Huihan Liu Destination Workshop
Figure in the Landscape
in Maynard Dixon Country
Instructor: Huihan Liu
Medium: Oil Painting (Figure)
Dates: October 5–8, 2026 (M–Th)
Class times: 9:00–4:00
Tuition: $995 + $100 model fee due at class
Class Size: ONLY 12 students
Level: Intermediate-Advanced
Step into the luminous world of master painter Huihan Liu for an immersive four-day journey into figure and landscape painting at the Maynard Dixon Legacy Museum and Studio in Mt. Carmel, Utah. Designed for artists already versed in painting from life, this workshop invites you deeper—into richer techniques, sharper visual thinking, and a more intuitive relationship with form, light, and color.
Under Huihan’s guidance, you’ll explore the foundations of compelling painting: compositional design, thoughtful placement, and the poetry of a refined color palette. Through live demonstrations and direct observation—both in the studio and beneath Utah’s vast open sky—you’ll elevate your ability to translate the human figure and the landscape into painterly expression.
Mt. Carmel itself becomes part of the lesson. This quiet, scenic town—once home to legendary American West artist Maynard Dixon—offers a landscape that begs to be painted. Just a mile from town and surrounded by five national parks and countless monuments, it is a place where light performs differently, shadows linger longer, and the land feels alive with stories.
The historic Maynard Dixon home and studio, built in 1939 by Dixon and his wife Edith Hamlin, remains a sanctuary for artistic inquiry and inspiration. Preserved by the Thunderbird Foundation, this 501(c)(3) nonprofit has safeguarded the property’s legacy, earning it a place on the National Register of Historic Places and ensuring its role as a cherished stop along historic Highway 89.
Nestled near the early settlement of Orderville, the Dixon compound is more than a historic site—it’s a living invitation to slow down, observe, and create. Artists who come here often find the spirit of Southern Utah itself guiding their hand.
We hope you’ll join us in this extraordinary setting, where the echoes of Maynard Dixon’s vision meet the fresh insight of Huihan Liu’s teaching. Come paint, learn, and immerse yourself in the artistic and historic richness of Dixon Country.
Accommodations & Food
Accommodations are not included.
- RV Camping is available on-site at $45 per day for those with an RV — Full hook-ups for your RV! You must pre-register with Rich via email or Phone.
- LADIES—The Bunkhouse is available on-site at $45 per day. There are three beds available—Women only for this workshop. You can bring your own bedding or use what is available there. You must pre-register with Rich via email or Phone.
- Arrowhead Country Inn & Cabins are located directly across the road from the Dixon Studio. 435-648-2569
- Lunch: The workshop includes lunch for all 4 days for all students. Please let Rich know if you have any allergies.
- Dinner: We will have a group dinner on the first night (Sunday). If we go out together after that, each person will take care of their own dinner bill.
Huihan Liu Bio
Hailing from Guangzhou, China, Huihan Liu displayed an early aptitude for art. Huihan Liu underwent training in China from 1972 to 1975 at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art, graduating in 1975 with a B.A. However, his urban existence took an unexpected turn during Chairman Mao’s Cultural Revolution, as the government harbored suspicions towards the educated. Consequently, Liu’s father, a professor at a Christian college, was deemed in need of “re-education,” prompting the family’s relocation to a rural setting to acquire agricultural skills. Undeterred, Liu fled to his sister’s residence in Xinjiang, near Russia. Later, he returned home, finding employment in a factory while consistently indulging his passion for painting.
After he moved to America, he earned both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Academy of Art College of San Francisco in 1989. During his studies in China, he cites 19th-century Western painters as his primary influencers. Specifically, he notes the impact of Russian painter Ilya Repin’s depictions of peasants, emblematic of the influence exerted by the group of artists known as the “Wanderers.”
Apart from his exploration of Tibetan people and their lifestyles in his artworks, Liu developed a profound appreciation for the architecture, colors, and landscapes of the Southwest upon relocating to the United States. Having visited New Mexico many times since his first visit in 1997, he attended an American Indian pow-wow with his wife, an experience that, in his words, “touched my heart.” Huihan expressed his admiration for the costumes and children, emphasizing that it was during this event that he derived inspiration for his paintings. He notes that some of the same patterns he observed in Tibetan life also drew him to depict scenes from American Indian culture.
