4-Day Oil Painting Workshop with Casey Childs
From Color Study to Finished Painting
$750
Sept 23rd - Sept 26th, 2026 | 9am - 4:30pm
Join award-winning artist Casey Childs for an immersive four-day oil painting workshop focused on how to develop a 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.
Lunch will be provided 12pm-1pm each day.
What You’ll Learn
One the first day, you will work with a live costumed model arranged in an expressive, thoughtfully designed pose for a photoshoot and to create a color study. Over the next two days, you’ll explore how to combine direct observation from life with reference photos you capture yourself to create a strong, well-informed painting. On the final day, you will learn Casey’s approach to creating an Alla Prima portrait from a live model.
Workshop Progression
Day 1: Photoshoot with the model
Introduction to designing a compelling setup with the model and environment
Model will pose for a photoshoot for the entire class
You will paint a small, simplified color study to establish overall harmony, temperature relationships, and the major shapes of the final piece
You will create quick thumbnails from your photos to explore the best value structure and composition for a final painting.
Day 2: Casey will demonstrate his approach to starting a painting, students will paint with personal guidance from Casey
Translating the photo reference into a solid drawing on the canvas
Blocking-in major value masses with accuracy and sensitivity
Working from both the color study and your own photo reference to refine proportions and structure
Emphasis on simplifying shapes before adding detail
Day 3: Casey will demonstrate how he continues work on a studio painting, students will paint with personal guidance from Casey
You will work on building the painting with confident, intentional brushwork
You will learn how to modeling form through careful observation of light, shadow, edges, and transitions
Strengthening color relationships by seeing what the photo is missing compared to the early study from life
Using photo references strategically—without losing the vitality and truth of painting from life
Day 4: Live Portrait Alla Prima Demonstration by Casey, students will paint with personal guidance from Casey
Learning how to create an Alla Prima Portrait from life
Practice skills learned during the first three days of the workshop to create a painting in a single session
End of the last day
Group critique and feedback session
This workshop is ideal for artists who want to strengthen their observation skills, refine their painting process, and learn how to merge life observation with photo reference effectively. Whether you’re a beginner looking for a strong foundation or an experienced artist looking to improve your process, this workshop will provide the tools you need for your artistic growth.