Transforming Your Painting with Thoughtful Layering
given by: Michiyo Fukushima, Juror of Awards for the 2026 Members' Show
and Workshop Instructor
In this session, we’ll explore how a final layer, added when a painting feels “almost finished,” can shift mood, deepen the atmosphere, and bring new energy to your work.
We’ll break down how warm–cool shifts influence the atmosphere, how selective brightening can restore luminosity, and how to apply transparent layers without disturbing previous washes. You’ll see how subtle value compression, edge management, and controlled glazing can transform an otherwise “complete” painting. The session includes demonstrations and guidance on how to diagnose where a painting would benefit from these adjustments.
Michiyo Fukushima is a New York–based fine artist specializing in watercolor. Her work has been exhibited in New York City, Miami, Charleston, Kent, Tokyo (Ginza and Shinjuku), and Osaka (Umeda). It has been featured in publications such as The International Herald Tribune, Fine Art Connoisseur, American Artist, Pratique des Arts (France), and Bijutsu no Mado (Japan).
She has taught at respected institutions including the Art Students League, the New York Academy of Art, the New York School of the Arts, and other programs throughout the city, as well as online. Her paintings are held in private, corporate, and museum collections, including the New York Historical Society Museum.
Originally trained in drawing and painting in high school, she first built a career as a professional photographer for several magazines in her early twenties. Although she enjoyed the work, it didn’t satisfy her creative drive. She eventually traveled abroad, rediscovered her passion for art, and found an unexpected but lasting connection with watercolor.
