One-Day In-Person Class in Sarasota

Acrylic Impressionist Landscape

with John Milan

Five hours placing color one dot at a time, until light turns up on the canvas and the day is gone.

September 18, 2026
11am to 3pm
$90

Only 10 seats. Every supply included. All levels welcome.

What you'll paint

You'll leave with this

One day, one finished piece. You start with a blank canvas and walk out carrying your own painting.

Acrylic Impressionist Landscape painting

Acrylic Impressionist Landscape by John Milan. Yours won't look like this one, and that's the whole idea.

What the day is actually like

You'll forget to check your phone

Pointillism is repetitive on purpose, and the repetition is most of why people like this one. You place a dot, then another, and about two hours in you look up and the canvas has light in it that you didn't consciously put there. John will keep you honest about where the color goes.

Four hours is longer than it sounds. It's long enough that your phone ends up face down somewhere behind you, and long enough that you stop narrating what you're doing and just do it. Most people book for the painting and leave talking about the day.

You'll be at an easel with nine other people, none of whom need anything from you. Nobody's checking the news at your table, and there's no feed to scroll because your hands are covered in paint. The only decision you owe anyone for the next few hours is what color goes down next.

And it'll be yours. You're taught the actual principle, then you make your own calls, with a professional artist behind you catching the ones that would have cost you the painting. Ten easels, ten different canvases, every time. Nobody goes home carrying a copy of the instructor's picture.

Inside the room

This is what you're walking into

Real classes at the gallery, and real people holding what they made that day. These are from other classes, in the same room, at the same easels you'll be using.

The studio on South Palm Ave, downtown Sarasota.
The studio on South Palm Ave, downtown Sarasota.
Mid-class, somewhere in the afternoon.
Mid-class, somewhere in the afternoon.
Working from a reference at the easel.
Working from a reference at the easel.
Three students with what they finished that day.
Three students with what they finished that day.
The end of a portrait class.
The end of a portrait class.

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What you'll learn

The techniques you'll take home

You keep these. They're what make the next painting easier, the one you do at home on your own kitchen table.

01
Layer color as light

Use pointillist layering to build atmosphere and depth instead of flat, blended color.

02
Place color with intent

Work on composition and color placement so the scene reads from across the room.

03
Make it move

Develop texture, movement, and luminous color through repeated layered applications of acrylic.

04
Leave with a finished landscape

Walk out with a cohesive impressionist landscape rich in color and detail.

No shopping list

Everything is included

All art suppliesPaint, surface, tools. It's on the table when you arrive.
Painting sourcesReferences and setups, ready to go.
Live instructionA working artist teaching at the front all day.
A room of 10Small enough that you actually get helped.

Just bring yourself. Wear something you don't mind getting paint on.

Who teaches it

Your instructor

John Milan

John Milan

All Levels welcome

John Milan, co-founder of Milan Art Institute, is a dynamic artist with more than 28 years of experience. Known for his vibrant mixed media oil paintings and bold color, he teaches with humor and imagination.

The details

When and where

Your class

Date: September 18, 2026
Time: 11am to 3pm ET
Instructor: John Milan
Level: All Levels
Seats: 10 total

The studio

Milan Art Gallery
72 S Palm Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Open in Google Maps

Doors open a few minutes early so you can settle in.

One day, ten seats

Give yourself September 18

Block out the day, leave your phone in your bag, and come make something. Beginners are genuinely welcome, most of the room has never taken a class with us, and everyone goes home with a painting they want on a wall.

$90

10 seats total. All supplies included.

Before you book

Common questions

Do I need to bring anything?

No. Every art supply, the surface, and the painting sources are provided. Just wear something you don't mind getting paint on.

I've never painted before. Is this class for me?

Yes. Most people in the room have never taken a class with us before, and the instructor walks you through every step.

Where exactly is the class?

At Milan Art Gallery, 72 S Palm Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236, in downtown Sarasota. Doors open a few minutes before 11am.

How many people are in the class?

Ten. It's kept small on purpose so the instructor can actually get to everyone.

I'm not really a creative person. Will I be out of my depth?

This comes up more than any other question, and the honest answer is that the people who say it tend to leave with the pieces everyone crowds around. You're being taught a method you can follow step by step. If you can follow along for a day, you'll finish a painting.

Won't I be the worst one in the room?

Somebody has to be, and it genuinely doesn't matter, because nobody is comparing. Everyone is deep in their own canvas by the second hour. The classes are all levels on purpose, and most of the room is doing this for the first time.

What if I can't make it?

All sales for in-person events are final, and seats can't be transferred to another date. If something comes up, email info@milanart.com.

In-Person Experience Refund and Cancellation Policy

All sales for in-person events, including workshops, retreats, intensives, and other experiences, are final. We do not offer refunds or credit for cancellations or no-shows. Funds cannot be transferred to another event. By registering for any in-person event, you're agreeing to this policy and helping us keep every event well prepared for everyone.