Painting the Colors, Light, & Feel of the Southwest
Workshops & Events
Southwestern Landscape painter Mike Mahon has been a professional artist for over 50 years and has been conducting New Mexico art workshops as well as workshops, seminars, and art lectures throughout the country for the last 25 years. He has won many awards for his work including many best-of-shows and has taught and exhibited in various museums and art organizations from Florida to California. His work is recognized for its strong sense of design and dynamic and painterly use of color and value. He is the inventor of the unique pastel handling system, Mike Mahon’s Pastel Porter™.
Samples of his work and testimonials can be viewed on his website at http://www.mmahon.com. Painting demonstrations in pastel and oil can be viewed on his Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/MikeMahonFineArtist1
Mike’s Signature Memberships:
As a signature member of the Pastel Society of America, Pastel Society of New Mexico and the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico, Mike is the perfect instructor to advance your painting skills in producing landscape paintings.
“Loose & Luminous: Soft Pastel Beyond the Photo”
Discover how structure + spontaneous mark-making combine for expressive realism.
4 Day Pastel Workshop
Cloudcroft, New Mexico • July 14-17, 2026
Sponsored by Cloudcroft Art Workshops
Early-Bird Registration
Artists that sign up early by “April 1, 2026” will receive a free copy of Mike’s recently published book, “Art Principles: Control Your Painting Process & Conquer Your Fear of Failure”. This 123 page book details the seven fundamental principles of painting and his painting process. It also includes his journey as an artist. This is a $25 value available on Amazon Books. For a complete description of the book go to this link: https://tinyurl.com/m7x53dee
Follow this link to download a 20 page sample of the book: https://tinyurl.com/3ftf2vu5
First Day Schedule
Mike will begin with a thorough introductory presentation explaining the painting principles and procedures necessary for successful painting. After a question and answer session, Mike will do a painting demo from start to finish.
After the demo Mike will help students set up their painting equipment and prepare for a Paint-Along which will begin by the end of the day one or the first of day two.
Teaching Approach
Mike’s students have had great success using Paint-Alongs to learn his pastel process. The more controlled step-by-step procedure of a paint-along is very encouraging to those who want to master the seemingly contradictory qualities of control and spontaneity. You will learn how to think in Aesthetic Categories which form the foundation of all forms of art.
Second Day Schedule
Mike will lead a Paint–Along session in which he will supply a landscape picture to each student to paint that is identical to the one he is using. Mike will demonstrate his step-by-step painting process, stopping at each step to allow students to reproduce what they have just seen him paint. He will answer questions and work with individual student during their painting time. Students have found this to be the fastest and most effective way to build confidence while learning his painting method.
Third Day Schedule
On the third day, Mike will briefly review the material he has taught and introduce specific instructions on measuring techniques, scene selection, and value studies. Students will begin work on scenes from their own photo references. Mike will work with each artist to determine how to choose the best photo reference and how to crop it.
Fourth Day Schedule
On the fourth day everyone will continue working on paintings done from their own source material and/or begin as second painting from their source photos. At the end of the 3rd day, there will be a comprehensive class critique of all the work produced during the workshop. Many artists consider this one of the most useful sessions of the workshop experience.
Throughout this process, students will learn several techniques including how to edit what you paint to the most essential elements for the most successful painting.
A Systematic Painting Process
You will also be introduced to Mike’s “Aesthetic Categories” ©, a 7-step systematic approach to painting based on classical principles of art which are logical, learnable, and memorable. Also know as the Divine SETUP, this systematic process will free you to be more spontaneous, while still in control of your painting. You will learn the necessary steps and the order in which they must be used to accomplish a good painting.
Video Instruction & Review
Mike’s demonstration paintings and paint-alongs will be videoed and made available to workshop participants. These videos will be your way of reliving and reviewing the learning experience you receive at this workshop for years to come.
Your success is Mike’s goal!
“Success is where preparation meets opportunity.”
Pastel painting is a pleasurable experience. However, it has unique challenges that can be overcome by proper preparation!
Fill Out Form Below and Submit for Registration Information
Video links for workshop preparation:
Aesthetic categories Video: There are two (2) videos to view, part 1, and part 2
Link: https://vimeo.com/album/5450161
Password Required
Pastel Landscape with painting Tips (Adobe Sunset) 29 minute
Link: https://vimeo.com/382343766
Password Required
Pastel Supply list and Practice PDF
Learn How 8 Master Pastelists Work Their magic!
Join me as I compete on June, 18, 2026 from 1-4pm for "DUELING DEMOS" IAPS Pastel - International Association of Pastel Societies Convention! Four sets of 2 artists each will compete for the best painting of the same reference photo per set. Register for IAPS and register for this event. Space is limited and this is not open to the public, so be sure to register for it.
WORKSHOP TESTIMONIALS
Words from LOVERS OF ART AND LEARNING
“Having been lucky enough to attend my third workshop with Mike Mahon in Canyon Road, Santa Fe. I came away, as always--- with a hard lesson learned. ”
“This one was about perspective. Mike has incredible architectural drafting as well as life drawing skills. His instructions on how the angles of a building slope determined by the place the artist is standing in relation to the building helped me immensely! It was immediate and I will never forget it! Looking forward to my next class with Mike, I know I will come away with a much more professional insight!”
—Melody Saunders Brenna
Amarillo, Texas
“It’s much more technical and theory intensive (than other workshops). I learned a lot. Just wish I’d had this when I was younger.”
“I would recommend it to anyone who is trying to improve their painting skills. It was such a privilege to attend this workshop. I received excellent instruction in group form plus lots of individual help.
Excellent teacher-plus Cynthia is so helpful with everything. Mike & Cynthia are so warm and friendly that the class was a lot of fun.”
—Joyce Ming
Lamar, Colorado
“I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed your workshop. I learned so much that my head is spinning…”
“I have been painting for 20+ years and heard information that was new! I spent all morning going over your workbook and my notes and it just makes me hungry for more. I think your method is sound and wish that we had time to go more into depth with it.”
—Pat Weekley
Clovis, New Mexico
“…[Mike] You are one of the hardest working artists I've ever known, bar none. Not only did you spend every minute talking us through the fine points of scaling art to fit a canvas, but you did two paintings of your own AND spent time with each of us, from the oil neophyte to the more advanced oil painters in the group.”
“All of us were most appreciative of your tact, attention to detail, and desire for us to do the best paintings we were capable of producing in 3 days...
You don't pull your punches. If a painting has elements that are not well done, you say so, and work with the artist to make improvements. I have been distressed in past workshops or in critique meetings when no real critique was provided, other than the false critique of gushy flattery... Thank you for your encouragement and your expertise. I greatly admire your painting AND teaching skills.”
—Martha Wofford, Ph. D.
Dalhart, TX
“During a 3 day seminar/workshop, Mike Mahon explained the unique attraction of the human face in the visual arts and how children are particularly intrigued by it. By way of lecture and an actual portrait demonstration from a live model, Mike explained how drawing and universal art principles have application in teaching other art forms."
The following are testimonials of Los Angeles school teacher attendees in answer to this question, “What were your impressions of the the speaker, Mike Mahon, at today’s presentation?
-Excellent-prepared, well-spoken and master of his area
-The speaker is obviously very talented and he has obviously taught quite a few courses. He was able to teach me very well.
-Thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Mahon-he was entertaining, informative and patient-he should teach art to kids!
-Articulate, knowledgeable, I love the connection to the art in nature especially the xray with the Fibonacci sequence.
-Great watching Mr. Mahon. He is a good teacher and has a great presence.
-Excellent presenter. Very informative and helpful.
-Mike Mahon was very informative. His explanations about portraiture was very clear and I was able to follow his instructions and produce the results he was looking for.
-Mr. Mahon was obviously a well trained expert in graphic art and in portrait drawing. The demonstration and how Mr. Mahon set up the lighting and the seating was fascinating.
-Mr. Mahon-funny, intelligent, well-informed-cross curricular and clear
-Mr. Mahon was hilarious!
-Mr. Mahon was professional and personable. A “natural educator”
—The Skirball Cultural Center Museum
Los Angeles, CA
Painting the Colors, Light, & Feel of the Southwest
