Grow your skills. Find your people. Fuel your art.
The Heritage Fine Arts Guild Offers a variety of Workshops and Events throughout the year.
Our Workshops are reasonably priced and feature local and national instructors in a variety of mediums.
Try something new! Join us for one of our upcoming workshops!
Workshops are for all levels in a fun and encouraging environment!
Our Workshops are reasonably priced and feature local and national instructors in a variety of mediums.
Try something new! Join us for one of our upcoming workshops!
Workshops are for all levels in a fun and encouraging environment!
Let's FIGURE It Out: Representation to Imagination - with Cliff Austin
An Open Media Figure Workshop
September 26, 2026
9am-3pm
Ascension Lutheran Church
An Open Media Figure Workshop
September 26, 2026
9am-3pm
Ascension Lutheran Church
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Workshop Description:
Join artist and instructor Cliff Austin for a full-day workshop that explores the creative path from direct observation to personal artistic expression. Working from a live model in the morning and developing artwork in their medium of choice in the afternoon, participants will discover how a simple sketch can evolve into a uniquely personal work of art. |
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The day begins with a series of quick gesture drawings designed to loosen up the hand and sharpen observation skills. As the morning progresses, poses will become longer, allowing artists to explore form, proportion, movement, and character. Cliff will demonstrate drawing techniques throughout the session, working primarily in charcoal while offering practical tips to strengthen figure drawing skills. Individual guidance will be available throughout the workshop.
In the afternoon, participants will shift from representation to imagination, using their morning sketches as inspiration for more developed artwork. Cliff will begin with a brief lecture and demonstration before guiding artists as they interpret, simplify, embellish, or transform their studies into finished pieces. Whether your goal is realism, impressionism, abstraction, or something entirely your own, this workshop encourages creative exploration while building a stronger foundation in figure studies.
Open Media:
Artists working in drawing, pastel, watercolor, acrylic, oil, or mixed media are welcome. All skill levels are encouraged to participate.
Supply List (recommended for Morning Drawing Session):
Note: Standing while drawing is encouraged when possible, but artists are welcome to work seated on sketch pads and/or tabletop easels.
Artists working in drawing, pastel, watercolor, acrylic, oil, or mixed media are welcome. All skill levels are encouraged to participate.
Supply List (recommended for Morning Drawing Session):
- 18" x 24" newsprint pad
- Soft willow charcoal
- NuPastels (optional)
- Drawing board
- Clips or tape
Note: Standing while drawing is encouraged when possible, but artists are welcome to work seated on sketch pads and/or tabletop easels.
Artist Bio:
Cliff Austin is a graduate of Denver Institute of Technology and the Rocky Mountain School of Art. Since graduating from RMSA in 1980, he has built a distinguished career as both a painter and illustrator. Cliff is affiliated with numerous Colorado art organizations including the Pastel Society of Colorado, the Plein Air Artists Colorado, the Oil Painters of America, and the American Impressionists Society.
A sought-after instructor, Cliff has taught at the Curtis Center for the Arts and other organizations throughout Colorado, including the Heritage Fine Arts Guild, where he presented Pastel Painting from Photographs in the fall of 2022. Visit http://www.cliffaustin.com/ to learn more about Cliff.
Cliff Austin is a graduate of Denver Institute of Technology and the Rocky Mountain School of Art. Since graduating from RMSA in 1980, he has built a distinguished career as both a painter and illustrator. Cliff is affiliated with numerous Colorado art organizations including the Pastel Society of Colorado, the Plein Air Artists Colorado, the Oil Painters of America, and the American Impressionists Society.
A sought-after instructor, Cliff has taught at the Curtis Center for the Arts and other organizations throughout Colorado, including the Heritage Fine Arts Guild, where he presented Pastel Painting from Photographs in the fall of 2022. Visit http://www.cliffaustin.com/ to learn more about Cliff.
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Adventures in Abstraction - with Ellen Moershel
An Open Media Workshop October 10, 2026 9am-3pm Ascension Lutheran Church |
Adventures in Abstraction with Ellen Moershel - Non-HFAG Member - $75 |
Adventures in Abstraction with Ellen Moershel - HFAG Member - $35 |
Workshop Description:
This workshop will be structured around abstract drawing and painting. It will include exercises in drawing from memory, nostalgia, and visceral feeling. Attendees will be working on creating from instinct and personal perception. We will be practicing automatic drawing and how to translate ephemeral mark making into a structured piece. There will be a discussion on using negative space, minimalism, maximalism, originality, source material, unlearning technique and theory and, inversely, how to use formal training to complete an abstract composition. Workshop will be an exploratory, playful and meditative escape into two-dimensional fantasy.
This workshop will be structured around abstract drawing and painting. It will include exercises in drawing from memory, nostalgia, and visceral feeling. Attendees will be working on creating from instinct and personal perception. We will be practicing automatic drawing and how to translate ephemeral mark making into a structured piece. There will be a discussion on using negative space, minimalism, maximalism, originality, source material, unlearning technique and theory and, inversely, how to use formal training to complete an abstract composition. Workshop will be an exploratory, playful and meditative escape into two-dimensional fantasy.
"Parker Piece" by Ellen Moershel
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"Light Mountain" by Ellen Moershel
"Panoramic Painting" by Ellen Moershel
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Open media:
This is an open media workshop; however, attendees are encouraged to bring scratch paper or a sketch book and utensils for preliminary drawing. Please bring a supply of color media (doesn't have to be paint!) and a painting surface such as canvas or archival paper to be turned into a piece of art. Collage and print making are also welcome.
Artist Bio:
Ellen Moershel is a painter originally from Oklahoma who has lived along Colorado’s Front Range for over a decade. Before relocating to pursue her love of mountains, she spent time in St. Louis and Nova Scotia. She holds a BFA in Painting from the University of Oklahoma.
Moershel's studio is located in Thornton, Colorado, where she resides with her husband, daughter, and calico cat. Her painting practice is shaped by her engagement with the natural world, drawing inspiration from mountain scenery, gardening, and her tropical plant.
Visit www.ellenmoershel.com to learn more about Ellen and her work.
This is an open media workshop; however, attendees are encouraged to bring scratch paper or a sketch book and utensils for preliminary drawing. Please bring a supply of color media (doesn't have to be paint!) and a painting surface such as canvas or archival paper to be turned into a piece of art. Collage and print making are also welcome.
Artist Bio:
Ellen Moershel is a painter originally from Oklahoma who has lived along Colorado’s Front Range for over a decade. Before relocating to pursue her love of mountains, she spent time in St. Louis and Nova Scotia. She holds a BFA in Painting from the University of Oklahoma.
Moershel's studio is located in Thornton, Colorado, where she resides with her husband, daughter, and calico cat. Her painting practice is shaped by her engagement with the natural world, drawing inspiration from mountain scenery, gardening, and her tropical plant.
Visit www.ellenmoershel.com to learn more about Ellen and her work.
Workshops/Events are held at:
Ascension Lutheran Church 1701 W Caley Ave, Littleton
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bWubNmBRQtdsGmvz7
Ascension Lutheran Church 1701 W Caley Ave, Littleton
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bWubNmBRQtdsGmvz7
Our workshops are normally held in the large room down the hallway to the left when you enter from the parking lot. There is a lot of well-lit space to spread out, and a TV monitor/digital camera is setup to project the demonstration onto a screen visible from further back. Coffee and treats are always supplied!
