2026 workshops

It’s my pleasure to invite you into a shared way of working—alongside a small group of painters, moving through the same practices I return to in my own studio and in the field.

These workshops are designed for artists who want to strengthen foundations while staying connected to expression. We’ll focus on drawing, value, color, and composition—simplifying what we see, testing ideas through studies, and building paintings with intention and trust. Each gathering includes demonstrations, guided work, and individual feedback within a focused, supportive group setting.

The Life of an Artist

Paintrock Canyon Ranch

May 31 – June 5, 2026 | Hyattville, WY

This retreat offers a glimpse into my personal rhythm at the ranch—how I observe, study, and translate the living world into paint.

You’ll work both en plein air and in the studio, painting horses and other living beings of the Paintrock, along with rolling meadows, streams, carved valley walls, and ancient petroglyphs. Days move between quiet observation, short studies, and longer paintings, with time set aside for discussion, reflection, and refining your process.

The week is designed to deepen self-awareness—helping you leave with stronger tools and a clearer sense of how you work when no one is watching.

Workshop Focus

• Composition and design in wide, open spaces

• Life studies of horses, with principles that translate to any moving animal

• Value studies and simplification

• Color concepts: light, shadow, harmony, and mood

• Translating what you see into paint

• Time for studies + longer paintings (plein air and studio)

Details

• Explore Paintrock Canyon Ranch

• Format: Demos, guided painting sessions, critiques, and individual feedback

• Skill Level: All levels welcome

• Enrollment Maximum: 13 students

• Tuition: 4,670.00

Composition & Color:

Building Paintings from the Ground Up

Booth Museum of Western Art

September 17–19, 2026 | Cartersville, GA

This three-day workshop is structured as a studio-based, academy-style experience—focused, practical, and grounded in a repeatable process.

Working inside a dedicated classroom setting, we’ll move step by step through the construction of a painting, beginning with value studies and compositional design, then advancing into color choices and paint application. Through demonstrations, guided exercises, and critiques, you’ll develop a clearer framework for making decisions and troubleshooting your work.

The emphasis is on building confidence in your technical skills while maintaining flexibility, curiosity, and play.

Workshop Focus

• Drawing: the basis for seeing, structure, and expression

• Value studies + simplification

• Composition: contrasts, clarity, and design

• Color theory: harmony, temperature, palette approaches, mood

• Texture and paint application

• Troubleshooting: how to push a painting further

Details

• Explore the venue

• Format: Demos, guided painting sessions, critiques, and individual feedback

• Skill Level: All levels welcome

• Enrollment Maximum: 18 students

• Tuition

  • $675 — Booth Museum Members

  • $750 — Not-yet-members

What Students Are Saying

Over the years, I've had the privilege of teaching artists in various settings, from intensive workshops to personal critiques. While these testimonials reflect experiences from past workshops, they speak to the transformative insights and encouragement I strive to bring to every teaching opportunity.

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"Feet still haven’t hit the ground after your workshop. The chemistry between all the artists, the amazing food, the accommodations, the sweetest crew of horses, and of course having you as our fearless leader. Most definitely one of my top 'art' experiences since starting this journey." — Elise Mahaffie

"I wrote more notes and learned more from you in 5 days than I did in 4 years of university. The generosity Jill demonstrates in sharing her gifts, knowledge, and time is invaluable. She has a knack for tailoring critiques to her students as individuals so we are better equipped to understand how each mark is relevant and purposeful." — Crystal Beshara

"Thank you so much for an incredible workshop! The amount of energy and attention you put into it was unparalleled. The combination of lecture and exercises really focused our ability to learn skills to strengthen drawing and painting structure. Individual attention and your demos were excellent. During the week, I had several enlightening 'Ah ha' moments." — Karen McLain

"The effect of the workshop was profound. Your method, which seems so slow, may actually be quicker. Or, as Pat Parelli (horse trainer) is famous for saying, 'Take the time it takes to take less time.'" — Ann Hayes

"I can’t stress enough how much I appreciated this class. Every chapter was filled with valuable information. In art school, they teach about value, color, and other principles of design, but your class delved so much deeper and taught how to apply them. Your lessons helped me tackle issues I was running into repeatedly and gave me a solid foundation to rely on, which meant I could be more expressive when it came to the final painting." — Denise Miller

"This course and the instructional videos have been so useful in teaching how to combine reference photos with drawing to create a process to add creativity to the mix when composing a painting. Learning Jill's process to creatively compose a painting is a game changer." — Chris Crotty

"Hands down, that is the best workshop I have ever attended. Thank you for your patience. I knew I was going to be challenged in an advanced course, and I needed it. Since the workshop, I’m focusing on drawing as a foundation, and I feel more confident in my ability to grow." — Sue Grubbs

"I did the September workshop this year, and it was really magical. Dropped into total immersion from the very beginning. Jill is so talented in her art and her teaching. She focuses on everyone in the workshop and is generous in what she shares with each person." — Lisa Derby Oden