SEXY SAINTS WEEKEND: Champagne, Chocolate & Artful Mischief

February 7–8, 2026 | Saturday & Sunday | 11 AM – 5 PM | $380

An annual tradition of divine decadence—because even saints deserve a little sass. ❤️🥂🍫

Over two playful days, you’ll create a one-of-a-kind artwork (or a set of irreverent Valentine’s cards) that blends the sacred and the spicy. Choose from my trove of vintage saintly figures, cheeky icons, or even bring a photo of yourself to elevate into saintly status. Add halos, flames, forbidden fruit, or whatever makes your heart—and your art—skip a beat.

We’ll explore photo-encaustic techniques and mixed media layering on wood and paper substrates, transforming ordinary images into luminous, irreverent icons with wax, fire, pigment, and sparkle. Foundational skills you can add to your painting tool box wrapped in a fun project. Whether you’re new to encaustic or a returning devotee, you’ll leave with a playful, original piece that’s equal parts holy and hot.

SOLD OUT:

Solstice Workshop Coming in June!

EMAIL TO GET ON WAITING LIST

January 16–18, 2026 | Friday–Sunday | 10:30–4:30 | Tuition: $850 — includes all materials, tools, and three nourishing lunches. Limited to 4–6 participants

Kelly Williams Art Studio: Portland, OR

Write it. Burn it. Transform it.

In this workshop, each painting becomes an artifact—holding what you’ve released, transformed, and created. Prepare to drop down, find your voice, and build the skills that carry your power into the new year.

This three-day midwinter creative immersion blends technical instruction with personal meaning, seasonal reflection, and material exploration. You’ll work with encaustic layering, fusing, carving, asemic writing, mark-making, and mixed media collage—using materials rich in symbolism and story: burnt paper, ash, and pigment.

We’ll begin with writing and a ritual fire (weather permitting)—a nod to my time in Ireland and the transformative traditions of St. Brigid—burning words and fragments to create ash and collage elements to incorporate into your work. Whether you’re new to encaustic or ready to push your style further, you’ll be guided in developing a visual language rooted in presence, process, and experimentation.

With only 4–6 participants, this is an intentionally intimate setting—ensuring plenty of one-on-one guidance, space to explore at your own pace, and the kind of quiet focus that lets your work deepen.

All materials are provided, including R&F encaustic paints and pigment sticks (with generous support from R&F Handmade Paints), small student panels, medium, and mixed media supplies. You’re welcome to bring a larger or specialty panel if you prefer.

Each day offers not just learning, but nourishment—in skill, in spirit, and at the table. I will provide coffee/tea and light bites for the morning and a hearty Irish-style lunch of homemade soups, fresh bread with space to connect. You’ll leave with work that is deeply your own—artifacts of release and renewal—and the momentum, skills, and creative clarity to carry you into the year ahead.

July 24-26 2026 | Friday-Sunday | 10:30-4:30 | $750—LIMITED TO 4 STUDENTS

Encaustic painting has beautifully unique properties that sing in larger formats. There are particular issues specific to encaustic that require specific consideration and planning to achieve the full impact with less frustration, cost and pain. I have solved and refined many of my approaches after years of painting in a full range of sizes, subjects and scale.

This popular and intimate workshop is designed for those already comfortable working with encaustic paint who want to elevate their skill level and expand in size. We will be covering the many issues inherent to scaling up and tackle the complications of working large. This workshop will walk you through the multitude of challenges with scaling up to ‘large’ works with lots of personal guidance.

We will explore alternative tools, set-ups and substrates as well as compositional issues, large batch paint prep, ergonomics and alternative media to get the most bang for your efforts.

In Person and Online/Phone

These sessions are a dedicated space—online or in person—to focus on your creative work and your growth as an artist. Depending on your needs, we might explore painting as a tool for personal reflection and emotional processing, or dive into strengthening your technical skills, composition, and artistic voice.

We might review works in progress, explore encaustic and mixed media techniques, plan a project from concept to completion, or develop strategies for sourcing materials and setting up your studio

1-Hour Online or Phone Session
A focused conversation to review works-in-progress, untangle creative blocks, or plan your next steps. This time can be reflective and process-oriented, or direct and skill-focused—tailored to what will serve you most.

3-Hour In-Studio Session
An immersive experience in my Portland studio, blending hands-on painting with meaningful discussion. We’ll work side-by-side—experimenting with techniques, refining your work, or using art-making as a way to process and grow.

Build Your own Workshop

OPEN TO PRIVATE GROUP BOOKING for 2026

This fast-paced workshop is packed with information and offers a wonderful hands-on opportunity to explore the exciting realms of mixed media, collage, and encaustic painting. Throughout the session, you will receive personalized feedback tailored to your individual techniques and the materials you choose to work with, all aimed at helping you advance your skills and deepen your understanding of this rich and versatile paint medium.

A firm foundation of basic skills and safety will be covered with multiple demos that will include set-up, layering and application techniques, fusing options, color mixing, surface texture and mixed media application. There will be plenty of time for hands-on practice and personal feedback. The only requirement is an attitude of curiosity and learning. This workshop is great for non-artist types and beginners, but I will also address those ready for more advanced direction in their painting practice.

I teach to the student, so bring your questions and curiosity and let’s paint! R&F paints and products, are generously supplied in support of this workshop.

Once registered, you’ll receive a detailed supply list along with expanded notes on materials.

Painting With Fire: Season 5

Starts April 24, 2025 | Register Anytime | Lifetime Access

In Season 5 of Painting With Fire, I’m offering two all-new workshops focused on deepening both concept and technique. Materiality & Meaning explores how to build more intentional content—infusing your work with story, symbolism, and resonance. Encaustic on Paper introduces sculptural, flexible, and unconventional approaches for working without panels.

New to Painting With Fire? Season 4 is still available and pairs beautifully with this year’s lineup. My long-format workshop, The Erotic Saint, is a playful and powerful dive into icon-making, personal storytelling, and visual commentary on body, identity, and belief.

Classes are pre-recorded and released weekly on Wednesdays (12pm EST), with lifetime access so you can work entirely at your own pace. You’ll also receive beginner technique videos, exclusive student discounts, and bonus recordings from in-person retreats at Essence of Mulranny, Ireland.

Sign up anytime and start whenever you’re ready. Wax on, fire up.

Sign up for Waiting List if you are interested in this special opportunity and want to be included in the invitation only invite

Explore your creative depths during a five-day deep dive. This special workshop delves into discovering your unique artistic voice by drawing inspiration from nature and integrating personal narratives. Activities include writing prompts, organic mark-making, and plant printing, with a focus on how to incorporate these techniques into encaustic art. We will explore nature as a way to collaborate with your work—I will share unique ways I have developed to paint with Sun, Wind, Fire, Rain, Earth and Ash. You'll develop a nature inspired 'creative language' to craft artwork with personal significance AND have a ton of fun!

With a special thanks to R&F handmade paints for the materials support.