Mixed Media Collage: Translating Van Gogh’s Style into Layered Paper and Paint

Mixed Media Collage: Translating Van Gogh’s Style into Layered Paper and Paint

Adult Class | Registration opens 8/4/2026 9:00 AM MDT

200 Grant St Denver, CO 80203 United States
202 Atelier
Beginner, Intermediate
10/7/2026-11/11/2026
9:00 AM-12:30 PM MDT on Wed
Download iCalendar
$388.50
$330.22
$10.00

Mixed Media Collage: Translating Van Gogh’s Style into Layered Paper and Paint

Adult Class | Registration opens 8/4/2026 9:00 AM MDT

Explore mixed media collage through the lens of master artists in this hands-on, beginner-friendly class. Inspired by artists like Vincent van Gogh, you’ll study elements of their work—color, movement, and composition—and reinterpret them in your own unique way.
You’ll create your own hand-painted papers, then use them to build layered collage pieces full of texture, color, and personality. The instructor will guide you step-by-step through each stage, with one-on-one support along the way.
This class is about learning from the masters while developing your own voice—loosening up, exploring color, and enjoying the process of creating.

Week 1 – Introduction & Paper Painting
We’ll begin with an introduction to the class, materials, and inspiration from master artists like The Starry Night and others. You’ll paint your own collage papers, exploring color, mark-making, and texture. Step-by-step demos and individual guidance throughout.
Week 2 – Preparing the Canvas & Background
Learn how to prepare your surface and begin building your background. You’ll start layering your painted papers to create movement and depth, inspired by the energy and expressive style of the artist we’re studying.
Week 3 – Building the Subject
Focus on developing your main subject using collage. We’ll break down shapes and composition, learning how to simplify and interpret forms inspired by master works while making it your own.
Week 4 – Developing the Piece
Continue building your collage, refining composition, color relationships, and layering. We’ll focus on bringing cohesion and balance to your work, with step-by-step instruction and one-on-one feedback.
Week 5 – Strengthening & Refining
Push your piece further by enhancing contrast, adjusting composition, and deepening layers. This week is about refining what’s already there and making stronger visual decisions.
Week 6 – Final Details & Completion
Bring your work to completion by focusing on final details, texture, and finishing touches. We’ll step back, evaluate the overall piece, and make small but important adjustments that bring the artwork together as a finished composition. 

  • 1) Canvas (12x12 or 9x12)
    2) Matt or Gel Medium
    3) Collage Paper (specialty paper, magazine paper, tissue paper)
    4) Acrylic Paint ROYGBV
    5) Different size brushes
    6) Hair Dryer
    7) Spray bottle
    8) Stencils
    9) Sponge for stenciling
    10) Pencil
    11) Scissors
    12) Acrylic Paint Pen
    15) Paper plate (for paint)
    16) White chalk Pencil
    17)water cup
Ahmadian, Behnaz
Behnaz Ahmadian

Behnaz Ahmadian was born in Iran and raised in the United States. She is currently living and working in Colorado. She is an artist and an art instructor. She likes to work with many different mediums but the main medium she works with, is acrylic. Behnaz is very fascinated with pattern and color and incorporates them in her paintings.

 

Behnaz grew up in the family of creatives and had always loved art and being creative as a child.  Behnaz is a self-taught artist always making art as a child in her spare time. She obtained her bachelors degree in Biology wanting to go into medicine but her love for art and design made her pursue her career in interior design. While working as an interior designer, she was led to create unique paintings full time. Her sense of color and pattern creates pieces that are truly unique which she drew from her experience as a designer. Her designs are recognized for their vibrant colors, details and patterns.

 

Behnaz’s mother has been her true inspiration. Her mom has now passed but with each piece that she creates, she hopes to share the feeling of love and joy that her mom worked so hard to nurture in her as a woman, artist and designer. Now painting each piece is like a journey that takes Behnaz back to when she was introduced to art and fabrics with color and patterns through her mom who was a fashion designer. Her mother was the one who taught her how to draw and always encouraged her to be creative and incorporate meaning into her every piece.

 

As an artist, Behnaz also loves to draw and capture the unique characters of animals because they are so special and bring meaning to those who love their pets.