Three-Week Oil Painting Studio with Linda Luzum in Monroe, GA

On three Thursday mornings in September, the Monroe-Walton County Arts Center hosts an intimate oil painting studio led by Linda Luzum, held in downtown Monroe, Georgia. This three-week series (Sept 10, 17 & 24) gives adult painters a focused block of time—three two-hour sessions—to develop a single project under the watchful eye of an experienced instructor. The classroom sits on the second floor of a 90-plus-year-old building, where tall windows admit steady natural light and wood floors creak with a local history that feels good underfoot. With a maximum of six students, the format rejects cookie-cutter, step-by-step projects. Instead each participant brings a reference photo—a landscape, still life, portrait, or pet—and Linda circulates, offering targeted demos on composition, color mixing, value relationships, brushwork, and oil techniques. The room’s key features include individual easels, a communal palette station, an array of solvent and medium options, and ample wall space for critiquing work-in-progress. What makes this class special is the blend of structure and autonomy: advanced beginners through experienced painters get enough guidance to push past technical stalls while retaining full control of their subject and style. Linda Luzum, a Miami University Fine Arts graduate with two decades of continued study and exhibition experience, emphasizes problem-solving—how to simplify complex forms, shift value to create depth, and rescue problem areas without repainting an entire canvas. For visitors to Monroe, the class is also a chance to plug into the area’s creative life. The arts center resides a short walk from the historic downtown square and local cafes, so you can turn a morning of focused studio work into an afternoon of exploration. Be aware the studio is upstairs in an older building with no elevator; bring light, portable materials when possible. Practical takeaways: the course is deliberately compact—three sessions that build week-to-week—so expect to make steady progress rather than necessarily finish a polished piece. Bring a clear printed or digital reference, basic familiarity with oil mediums, and an openness to critique. Whether you’re refreshing technique or chasing a long-held composition, this class offers concentrated time, experienced feedback, and a supportive small-group environment that makes Monroe feel like a place where making things is taken seriously. Classes meet Thursdays, 11:30 AM–1:30 PM, and cost $85 for the three sessions; registration closes when the class fills or on Sept 10. This offering is limited to adults 21 and over and best fits painters who already know their way around brushes, solvents, and basic oil safety. Check-in is on the second floor; staff can assist new visitors. Progress will vary — some students finish a painting, others leave with stronger technique and clearer next steps — but everyone gets focused studio time and Linda’s practical coaching.