Halloween-Inspired Pen & Ink Drawing
Sunday 01 November
City Park - 10am - 2 Hours
Trish Benit-Laing
Enjoy a playful introduction to pen and ink drawing with a Halloween twist. This beginner-friendly workshop explores line, texture, and cross-hatching while drawing pumpkins, leaves, interesting branches, and other seasonal subjects inspired by the spirit of October.
Drawing the Light: Still Life on Black Paper
Saturday 07 November
St. Charles Ave, large Victorian Historical Building - 10:30am - 2 Hours
Trish Benit-Laing
Discover a new way of seeing by drawing light instead of shadow. In this beginner-friendly workshop, we'll use light-colored Cont crayon on black paper to create a simple still life while exploring value, highlights, edges, and form. Learn how objects emerge from darkness and how a few carefully observed marks can create depth, volume, and atmosphere.
Drawing Hands for Beginners: Shape, Gesture Observation
Saturday 21 November
St. Charles Ave, large Victorian Historical Building - 10:30am - 2 Hours
Trish Benit-Laing
Learn to draw hands by breaking them into simple shapes and relationships rather than getting lost in anatomy. This beginner-friendly workshop explores gesture, proportion, negative space, overlapping forms, and shared lines while using your own hands as subjects.
December Still Life: Drawing Texture, Shine and Seasonal Forms
Saturday 05 December
Cafe Du Monde inside the park - 12pm - 2 Hours
Trish Benit-Laing
Celebrate the season through close observation and drawing. This beginner-friendly workshop explores texture, shape, value, and reflective surfaces while drawing a December-inspired still life of citrus, magnolia leaves, pinecones, and other seasonal objects.
The Artist's Eye Drawing from Observation
Saturday 19 December
City Park - 10am - 2 Hours
Trish Benit-Laing
Do you ever find yourself drawing what you think something looks like instead of what is actually in front of you? This beginner-friendly workshop explores one of the most important foundations of drawing learning how to truly see.Through guided observational exercises, we'll focus on line, shape, proportion, angle, and spatial relationships while practicing ways to slow down and look more carefully. The goal is not to create a perfect drawing, but to strengthen the connection between seeing and drawing.No previous drawing experience is necessary. This workshop is equally suited to beginners and returning students who would like to refresh their observational skills in a relaxed outdoor setting at City Park.
Basic watercolor techniques focused on floral and nature.
Saturday 24 October
Gentilly, New Orleans - 10am - 2 Hours
Patrick waldemar
Join us for a Floral and Nature Painting watercolor meetup. We will explore techniques for capturing flowers and natural forms in watercolor, with friendly guidance from the host. Beginners are welcome. Participants should bring their own watercolor supplies preferably student grade paints and a watercolor cold pressed block.
The City at Night Photography Meetup
Saturday 24 October
Jackson Square - 6pm - 2 Hours
Donnie Pearson
Many people don't think about nighttime being a good time to do photography since there's a lack of light. However, armed with knowledge about your camera's settings and the properties of light, nighttime photography can be a lot of fun. In this meetup, you'll learn about the best camera settings for nighttime photography. We'll also explore the kinds of light available to us and how to use that light to make some awesome photos. As always, there are exercises that will help you put your new knowledge to work.
Watercolor Skies & Clouds
Saturday 07 November
Gentilly, New Orleans - 10am - 2.0 Hours
Patrick waldemar
Join us for a Watercolor Skies & Clouds meetup. We will explore techniques for painting skies, clouds, and atmospheric effects in watercolor, with friendly guidance from the host. Beginners are welcome. Participants should bring their own watercolor supplies.
Shooting in Manual Mode Class
Sunday 15 November
Audubon Park - 2pm - 3 Hours
Donnie Pearson
This class is for anyone looking to switch their camera mode from Auto to Manual and learn how to shoot using the Manual Mode. The goal is to help everyone become more confident when using their camera settings. We will touch on essential camera functions and the exposure triangle Shutter Speed, Aperture, and ISO.
Beginner's Watercolor Class
Saturday 21 November
Gentilly, New Orleans - 10am - 2.0 Hours
Patrick waldemar
Join us for a Beginner's Watercolor Class. Learn essential watercolor techniques like color mixing, washes, and basic brushwork in a friendly, supportive setting. Beginners are welcome. Participants should bring their own watercolor supplies.
Beginner's Photography Class
Sunday 06 December
Audubon Park - 2pm - 3 Hours
Donnie Pearson
Ready to learn more about your camera and get out of automatic exposure? Now is your chance! Join us as we break down your camera to help you learn about shutter speed, aperture, ISO and how these settings affect your exposure. We will then put your new knowledge to the test with the guidance of a professional photographer.
Watercolor Fundamentals
Saturday 12 December
Gentilly, New Orleans - 10am - 2.0 Hours
Patrick waldemar
Join us for a Watercolor Fundamentals class. This relaxed two-hour session covers the essential basics of watercolor painting, including washes, color mixing, and simple techniques to build confidence. Beginners are welcome. Participants should bring their own watercolor supplies.
Street Photography Meetup
Sunday 20 December
Jackson Square - 2pm - 2 Hours
Donnie Pearson
People, cafes, vendors, street merchants, buskers, historic buildings, art installations and much more. The power of observation underpins the art of great street photography. Learning to "see" interesting detail is a practised skill and we introduce you to easy methods that will open your photographer's eye and expose you to a world that is alive with detail. The most rewarding part of the class is learning how to approach interesting people and have them willingly pose for you.We will also go over settings, focusing techniques and lens choices common to street photography to help us capture those random chance encounters.
Beginners Flash Photography Class
Sunday 17 January
Audubon Park - 2pm - 3.0 Hours
Donnie Pearson
Learn how to use flash photography. Flash does not have to be intimidating. Using your pop-up flash or an external flash can help you balance the lighting to suit your eye. Learn tips and tricks to start your flash photography journey.
The City at Night Photography Meetup
Saturday 30 January
Jackson Square - 5pm - 2 Hours
Donnie Pearson
Many people don't think about nighttime being a good time to do photography since there's a lack of light. However, armed with knowledge about your camera's settings and the properties of light, nighttime photography can be a lot of fun. In this meetup, you'll learn about the best camera settings for nighttime photography. We'll also explore the kinds of light available to us and how to use that light to make some awesome photos. As always, there are exercises that will help you put your new knowledge to work.
Natural Light Portraits
Sunday 31 January
Audubon Park - 3pm - 2 Hours
Donnie Pearson
This meet-up will explore how we can take beautiful portraits using natural light and backgrounds. We will explore how to recognise flattering light and how to manipulate it whilst shooting in a less controlled environment than a studio. We will explore how we can work collaboratively with our subject to achieve a portrait that captures their personality and style. We will also look at posing and setting your subject at ease. Technical learning points will include accurate focusing and metering for skin tones. Note Please bring a family member or a friend as a model.
Smartphone Photography
Sunday 21 February
City park cafe du monde - 1pm - 2 Hours
Donnie Pearson
Smartphone Photography proves that great photos aren't about the gear they're about the eye behind the lens. In this hands-on meetup, we'll explore how to turn everyday moments into striking images using just your phone. Learn quick tips for better composition, lighting, and editing on the fly. Whether you're snapping street scenes or capturing candid portraits, you'll walk away seeing your smartphone as a serious creative tool. Come curious, leave inspired.
