Acrylic Painting Lessons · Small Groups · All Skill Levels
Learn to Paint with Nicole Nora
Paint Picnic began in spring 2026 as a way to combine three of my favorite things: painting, Seattle parks, and good company. Each class was designed around a different painting concept, from value and color theory to form and composition, using approachable subjects that made it easy to learn by doing.
As Seattle heads into its cooler, rainier months, the classes are moving indoors. This fall, I’m bringing them to my artist residency in downtown Seattle, where you’ll get to paint surrounded by the work and studios of local artists.
I’m reimagining the class themes for the new season, with a few new subjects and painting exercises designed to give returning students something different to explore. Expect the same hands-on, welcoming approach, just with a new setting and a little more color to brighten up those gray Seattle days.
I bring everything you need, including paints, brushes, and a canvas, so you can spend the day focused on making something. No prior painting experience is needed for most sessions. You’ll leave with a painting you made yourself, plus a few new tools you can take into your next one.
What to Expect
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We start with intention setting, some color mixing fundamentals, and warm-up exercises that apply directly to the theme and subject of the class.
From there, you'll settle into your own painting, following the theme of the session and implementing what you learned in the first half of class.
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I will demonstrate skills and provide you with the tools. Once you begin your piece, I'll come around to each person throughout the session to ask about what you're going for, help you figure out your next move, and keep you from getting stuck in one spot.
The class is designed to build over time. Each session you come to, you'll find yourself approaching the canvas a little differently, making decisions more naturally, and feeling more at ease with the whole process. The goal is to give you better instincts about how to approach any painting, not just the one in front of you that day.
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I will give you the space you need so you can show up as you are and fully express yourself creatively.
Connection is a core part of the process and my intention is to create a supportive space. Open-mindedness is something I expect from each student.
A lot of what people love is the experience of being around good people pushing through the same challenge of creating something with paint.
UPCOMING EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
Join me for another cozy evening at Storied at Home as we paint a floral still life inspired by flowers and thoughtfully curated home decor. You'll learn techniques for creating depth, light, and form through value, color temperature, and expressive brushwork, then leave with a finished painting of your own.
This session focuses on edges and color temperature. You'll learn how the sharpness or softness of an edge and whether a color leans warm or cool are what communicate light in a painting. We'll practice color blocking and different brushwork techniques. You'll end up with a painting of flowers, working from a real still life set up at the table or a printed reference.
This session focuses on composition. We'll cover thumbnail sketching, cropping, and how to simplify a scene, and you'll carry that knowledge into the painting as you make decisions along the way. Water and reflections are the subject, which tends to push things in a more expressive direction. Using a reference image, you'll end up with a painting of water, one of the most meditative subjects you can paint. There's something about the way water holds light and emotion that makes it unlike anything else.
I will give you the space you need so you can show up as you are and fully express yourself creatively.
Connection is a core part of the process and my intention is to create a supportive space.
Your Questions, AnsweredStill have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and sign up!
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No experience is needed for the beginner-friendly sessions. For the later sessions, some painting background or previous experience with Nicole is helpful, but not needed. Each session listing notes what level it's best suited for. When you sign up, you have the option to request my beginner guide.
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Something you don't mind getting paint on. Acrylics don't wash out easily, especially if caught late. I'll have a few aprons but it's a good idea to dress accordingly just in case.
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Absolutely. I’ll be providing a few to choose from, but if there's something specific you'd like to paint related to the session theme, you're welcome to bring a reference. Printed is better since phone screens are tiny, can be hard to see in the sun, and you risk running low on battery.
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Outdoor park sessions are weather dependent. If rain is likely, a reschedule notice will go out the day before. I do my best to find spots with at least partial cover as a backup.
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I've loved painting since high school, studied visual arts in college, and have been a full time artist since 2024. I've shown my work in individual and group shows in Seattle, painted a public mural, and I mentor artists through Path with Art.
I love teaching because I love showing people how I actually see things. A lot goes into a painting that would surprise you, and watching someone surprise themselves is one of my favorite parts. I want to make painting feel more approachable for everyone.
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Life happens! If you can't make it, you're welcome to transfer your spot to someone else as long as you let me know ahead of time. If you'd like me to help find a replacement, just give me at least 48 hours notice and I'll do my best. If I'm not able to fill the spot, the session fee is non-refundable. Feel free to reach out and we'll figure it out together.