I love teaching because I get to watch people surprise themselves.
My workshops aren't about making the “perfect” painting or following a set of rules from beginning to end. They're about getting curious, trying something, getting a little messy and discovering what happens when you give yourself permission to play.
I'll share techniques, ideas and plenty of ways to get started, but then I want you to make the work your own. We might paint papers, tear things apart, layer, cover, scrape, redraw and completely change our minds along the way.
Workshops
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February 11-14, 2027 · PaintSpace NOLA, New Orleans
Beyond the Brush: Pushing the Possibilities of Collage
Sold Out · Daily Lunches & Beverages Included · All Levels
Collage sits somewhere between craft and fine art, and that’s exactly where things get interesting. In this four-day workshop, I’ll show you how to push collage beyond cut-and-paste and use it as a serious fine-art tool for building depth, complexity, texture and visual possibility. Whether you’re a collage artist ready to shake things up or an abstract painter curious about bringing paper into the conversation, we’ll experiment with painted papers, layers, marks, color and composition to see just how far we can take it.
Designed For
Collage artists ready to push their practice further
Abstract painters looking to expand their visual vocabulary
Mixed-media artists wanting to bridge the gap between paint and paper
Artists ready to move beyond the expected and create more complex, layered work
Anyone who wants to learn how to pull a piece from muddy to clarity—using color, contrast, and composition with both paint and collage.
★★★★★
“Thanks for sharing your gifts of art talent, generosity, kindness and teaching art! You helped change my life for the better!”"
— Andrea C.
What Students Are Saying
★★★★★
“Barb Smucker has a way of getting you out of your head and into the work. I stopped second-guessing, trusted the process, and just started making. That alone was worth the workshop.”
— Amanda P.★★★★★
“This method of laying down pieces and then using a viewfinder is new to me. I can see it freeing me to do collage! Before, I’ve only felt stuck. This has been wonderful. The result is so classy. I can use this.”
— Sharyn H.
★★★★★
“I would love the chance to take another workshop with you one day. I’m glad others get to experience your teaching!”
— Kelley B.
★★★★★
“She’s a fantastic instructor!”
— Kimberlee F.
★★★★★
“Fun, enjoyable and refreshing!”
— Pat B.