2026 Winter Workshops
Winter Term Dates: January 5 – March 13, 2026
Registration Opens: Monday, November 24, 2025
The first half of winter term begins: Monday, January 5, 2026
The second half of winter term begins: Monday, February 9, 2026
Click here for DIGITAL BROCHURE
The VBMA will have a full schedule of classes and workshops throughout the Winter Term, available both weekdays and weekends. A variety of five- and ten-week sessions will be available in a wide array of mediums and topics.
2026 SPRING TERM REGISTRATION INFORMATION
2026 Spring Term Registration Information
Workshops from March 16– May 23, 2026
Registration Information
Registration opens Monday, February 2, 2026, at 9 a.m. Register online at www.vbmuseum.org. All registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Instructors
VBMA instructors are experienced teachers with rich education and studio backgrounds in addition to being professional artists. Full bios are available on the VBMA’s website.
Materials
Tuition does not cover the cost of materials used for students’ own production unless stated otherwise. Materials lists for each course or workshop are available on the website.
Cancellations
Courses are canceled if minimum enrollment is not met. If a course is canceled, the VBMA will inform students one week in advance to offer a refund or a transfer to another course of equal value.
Guest Policy
We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests in any art studio, humanities, or film class.
Waiting Lists
The Education Department maintains waiting lists for all filled classes. Please contact the VBMA to be placed on a waiting list. No deposit is necessary to hold a space.
Workshop Refund Policy
Refund requests must be made through the Education Department at least two weeks prior to the first day of the workshop. A $25 administrative fee will be assessed on all refunds.
NEW Colors and Textures of Venice
Joel Johnson
Intermediate and advanced levels
This workshop will deal with the elements of color, texture, and values that make up the uniqueness of the Venetian city-scape. The instructor will provide both the drawing and the image to be painted in the workshop. Demonstration will encourage the direction of the painting for students to follow and interpret. Previous examples will aid in giving students visual painting ideas related to the image to be created in the workshop. Individual and group critiques will add to the learning process. Click here for a list of recommended supplies. Click here for a list of recommended supplies.
April 24 – 26, 2026
Friday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Studio 2 and 3
#26SWS-04 $510 (VBMA members $430
Register for #26SWS-04
Joel Johnson has a B.F.A. in art from Westminster College and M.F.A. in painting and art history from Utah State University. A career artist, Joel has received numerous awards, exhibited in many national shows and has been featured in many fine art galleries throughout the country. Joel is a member of the National Watercolor Society and the Transparent Watercolor Society. He is also an exhibiting artist at the Prix de West in Oklahoma City at the Cowboy Heritage Museum. This will be his fifth year and in 2021 he was awarded the Donald Teague award for Outstanding Work on Paper. His work has been featured in Southwest Art magazine and also Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. His work is represented by Mountain Trails Fine Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Visit www.artistjoeljohnson.com
NEW Painting the Highwaymen Way
Ray McLendon
Beginner to intermediate levels
Experience the vibrant legacy of the Florida Highwaymen in an immersive acrylic painting experience led by a second-generation Highwaymen artist. Participants explore bold color, expressive brushwork, and dynamic composition through techniques passed down across generations. Step-by-step instruction guides students in creating a Florida landscape while gaining foundational skills, professional insight, and historical context that honors the spirit of Old Florida and this influential art movement. Click here for the recommended supply list.
May 1 – 3, 2026
Friday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studios 2 and 3
#26SWS-05 $510 (VBMA members $430)
Register for #26SWS-05
Ray McLendon spent much of his childhood in Florida, where he was deeply influenced by his father, Roy A. McLendon, one of the original Florida Highwaymen. As a young boy, Ray helped craft frames for his father’s paintings and often accompanied him on the road, gaining early exposure to the artistic lifestyle. After earning a B.A. in Social Work from Kutztown University, Ray returned to Florida and began painting with his father’s encouragement. He has now been painting for over 25 years, continuing in the traditional Highwaymen style that he grew up with. Once considered street painters, the Highwaymen have since gained recognition for their distinctive and vibrant Florida landscapes. Ray carries on this legacy, exhibiting his work at art shows and museums throughout Florida.
