From October 19–31, I’ll be heading to San Luis Obispo, California to attend a series of advanced painting workshops with master portrait painter Mary Carole Larson. These sessions are often affectionately referred to as paint camp — intense, focused days built around learning, refining skills, and truly digging into the craft of painting at a higher level.

The workshops are designed for artists who want to challenge themselves, learn from a seasoned instructor, and gain insight into advanced techniques used by a master portrait painter. It’s the kind of environment where you’re painting, observing, asking questions, and absorbing knowledge from morning to night — demanding, inspiring, and incredibly rewarding.

At the moment, there are spots still available, but these workshops are limited in size and tend to fill very quickly. If this is something that speaks to you, I always encourage reaching out and checking — even when space is tight, it never hurts to try. I’ll be sharing Mary Carole’s information on this page so anyone interested can look into the opportunity further.

I first met Mary Carole in Georgia, and I’ll be seeing her again there later in November as well, but this California experience is a special chance to learn in an immersive setting and dedicate real time to growth. Trips like this are a reminder of how valuable it is to step outside your routine, learn directly from those who have mastered their craft, and return home with a deeper understanding of painting.