Caroline Gates Art Studios is a working artist studio, gallery, and classroom space in Greenville, SC. The studio showcases contemporary figurative paintings by Caroline Gates, alongside select works created within the studio community. In addition to exhibitions, the space offers classes and workshops in oil painting, color theory, and professional development for artists. Caroline Gates Art Studios is dedicated to fostering both artistic growth and meaningful connection, creating an environment where emerging and established artists can learn, exhibit, and engage with the public.

A 4-Week Intensive on Understanding, Mixing, and Using Color with Intention

Color is never accidental. It shapes mood, builds form, directs the eye, and quietly tells the emotional story of a painting. In this four-week course, students will develop a deeper understanding of how color works—both technically and psychologically—while learning to mix and apply it with confidence.

This class moves beyond simply choosing “pretty colors.” We will study how hue, value, chroma, and temperature interact, and how disciplined color choices create harmony, tension, and narrative depth.

Whether you are new to painting or looking to refine your decision-making, this course will strengthen your foundation and sharpen your eye.

Meeting: Thursdays in April 6 PM - 8:30 PM: 4/ 2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/30 (Not meeting Thursday April 23*)

This is an open figure drawing session with a nude model where we focus on the anatomy and gesture of the human form. The model will start with quick poses (1 minute, 5 minutes, 20 minutes) and end with a long pose. All levels welcome.

This class is held on the fourth Monday of the month. Dates for 2025:

March 23 - Female Model

April 27: Female Model

May 18: Male Model

June 15: Female model

July 13: Male Model

$30 plus tips for the model. $5 off if you bring a friend! Please register below.

Explore the possibilities of quick oil painting following in the footsteps of impressionists like Monet. Perfect for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Students will be introduced to direct painting techniques, painting alla prima (wet into wet), focusing on tone, color, and brush strokes. Students will learn how to create a tonal study with charcoal in week 1 and will use that to create a painting in week 2.

Class Dates: 6/4 and 6/11

Materials: Paper, canvas, charcoal, paint and donuts will be provided. Students will need to bring their own paint brushes.

Price: $115

Class Format:

This hands-on course combines demonstrations, practical exercises, and individualized instruction to help you build confidence and proficiency in oil painting. We will consider the tone and composition of our paintings of donuts in week one and will create the actual painting in week 2. You will also get to enjoy donuts and tea.

We will discuss the following topics:

Materials and Tools: Why would we create a study in charcoal? Why would we start on a toned canvas? Why do we need to mix a medium into our paint?

Basic Techniques: We will learn how to create a subtractive charcoal drawing, how to think about the shadows and lights in paint, different kinds of brush strokes, and how to think about object edges.

Composition and Design: We will explore principles of composition, perspective, and how to use lighting to make an image more exciting.

Color Theory: Understand the basics of color theory and how to create harmonious palettes in your paintings.

Personal Expression: Discover ways to express your unique artistic voice using oil paint.

This four-week, skill-focused course introduces the fundamentals of charcoal drawing through observational work from a still life. Each class is designed to build core techniques including value, shading, proportion, and composition, giving students a clear and structured approach to drawing.

Working from a carefully arranged still life, students will learn how to accurately see and translate light, shadow, and form. Exercises will focus on developing control of charcoal—from smooth tonal transitions to confident, intentional mark-making—as well as techniques for measuring, correcting, and refining drawings.

Over the course of the series, you’ll gain a strong understanding of both materials and process, along with practical skills that can be applied to any subject. This class is ideal for beginners or anyone looking to strengthen their technical drawing abilities in a focused, supportive environment.

Looking for a comfortable, well-equipped space to teach your class or workshop? My classroom studio is available for hourly rental and is ideal for artists, instructors, and creative educators.

The Space Includes

- Three 7-foot folding tables

- One 6-foot table

- Chairs

- Ten tabletop easels

Amenities

-Slop sink located in the hallway

- model stand

- Restrooms down the hall

- Microwave available in shared kitchen

- Hot water heater for tea

- Great parking!

Rental Rates

$15 for the first hour

$10 for each additional hour

Flexible scheduling available. Inquire below or email @caroline.gates.art@gmail.com for questions or to schedule today!

Are you interested in learning how to draw or paint in a private setting? Come study with Caroline. Styles include drawing with graphite or charcoal, oil painting, soft pastel techniques, and plein air painting. Students can choose to focus on still life, portrait painting, designing a narrative work, copying master works, etc. We will look at how works from the past have informed the art world today and how artists today are in conversation with the story of art as a whole. The course can be as structured or unstructured as desired. Contact Caroline to get started today!

Adults: $65 for a 90 minute session or $250 for a package of four 90 minute classes

Kids: $40 for an hour long session. $150 for a package of 4 hour long classes.

Semi-Private Painting Classes -

Adults: 2 - 3 students: $60 per 90 minutes or $215 (split between the students) for a package of 4 classes.

Kids: 2 - 3 students: $35 per child per hour.

Having trouble finishing a painting? Stuck on a specific project? Join me for an open studio-style session where you can come in, work on your own project, and ask me questions along the way. It’s $25, relaxed, supportive, and a great way to stay creatively accountable.

Dates: 2/13 (cancelled)

3/13

3/27

4/10

4/24

This workshop offers an approachable introduction to figure painting from a live model. Working from a single, sustained pose, students will have the time to slow down, observe carefully, and build their painting step by step.

We’ll use the limited Zorn palette—titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, and cadmium red—to simplify color mixing and help you focus on the essentials of painting. You’ll learn how to mix natural-looking skin tones, understand light and shadow, and create a sense of form and depth.

Instruction will cover the basics of proportion, drawing the figure, and applying paint with clarity and confidence. Demonstrations and individual guidance will be provided throughout, making this a supportive environment for those new to figure painting or working from a live model.

This workshop is ideal for beginners or anyone looking to build a stronger foundation in figure painting in a relaxed, focused setting.

$65

In this class, we’ll explore the indirect painting process—building your painting in layers to create depth, luminosity, and subtle detail. We will focus on the the subtlety of painting fabric from life: how to create believable folds and how to use them to create a compelling composition. We’ll discuss color theory, composition, and how to use layering to bring character and emotion to your subject. This class is perfect for artists and beginners alike who want to slow down, refine their technique, and capture the fabric through rich, layered oils.

May 5/5, 5/12, 5/19, 5/26

What You'll Learn:

Materials and Tools: What makes oil paint so special and different from other mediums? Why must a canvas be primed? Why should you not finger paint with oils (and why we do anyways)?

Basic Techniques: Learn fundamental techniques of indirect oil painting, starting from a grisaille (under painting) and moving to glazing (transparent washes of paint) and scumbling (opaque application of paint).

Composition: Discover how to direct your viewer's eye through placement of objects and colors in your painting.

Color Theory: Understand the basics of color theory and how to create harmonious palettes in your paintings.

Personal Expression: Discover ways to express your unique artistic voice through the medium of oil paint.

Class Format:

This hands-on course combines demonstrations, practical exercises, and individualized instruction to help you build confidence and proficiency in oil painting. We will examine still life paintings from art history and see how to use their techniques for our own works.

Who Should Attend:

This class is perfect for beginners with no prior experience in oil painting and intermediate artists looking to build on their techniques.

Materials:

A list of required materials will be provided upon registration.

Price: $200 for all 4 classes, or $55 per class

Inquire below to register and receive the materials list.

Palette Knife Oil Painting

A 4-Week Exploration of Texture, Color, and Confident Mark-Making

Step away from the brush and discover the expressive potential of the palette knife. In this four-week oil painting course, students will explore bold mark-making, rich surface texture, and intentional color relationships while learning how to build a painting with clarity and structure.

The palette knife forces a different kind of decision-making. It encourages confidence. It eliminates fussing. It teaches you to simplify, to commit, and to see value and color in larger, more dynamic shapes. This class is designed for artists who want to loosen up, deepen their understanding of paint handling, and create work with energy and dimensional presence.

Whether you’re new to oils or looking to break out of over-blending habits, this course will challenge and strengthen your approach.

Materials:

A list of required materials will be provided upon registration.

Price: $200 for all 4 classes, or $55 per class

Inquire below to register and receive the materials list.