Art MidWisconsin
Art MidWisconsin is an award-winning regional collective of visual artists who bring insight, instincts, and experience to the classroom to help beginning and trained artists explore new methods and approaches while advancing their skills as artists.
Foundational Artist Workshops introduce art medias and methods for beginning and intermediately trained artists. Discover core methods and approaches, sharpen existing skills, and be inspired by examples and demonstrations from experienced teaching artists. These hands-on workshops provide a positive environment to begin and advance your artistic journey.
Foundational Artist Workshops
Intro to Painting with Oils
Wednesday, May 7 | 6 – 9 pm
Intro to Painting with Acrylics
Friday, May 16 | 6 – 9 pm
Studio Painting I with Acrylics
Fridays: May 30, June 13, 27, July 11 | 6 – 9 pm
Studio Painting I with Oils
Wednesdays: May 28, June 4, 18, July 2 | 6 – 9 pm
Intro to Watercolors
Wednesday, July 9 | 9 – Noon
Watercolor Painting I
Wednesdays & Thursdays: July 23, 24, 30, 31 | 9 – Noon
Intro to Sculpture
Friday, July 25 | 9 – Noon
Sculpture I
Thursdays & Fridays: August 7, 8, 14, 15 | 9 – Noon
Premier Artist Workshops help practicing artists to consider new approaches and ways of thinking. Accomplished teaching artists challenge participants to understand how they are approaching their work and why they might expand thinking for new results. These hands-on workshops inspire artists to advance their abilities and practice in a positive environment.
Premier Artist Workshops
Art Fairs and Pop-ups
Tuesday, June 17 | 6 – 8 pm
New Approaches and Re-Approaches in Painting
Saturday, June 21 | 9 – Noon
The Painterly Sketch: Creating Studies
Friday, July 11 | 9 – Noon
Pleine-aire Painting
Saturday, July 12 | 9 – Noon
Pleine-aire Painting
Saturday, July 19 | 9 – Noon
Abstract Painting with Acrylics
Monday – Thursday, July 28–31 | 1 – 4 pm
Color Theory for the Painter
Monday–Friday, September 8–12 | 9 – Noon
Summer Evenings Art Lecture Series
Summer Evenings Art Lecture Series I: Why is that Art? is a three-part series examining contemporary art. We will explore whether great art is thought-provoking, beautiful, revolting, or all these things. Join us for these one-hour lectures and discussions to ponder the questions you and those near you have uttered, like: Why is that art? Could my kindergartener do that? and he put what in that can? Gross! These fun and entertaining evenings are led by practicing artists and art historians. Refreshments will be available.
Part I: Off the Pedestal and Into the World
Experimental Sculpture and Environmental Art
Tuesday, June 17 | 7 – 8:30 pm
Part II: It’s Intriguing, but What Is the Story?
Performance and Video Art Explained
Tuesday, June 24 | 7 – 8:30 pm
Part III: We Called It Scribbling in Kindergarten
Abstraction Actually Isn’t So Easy
Tuesday, July 1 | 7 – 8:30 pm
ART MIDWISCONSIN 2025 PROGRAMS
ART MIDWISCONSIN INSTRUCTORS
Pat Dobrinska
Pat Dobrinska earned her B.A. from the University of Colorado and her B.A.E. from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. In 1969, she moved to her farm in Green Lake and since then has established her career as a portrait and landscape artist, as well as a teacher of art. Her paintings are displayed in galleries and at shows throughout the country.
Workshops: New Approaches & Re-Approaches in Painting, Pleine-aire Painting
Elissa Ewald
Elissa Ewald is a self-taught award-winning, published artist who has been instructing classes the last three years through the Berlin Library for community members, participating in regional art shows and events to stay connected to the art community, and helping inspire others to love art.
Workshops: Intro to Painting with Acrylics, Studio Painting I with Acrylics
Dick Folse
Dick Folse has a Master of Fine Arts from Illinois State University. He is an award-winning painter who has exhibited nationally and internationally and has taught art at three universities.
Workshops: Intro to Watercolor, Watercolor Painting I, Color Theory for Painters, The Painterly Sketch: creating studies using graphite, paints & mediums
Anne Gary
As a corporate trainer, Anne has been teaching for over 30 years. As a professional artist, her art has been represented in more than 70 galleries across the country. Anne’s interest in art spawned when she was a young girl. She was fortunate to be surrounded by creative family members who encouraged exploring many types of mediums: pottery, weaving, jewelry making, stained glass, fused-glass, acrylics, watercolor, silk painting, pastels, and most recently mixed media. Creating abstract art allows her to be intuitive, harness imagination, and not become attached to a specific outcome.
Workshops: Abstract Painting with Acrylics
Brenda Mulvey
Brenda Mulvey grew up in Wisconsin and has been interested in drawing and painting her whole life, mostly self-taught. Her first love has been watercolors and now retired, she has been able to pursue goals of painting whatever inspires or challenges her. Even though she has won a few awards, she still feels like she is a beginner because she can always learn or better herself.
Workshops: Intro to Watercolor
Travis Nygard
Travis Nygard is an award-winning college professor with a PhD in art history and cultural studies from the University of Pittsburgh. He loves to teach about modern and contemporary art from across the world, as well as our own region. He regularly presents original research at conferences and publishes his findings. His scholarly interests are eclectic, ranging from the pop art of Andy Warhol, to the murals of the Corn Palace, to the financial value of art.
Lectures: Part I: Off the Pedestal and Into the World | Experimental Sculpture and Environmental Art, Part II: It’s Intriguing, but What is the Story? |Performance and Video Art Explained, Part III: We Called it Scribbling in Kindergarten | Abstraction Actually Isn’t So Easy
Ralph Benedict Polasky
Ralph Benedict Polasky began his undergraduate studies at The University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee eventually earning a Master of Fine Arts degree at Boise State University with an emphasis in mixed media sculpture and ceramics. While in Boise he was part of the Project LOCQA artist collective which showed regionally and sponsored open studio events on a regular basis. Through his professional career he has shown nationally at various group shows and galleries as well as participating in several pop-up gallery events. He presently has a studio in Ripon Wisconsin.
Workshops: Intro to Sculpture, Sculpture I
Angel Rettler
With a Bachelor of Fine Arts and over a decade of experience, Angel Rettler is a passionate and skilled artist who brings a wealth of knowledge to every class. As the owner and instructor at Artsy Fartsy, a vibrant paint-and-sip studio in Campbellsport, WI, Angel has spent the last 10 years sharing the joy of painting with students of all levels. She has cultivated a welcoming and creative space where students feel empowered to express themselves and discover their artistic abilities. Angel's approach is warm, patient, and hands-on, ensuring that each participant feels supported and inspired throughout their artistic journey.
Workshops: Intro to Painting with Oils, Studio Painting I with Oils
Kate Salas
Kate Salas is a ceramic artist based in Ripon, Wisconsin. She finds inspiration in the natural world, specifically Wisconsin’s landscape, flora and fauna. Her current body of work investigates sculpture in greater depth, with explorations into larger hand-built forms, highlighting the quiet, natural beauty of the clay. Salas has exhibited work at The Museum of Wisconsin Art, Milwaukee Artist Resource Network, and Center for Visual Art Wausau as well as various artisan marketplaces throughout the year.
Workshops: Art Fairs and Pop-Ups
Kathy Sletten
Kathleen Sletten is an award-winning photographer specializing in fine art photography and digital art as well as traditional media. Her work has been published in photo journals and exhibited in several venues. She is active in multiple camera clubs, teaches photography classes, and is currently President of the Rural Rembrandts Art Club. Kathleen lives in Montello, Wisconsin.
Workshops: Art Fairs and Pop-Ups