Led by Flint Institute of Arts Director of Education Matthew Osmon

This hands-on, experimental watercolor workshop builds teacher confidence through practical techniques, mixed media exploration, and classroom ready project ideas for multiple grade levels. Matthew will share his own process while guiding participants through approaches that balance control and happy accidents, with a focus on surrealism and the visual relationship between a subject and the space around it.

Using the FIA as our discovery zone, participants will draw inspiration from artists in the FIA collection, including Darius Steward, Wangechi Mutu, Floyd Hopper and William Sommer, while also exploring artists such as Sławomir Elsner, Ralph Steadman, Firelei Báez, Marcel Dzama, Walton Ford, and Layla Ali.

Teachers will leave with fresh, classroom ready strategies that make watercolor and surrealism feel more accessible, playful, and genuinely exciting for students.

COST: $125