The Ellen Rice Learning Center
Joanne K. Guilfoil is a well known water media artist, former university professor of art and published author and illustrator.
She will be working with me in my studio teaching water media classes while I will be teaching the fine points of drawing with graphite, the first step toward advancing to oil painting.
Holiday note: Gift Certificates for classes are available on the individual classes pages.
Limit 5 students per class.
Ellen explains:

People have been asking me for a very long time to give lessons. When asked what they would like to learn, most answer “to paint like you!” They also ask if I'll teach watercolor painting, which I won't since that's not my present medium. It's so fortunate that I found Joanne, who is accomplished in all water media.
My classes:
In order to paint like me - or best yet, a better version of yourself - starting in dates to be announced in the new year, I am giving a limited number of 2-day graphite drawing workshops that will teach the skills that are behind every painting I create, whether seascape, landscape or portrait.
There is more involved in creating fine representational art than developing good hand-eye coordination. The most important skill you can develop first is keen observation: of form, shape, light, shadow and perspective.
I’ll assist you every step of the way with careful instruction on techniques, help you truly "see" your subjects and translate what you observe into drawings on a 2D surface that will look 3-dimensional.
Beyond the Level I courses, my students will have the option to go to Level II and tackle a variety of more complex subjects.
Each student of my Level II workshops may then qualify to take my Level III spring and summer workshops ~ using the skills you've learned, but in color.
My goal is to help each of you to be the best you can be, no matter your starting point. I can't wait to see what you produce!
My classes:
In order to paint like me - or best yet, a better version of yourself - starting in dates to be announced in the new year, I am giving a limited number of 2-day graphite drawing workshops that will teach the skills that are behind every painting I create, whether seascape, landscape or portrait.
There is more involved in creating fine representational art than developing good hand-eye coordination. The most important skill you can develop first is keen observation: of form, shape, light, shadow and perspective.
I’ll assist you every step of the way with careful instruction on techniques, help you truly "see" your subjects and translate what you observe into drawings on a 2D surface that will look 3-dimensional.
Beyond the Level I courses, my students will have the option to go to Level II and tackle a variety of more complex subjects.
Each student of my Level II workshops may then qualify to take my Level III spring and summer workshops ~ using the skills you've learned, but in color.
My goal is to help each of you to be the best you can be, no matter your starting point. I can't wait to see what you produce!

About instructor Joanne Guilfoil:
Joanne Guilfoil was trained in the late '60s, first as a painter, then as a teacher of art. She taught art in all grades including university, retiring as Professor Emeritus in 2009 with an impressive exhibition record.
Her publications include textbooks on environmental design and field-guide paintings of mid-Atlantic fish and reptiles in gouache (opaque watercolor), which she now teaches.
For the last 10 years, Joanne has taught painting in gouache, traditional watercolor and acrylic at art galleries in Kentucky, Florida, North Carolina and Maryland. She holds memberships in The Delaware Watercolor Society, Worcester County Arts Council and the Art League of Ocean City and continues to teach near her home in Selbyville, Delaware.
Joanne Guilfoil was trained in the late '60s, first as a painter, then as a teacher of art. She taught art in all grades including university, retiring as Professor Emeritus in 2009 with an impressive exhibition record.
Her publications include textbooks on environmental design and field-guide paintings of mid-Atlantic fish and reptiles in gouache (opaque watercolor), which she now teaches.
For the last 10 years, Joanne has taught painting in gouache, traditional watercolor and acrylic at art galleries in Kentucky, Florida, North Carolina and Maryland. She holds memberships in The Delaware Watercolor Society, Worcester County Arts Council and the Art League of Ocean City and continues to teach near her home in Selbyville, Delaware.
“I paint what I love, and I love to paint. That’s it," explains Joanne,. "My 'go to' paints are acrylics and have been since the '60s. For decades, living things became instant subject matter as huge autobiographical statements about my life. Close friends and colleagues easily made the connections as visual metaphors. Then, as in higher ed, “it was publish or perish,” so painting and exhibitions took a back seat to writing for publication."
Just before retiring from teaching college art in 2009, she turned to a smaller, more portable scale and taught herself how to use gouache paints. Published images by a British botanical artist inspired her and spurred her on.
"It was difficult at first, as the paints were hard to find and instruction and/or guidance did not exist. After a few years and dozens of paintings later, my work was published by Steven M. Lewers & Associates, now known as Earth Sky & Water. I made the paintings and wrote the text, hoping one day to be in his “folding guides”. That has not happened yet.
"Last winter, someone said I should write a book on gouache. I could, but I would rather paint and teach!"
Just before retiring from teaching college art in 2009, she turned to a smaller, more portable scale and taught herself how to use gouache paints. Published images by a British botanical artist inspired her and spurred her on.
"It was difficult at first, as the paints were hard to find and instruction and/or guidance did not exist. After a few years and dozens of paintings later, my work was published by Steven M. Lewers & Associates, now known as Earth Sky & Water. I made the paintings and wrote the text, hoping one day to be in his “folding guides”. That has not happened yet.
"Last winter, someone said I should write a book on gouache. I could, but I would rather paint and teach!"
Joanne will be holding three different classes, Watercolors for Beginners, Gouache Workshop for Beginners and Acrylics for Beginners. For more details on the classes please click on the appropriate link.
Ellen's classes will be in three levels starting with the basics of three-dimensional drawing. Because of Ellen's tight schedule of commissioned work, class openings will be very limited.