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MASTER CLASS SERIES

A unique learning opportunity

Sweetwater’s Master Class series are led by highly skilled, nationally renowned artists in varying fields. These intensive workshops are designed to create an immersive learning experience for students. Working closely alongside the instructor, students receive in-depth instruction, guidance, and feedback over the course of two-days. Previous Master Class instructors include Barbara Jaenicke, Jen Allen, Christine Swann, Kensuke Yamada, Samuel Dunson, Tim Horn, Bryn Perrott, and Deborah Schwartzkopf.

UPCOMING MASTER CLASSES

SUMMER MASTER CLASS

Seeing as an Artist with Ron Donoughe

Instructor: Ron Donoughe

Dates: Saturday June 27, and Sunday June 28, 2026
9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

This workshop teaches students how to translate the world into compelling outdoor paintings through a focus on observation, design, and technique. Participants will learn about essential materials, the principles of light, color, and value, and how premixed “parent” colors create harmony and efficiency. Core instruction emphasizes composition as a foundation and brushwork as a tool for adding energy and visual interest, giving students both structure and freedom to develop their own plein air style.

Learn to observe and organize the world into dynamic paintings while exploring light, color, value, and composition. The workshop will cover the use of premixed colors for harmony and speed, along with brushwork techniques that bring energy and visual interest to outdoor paintings.

Interested in a more intimate experience with the artist? Reserve your place at the Master Class Dinner to connect with the artist and mingle with Sweetwater’s leadership and key members of our community. Limited number of seats available.

Artist statement

“As an artist/painter, I have lifelong commitment to capturing the spirit of Western Pennsylvania. Since 1985, I have documented the region’s varied landscapes—from farmlands to factories—through a process rooted in direct experience. Much of the work is painted en plein air, with others refined in the studio. The paintings reflect both immediacy and contemplation, aiming not just to interpret the present but also to preserve a visual record of a region in constant change, particularly its urban spaces.”

Ron Donoughe, a native of Loretto, PA, now living in Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh has been painting the Western Pennsylvania landscape for nearly 35 years. His work features the many textures of the region. Ron is a fulltime, professional artist. He has taught outdoor painting workshops throughout the United States and France. Ron is a Distinguished Alumni of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with additional studies at the California College of the Arts in the bay area.

Ron was awarded best of show at Three Rivers Arts Festival, 2003, and his work was selected for Salon International, Masters of Contemporary Fine Art, 2004. Ron’s was also featured in a one-person exhibition at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts in November 2006 with the release of his first book, Essence of Pittsburgh. He has since published 7 books of his work.

His work was featured at the Pennsylvania Governor’s residence in 2011, in an exhibition titled Across the Alleghenies. His collection of 90 Pittsburgh Neighborhoods has been acquired by the Heinz History Center as a permanent exhibition, and can be found next to the Mr. Rogers exhibition on the 4th floor.

The work can be found in many corporate and private collections as well as The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, The Duquesne Club and The University Museum at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

He recently completed an Artist-in-Residence at Fallingwater, where he offered plein air workshops over 5 years. In the fall of 2024 The American Embassy in Ottawa, Canada featured his work and invited him to give a lecture and workshop.

www.donoughe.com
@rdonoughe

FALL MASTER CLASS

From Pencil to Panel: Stained Glass Sketches

Instructor: Kelsie McNair

Dates: Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25, 2026
9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

From Pencil to Panel is an introductory stained glass workshop designed for beginners interested in learning flat glass techniques. Students will start with paper and pencil, exploring shapes and linework to create original designs, then translate those sketches into glass.

Participants will learn foundational skills including glass cutting, grinding, copper foiling, soldering, and fi nishing. Throughout the workshop, we’ll also discuss basic stained glass design principles and examples from historical and contemporary work. By the end of the class, each student will complete and take home a fi nished stained glass object or small panel ready for display.

Interested in a more intimate experience with the artist? Reserve your place at the Master Class Dinner to connect with the artist and mingle with Sweetwater’s leadership and key members of our community. Limited number of seats available.

Kelsie McNair is a Brooklyn-based stained glass artist, educator, and founder of Soft Shapes Studio. She specializes in contemporary stained glass and fused glass work that blends traditional techniques with playful, modern design. Kelsie teaches workshops and intensives nationally and works with private and commercial clients on custom glass installations.

Website: Kelsiemcnair.com
Instagram: @soft_shapes
TikTok: @softshapes

 

Artist statement

My work explores stained glass as both a functional craft and a contemporary art form. Drawing from architecture, color theory, and personal storytelling, I use traditional techniques to create playful, expressive objects that invite everyday interaction. Through teaching, I aim to make glass accessible, empowering students to see themselves as both designers and makers.

Sweetwater’s Master Class Series are made possible in thanks to

Schurman Fine Arts Fund logo

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