Collage Jumpstart
February 15 @ 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
$250.00A 3-Week In-Studio Workshop!
Sundays, February 15, 22, and March 1, 2-5pm
View our current in-studio Health and Safety and Cancellation Policies >>
About this Workshop:
This workshop will provide participants with a variety of approaches to creating mixed media collages and instruction in techniques for making interesting, personalized papers for a variety of art applications. Students will learn how to capitalize on everyday materials such as coffee filters, magazines, book pages and napkins, and use household tools and implements to make stencils and create patterns and textures on papers using acrylic paints and inks. Simple methods of making image transfers will also be included, along with discussion of design and composition principles.
Level: Beginner/Intermediate – This workshop is suitable for both beginners and those with some experience in painting or collage.
Registration closes February 11, 2026. Material fees are included with your registration to cover the supplies provided in class. Students will need to gather/purchase additional materials for class (see the materials list below). This list will also be provided with the registration confirmation email.
Sample images by Sharon Robinson
CLASS MATERIALS LIST:
Registration includes a $14 materials fee to cover consumable materials provided in class, including tissue, mat board for substrates, miscellaneous found papers, inks, adhesives, tools, and more. Students will need to supply additional materials of their own, including:
- An assortment of inexpensive acrylic paints (tube, bottle, or jar are ok)
- 1 sheet of cold press watercolor paper, 22″x30″ (example) OR a pad of 9”x12” or larger watercolor paper (example)
- 1 small bottle of Liquitex or Golden Brand Gloss or Matte Medium
- (optional) Personal apron (we’ll have extras) or wear clothes that can get messy
- (optional) Collage materials from your personal stash – decorative papers, magazines, pictures, newspapers, old books, sheet music, maps, etc.
- (optional) Inks, stamps, and stencils from your personal stash
- (optional) Notepad and pen for taking notes
YOUR INSTRUCTOR:
Sharon Robinson is a mixed media artist specializing in abstract collage and assemblage and currently resides in the Washington, DC area. Raised in New Jersey, she earned a master’s degree in urban design and community development from MIT, and worked in the and urban transit and planning field for over 20 years in Los Angeles and Portland, OR. Since 1999 she has been a full-time artist, muralist, teacher, and arts program contractor. As an artist she exhibits in the DC region, as well as other east and west coast cities. Sharon teaches mixed media and collage classes in the Smithsonian Associates Studio Arts Program, The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA and Montpelier Art Center in Maryland. She also provides administrative support for public art projects conducted by the Prince George’s County Arts & Cultural Heritage Division. Her community activities include serving on the national Board of Directors of SCRAP, a network of non-profit creative re-use centers; participating as a review panelist for DC Arts Commission and Maryland State Arts Council grants, and as an appointee to the Arts Commission of the City of Mt. Rainier, Maryland. Learn more about her work at www.therobinsonstudio.com.
“Sharon was the best! So willing to share her knowledge, experience … and even her massive trove of supplies. I’d love to see a ‘Collage Jumpstart II’!”
—Previous Workshop Participant
“I love Sharon’s approach. I learn so much through the discussion. I appreciate that she demonstrates techniques and then gives us plenty of practice time. I think that could have easily been a 4 or 6 week class.”
—Previous Workshop Participant