Zion National Park Painting Retreat
Price
$2,000.00
Status
Open
Instructor
Masters Academy
, Utah
PAINTING RETREAT AT ZION NATIONAL PARK - October 5 - 10, 2026
This workshop is FULL as of 05/01/2026. If you are interested and would like to join our waitlist, please click the waitlist link below and we will contact you should a spot open up.
Join us in the spectacular wilderness of Zion National Park to learn from and paint alongside ten world-class artists, including the following. Click on the artists name to see their website or Instagram:
Demoing Artists
| MARC DALESSIO | KYLE MA |
| RYAN S. BROWN | PATRICK OKRASINSKI |
| BEN FENSKE | SPENCER WILSON |
| DANIEL ZALLA | KATE STARLING |
| BETHANN MORAN-HANDZLIK |
Workshop Participants:
Katie Daybell - OH
Sarah Anderson - CA,
Felix Harth - CA
Michele Janee - CA
Mary Simmons - TX
Shelley Fagin - CO
Laura Hawkins - CA
Shelly Oberle - UT
Laura Henry - AZ
Merrill Maiano - OR
Jami Wilson - UT
Joseph Colonna - UT
Brandon Raabe - UT
Caroline Landea - Chile
Charles Nightingale - Chile
Debbie Williams - UT
The Zion Painters Retreat includes:
- Daily painting demonstrations from a premier artist (one or two demos each day). You can paint along, or just watch, ask questions and take notes (individual critiques will not be given).
- The opportunity to paint together in the remarkable setting of Zion National Park
- An experience that builds relationships and artistic camaraderie.
- An opening reception on the evening of Monday October 5, where you will have the opportunity to meet the artists and enjoy dinner and drinks.
- A closing reception and wet paint sale on Saturday, October 10. This will also include hors d'oeuvres and drinks. All demoing and participating artists will have the option to show and sell some of their paintings from the week. Participants are welcome to purchase works that evening directly from the artists.
Many of the demonstrations and paint locations will require some hiking while carrying your painting gear at altitudes between 4,000 and 7,000 feet above sea level. Students will need the capacity to manage these conditions to participate in the demos. We have tried to plan the painting locations that will allow for parking (free parking in most, if not all, cases) where participants will not be required to walk far to set up and paint. In October the weather can be a little unpredictable, but we expect it to be generally warm. The temperature averages from a high of 78F to a low of 48F with occasional rain. Many locations do not offer much shade, so we suggest wearing breathable pants, long sleeve shirts, a hat and a light jacket. You will also want to bring sunscreen and plenty of water. A painting umbrella would help, but is not required. Some painting locations will be a little windy, so also plan for that.
This workshop is limited to 20 participants.
Tuition: $2,000
Students can choose to either pay through the registration page, which is done through PayPal, or Venmo, or by check. You can fill out the registration form without paying, but your place in the workshop will not be held until payment has been received.
*CANCELLATION POLICY*
Cancel before August 1, 2026 - Full Refund
Cancel after August 1, but before August 15, 2026 - Half Refund
Cancel After August 15, 2026 - No Refund
PAINTING RETREAT LOCATION:
Zion National Park and Springdale, Utah. Transportation and lodging and food are not included in the cost of the retreat, except for the opening reception dinner. Please make your own travel arrangements using the following suggestions below as guidelines. Check In for the Retreat will be on October 5 starting at 1:00 p.m. at our first painting location, with the first demo starting at 3:00 p.m.
There will be drinks and dinner provided at the opening reception the first evening, as well as drinks and hors d'oeuvres the final evening at the wet painting show and sale. Outside of that, participants are responsible for their own food. All painting locations will be provided with a map and a schedule prior to the event, as well as a menu of food items that will be served. For those who may have food allergies or dietary restrictions, you may want to plan for other options on your own if the menu won't work for you.
We will not be painting inside the park as a group due to park restrictions. There will be opportunities for personal paint time and you may want to enter Zion National Park for these. Please remember you will need a National Parks Pass (one per car). You can purchase these at the park or beforehand online. Link to pass information: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.html
The average temperatures in mid-October are 49º F at night and 78º F during the day.
Transportation:
Las Vegas, NV Airport is a 3.5 hour drive from Springdale
Saint George, UT Airport is a 1 hour drive from Springdale
Salt Lake City International Airport, UT is a 4 hour drive from Springdale
We recommend renting a car and driving (Carpooling is a great idea).
Once you are in Springdale, there is a free shuttle that can take you into the park and around town. It comes about every 15 minutes.
Parking is very restricted in Springdale. Our painting locations will all have free parking. But if you are parking around town, be sure to park in properly designated areas.
Lodging in Springdale:
The Driftwood Lodge
The Montclair Inn and Suites at Zion
SpringHill Suites by Marriott
There are many hotel options, rental homes and campgrounds near the park and in Springdale.
Dining in Springdale:
Oscars Cafe (Tex-Mex, burgers and delicious cheesecake )
Zion Pizza and Noodle Co (Pizza)
Bit & Spur Restaurant and Saloon (Southwestern American)
Whiptail Grill (Mexican)
Kings Landing Bistro (American, delicious, great views, priciest option)
Thai Sapa (South East Asian)
Meme’s Cafe (Cafe)
Sol Foods Supermarket (Sweets, sandwiches, groceries)
Deep Creek Coffee (Coffee, tea, smoothies, pastries)
FeelLove Coffee Zion (Coffee Shop)
The Park House restaurant (great breakfasts)
If you would like to buy groceries to make your own meals, Sol Foods is the local supermarket, but it is expensive. You may want to purchase groceries at Davis Food and Drug at 495 N State Street in La Verkin, UT, which is before Springdale if you are coming either from the south or the north on I-15.
Schedule of Events:
Monday October 5:
1:00-2:45 pm - check-in
3:00 - 6:00 pm - painting demo
7:00 - 9:00 pm - opening social and dinner
Tuesday October 6:
8:00 am - 11:00 am - painting demo in Grafton
11:00 am - 3:00 pm - free time
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm - painting demo at Grafton Cemetery
Wednesday October 7:
8:00 am - 11:00 am - painting demo at Falls Park in Virgin
11:00 am - 3:00 pm - free time
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm - painting demo at Zion Canyon Mesa
Thursday October 8:
8:00 am - 11:00 am - painting demo in Grafton
11:00 am - 3:00 pm - free time
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm painting demo at Grafton Cemetery
Friday October 9:
8:00 am - 11:00 am - painting demo at George Barker River Park
11:00 am - 3:00 pm - free time
3:00 m - 6:00 pm - painting demo at Zion Canyon Mesa
Saturday October 10:
8:00 am - 11:00 am painting demo at George Barker River Park
11:00 am - 4:00 pm free time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm closing social and exhibition of paintings made by artists throughout the week. Hors d'oeuvres and drinks will be served. This is the official end of the workshop.
Optional Activities:
If you are planning on coming early or staying longer to explore the area, or perhaps you have family members along who are looking to take advantage of this remarkable landscape while you are painting, Red Mountain Resort offers guided hiking trips in Zion NP and the surrounding area. Their guides are experienced and knowledgable. Click on the 'Outdoor' tab on their main page to see their offerings. https://www.redmountainresort.com/
Helpful Notes:
- Some painting locations have little shade. It is highly suggested that you bring an umbrella for your paint set up. Umbrellas that attach to your easel work best, as most locations will not have the ground to support an umbrella meant to stake in the ground. Sun hats, breathable long sleeve shirts and long pants are also suggested.
- It can be very cold in the mornings so a sweatshirt or jacket is also suggested. Long shirts and pants will also help you with flies and other bugs that tend to land on you while painting.
- You may want to bring bug spray.
- You will definitely want to bring sunscreen and something to carry water in (some kind of water bottle) to make sure you stay hydrated.
- It may get windy. If you have something to help anchor your easel down, that would be helpful. Many tripods have hooks you can hang a bag from. You may be able to grab some rocks from nearby to put in a bag to help weigh down your easel in case of strong winds.
- Based on feedback from our last event, we have chosen to limit the number of painting locations. We will be returning to the same locations more than once so people can spend more than one session on their paintings. This may give you the option of painting larger, or more complex works. There are, however, many views in each location, so if you do not want to spend more than one session on your paintings, there will still be plenty of options for subject matter and different views in the same locations.
- Please remember to bring something for your trash. We would like to respect our natural environment and leave no mess or trash behind.
- Mako Art Supplies will have painting panels ranging in size from 6x8, 8x10, 9x12, 11x14, 12x16 and 16x20 for sale at the event.
- bring chapstick. It's dry in Utah.
- Maynard Dixon's studio is in Mount Carmel. A drive through the park from Springdale to Mount Carmel takes about an hour with no stops, but you'll probably want to stop and take photos if it's your first time seeing the park. This may be of interest and could be done on one of your free afternoons.
Photos from our 2022 & 2024 Retreats
