Joy of Painting is currently closed for new monthly participants, but you can still join us as an annual member! We will open again in July 2026 for new monthly members. Be sure to add your email to the wait list to get notified when monthly doors open, and scroll down to learn more about Joy of Painting.

The Story of Joy of Painting

with artist Cathy Nichols​

After years of teaching art, I started to notice that most creative people had something in common. They wondered how to translate their love of making art into a unique style that could grow over time and allow them to express their singular way of seeing the world. Soon I began thinking a lot about what a program for nurturing artists would look like. How could I help others tap into the kind of creativity that feels endlessly abundant and expresses something special & unique to each person? How could I guide other artists toward an authentic vision uniquely theirs? How could I keep people together and give them the love and support that makes this journey fun? What emerged was a process and philosophy that I've called the "Joy of Painting," and each year we focus on a new theme to grow our gifts.

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The Joy of Painting Theme of 2026 is "the Year of Flowers"

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Monthly Classes to Deepen Your Artistic Practice

Joy of Painting 2026 — A Year of Flowers is a full year of mixed-media painting inspired by the language, beauty, and emotion of FLOWERS. Each month, you’ll dive into a new flower and learn how to capture its spirit from every angle, use it as a design tool, paint if from life, and more!

My goal this year is to help you build deep floral fluency so you can paint flowers confidently, intuitively, and from memory and life. Whether you’re sketching in your journal, creating a large canvas, or adding florals to a portrait, you’ll finally understand how flowers work — and how to make them sing in your art!
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Transform Your Art with my Expert Mentorship

Having devoted more than two decades to my craft, I am a seasoned artist who possesses a wealth of knowledge on painting, color, and composition. As your guide, I will nurture your growth as an artist, offering both encouragement and instruction to help you develop your skills and reach your full potential.

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Community

This is a piece of word art created with the names of our founding community members! When you join Joy of Painting, you'll become a valued member of a supportive and caring community of artists from around the world. As part of our community, you'll have exclusive access to our private Facebook Group and to ongoing feedback and friendship.

"A simple line painted with the brush can lead to freedom and happiness." -- Joan Miro

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