“But that’s how it looked.” is a common cry from artists when defending any stumbling blocks in their paintings. This is one of the earliest excuses artists learn to lean on. It’s a favorite crutch best discarded since art is about creating, not copying. In this two day, plein air, landscape workshop we will focus on strengthening those creative legs, elevating the imagination and ditching the crutch of “But that’s how it looked.”
Additional discussions will touch on:
• The importance of “Thinking More Before Painting More” – TM • PM
• Contrast in your paintings beyond just value contrasts
• Talking to yourself, constantly asking yourself questions and the importance of self-critiquing
• Simple tips in dealing with painting outsides in Mother Nature’s ever-changing conditions
During the workshop, we’ll be having lots of fun doing lots of thinking and painting. During the first day we’ll talk a little, I’ll demo a little, and you’ll be painting and sketching a lot. The second day will be a bit of the same in the morning and then you’ll have several hours to create your masterpiece (no pressure). At 2:30, we will pack-up and go to The Galleries at the Heartland Art Club for more conversions and your painting’s critique. We’ll also have some drawings for any of my demos that survive the weekend.
Heartland Art Club Members: Enter the member discount code to get 10% off at checkout.
Forgot the discount code? Check your email first—we send members a quarterly email reminder with the member discount code. If you still can’t find it, please email us (art@heartlandartclub.org) with your name, email address, and phone number—we’ll verify your membership status and send you the code.
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Read the Workshop & Class Information & Policies
2 Day Workshop
When: October 24 through October 25, 2026, 9 AM to 4 PM
Class will begin at 9:00 AM and end at 4:00 PM
Limited to 15 participants.
Location:
Kirkwood Park
111 S Geyer Rd, Saint Louis, MO 63122
AND
Galleries of Heartland Art Club
101A West Argonne
Kirkwood, Missouri 63122
About Shawn Cornell
As a plein air painter, Shawn is outdoors year round attempting to capture on canvas the wonders and beauty of Missouri’s four seasons. His paintings are neither cutting edge nor deep in metaphorical meaning, they’re simply stories about brief moments that he has experienced and witnessed during his excursions. He hopes these stories connect with the viewer, sparking a fond memory, a sense of familiarity or a bit of humor. Each painting is documented with its location, date, time of day, weather conditions, and brief observations about the day. Many have referred to this documentation as the painting’s birth certificate.
Email: mshawncornellstudio@gmail.com
Website: mshawncornellstudio.com