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The Chromatic Voice: Oil Painting Journey Exploring Cognitive Depth and Expression
Advance your oil painting skills in a supportive, solvent-free studio while exploring color, light, and challenging subjects to deepen technique and expression.
What you’ll do
This 8-week course is designed for artists ready to deepen their technical skills and personal expression in a calm, supportive, and solvent-free studio. It serves as the natural continuation of the Fall 2025 course “Palette & Possibility,” and is also open to experienced oil painters who wish to advance their practice within a framework focused on cognitive stimulation and emotional well-being.
We will move beyond simple objects to tackle subjects that introduce new cognitive challenges, such as atmosphere, reflective surfaces, and simplified portrait elements. Emphasis remains on process over product, nurturing focus, spatial reasoning, and emotional insight. Through an explorative journey into composition, light, and “The Chromatic Voice”—your unique use of color— students will strengthen their artistic voices while continuing to reap the rewards of enhanced mental agility and profound emotional well-being.
Optional Materials Packet & Supply List
$35 includes all necessary paints, mediums, brushes, surfaces (canvas panels), and cleaning supplies for the 8 weeks. Students who wish to bring their own materials should view the supply list.
You can view the full supply list here.
Membership has its benefits
All Silver Memberships and above receive 10% off the registration cost for any class purchase over $40.
Materials fees are not discounted.
Become a member today and find community, connection, and creativity.
About your Instructor
Michael Bartlett
Michael Bartlett is a highly regarded artist and master craftsman with over 45 years of experience in the fine arts. Based in Sonoma, CA, Michael is best known for his vivid oil paintings that capture the unique light and atmosphere of California landscapes and coastal scenes.
His artistic foundation is built on rigorous training; he holds a BA in Fine Arts from Montana State University, where he mastered the discipline of fine metalsmithing, followed by an MFA in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute. This unique background combines the precision of a master craftsman with the expressive freedom of a painter.
As an instructor, Michael blends technical mastery with deep insight. Influenced by his time traveling as an assistant to a Tibetan lama, his teaching philosophy focuses on “seeing” reality and capturing the energy of light. Students in Michael’s classes learn to combine solid technical fundamentals with a mindful approach to color and composition.
https://www.michaelebartlett.com/
Class FAQ
We ask that you notify us at least 10 days in advance of a class if you need to cancel your registration. You may cancel by phone or email and we will gladly offer you a refund or credit toward a future class. If you cancel with less than 10 days’ notice, we will not be able to provide refunds, due to our contractual obligations and material purchases for each class.
Sometimes, the Sonoma Community Center has to cancel a class due to low enrollment or unforeseen circumstances, such as a natural disaster or health emergency. If this happens and we do not offer a reschedule date, you will be refunded 100% of your registration fee (minus the payment processing and services fee), or credit towards a future class. If we are able to offer a reschedule date but you are unable to make the new date, we will gladly offer credit towards a future class.
All credits must be used within 1 year.
You can view our full class policies and guidelines here.
The Sonoma Community Center is committed to creating an accessible learning environment. If you require any special considerations(medical, physical, learning) please share them with Sean Baskin, Program Associate, by emailing him at [email protected] so that he can forward them to the relevant Program Director and Instructor.
Late additions to any program, class, or workshop that has already begun will be allowed on a per-case basis depending upon the Program Director & instructors approval. Late additions will have to pay the full registration cost of the class, along with any materials fees, and will not be prorated for the time missed. You may reach out to the program directors directly, or the Program Associate Sean Baskin at [email protected] to request a late addition.
We are always looking for new instructors. You can fill out the form directly here.
The Chromatic Voice: Oil Painting Journey Exploring Cognitive Depth and Expression
Advance your oil painting skills in a supportive, solvent-free studio while exploring color, light, and challenging subjects to deepen technique and expression.
Schedule
Mondays, January 5 – March 9, 2026
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
No class January 19 and February 16
This Session
Monday, January 5, 2026 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Experience Level
Intermediate and AdvancedAge(s)
18-over$350 – Registration Cost
$35 – Optional Materials Packet
