The Absorbing, Atmospheric Chic of Johan Barrios

Johan Barrios is a Colombian mixed-media artist known for his unique use of graphite, oils, watercolor, and other materials in his figurative pieces. His work is all about atmosphere and abstractions that spark mystery and a bit of quiet drama. His canvases evoke a cool mix of tension and texture, through interesting poses and surrealist elements and absurdity in the way he stages his subjects and reflects emotion in his figurarive painting.

Johan will join us for for a unique and engaging 4-day oil painting workshop on May 9-12th 2026 where we dive into his creative process and learn how to use objects in surprising ways to add tension and depth to your narratives. He’ll guide 14 participants through everything from using reference photos to drawing and layering oils, all while focusing on how to create mood and tell stories through your artwork.

Over four days this workshop will cover everything from setting up a scene, posing a model, lighting, photography to key elements of depth, composition, exploring the palette, and reviewing the purpose of using specific mediums.