Learn to paint in a loose but intentional style, with fresh brushwork and beautiful color.

Instructor: Lacey Swift (Lewis)

When: Friday - Sunday, October 2nd, 3rd & 4th, 2026

Time: 10am-5pm 

Location: School of Realist Art
7800 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Suite #17
Overland Park, KS 66202

Tuition: $375 in-studio includes all materials & model fees

Workshop Details

Materials: $375 fee for in-studio attendance includes all materials and model fees. No need to purchase or haul supplies! 

Live Models: You'll work on two portraits from life during this workshop. Models will be chosen to highlight different face types and skin tones.

Museum Visit: Optional Nelson-Atkins Museum visit Friday night featuring a tour of portraits, highlighting techniques to use in your paintings.

Lunches & Refreshments: Coffee, water, and snacks available in-studio. Lunches are available at nearby restaurants, can be ordered-in, or feel free to pack your own.

Tuition Refund Policy: Refunds available up to 30 days before the workshop. Due to limited class space, tuition is non-refundable after this time period.

Download the Full Schedule by Clicking the Image

The Workshop Experience

This is an immersive workshop that not only includes painting practice, but inspires you through viewing works by old masters, applying scientific thinking to color, and allows you to build community with fellow painters.

Repetition of logical steps in the painting process builds your confidence and ability to make decisions. You will leave with new abilities and excited to tackle portraits in oil at home!

Your first day begins with a painting demonstration by Lacey outlining the exact steps to follow at each stage. Take your time developing the proportions and value patterns in the morning, before repeating what you've learned from a second model in the afternoon.

The second day is all about COLOR! This is where you will delve heavily into skin tone mixing secrets and how to assess your mixtures compared to the model. You'll also use techniques explored at the previous evening's museum visit to bring your painting to life.

On the final day of your workshop, you'll learn to move past simply copying what you see. Use compositional principles and design to create a painting that is more than just a portrait, but a controlled journey through the space within the canvas.

Concepts of Focus

Working from live models brings both advantages and challenges. 

Human eyes see depth and color in a way that no camera lens (or AI) ever could. Studying your own perception from life will make you aware of what separates your vision from flat photos, and how to incorporate this into all your paintings regardless of the reference.

At the same time, many struggle with working from life due to the added 3rd dimension of depth and 4th dimension of time. In this workshop, you'll learn not to chase natural shifts in pose or light, but to make deliberate decisions based on a combination of observation and taste.

About the Instructor

Lacey Swift (formerly Lacey Lewis) is known and internationally recognized for her realistic figurative and portrait paintings. She is passionate about sharing knowledge and inspiring artists at every level, because she believes that developing an art practice can change your life by deepening your connection with your self and your environment.