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2026 Popup Day 1 and/or Day 2 Albert and Halbert

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Watercolor

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Painting Adobe: Structure and Composition

Albert & Halbert are back!

Join us for this one OR two-day workshop with master painter Albert Handell and his student of many years, mathematician and artist, Karen Halbert. This is the perfect duo to understanding the different ways artists compose! For more information or to register for one or both days visit https://www.bluebirdstudiosantafe.com/pop-up-art-classes-with-albert-karen-2026.


Composition in Two Unique Ways:

• Intuitive Composition with Albert

• Dynamic Symmetry with Karen

Aug. 22 - 23, 2026

Intuitive Composition

Day 1: Saturday, August 22, 2026

Albert will lead “How to use Intuitive Composition” pastel workshop (oil and other mediums accepted as well) working from photographs. Albert will demo in pastel with a watercolor underpainting. Albert will be demonstrating a step-by-step painting from 9 a.m. with student painting time from 1 to 4:00 pm. Students will have time to work on their paintings with plenty of individual help at each easel. Students will have an afternoon painting time from 1 to 4:30 pm with plenty of individual help at each easel from Santa Fe’s own legendary artist.

Supplies: Bring all the supplies you usually use. Bring a plein air easel. If you are flying in we have a few to choose from.

Dynamic Symmetry

Day 2: Sunday, August 23

Dynamic Symmetry is a one-day workshop that helps painters recognize how underlying structure supports intuitive composition. Dynamic Symmetry is introduced not as a rigid system, but as a way of understanding relationships painters already respond to intuitively—such as how the canvas rectangle creates movement, how diagonals generate energy and how opposing forces create balance and stability. Using adobe paintings by Albert Handell and selected historic master paintings as examples, participants explore at their tables how a small set of structural ideas can strengthen intuitive choices and provide practical tools they can apply later in the studio or in the field. This workshop will be a combination of lecture, presentations and hands-on learning all under the guidance of Karen.

What’s Included:

Please bring a brown-bag lunch. A light continental breakfast including - coffee, tea, croissants, yogurt and fruit will be provided, along with complimentary soft drinks and sparkling water throughout the day. PS: We have cookies!

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Karen Teaching at a Workshop

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Watercolor

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Karen at the Mount Math and CS Prof

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Watercolor

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Many years ago, Karen taught Mathematis and Computer Science at the University of Mount St. Vincent, In Riverdale NY on a beautiful campus overlooking the Palisades