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ONLINE CLASS: Painting Peonies – The Art of Simplification
Pat Fiorello
February 24
$75
Join Pat Fiorello, an instructor who has led 16 programs with Il Chiostro since 2008.
How do you paint a garden scene where there are tons of details and not get lost or overwhelmed? In this lesson, Pat will share some approaches on how to simplify a complex scene, while still conveying the texture and energy that is characteristic of this type of subject matter.
We’ll be doing a “paint along” of peonies in a garden setting using both brushes and a palette knife. The lesson will focus on suggesting rather than reporting or trying to copy exactly what’s in the photo, capturing warm and cool color temperatures, and creating textural effects.
Suitable for oil/acrylic painters. Please be prepared to paint on a small (8×8, 10×10, or 12×12) square white (untoned) canvas if possible, and have a metal palette knife in addition to your brushes available. PLEASE DO NOT pre-tone the canvas. You’ll start on a white canvas.
As always, the lesson will be recorded for you to watch again after class or to access later if you cannot make the live Zoom class day/time.
The supply list will be provided via email before class begins. When you receive it, please review it carefully and ensure you have all the necessary materials.
The Zoom link for the class will be sent 24 hours before the start of class by a member of the Il Chiostro team.
Class Date: Tuesday, February 24th, 2026
Time: 1 – 4 pm ET (That is 12 noon Central time, 11 am Mountain time, and 10 am Pacific time; 6 pm in Britain and 7 pm in Europe)
Class Length: 3 hours
Price: $75
Please note: This class is for oil or acrylic paint.
Remember, if you can’t make the scheduled class time, the entire session will be recorded and available to watch or rewatch at a later date, at your convenience.

Pat Fiorello is an award-winning fine artist, instructor, and author of the book Bella Italia, Italy Through the Eyes of an Artist. She has been painting for 30 years and works in both oil and watercolor. Her work has been featured in 20 one-woman shows and has been included in over 100 juried exhibitions, including the American Impressionist Society, Oil Painters of America, and NOAPS. She is a Signature Member and Past President of the Georgia Watercolor Society. As a finalist in the Florals and Gardens challenge, Pat’s work appeared in International Artists magazine and has also been published in The Richeson International Still Life and Floral competition book (2021, 2023, 2025) Pat’s painting was selected as Best Floral (April 2023) and Best Oil Painting in the 13th Annual( 2024) PleinAir Salon competition sponsored by PleinAir® Magazine.
Inspired to devote her life to creating and sharing beauty, Pat made a radical career shift following a 20-year career in Marketing. After attending the Harvard Business School and serving as Vice President of Marketing of The Coca-Cola Company, in 2002, she followed her calling and dedicated her life to creating art on a full-time basis.
Pat teaches workshops both in person and online, and has led over 20 international workshops in Italy, Spain, New Zealand, and France, including private workshops at Monet’s Gardens in Giverny. Pat was on the faculty of the 2023 Realism Live painting conference, reaching participants in all 50 states and 19 countries worldwide.
Streamline Publishing produces and distributes two full-length instructional videos, “Vibrant Florals, Paint Your Garden” and “Elegant Still Lifes, Fresh and Fearless Painting”, featuring Pat’s painting methods. Both are available as a DVD or digitally/streaming on PaintTubeTV.
See more at patfiorello.com, @patfiorello on Instagram, PatFiorelloArtist on Facebook, and Pat’s online gallery
Testimonials
What a great class! Pat is such a good instructor. I’m new to oil painting as a watercolor artist, so I really wanted to see how the process went from start to finish as I worked along. I enjoyed getting to see Pat work from composition to getting the reference onto canvas, seeing her demo, and then giving us time to paint along and ask questions as needed. A wonderful class. I’m looking forward to the next class! - Mary A
I needed to see Pat Fiorello's oil painting incorporating shape, value, color, edges, and design from start to finish. The demo showed me how to avoid jumping into detail too early after laying down the big transparent masses. Thank you! - Lewallen M
Great teacher. Important painting points. Great fun - Mary Lee M
Pat is just a delight and a great instructor, and so encouraging! I've had health challenges (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, stem cell transplant, shoulder surgery, etc.) for the last 6 years. I am so grateful for the lesson and the ability to go to the recording later. That all being said, I'm sharing how far I got during the lesson, painting set up outside at my home to work on painting, and finished painting. Thank you, thank you, thank you - Previous Student
Website: www.patfiorello.com



