Dramatic Sky over Barnegat Light

Dramatic Sky over Barnegat Light

Class | Available

94 Stafford Ave. Manahawkin, NJ 08050 United States
TBD
Intermediate and Advanced
6/10/2026 (one day)
10:00 AM-3:00 PM EST on Wed
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$100.00
$75.00

Dramatic Sky over Barnegat Light

Class | Available

This studio workshop is designed for intermediate and advanced watercolor artists, focusing on the essential skills of composition, subject editing, and values while creating a lighthouse-themed painting.

Participants will work with a limited palette and explore various techniques and materials to paint a dramatic sky behind Barnegat Light.

The workshop will guide artists in creating a sky that either enhances the lighthouse as the main subject or becomes the primary focal point of the artwork itself.

  • This is a guide, bring what you have. There’s no need to run out and buy a specific color or brush that you’re missing from the list.


    • Watercolor Paints – tubes or pans.  I use a “limited” palette which consists of a few blues, reds, and yellows.  For the record here’s what I typically have:
    • Winsor & Newton
    • Payne’s Grey, Ultra-Marine Blue, Cerulean Blue, Cobalt Blue, Burnt Umber, Cad Red, Turner’s Yellow
    • Daniel Smith
    • Neutral Tint
    • American Journey
    • Yellow Ochre
    • Watercolor Paper – medium (140#) to heavy weight (300#).  I typically use Arches rough or cold pressed.  11”x14” or larger. Bring several sheets.
    • Watercolor brushes – a rigger, various sized rounds such as a 4, 8, 12, 18.  A large flat 1-2 inches, or a large mop brush. Bring what you have.
    • Palette with LARGE mixing wells
    • Two Water Containers (bigger than a coffee cup please)
    • Painting board/surface to support your work (foam core, gator board, plywood, etc.)
    • Artist’s white or tan masking tape (no blue painter’s tape)
    • Easel or painting prop to slant your painting surface
    • Paper towels
    • Pencil (HB, B or a good-old No.2) and kneaded eraser
    • Sketch and note paper

    Nice stuff to have but not mandatory

    • A “Fine Mist” Spray bottle like an “Atelier” or “Holbein” Fine Mist Bottle
    • Value Scale

Joe Milligan

Capturing the Essence of Time and Place Through Watercolor

As an artist working in the tradition of American realism, my creative journey is deeply rooted in a sense of place and temporal reality. Each painting is a window into moments ordinary and profound. I strive to portray scenes that resonate with authenticity driven by a personal connection to my subjects. I seek out scenes that speak of solitude, hope, nostalgia, or contemplation. 

In an era increasingly defined by technology and daily distractions, I find myself longing for a life more attuned to nature and the rhythms of the authentic human experience. My artwork reflects this aspiration: I wish to honor the beauty in simplicity, the richness of the overlooked, and the stories whispered by our lived environments. 

My paintings are beginnings and I invite you to immerse yourself in these scenes, to bring your own experiences and interpretations, and to find meaning. I encourage others to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the world and themselves.

Enjoy the Brushwork!