Mary O. Smith – Watercolor with a Southern Accent

When

September 28, 2026 - September 30, 2026

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Where

Studio in the Park

2490 Silverest Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70816

The main facility for the Art Guild of Louisiana is the Studio in the Park. This BREC building is located in Cedarcrest Park in Baton Rouge.

More Info

Notes

Maximum of 13 participants

Workshop Coordinator

David Gary, Email David Gary, 225-252-8384

Mary O. Smith

Raised in Louisiana, Mary O. Smith earned a Bachelor of Design from Louisiana State University and began her career as an interior designer and architectural renderer. She developed a passion for watercolor in 1996, studying with noted artists including Tony Van Hasselt, Judi Wagner, Judi Betts, and Roberta Carter Clark.

Mary is known for her loose, expressive style, skillful use of color, and ability to capture light and atmosphere. An award-winning painter in both watercolor and oil, she has been featured twice in Watercolor Magic magazine and holds signature memberships in several watercolor societies. Her work is inspired by plein-air painting, Southern landscapes, historic architecture, marine scenes, and working boats.

Mary teaches workshops in both watercolor and oil, sharing a thoughtful, encouraging approach that helps students plan stronger paintings while preserving freshness and spontaneity.

Description

A gifted Southern watercolorist is coming home to Baton Rouge and only 13 artists will have the opportunity to study with her. With enrollment limited to just 13 artists, participants will receive a level of personal attention that is increasingly difficult to find in larger workshops.

Each morning, Mary will demonstrate her painting process, pretending we are out on location. Mary paints upright, even in the studio so those willing to try, several easels and tabletop easels will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students will see how she selects and simplifies a subject, develops a strong composition, organizes values, mixes luminous color, and allows watercolor to remain fresh, expressive, and full of life. The 6-P’s of plein air painting will be introduced. Demonstrating that a plan goes a long way to a successful and more confident painting. Confidence leads to loose expressive marks out on location and studio work.

Each afternoon, participants will paint under Mary’s guidance. Known as a generous, encouraging, and highly effective teacher, Mary will work individually with students, helping them solve problems, strengthen their technique, and make more confident painting decisions.

Students will not have to struggle with drawing, if that is an issue. Traceable copies can be provided or work from your own images. Mary will share plenty of tips for drawing structures.

This workshop is about more than learning a series of watercolor techniques. It is about learning to recognize what makes a subject worth painting and discovering how to communicate its light, atmosphere, character, and sense of place.

For Baton Rouge artists, this is an especially meaningful opportunity: to welcome home an accomplished Southern watercolorist and spend three focused days learning from a teacher who understands both the beauty of our region and the expressive possibilities of watercolor.

Please do not wait too long to register. With such a small class and Mary returning to teach in her hometown, we expect these spaces to be highly sought after.

Supplies

Registration