Painters of America. As a former board member of the Oil Painters of America, his contributions to the art community extend far beyond his personal work, creating a lasting legacy of mentorship and artistic excellence.

Cancellation Policy

Registration:

Each student must enroll individually.
Students may register online or by calling the Sedona Arts Center’s Office at 928-282-3809, 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 Workshops Registration/Cancellation Policy:

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 15% Cancellation Fee for any cancellations made before April 13, 2026. Remaining balance will be refunded.
There are no refunds after April 13, 2026.
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 Cancellation Policy Message:

The 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 the Sedona Arts Center has to cancel the workshop, then all fees paid will be refunded in full.

Linda Shoults, Indiana

"I have taken four workshops from Howard Friedland and from the very first workshop he has helped me evolve into a more accomplished painter by instilling a better understanding of color, atmospheric perspective and composition. I did a grist mill painting and learned about the quality of reflections in water related to color, which was really eye opening for me. Some of the best information he shared was to consider how to use color and brushstrokes to bring your viewer to your center of interest and this is advice I use in every painting. The professional look that my paintings now have is due to the improved skills that I attribute to workshops with Howard. His critiques are right on target and he has the ability to not only show you how to make changes to make your painting better, but he can articulate how to accomplish this goal. Not all teachers have this gift. Howard is a dedicated teacher who unselfishly focuses on helping his students become better painters."

Mary Mosey – Petoskey, MI

Wow! You go so far beyond the normal and expected for instructors! You are truly a gift to students and I hope you know how much we appreciate your kindness.