St Croix River School of Painting

Stillwater Minnesota

In 2008 I founded the St Croix River School of Painting.   

I had a clear and passionate vision fueled by a dream.  I dreamt of a nourishing community of painters who had similar interests in growing and painting to their highest potential with a special emphasis on color in representational painting, grounded firmly in the fundamental elements.  

I named the school after this land to honor both the landscape that inspires my work and for the people, with a complete understanding that this is not just about me. It’s about teaching and sharing for both today and tomorrow.  It’s about creation and continual growth in painting and most importantly passing this along to others to help them grow to their highest potential. This growth is a lifelong process and not something easily achieved alone.    

My philosophy, and the emphasis of the school, is and always has been to teach the highest level of excellence in painting and foster a nourishing community of kindred spirits where the student is constantly growing yet being pushed just slightly beyond their comfort zone while feeling safe, enthused, and inspired to learn.  

Here at the school, I provide both semester classes and workshops throughout the year, along with some traveling workshops in other locations across the country.  

For years now people have asked me to teach online and I haven’t done so, until now!  Just like everyone else, I was quickly forced to adapt to the changes due to our current situation.  It was just Sunday morning when I made the final decision to go online the next day with my currently enrolled students.   Remarkably, it worked out better than I could ever have imagined!  Using Zoom, and a full class of optimistic, go with the flow, we got this, type of painters, I conducted an entire studio class very successfully!  I was shocked at how well it went and how juiced we all were.  We were all together and the classes didn’t skip a beat!  

What I’ve really learned so far from this uncertain time is that I hold deep value and respect for the community of painters I have the opportunity to work with.  Not only do I hold them accountable, but they hold me accountable.  Not only do I push them, they push me.  We show up together and continue to both grow and achieve on this journey.  

With this all said, I am now going to offer online classes and mentorships!  All the same standards of excellence still apply in my teaching.  Helping you to achieve your goals and become a better painter is my goal!  

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The St Croix River School of Painting and Kami's studio is located near Stillwater Minnesota on a 16 acre property.  The studio is in a 110 year old hip roof barn that was converted into studio space looking over both acres of wetlands to the east and surrounded by 100 year old pines on the west which line the drive into the property.  

Lectures and workshops for artists

During summer mornings painters study light on the grounds of the school during weekly classes.

Starting in June each summer Kami holds Plein Air Classes on the grounds.

A Tuesday morning still life class next to the marsh.

Painters gather to study light on the figure.

Kami teaches two semesters of weekly classes per year.  Each semester lasts twelve weeks.

Kami demoing for her annual Plein Air workshop, studying shapes in the landscape.

The St Croix isn't far from Kami's home and school, the very river the school honors in it's name and a great source of inspiration for Kami's work.  Classes often meet at the river to study water and it's reflections.  

Kami painting the river.