upcoming
fine art
experiences
tfa.create@gmail.com
530.306.2379
Back in Nevada Again!
d’Lauren Fine Arts
Instructor ~ Dana Childs
Classes ~ Workshops ~ Plein Aire Outings ~ Art Hikes
Watercolor Supply List
located at the bottom of this page.
Book a Workshop now
Call Dana
@530-306-2379
Upcoming Workshops & Classes
VENUES INCLUDE ~
BREWERY ARTS, NEVADA FINE ARTS, RIVER FORK RANCH
Upcoming Venues to include Green House Garden Center, Caples Lake, Mono Lake and Next Fall/Winter Maker's Market at Reno Public Market
BREWERY ARTS CENTER
May 6-27, 2026 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
This runs every month
Unlock Your Inner Artist with Dana Childs | 4 Week Series | Wednesdays | Beginning January 7th 2026
Brewery Arts Center | South Building | Painting Studio 449 W King St, Carson City, NV, United States
Create your own masterpieces in this open-ended art experience. If you’ve ever dreamed of working on an artistic project—whether it’s painting, graphite, pen and ink, or even incorporating two- and three-dimensional textures or objects into your work of art—this is the workshop for you. This is a series of 4 workshops to give you the empowerment to create your very own works of art.
https://breweryarts.org/event/20260107-inner-artist/
Cherry Blossoms Watercolor Class
Brewery Arts Center
$35
$8 Supply fee paid to instructor
Tues, May 12th
6:15 to 7:45pm
Artist, Dana Childs guides you through the creation of a lovely cherry blossom branch. Along the way you will experience to fluid nature of watercolor and learn about some of the foundational techniques that help you feel successful with this elusive medium. Enjoy the wonders of watercolor as professional artist, Dana Childs, aka d’Lauren teaches you how to create impressionistic watercolor effects. Childs has been painting watercolors professionally for over two decades. In addition to this class, she will be offering an array of painting classes here, all with a focus on technique and expressiveness. All levels welcome, but this class is ideal for the beginner.
Email tfa.create@gmail.com for supply list
Channeling Georgia
Brewery Arts Center
$75 - supply list available
May 23rd
9am-12pm
Step into the intimate, magnified world of Georgia O’Keeffe, where flowers become vast landscapes of color, form, and quiet mystery. In this immersive watercolor workshop, we channel the iconic American modernist by recreating one of her celebrated iris visions—focusing on the luminous purples, velvety depths, and elegant ruffles of an iris bloom (inspired by works like Light of Iris (1924) and her ethereal purple-toned irises).
O’Keeffe once said she painted flowers large “so that people would take time to look at them.” Through guided instruction, you’ll do just that: slow down, observe deeply, and translate the flower’s lovely curves and subtle shifts in light into translucent watercolor layers.
Dana Childs seeks to inspire painters as well as inform and encourage them. She works to gently encourage them, while offering constructive suggestions based upon solid technique and artistic concepts. Childs loose and interpretive style is infectious and will spark the artist within you. She has developed a strong sense for reading her students after 28+ years of teaching watercolor painting and other forms of media.
Lovely Lake Tahoe
Watercolor Class
Brewery Arts Center
$45 - supply list available
July 14th
6:15m-8:30pm
In love with the lake? Join me in recreating her beauty and dynamic colors as we explore the wonders of watercolor. Dana Childs, aka d’Lauren teaches you how to create impressionistic watercolor effects and so much more. Childs has been painting watercolors professionally for over two decades. In addition to this class, she will be offering an array of painting classes at the BAC, all with a focus on technique and expressiveness. All levels welcome. To learn more about the art and artist, visit www.dlauren.org Questions, supply list - email Dana at tfa.create@gmail.com
Home Means Nevada
Watercolor Class
$35
$8 supply fee paid to instructor
July 21st
6:15pm-8pm
Paint a watercolor tribute to “Home Means Nevada” with professional artist and arts Instructor, Dana Childs of d’Lauren Fine Arts at the one and only Brewery Arts Center. Childs has been teaching art professionally for over two decades. In addition to this class, she will be offering an array of art classes at the BAC, all with a focus on technique and expressiveness. All levels welcome, but this class is ideal for the beginner. To learn more about the art and artist, visit dlauren.org.
To ask questions email Dana at tfa.create@gmail.com
NEVADA FINE ARTS
Channeling Georgai
Nevada Fine Arts, Midtown Reno
$75 - supply list available
Saturday, May 2nd
11am-2pm
Step into the intimate, magnified world of Georgia O’Keeffe, where flowers become vast landscapes of color, form, and quiet mystery. In this immersive watercolor workshop, we channel the iconic American modernist by recreating one of her celebrated iris visions—focusing on the luminous purples, velvety depths, and elegant ruffles of an iris bloom (inspired by works like Light of Iris (1924) and her ethereal purple-toned irises).
O’Keeffe once said she painted flowers large “so that people would take time to look at them.” Through guided instruction, you’ll do just that: slow down, observe deeply, and translate the flower’s lovely curves and subtle shifts in light into translucent watercolor layers.
Dana Childs seeks to inspire painters as well as inform and encourage them. She works to gently encourage them, while offering constructive suggestions based upon solid technique and artistic concepts. Childs loose and interpretive style is infectious and will spark the artist within you. She has developed a strong sense for reading her students after 28+ years of teaching watercolor painting and other forms of media.
Capturing Calla Lillies Watercolor Class
Nevada Fine Arts, Midtown Reno
$75 - supply list available
Sun, May 17th
11:30am-2:30pm
Capture the elegance and wonder that the Calla Lilly embodies in this watercolor class. Learning to save your whites and master application of a variety of values that this lesson requires will translate into your other art work, regardless of the medium.
Dana Childs seeks to inspire painters as well as inform and encourage them. She works to gently encourage them, while offering constructive suggestions based upon solid technique and artistic concepts. Childs loose and interpretive style is infectious and will spark the artist within you. She has developed a strong sense for reading her students after 28+ years of teaching watercolor painting and other forms of media.
Cherry Blossoms Watercolor Class
Nevada Fine Arts, Midtown Reno
$55 - supply list available
Tues, May 26th
11am-1pm
Artist, Dana Childs guides you through the creation of a lovely cherry blossom branch. Along the way you will experience to fluid nature of watercolor and learn about some of the foundational techniques that help you feel successful with this elusive medium. Enjoy the wonders of watercolor as professional artist, Dana Childs, aka d’Lauren teaches you how to create impressionistic watercolor effects. Childs has been painting watercolors professionally for over two decades. In addition to this class, she will be offering an array of painting classes here, all with a focus on technique and expressiveness. All levels welcome, but this class is ideal for the beginner.
Reflections in Watercolor - Landscape Studies with my Buddies!
Three- Day Watercolor Workshop
Tuesday July 14th and Thursday, July 16th, 10am to 3pm
$125 - supply list available
Nevada Fine Arts ~ Midtown, Reno
Paint a variety of landscapes focusing on reflections, water, land, sky and foliage in Watercolor in this skills specific class. While we will be aiming to complete a painting the main focus will be to explore different ways to paint the wide variety of element in a good landscape using watercolor. This is empowering you, the artist to propel forth into deeper water. See what I did there? Any who….you will complete at least one landscape that will tickle you pink, I promise.
Childs has been painting watercolors professionally for over two decades. In addition to this class, she will be offering an array of painting classes here, all with a focus on technique and expressiveness.
Reflections in Watercolor - Floral Studies with my Buddies!
Three-Day Watercolor Workshop
Sat-Sunday, August 8, 10am to 3pm & August 9, 11:30-4:30pm
$125 - supply list available
Nevada Fine Arts ~ Midtown, Reno
Paint a variety of florals focusing on shape, shadow, glazing, color theory and backgrounds in Watercolor in this skills specific class. While we will be aiming to complete a masterpiece the main focus will be to explore different ways to paint the wide variety of elements in using watercolor to create beautiful flowers.
Childs has been painting watercolors professionally for over two decades. In addition to this class, she will be offering an array of painting classes here, all with a focus on technique and expressiveness.
RIVER FORK RANCH
Genoa, NV -
River Fork Ranch
Botanical Sketching
May 7th 10-11:30am
Create watercolor postcards of botanical subjects found in the Riverfork Ranch area. Bring a camp chair if you'd like. $10 supply fee.
River Fork Ranch
June 6th
10-1pm
Pleine Aire Painting experience
Essentially what we do is trounce out into the designated meadow areas, or near the river at River Fork Ranch and paint our interpretation of the beauty that surrounds us. “Inspiration is the key to all good painting, and getting outdoors and painting not only what we see, but merging that with how the space and experience makes us feel is key to creating excellent art.”
In the past attending artists have chosen to paint the Carson Range, the river or even wildflowers in the area.
Students should bring their own paints and supplies, lawn chair, sunglasses, etc. If needed you can reserve a paints and paper for an additional $15, just email Dana Childs at tfa.create@gmail.com.
Supply list below
Channeling Georgia
Landscape
Glazing
Kick up your
art heels!
Florals
Plein Aire Outtings
Home
Means
Nevada
Ever dreamed of being a famous author… but like, actually holding your own book in your hands? (Not just scribbling “Chapter 1” on a napkin and calling it a masterpiece?)
In this super-creative class, kids 8–12 team up with a real professional writer (that’s me—no ghostwriters here!) to write and illustrate their VERY OWN original book. We’re talking epic adventures, hilarious mishaps, talking animals who roast their owners, or whatever wild idea pops into your brain.
You’ll craft the story, draw the pictures (stick figures with personality count!), design a killer cover that screams “bestseller,” and even add a fancy “About the Author” bio on the back flap (perfect for bragging about your pet goldfish or your world-record sock collection). We’ll finish it off with proper binding so it looks like it belongs on a real bookshelf… because it does!
The grand finale? A legit book signing party where you’ll autograph copies for family, friends, and maybe even that one kid who said your ideas were “weird” (spoiler: weird is awesome).
No experience needed—just bring your imagination, a sense of humor, and maybe some snacks (inspiration works better with cookies). Warning: side effects may include uncontrollable giggles, sudden plot twists at dinner time, and parents begging to read your book before bedtime.
Spots are limited—because legends-in-the-making can’t all fit in one room! Sign up now and let’s turn your wildest stories into bound books that future you will still be proud of.
This is a two week course taking place from 9am to 12:30pm on Monday June 8th, Tuesday June 9th, Friday June 12th, Monday June 15th, and Tuesday June 16th with the book signing event on Thursday, June 18th at 7pm.
Academy is $95 (including the published best seller, of course!), with $35 owed to the instructor for supplies on the first day of class.
https://breweryarts.org/event/20260608-young-authors-academy/
Learn to paint the beauty you SEE & the ART you feel - ONLINE
go to www.patreon.com/dlaurenfinearts
Splash
Shop My Workshops
Just call 530-306-2379 to book
Upcoming Class! Abstract Sextet at Nevada Fine Arts, October 4th, 10:30am
Sign up by going to https://nvfinearts.com/pages/classes-events#calendar-bc4b2e4a-1471-4843-9d26-d75962195aa5
d’Lauren Fine Arts Watercolor Supply List
Dana Childs * tfa.create@gmail.com * www.dlauren.net * 530-306-2379
Most of these can be found locally in Reno at Nevada Fine Arts
Preferred palette is Frank Web -- if you want to use a white ceramic dinner plate that works as well. Small palettes are problematic, but come in handy for in the field or backpacking, etc.
For plein aire or art hikes try to find a smaller palette that folds, and has a thumb hole in it for holding. Or you can use a foam disposable plate and cover with saran wrap.
Paints – tubed watercolors
(Grumbacher, Academy, Daniel Smith, Holbein or Windsor Newton’s Finest is preferred)
Permanent Rose (or Alizeron Crimson)
Ultramarine Blue
Antwerp Blue (sub = Prussian Blue)
Raw Sienna
Burnt Umber
Cadmium Yellow or New Gambouge (open it and make sure it's a bright yellow first, I use Daniel Smith of Van Gogh)
Brushes: 1-inch square sable or sablette, #8 round sable or sablette (and a #4 round if you are into detail)
140 lb cold press paper (prefer Arches, other’s ok. Canson & Fabriano student grade is ok-I would avoid other brands personally)
Two water buckets (one large and one yogurt sized)
1 flat household sponge – (no soap) pencils, kneaded or Mars eraser
paper towels and tissue
Palette rental and medium paper (student grade) available for $8
Just the palette? $8 MUST RESERVE IN ADVANCE OF THE CLASS
For Plein Aire outtings bring :
Polarizing sunglasses, beach or camping chairs, flat surface to paint on (clipboards, large or small or plywood work well), your own gallon of water, food to nosh, drinks, sunscreen, etc. Anything you would need for a day at the beach type supplies.