Thursdays, October 22, 2026 - November 19, 2026 | 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Step into the world of the Impressionists and explore the expressive passion of palette knife painting in this hands-on course led by Bonnie Masdeu. Designed for intermediate to advanced artists, you will dive into the dynamic techniques of working with water-mixable oil paints and impasto medium. Under Bonnie's guidance, you will master the transition from traditional paintbrushes to palette knives, learning to mix rich, vibrant colors directly on the blade and apply bold, textured strokes to the canvas. Join us to capture the energy and sculptural depth of Van Gogh's iconic masterpiece while taking your own expressive style to the next level.

Materials Required

• Palette Knife - #2 Blick Mini Trowel from Blick Art Supply
• 16 x 20 Stretched canvas (larger size upon approval of Instructor)
• Photo Reference of Sunflowers or draw from still life vase with Sunflowers
• Hand Wipes (Such as Baby Wipes) and/or Paper Towels
• Disposable Paper Palette
• Optional Palette Keeper (to transport wet paper palette)
• Table Easel (or you can use Easels available)
• Lukas Water Mixable Oil Paints including the following colors (Required)
• • Titanium White 37 ML or larger
  • Cadmium Yellow 37 ML
  • Yellow Ochre 37 ML
  • Viridian Green 37 ML
  • Phthalo Blue 37 ML
  • Cadmium Red Deep 37 ML
  • Burnt Umber 37 ML

(I prefer to use Lukas Paints from Jerry’s Artarama*, but you can purchase any brand of water mixable oils including Holbein which has the same consistency but is more expensive but available online

You may also bring additional colors including

• • Lemon Yellow
  • Cadmium Orange
  • Burnt Siena
  • Turquoise
  • Ivory Black
• Optional: Impasto Medium from Water Mixable Oil from Blick Art Supply

*Jerry’s Artarama has a starter set in a metallic case at a good price but this is only available in-store.

Instructor bio: Bonnie Masdeu is an artist and photographer with experience in fashion design, illustration, painting, murals, and wildlife photography. She has painted live at public events, completed large-scale mural projects, and continues to develop her studio practice in Miami.

Originally from Upstate New York, Bonnie studied Fashion Design and Illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City, where she also tutored illustration. Her early career in the fashion industry included work in Hong Kong, China, and Taipei. After moving to Miami in 1994, she spent ten years with Ralph Lauren in Bal Harbour before turning more fully to painting.

Bonnie joined the Palette Knife Artists of Miami in 2017 and now serves as Co-Director, helping coordinate exhibitions and promote palette knife techniques. She also teaches a general painting class at East Ridge Community Center.

Her interest in nature led her to birding and later to wildlife photography, which has received awards and recognition. She is an active member of several conservation organizations and continues to pair her artistic work with environmental advocacy.

Learn more about Bonnie here: Bonnie's Galleries

This ticket includes access to all sessions in this series as listed above. Tickets are nonrefundable. This class runs rain or shine.