4 Reasons Why You Need to Attend a Painting Workshop

Deciding whether or not to attend a painting workshop can feel excruciating. Resources like time and money may not feel like they exactly flow out of you at the moment and it can be hard to let go of a chunk of change while you wait, sometimes for months, for your workshop dates to arrive. 

That’s why I like to call workshops “paintcations”. It’s more cost-effective than most vacations and you’ll learn so much in a short time, meet awesome artists, and return home with renewed creative energy. Plus, you’ll have plenty of time to go on some long walks or hikes and discover some of the local gems in your workshop’s area (i.e. margaritas). 

Reason #1: You’ll Learn Painting Techniques 

If you’re looking to expand your arsenal of painting knowledge and skills, then a painting workshop is a fantastic place to start. If you have a favorite painter that you love (that’s still living, of course) search their website for a newsletter signup or follow them on social media to see if they’ve done workshops in the past and if they have any upcoming workshops. 

This is pure gold when it comes to learning how to paint in a specific style and medium (oil paint, watercolor, etc.) Artists who teach workshops perform demos of various lengths (depending on how long the workshop is) to help explain how they create a painting from the ground up. 

I personally have found it’s easier to add to your repertoire if the artist has a somewhat similar process as you already.

Reason #2: Network, Network, Network

Being a full-time artist is very much a profession. With any profession, networking is going to be a large part of your career success. When looking for a normal job, it’s all about who you know, and painting is no different. 

A painting workshop offers extremely valuable time to not only meet your artistic inspirations but also to lay the groundwork for building relationships with them. You’ll also get to meet other super cool artists from all over the country or beyond. Take advantage of the workshop and ask all your questions about art business, pricing, selling art; everything! Workshops are all about sharing.

Reason #3: You’ll Feel Creatively Refreshed

What do you do when you need a break from your day job? You take a few days off or go on a vacation. The same applies to your studio practice when you feel like you’re growing a little stale or “losing your inspiration”. 

During your own paintcation, you’ll get to share your excitement about making art with other artists. You’ll have a chance to compare notes, get some constructive criticisms and feedback on any ideas you might be currently brewing. 

Yes, just like a normal vacation, painting workshops go by quick, so savor every moment. Just know you’ll return to your own studio with new, supportive art friends and a refreshed excitement about your own practice. 

Reason #4: You’ll Get a Break From Your Normal Chaos

Remember, this is a working vacation! So work hard and relax harder. 

Painting workshops are a lot of work; don’t get me wrong. You’ll be painting for hours a day, which you may or may not be used to! But, you’ll also have time to squeeze in some outings with your fellow workshop mates. 

Also, artists like to live in really beautiful places - so get out and smell the roses while you can. Visit a local coffee shop, find the best hiking trails, ask your Airbnb host for the best restaurants to go to, the options are endless. Make it a vacation and be prepared to spend a little extra money for souvenirs, small gifts, or whatever you might find on your excursions outside of the studio. 

Be on the Lookout for Workshops!

Painting workshops are the perfect tool for up and coming artists to attend to get a better feel for what a day in the life of an artist is like. They’re also a ton of fun with super kind and interesting people. You’ll learn may more than you expect to in a few short hours to a few days and you’ll return home with fresh ideas and techniques to apply to your own studio practice!