This is the second in our series of workshops led by Fellows of ASMA, exclusively for members of ASMA.
Plein-air Painting Workshop
with Neal Hughes
Monhegan Island, ME
August 17-19, 2026
$650
Join us for 3 days of demonstrations and plein-air painting as we explore the artistic wonder and atmosphere of Monhegan Island.
Located off the rugged coast of Maine, Monhegan Island has long inspired artists with its nostalgic village and fishing shacks, dramatic cliffs and timeless atmosphere. Since the late 19th century, painters such as Rockwell Kent, Edward Hopper, George Bellows, and Jamie Wyeth have captured its raw beauty, helping to establish Monhegan as one of America’s most celebrated and enduring art colonies.
View of Monhegan Island, Neal Hughes, 24”×30”, oil on linen
Workshop Details
Meet at
Monhegan Island, Maine
Mon to Wed, August 17-19, 2026
Participants should plan to arrive on the island August 16th and depart on the 20th.
There will be daily demonstrations with time for students to paint and receive individualized guidance as they paint.
This workshop explores ways to simplify the process of plein-air painting, utilizing a direct approach and using design as the foundation for more compelling and successful paintings. Topics covered will include understanding and using value to create strong compositions, effective use of color, the role of edges, strategies for simplifying complex scenes, and practical approaches to handling changing light.
paintings of Monhegan Island by Neal Hughes
About Neal Hughes
A graduate of the former Philadelphia College of Art, Neal Hughes has been painting professionally for over 40 years. He began his career as an illustrator, developing his skills in commercial art before making the transition to fine art, which has always been his true passion. Neal is a Master Signature Member of Oil Painters of America, a Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists and a signature member of Plein Air Painters of America, the American Impressionist Society and the National Oil &Acrylic Painters Society. He is also a member of the Salmagundi Club and the Mid Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association.
Included in the permanent collection of the New Britain Museum of American Art, Neal's work has also been accepted into numerous juried exhibitions including the national exhibitions of the American Impressionist Society, Oil Painters of America, The American Society of Marine Artists, and the Portrait Society of America.
Recent Awards Include:
Gold Medal – Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition
Best Associate Award of Excellence – Oil Painters of America
National Exhibition Award of Excellence – American Impressionist Society
National Juried Exhibition Best of Show – Olmsted Plein Air Invitational
First Place – Modern Impressionist Magazine Salon Alden Bryan
Memorial Landscape Painting Award of Excellence – Oil Painters of America National Exhibition
Best of Show and Artists Choice Award - Cape Ann Plein Air Best of Show
Artists Choice Award – Paint Grand Traverse competition
Best of Show – National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society 2021 Fall International Online Exhibition
Artists Choice and Life Of The Waterman Award – Plein Air Easton competition
Best of Show – Richeson75 Landscape, Seascape & Architecture competition
Neal and his wife, Betsy, currently reside in the historic town of Medford, New Jersey. They have four adult children and 17 grandchildren.
Registration & Payment Policies
Tuition
$650
Number of students:
A maximum of 14 students will be enrolled.If fewer than 5 students enroll, the class will be cancelled and participants will be issued a full refund.
Cancellation policy:
Before June 1: full refunds less credit card fees
From June 1-July 15: a 50% refund.
After July 15: a refund will be issued if another student can take the spot from the waitlist.
Transfers
If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your registration to another participant with prior approval from the workshop organizer.
Workshop Cancellation by ASMA
If the workshop must be cancelled by ASMA, all tuition payments will be fully refunded.