4-Day Oil Painting Workshop with Casey Childs
From Color Study to Finished Painting
$950
June 24th - June 26th, 2026
Join award-winning artist Casey Childs for an immersive four-day oil painting workshop focused on creating a fully realized figurative painting from start to finish. This workshop guides students through Casey’s complete process—from initial concept and live observation to a refined, gallery-ready painting.
What You’ll Learn
Over four days, students will work from a live model arranged in an expressive, thoughtfully designed pose with complementary background elements. You’ll explore how to combine direct observation from life with reference photos you capture yourself to create a strong, well-informed final piece.
Workshop Progression
Day 1: Composition & Color Study
Introduction to designing a compelling setup with the model and environment
Understanding how background elements support the narrative and gesture
Creating quick thumbnails to explore value structure and composition
Painting a small, simplified color study to establish overall harmony, temperature relationships, and the major shapes of the final piece
Discussion of lighting, mood, and how to stay true to the character of the pose
Day 2: Drawing & Block-In
Translating the color study and life observation into a solid drawing on the canvas
Blocking-in major value masses with accuracy and sensitivity
Working from both the live model and your own photo references to refine proportions and structure
Emphasis on simplifying shapes before adding detail
Day 3: Developing Form & Color
Building the painting with confident, intentional brushwork
Modeling form through careful observation of light, shadow, edges, and transitions
Strengthening color relationships established in the early study
Using photo references strategically—without losing the vitality and truth of painting from life
Day 4: Refinement & Finishing Touches
Adding clarity, depth, and subtle accents that bring the painting to life
Developing background elements to support the figure and unify the canvas
Polishing edges, color temperatures, and focal points
Final critique and discussion of individual artistic direction
This workshop is ideal for intermediate to advanced painters who want to strengthen their skills in figurative work, refine their painting process, and learn how to merge life observation with photo reference effectively.