Brush Painting Workshops with Louise Chen in Midland — Cats, Crocuses & Plum Blossoms

Midland, Michigan sits on the banks of the Tittabawassee River, and at 5501 Jefferson Avenue you’ll find a bright community studio hosting Louise Chen’s full-day brush painting workshops. These sessions—CATS, CROCUSES, and PLUM BLOSSOMS—teach spontaneous cat brushwork, luminous washes, and classical plum-blossom composition in a supportive classroom setting. Each workshop runs 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and includes step-by-step demonstrations, individualized feedback, and the chance to finish pieces to take home. The room fills with the steady scratch of brushes and the shimmer of wet pigment as participants learn to translate gesture into textured fur, to build depth with layered washes, and to construct elegant floral arrangements with economical strokes. Louise Chen brings decades of traditional training from Taiwan alongside an academic practice in the United States; her combination of disciplined technique and expressive freedom helps artists of all levels push beyond copying into creative interpretation. What makes these workshops special is the focus on brush economy—using deliberate marks to suggest form—paired with generous, hands-on instruction tailored to the student. Small class sizes let Chen offer direct corrections, demonstrate variations live, and help students select compositions that suit their skill and vision. Materials are available for an additional fee, so travelers can arrive ready to paint without hauling a heavy kit. The workshop is also a quietly excellent way to connect with Midland’s broader art scene. The studio’s address places it convenient to Dow Gardens, Alden B. Dow Home and Studio, and local galleries, so you can pair a day in the studio with outdoor walks or architecture tours. Expect to see regional flora and the occasional red-tailed hawk from the studio window; the area’s seasonality affects natural light, so each date reveals different color temperatures for painting. Workshops are priced at $145 per day with a $30 materials fee; sessions run on selected Saturdays and require participants to be at least 12 years old. The meeting point is 5501 Jefferson Avenue, Midland, MI 48640, where the studio opens by 9:00 a.m. for setup and parking is available nearby. Bring sketchbook and reference photos, and consider a towel for hands and a sealed container for wet works to transport. For travelers, Midland offers downtown lodging and diners within a short drive, making it easy to turn a workshop into an overnight creative weekend focused on practice and local arts exploration. Practical notes: arrive early to settle in and warm up; bring photo references if you want subject-specific guidance; and plan for a full-day rhythm—short breaks punctuate long, focused demonstrations. Whether you’re a curious beginner or an experienced painter seeking refinement, Louise Chen’s workshops offer disciplined technique, cultural depth, and visible progress in a single, rewarding day of practice.