News

Strong and Courageous by Barbara Benda, Ink and Acrylic monoprint, ©2025

Due to the fabulous fall weather, I am announcing a 1-Day Only Holiday Sale at Mourning Dove Studio/Double Trouble Art Gallery  in Moorhead this coming Friday, November 21st from 10 am to 6 pm.

This sale features original watercolor Christmas cards, framed, unframed, and matted original paintings of all sizes, plus original art from my personal collection. Please bring the whole family to shop and purchase original art for those who would appreciate a gift of lasting value. I look forward to seeing you soon!

Location: Mourning Dove Studio/Double Trouble Art Gallery,  809 20th Street North, Moorhead,MN
Date and Time: Friday, November 21st, 10 am to 6 pm

Solitary Sandpiper by Barbara Benda©2025

5 Day Beginning Drawing and Watercolor Workshop

This workshop includes sketching techniques, understanding the color wheel, how to use lights and darks to create contrast, and learning about composition to create successful watercolor paintings. All exercises start at the beginning and proceed step-by-step.

Date: January 12-16^th, 2026

Time: 9:00 am to 3:30 pm Monday through Friday with lunch on your own

Location: Vista Center for Education Room #120, 2777 34th St. S Moorhead, MN 56560

Participant Profile: for all levels of learner, ages 15 and up.

Registration and payment is taken through Moorhead Community Education  or by phone at 218-284-3400.

Cost: $425 plus professional-grade supplies.  (Moorhead residents $399.) Download the Supply List . Limited ready-made supply kits are available for $225 by contacting instructor. It is important to order supplies in advance of the workshop to ensure you receive them in time. I recommend ordering supplies through Jerry’s Artarama online. Please contact me with any questions.

Download a flyer here

Class is limited to 15 students. Minimum number of students is 8.

It’s not too soon to sign up! This workshop is only offered once a year in the Fargo-Moorhead area, so register today to secure your spot. Thank you!

Royal by Barbara Benda ©2025

Studio Crawl
You are invited to this year’s FMVA (Fargo Moorhead Visual Artists) Studio Crawl Event on October 4th-5th. New paintings will be showcased.  Please bring the whole family as I will be doing sketching demonstrations every hour.

1.Download a brochure at fmva.org

2. Find #1 in the brochure and plan to visit my Mourning Dove Studio and Double Trouble Gallery

from 12-6pm either Saturday or Sunday.

Art News

Solitary Sandpiper: Lost in Thought Again by Barbara Benda

On August 26th, 2025, this painting recently received the High Water $500 cash award at the Red River Watercolor Society National Watermedia Exhibit held at MSUM in Moorhead, Minnesota. This national show, juried by Kim Nechtman Johnson of Phoenix, AZ will be on display at the Diederich Art Gallery at the Roland Dille Center of the Arts building on the MSUM campus through September 19th, 2025. This is a free exhibit and gives you a chance to see the top watermedia artworks from around the nation. Gallery hours are

• Weekdays from 10AM-8PM ;
  Saturdays from 10AM-3PM

Upcoming classes:

Moorhead Community Education:

Seeing Things Differently:2 Part Sketching Series through Moorhead Community Education on November 12^th and 19^th from 1:30-3:30. Register by calling 218-284-3400 or register online at https://moorheadcommunityed.ce.eleyo.com/.  Right now, this course is full, but please call to be on the waiting list if you are interested and staff will work to make arrangements to accommodate more students. Visit the website to learn more about the classes and supplies needed for class.

Cartooning the Easy Way for Grades 2-4 at SJ Reinertson School, Moorhead, MN, November 13th, from 2:30-4:00. All supplies included.

Let’s Sketch Animals for Grades 2-4 at SJ Reinertson School, Moorhead, MN, November 20th, 2:30-4:30. All supplies included.

Hawley Community Education: 

Seeing Things Differently: the Short Course in Sketching will be held as a night class through Hawley Community Education on October 30^th from 5:30-7:30. Register by calling 218-483-7399 or online at https://www.hawley.k12.mn.us/community-ed.  This website will include more information about the classes. In Hawley, all art supplies will be provided. 

Let’s Sketch Animals for Grades 5-6, Tuesday, October 28th, 3:15-4:45

Let’s Sketch Animals for Grades 2-4 , Thursday, October 30th, 3:15-4:45

Upcoming Workshops:

My 5-day Drawing and Watercolor workshop may be held in January or February of 2026 through Moorhead Community Education. Stay tuned for updates. If you want to subscribe to my email newsletter, please email me at barbara@barbarabendanagle.com . My email newsletter comes out 5-6x a year only and includes information on classes. Know that your information will never be shared.

I look forward to seeing you this fall! – Barbara