Still Life with Andrew Sjodin
Workshop Description
Andrew Sjodin is a professional painter working in the representational tradition. Along with working as a studio artist, Andrew has also developed a dedicated practice as an instructor, teaching at his alma mater, The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts in Minneapolis, MN, as a core program instructor as well as traveling to teach workshops throughout the United States. Andrew brings over 15 years of painting experience and over a decade of instructional experience to his teaching.
Creating still life paintings has been a major focus of Andrew’s career as an artist. His approach to painting attempts to synthesize both a visual/intuitive as well as an academic/intellectual approach to seeing color, developing form, and telling story. In this five day still life workshop Andrew will be walking students through the entire process of creating a still life — from composing the set-up, to blocking-in, to developing form and color, to finishing.
Each day of the workshop will be split into two three-hour blocks: from 9am to noon Andrew will demonstrate; from 1pm to 4pm Andrew will critique student work. On day one the morning demo will also include a lecture covering materials, composition, color theory, paint handling, and how to think about the three stages of creating a painting: block-in, development, and finish. Throughout the remainder of the week students will be free to work on their own paintings in the morning session and/or observe Andrew as he works alongside them. In the afternoon sessions Andrew will work around the room, critiquing individual students, helping them problem solve, and pushing them with new ideas and critical approaches to developing their work.
About the Artist
Andrew Sjodin (b. 1981) is an American painter whose work invites quiet reflection and emotional resonance. Rooted in the traditions of classical realism and infused with the sensibilities of modern impressionism, his paintings offer viewers a space for introspection — works that are at once subtle, contemplative, and deeply human.
Originally from Forest Lake, Minnesota, Sjodin’s path to becoming an artist was anything but linear. After studying philosophy and mathematics at St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, he spent his twenties exploring the world and serving others — completing two years with AmeriCorps in Washington State, teaching English in Thailand, and eventually landing in Homer, Alaska. It was in Alaska that Sjodin’s trajectory shifted. A painting course with artist and mentor Asia Freeman in 2008 proved pivotal. At the final critique of the class, Freeman encouraged him to consider pursuing art more seriously. Taking her advice to heart, Sjodin returned to Minnesota and began searching for an art education that resonated with him. He soon discovered the atelier method — an intensive, traditional approach to training in fine arts that was entirely new to him, but immediately felt correct.
In 2010, Sjodin enrolled in The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts in Minneapolis, where he immersed himself in classical drawing and painting techniques under the guidance of Dale Redpath and Cyd Wicker. Over four rigorous years, he honed his craft, developing a foundation in French Academic drawing while cultivating a painterly language influenced by impressionistic color and light. Today, Sjodin is both an artist and educator. Since 2015, he has taught painting and drawing classes and workshops, and in 2018, he joined the core program teaching staff at The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts.
His studio practice focuses on still lifes and figurative work, rendered primarily in oils. His compositions are quiet and restrained, imbued with a sense of presence that encourages viewers to pause, observe, and feel. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in private collections across the United States. He has received numerous awards and has been recognized multiple times in the prestigious Art Renewal Center International Salon. Sjodin currently lives and works on a small farm in Isanti County, Minnesota — about 45 minutes north of the Twin Cities — where he continues to paint, teach, and pursue a life of careful observation and artistic depth.
Enrollment Policy
Tuition for this five-day intensive workshop is $800.
A deposit of $400 is required to secure enrollment. Deposits are fully refundable for cancellations made on or before June 12, 2026. After that date, the deposit is non-refundable, unless a waitlisted participant is available to fill the spot, in which case a full refund will be issued. All remaining tuition balances must be paid in full by July 12, 2026.
All outstanding tuition balances must be paid by Sunday, July 12th, 2026.
Illness Cancellation Policy: In the unfortunate event that a workshop participant falls ill immediately before the workshop (within one week of the start date of the workshop), they will be allowed a 50% refund on their tuition. Or, if a waitlisted workshop participant is available to fill their spot, full refund will be issued to the cancelling individual.
If the minimum enrollment has not been met by Sunday, July 12th, Underpainting Collective reserves the right to cancel and refund tuition.
To enroll, please fill out the form embedded below. For any questions, please message us at info@underpainting.org.