New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts

See what’s happening at NOAFA this week!

These photos are from our summer semester classes: Abstract Realism, Open Studio Figure Study, Expressive Drawing, and Spoon Jewelry.

Which of these classes would you be most interested in taking?

There are still spots left in this 3 day workshop: Light & Atmosphere in Watercolor Workshop with Sean Friloux

June 25th - 27th

Day 1, Day 2 & Day 3
8:00 AM–11:00 AM | Plein Air Painting at Audubon Park

Break

1:00 PM–4:00 PM | Studio Session (Main Building, 2nd Floor Painting)

Join us for three immersive days of watercolor painting in Audubon Park, where centuries-old live oaks, lagoons, birdlife, and ever-changing light create the perfect outdoor studio.

DAY 1 — SEEING SHAPES, VALUES & ATMOSPHERE

Location: Audubon Park Fountain (St. Charles Ave Entrance)

Morning Focus:
• Simplifying complex landscapes
• Thumbnail sketches
• Strong value patterns
• Capturing morning light

Demonstration:
• 20-minute watercolor landscape

Plein Air Exercise:
• Limited-palette landscape study or sketch

Afternoon Studio Session:
• Painting from observation vs. photographs
• Color temperature and atmospheric perspective
• Common watercolor mistakes and corrections

Studio Exercise:
• Transform morning studies into stronger compositions

DAY 2 — TREES, WATER & REFLECTIONS

Location: Audubon Park Fountain (St. Charles Ave Entrance)

Morning Focus:
• Southern live oaks and Spanish moss
• Water reflections
• Lost-and-found edges
• Negative painting techniques

Demonstration:
• Painting the character of an oak canopy

Plein Air Exercises:
• Tree portrait study
• Reflection study
• Medium-format landscape

Afternoon Studio Session:
• Design and focal points
• Strengthening compositions
• Color mixing workshop

Critique & Coaching:
• Group review of outdoor paintings
• Individual instruction

DAY 3 — CREATING A FINISHED PIECE

Location: Audubon Park

Choose Your Subject:
• Tree of Life
• Lagoon scene
• Bird Island views
• Oak alleys

Goals:
• Independent painting
• Instructor coaching
• Refining personal style

Afternoon Studio Session:

Final Project:
• One fully resolved watercolor (11” × 15” or 15” × 22”)

Topics:
• Finishing touches
• Edge control
• Presentation and matting

Closing Critique (3:00 PM–4:00 PM)

All Levels Welcome — Beginner through Advanced

Check out some of our upcoming 1-2 day workshops at The Academy! Visit www.noafa.org/classes to secure your spot.

It’s not too late to sign up for Beginner/Intermediate Still Life Oil Painting on Saturdays from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

6/13/2026 - 8/1/2026

This section is for both beginner and intermediate oil painters. Through the use of inanimate objects in pictorial compositions, students will learn to observe three dimensional objects and translate them into two dimensional works of art.

Topics covered include:

Composition
Color theory
Various painting techniques

Intermediate students will receive instruction and guidance based on their interests and level of proficiency.

Some long overdue snaps from our Spring Art Fest🌿

We are so grateful for our talented students that made this event so unique and lively!

There are still spots left in these painting and drawing classes with

Visit Noafa.org/classes to sign up!

Check out some of our youth classes and adult open studio classes that still have spots available in our Summer Session!

Visit Noafa.org/classes to register

There’s still time to join the fun — several Summer Session classes still have spots available! Beat the heat and spend your summer creating and staying cool at the Academy (the A/C is on full blast ❄️)

Register today at Noafa.org/classes

We’re excited to announce that we will be having a Spoon Jewelry workshop on Friday, June 3rd from 10AM - 3PM.

Students will learn basic metal smithing skills including sawing, bending, hammering, and soldering. You can thrift your own silver spoon or we will have extras!

To sign up visit Noafa.org/classes