Upcoming Travel Dates
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
Travel has always been a huge part of my creative life. I love going new places, learning new techniques, painting alongside incredible artists, and meeting people who share that same pull toward creativity and exploration. Every trip brings fresh ideas back home — new approaches, new perspectives, and inspiration that often finds its way into future classes, whether I’m working in oils or experimenting with other mediums. Along the way, I also love making these trips as accessible as possible for others. When space allows, we often rent larger homes with multiple bedrooms and shared spaces so we can travel, paint, and enjoy the experience together while keeping costs more manageable. This page is simply a place to share where I’ll be, what I’m learning, and—when possible—invite others to come along for the journey.
Dana Jester
June 26 & 27, 2026
Workshop with Dana Jester
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While I won’t personally be attending this one, I absolutely want to make sure it’s on your radar. Longtime instructor and artist Dana Jester will be teaching a special two-day workshop featuring one of his beautifully detailed animal subjects.
Many of you know Dana’s name from the blog we shared last fall and from his long-standing presence in the painting world. He painted alongside Bob Ross for many years and has since developed his own distinct voice and direction. While he still carries strong foundational wet-on-wet principles, his work today often leans more toward expressive animal subjects and refined technique rather than traditional Bob-style landscapes.
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Dana is an exceptional instructor with decades of experience. He has a gift for breaking down complex ideas into approachable steps, helping painters better understand structure, texture, and the subtle shifts that bring a subject to life. For anyone looking to grow beyond basic landscape work and explore strong animal painting with depth and character, this is a fantastic opportunity.
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Even though I won’t be there in person, I highly encourage anyone interested to consider studying with him. Learning from different instructors is one of the most powerful ways to grow as an artist — and Dana brings both experience and heart to the classroom.
OKC Painting Palooza
August 9 - 15, 2026
From August 8–15, I’ll be traveling to Oklahoma City to attend the Oklahoma City Painting Palooza — one of the largest and most energetic painting events I attend each year. It’s truly eight full days of painting from the moment the doors open in the morning until they close at night, with classes running continuously throughout the event.
The Painting Palooza offers an incredible variety of classes across multiple mediums, skill levels, and teaching styles. Whether someone is brand new to painting or has years of experience, there’s something here for everyone. You can take structured classes, sit in on demonstrations, try new materials, or simply paint alongside other artists who are just as excited to be there.
In addition to classes, there’s a large vendor area where you can explore and purchase art supplies, tools, and creative goodies you don’t always get to see locally. One of the highlights of the week is the Friday night dinner, which includes auctions and fundraising efforts that support local charities — a reminder that this event isn’t just about art, but about community as well.
The Painting Palooza has a similar spirit to events like the APC Expo, but on a larger scale and spread across more days. It’s an amazing place to meet artists from all over, reconnect with familiar faces, learn from many instructors in one place, and fully immerse yourself in the creative world. If you’ve ever thought about attending a multi-day art event and want to know what it’s really like, I’m always happy to share more and help you decide if it’s a good fit.
Kevin Hill
September 31 - Oct 1st
Workshop dates have been announced for September 29–October 1 with landscape artist Kevin Hill.
While the specific painting projects have not yet been released, this is always an exciting opportunity to study with one of today's most recognized landscape painters.
Kevin's workshops are known for their focus on composition, atmosphere, light, and thoughtful landscape design. Rather than simply recreating a scene, students are encouraged to understand the underlying principles that make a painting successful. His instruction often emphasizes creating depth, controlling color, and developing stronger artistic decision-making skills.
At this time, the subjects for the workshop have not been announced, but I will update this page as soon as they become available. Whether the projects feature mountains, forests, water, or dramatic skies, Kevin consistently brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to every class.
I have not yet finalized whether I will be attending this workshop myself, but I wanted to share the dates early for anyone interested in learning more. If you'd like additional information about Kevin and his approach to painting, be sure to visit the blog post dedicated to his work and teaching. As always, if you have questions about what these workshops are like or whether one might be a good fit for your artistic goals, feel free to reach out.
Dana Jester
October 23 & 24, 2026
Workshop with Dana Jester
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While I won’t personally be attending this one, I absolutely want to make sure it’s on your radar. On April 17–18, longtime instructor and artist Dana Jester will be teaching a special two-day workshop featuring one of his beautifully detailed animal subjects.
Many of you know Dana’s name from the blog we shared last fall and from his long-standing presence in the painting world. He painted alongside Bob Ross for many years and has since developed his own distinct voice and direction. While he still carries strong foundational wet-on-wet principles, his work today often leans more toward expressive animal subjects and refined technique rather than traditional Bob-style landscapes.
​
Dana is an exceptional instructor with decades of experience. He has a gift for breaking down complex ideas into approachable steps, helping painters better understand structure, texture, and the subtle shifts that bring a subject to life. For anyone looking to grow beyond basic landscape work and explore strong animal painting with depth and character, this is a fantastic opportunity.
​
Even though I won’t be there in person, I highly encourage anyone interested to consider studying with him. Learning from different instructors is one of the most powerful ways to grow as an artist — and Dana brings both experience and heart to the classroom.
MaryCarole Larson Workshops
Oct 19 - 23 and 26 -30, 2026
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.
MaryCarole Larson Workshops
Hosted by Pat Appling in GA
Nov 9 - 13, 2026
From November 9–13, I’ll be traveling to Lawrenceville, Georgia to attend a Mary Carole Larson portrait workshop hosted by Pat Appling. This is a focused, advanced-level workshop built specifically for painters who want to deepen their understanding of portraiture and refine their technical skills.
The structure of this workshop is a wonderful balance. Over three days, we’ll be working through specific portrait projects that have already been selected, allowing everyone to focus on key concepts such as depth, tonal relationships, color accuracy, and capturing the likeness and presence of real people. The remaining two days are set aside for artists to work on their own personal projects, with guidance and insight drawn from Mary Carole’s experience as a master portrait painter.
This is very much an advanced skills class, ideal for painters who are ready to move beyond basics and into more intentional, thoughtful portrait work. The focus is on seeing value correctly, understanding skin tones, building form, and developing the confidence needed to paint people in a way that feels real and alive.
Workshops like this are an incredible opportunity to step into a higher level of study — not just learning techniques, but learning how to see. If portrait painting has ever been something you’ve wanted to explore more deeply, this type of immersive experience is one of the best ways to do it.