I AN I Studio Workshops
Diane Williams and Chuck Potter, both holding Master of Fine Arts degrees from John F Kennedy University, blend Western and Eastern art practices seamlessly. With a focus on Studio Art and Consciousness studies, their teachings transcend mere technique, delving into the depths of each artist's soul. Operating from studios in Crockett CA and Greenville, CA, they offer transformative workshops locally and globally. Their collaborative efforts extend to video workshop series and a YouTube channel, enriching the artistic community worldwide. Williams and Potter's artworks grace collections worldwide, testament to their profound impact on the art world.
Current Classes
Layered Mark
Explore painting through a process of layering, gesture, and discovery. You will begin with intuitive mark-making, using your body to generate energy and movement on the surface. From these spontaneous gestures you will see how composition can emerge naturally.
Using stamps and geli prints, you will explore the role of pattern in creating rhythm and variety. You will practice editing – blocking out what doesn’t serve the whole painting, allowing clarity and intention to shine through.
Working in layers with a limited and balanced palette, you will discover how to build unity while creating dynamic contrast. The focus will be on cultivating your own visual language and learning how to trust your marks as they guide you toward strong, expressive compositions.
SPACE IS LIMITED
Details:
Dates: April 25-26
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Pacific Time
Where: Marin Moca
1210 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael (at B Street)
Cost: $300 (members) $350 (non members)
What Lies Beneath
Join us for a full day of playful exploration through collage. We’ll layer paper and acrylic paint to create rich surfaces that evoke space, time, and a touch of fantasy.
Collage is a fast, intuitive process—perfect for loosening up your practice and discovering unexpected connections. Bring ephemera that feels meaningful to you—old letters, book pages, photographs, maps—or use the papers provided in the studio. When we work with personal imagery, the pieces often resonate in surprising ways, both individually and collectively.
Please bring:
2–3 substrates (12–18 inches each)
Acrylic paint
Brushes
Meaningful ephemera (optional)
Come ready to experiment, layer, and let the materials lead. ✨
Limit - 6 students
Details:
Dates: July 11
Time: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Pacific Time
Where: Epperson Gallery
1400 Pomona St, Crockett, CA
Cost: $225
The Poetry of Paper - A Collage Workshop
The language of paper is unique. Each piece carries its own texture, history, color, and voice. When layered, torn, cut, and assembled, these individual elements come together to create powerful visual poetry. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn to create their own collage papers using Gelli printing and hand-carved wooden textile blocks. We will explore composition, layering, texture, and intuitive mark-making while discovering how disparate fragments can form a cohesive and expressive whole. Suitable for all experience levels, this workshop invites creativity, experimentation, and the joy of transforming paper into art.
Details:
Dates: Aug 7, 14, 21 & 28
Time: 1:00 – 4:00 PM Pacific Time
Where: Arts Benicia
1 Commandant's Lane, Benicia CA
Cost: $300-325
Cold Wax Workshop
Cold wax medium transforms traditional oil paint into a luminous, textural surface while significantly accelerating drying time. In this workshop, we move beyond brushes and instead use unconventional tools—Messermeister bowl scrapers, soft brayers, palette knives, and an array of texture-making materials such as bubble wrap, skewers, chains, and found objects—to build rich, layered compositions.
You will learn how to mix and apply cold wax medium, develop surface texture, and work in layers on Arches oil paper. Emphasis will be placed on the power of contrast—exploring relationships between color, opacity and translucency, smooth and rough surfaces, and subtle versus bold mark-making. Each layer becomes part of a visual history, revealed through scraping, pressing, and excavation.
Details:
Dates: Jul 18 & 19
Time: 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM Pacific Time
Where: Marin MoCa
1210 Fifth Ave, San Rafael CA
Cost: $300-350
Dimensions of Abstractions
Join us for an immersive 4-day workshop: “Dimensions of Abstraction, Space, and Surface”!
Abstraction can be misunderstood— it isn’t just a lack of realism but a powerful language all its own. Think of René Magritte’s painting “The Treachery of Images,” which reminds us that a painted pipe is not a pipe at all, but a representation—an abstraction. In this workshop, we dive into the varied dimensions of abstraction, exploring its expressive and contemplative forms like Pollock’s dynamic traces or Rothko’s meditative fields.
Over four days, you’ll learn how to build a complete abstract piece, from creating dynamic surface textures to honing impactful compositions, ultimately achieving a polished final work. We’ll begin with surface preparation, building texture using vintage papers, tissue, plaster, and more, before moving into acrylic paint and mixed media. You’ll be encouraged to make untethered marks, embrace the unknown, and find composition and focal points without fear of mistakes. Finally, we’ll give you tools to refine your artwork to professional standards, so you can confidently present it in galleries or shows.
Details:
Dates: September 17-20
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Pacific Time
Where: Pacific Northwest Arts School
15 NW Birch Street
Coupeville WA 98239
Cost: $800 (only 30% deposit required to register)
Private Mentoring
Unlock Your Artistic Potential
Discover the benefits of one-on-one mentorship designed to elevate your creative practice. Whether you’re an emerging artist or a seasoned creator, private mentoring provides personalized guidance tailored to your goals and skill level.
Why Choose a Mentor?
Personalized Feedback: Gain critical insights to refine your techniques and develop a sharper artistic eye.
Creative Growth: Explore new ideas, experiment with approaches, and paint side-by-side with your mentor.
Career Advancement: Receive support with marketing, show applications, and time management.
Program Details
Commitment: 15 hours, customized to fit your needs.
Format: Online or in-person supervised painting sessions.
Investment: $950
What You’ll Gain: Tailored guidance to meet your artistic goals.
A supportive partnership fostering creativity and confidence.
Tools and strategies for personal and professional growth.
Take the Next Step in Your Art Journey
Tuesday Afternoon Oil & Cold Wax - Drop in Sessions
Explore the dynamic and versatile medium of oil and cold wax in this immersive five-week course. Discover how to build rich textures, layers, and luminous effects through the interplay of color, transparency, and depth. The cold wax medium not only adds unique qualities to your artwork but also speeds up the drying time of oil paint, making it an ideal choice for layered work. All levels welcome What You'll Learn Techniques for creating complexity and depth through layering How to utilize tools like scrapers, brayers, and palette knives Strategies for achieving balance between texture and transparency Materials Needed Oil Paint (variety of colors) Messermeister Bowl Scrapers (available at Amazon or Cold Wax Academy) Soft Brayers (available at Amazon or Cold Wax Academy) Palette Knives (available at Amazon or art supply stores) Wooden Panels (available at Amazon or art supply stores) Cold Wax Medium (recommended brands: Gamblin or Dorland’s, available at Amazon or art supply stores)
Workshop Details
When: Tuesdays, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Dates: Ongoing.
Where: I An I Studio; 730 First Avenue, Crockett, CA
Cost: $50 per class
Wednesday Evening Open Painting - Drop In Sessions
You asked and we listened! We're excited to announce our new Wednesday evening drop-in painting sessions. Watch your work flourish in a supportive environment with fellow artists. Get valuable feedback from our instructors while working in a spacious, handicapped accessible studio.
Come join the fun, and make this part of your painting practice.
**When:** Wednesday evenings, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
**Where:** I An I Studio, below Epperson Gallery, 1400 Pomona Street, Crockett
**Cost:** Only $30 per session
Each participant will have access to a 6-foot table, table-top easel, and some wall space available!
**Important:**
- Advanced notice of 24 hours is required to ensure we can accommodate everyone.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to paint, chat, and have tons of fun!