2026 Start A Painting with Allyson Grey

ABOUT THE PROGRAM: 

START A PAINTING: 

Take a leap into painting OR start your hundredth painting… with Allyson Grey & special guest artists.

Apply Now:

To secure your space in this all levels workshop.

Strategies for launching a creative vision are as varied as artistic personalities. In a supportive setting, we will address how to turn our inner vision into outer form. What tools can be used to best translate my mental pictures? Do I plan my composition OR simply allow my brush laden hand to gallop across the paint panel? Am I called to gaze into the blank surface, envisioning traces of an image awaiting realization OR am I guided by the urge to represent a personal icon or symbol?

 

Start A Painting: Class of 2025

 

What makes my strokes, marks, composition, design and symbols, an expression that represents my inner world, communicates and celebrates my uniqueness? When we develop a painting practice, we determine our manner of line, color and paint application. We evolve our own recognizable style and reveal our soul. This workshop is a space to explore painting and discern our own roadmap in a personal creative quest. An art practice is a worthy journey into our mind's eye and essence. 

 

Three details of "Process," a series of twenty-panels, by Allyson Grey

 

The subject of our artwork can be entirely abstract and intuitive. Our work can illustrate a political point, represent a spiritual expression or a philosophical concept. Our motivation to create is to make visible our sense of beauty, explore our perception of nature or articulate strong emotions. Painting can convey feelings, share peace and contentment. 

 

 

FINISH A PAINTING:

Class participants are also invited to bring an unfinished painting to get feedback on how to best realize that work's completion. In a supportive setting we will explore tools that help artists resolve and finish existing and future works.

 

 

ESTABLISH OR DEEPEN YOUR PAINTING PRACTICE:

Painting is a practice. Like yoga, meditation or playing a musical instrument, devoted practice facilitates our creative striving and inevitably leads to more satisfying results. Getting started, we need time, space, materials and a subject for our painting. 

A painter must confront the awkward phase of unknowing - that empty canvas or panel. To overcome and evolve our artwork, we can learn from each painting. Applying experience, our creativity flowers. Improvement becomes the inevitable reward that increases our confidence. Positive feedback benefits an art practice, making our efforts worthwhile.

 

 

DISCOVER & EVOLVE YOUR CREATIVE VOICE:

Through painting we transform our thoughts into "things." A subjective inner world becomes objective reality. Painting is a journey of discovery, the revelation of our own essence. What distinguishes the strokes we choose, the marks and symbols? How can our personal expression become characteristic and identifiable to others? Painting after painting, the work evolves to reveal our soul. Envisioning the content of a work and learning our subject matter, we inuit or select the personality of strokes, color choices and paint application, we acquire tools & skills that open new possibilities for painting.

 

 
WHAT TO EXPECT:

 

START A PAINTING is designed for all skill levels, from novice to experienced painter.

• Tap into your personal creative expression and unique style.
  
• You may leave with a finished painting or an artwork still in progress. 
  
• Take home goals and practices for creating a planned vision of completion. 
  

Apply Now: Limited spaces are available in this all levels workshop. 

Tuition is $800.00 and includes meals. Accommodations are additional, and recommended to stay onsite.

 

 

In the tranquility of nature, we create together as a spiritual practice, engaging techniques that remove obstacles to our progress.

• Overcome Artist Block in a group setting, inspired by supportive friends.
  
• Evolve Artistic Skills by refining your talent for choosing and mixing color. 
  
• Practice or test out new brush work. 
  
• Review and Invent effective designs & compositions. 
  
• Get Feedback on how to produce expressive and impactful results.
  
• Review Fundamentals & Explore New Techniques
  
• Receive Guidance from seasoned painters, peers and novices. We all teach each other.
  
• Finish A Painting and take home completion strategies for ongoing works that challenge you.
  

 

 

 
YOUR INSTRUCTOR:

 

Allyson Grey
 

 

Allyson Grey is an artist and social sculptor. Her paintings have been exhibited and sold internationally. Grey, who has long-been an art organizer for museums and art organizations, is a community leader with a Master of Fine Arts degree from Tufts University. Allyson has edited and co-authored over a dozen books, forewords and countless articles. She has lectured and been interviewed widely. 

In her 50+ year career as an abstract painter, Grey has incorporated an essentialized world-view expressing the integration of chaos, order & secret writing. Allysongrey.com

Allyson regularly consults creatives on the subjects of Art & Life. Art & Life Consultations with Allyson Grey

Artists, Allyson Grey & Alex Grey, co-founded the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, CoSM, a spiritual creative retreat center in the Hudson Valley of New York. As long-time advocates of “cognitive liberty,” a growing international “sacramental culture” has embraced the Grey’s as important mapmakers and spokespersons for the visionary realm. www.cosm.org

IG: @allysongreycosm | FB: @allysongreycosm

 

X in a Cross Field, Allyson Grey, 2023, oil on wood, 36 x 36 in.

 

Allyson Grey is an accomplished life-long painter and artist mentor. Experienced guest artists will also visit the workshop to share their experience, technical knowledge and constructive feedback to empower our artistic journey.

Enjoy additional instruction and perspective from special guest master artists who will drop-in throughout the workshop.

Apply Now:
 

Two of the 2025 Start A Painting Guest Artists: (Right) Demonstration by Eileen "Rosie" Rose, Visionary Artist, Career Art Teacher, CoSM Board Member & Faculty. (Left) Presentation by Hilary Astrid, Visionary Artist and CoSM Staff Member.

 
SUGGESTED MATERIALS:
 

 

“For the most pleasing results, artists should always use the best supplies they can afford.” — Allyson Grey

• Select 3-5 good brushes. Select a variety of sizes and styles that you prefer — flat, pointed, angled. 
  
  • Cheap brushes frustrate and impair serious artists. If you buy a set, buy a GOOD set.
    
  
  
• Painting Surface: Bring two or more 16” x 20” pre-gessoed, stretched canvases OR pre-gessoed "cradled" wood panels. 
  
• Participants are welcome to start more than one (or two) paintings during the workshop.
  
• Regular sized tubes of Golden, Liquitex acrylic paint - at least 12 colors. 
  
  • Student grade paint will frustrate and impair your results. Artisanal paint brands can be extraordinary. 
    
  • Acrylics: Golden, Liquitex, Holbein, Winsor Newton are recommended.
    
  • Watercolor preference: Schminke or Windsor Newton
    
  
  
• Recommended colors: 
  
  • Titanium white, cadmium or cadmium-free yellow, red, orange and green, cobalt blue, cobalt violet, cobalt violet light, dioxazine purple. Treat yourself to a few more.
    
  • More color varieties to try will be on-hand in the Art Lab. Easels, worktables, chairs and lights are provided.
    
  
  

FINISH A PAINTING: Optional

• Bring an example of an incomplete original painting and we can discuss its completion. 
  
• This class discussion will benefit everyone.
  

 
SCHEDULE:
 

 

All times are listed in EDT

Day 1: Friday, March 6th

• 3pm-5pm: Guests arrive by 5pm and check-in to their rooms.
  
• 6pm: Dinner & Orientation are part of the workshop for all participants.
  
• 7:30pm: Introductions and Evening Presentation in the Library
  

Day 2: Saturday, March 7th

• 8am - 10am: Self-serve breakfast in the Dining Hall
  
• 10am: Work Session in the Art Lab
  
• 1pm: Lunch in the Dining Hall
  
• 3pm: Work Session in the Art Lab.
  
• 6pm: Dinner in the Dining Hall
  
• 7:30-9pm: Private Tour of Entheon w/ Allyson (optional)
  
• After Dinner: Open Studio in the Art Lab
  

Day 3 & 4: Sunday, March 8th & 9th

• 8am - 10am: Self-serve breakfast in the Dining Hall
  
• 10am: Work Session in the Art Lab
  
• 1pm: Lunch in the Dining Hall
  
• 3pm: Work Session in the Art Lab.
  
• 6pm: Dinner in the Dining Hall
  
• After Dinner: Open Studio in the Art Lab
  

Final Day: Tuesday, March 10th

• 8am - 10am: Self-serve Breakfast in the Dining Hall
  
• 10am: Work Session in the Art Lab
  
• 1pm: Lunch in the Dining Hall 
  
• 2pm: End of Workshop
  
• 4pm: CoSM closes
  

CoSM & Entheon are open weekly Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 12pm - 6pm when CoSM gates close. 

Participation in this workshop includes day passes to CoSM facilities & grounds and to Entheon during open hours, for the duration of the class.  

ITINERARY NOTE: You are welcome to arrive early on Friday, March 6th—Day 1 of the workshop— as CoSM will be open to the public starting at 12pm, or the evening before on Thursday, March 5th. 

This is a great time to explore Entheon, Grey House Galleries and CoSM grounds before the workshop starts, as the workshop schedule is quite immersive once in session. 

Please note that CoSM will be closed to the public on the final day of the workshop, and Entheon will be closed.

 
CoSM WORKSHOP SETTING:
 

 

Class sessions will take place in the beautifully renovated MAGI Art Lab. 

The Grey House, CoSM's Visionary Victorian guest house, provides accommodations for all participants in a range of economies, in addition to the workshop fee. 

For participants choosing to stay off-site, a $150.00 commuter’s fee covers use of CoSM facilities and amenities. 

Participants are welcome to begin their overnight stay at CoSM on either Thursday evening of March 5th, or Friday, March 6th —day 1 of the workshop, and depart after lunch on Tuesday, the last day of the workshop. 

 

 

WORKSHOP AMENITIES

Available for the duration of the 5 day workshop:

• Three healthy meals daily provided by CoSM chefs, sensitive to dietary needs (collected at check out)
  
• Coffee, tea and snacks available in the Art Lab between meals 
  
• Access to Grey House common spaces — The Library, The Parlor, The Dining Hall & Gallery Spaces on all three floors
  
• Yoga mats for self guided practice
  
• Accommodations include private rooms and shared dorm rooms—femme only or co-ed options
  
• The Wisdom Trail offers a contemplative walk through the CoSM woods, including a labyrinth, outdoor sculptural installations by visionary artists
  

Participation also includes Day Admission to CoSM: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 12pm - 6pm:

• Access to Facilities, grounds and self-touring Entheon
  
• Students are welcome to experience Entheon and Grey House Galleries, including both CoSM Shop & Entheon Shop. 
  
• Beverages and light fare will be available for purchase in the Mushroom Cafe, an immersively muraled space with mushroom themed contributions from 19 accomplished visionary artists
  

 
TUITION:
 

 
Apply Now:Limited spaces are available in this all levels workshop.

• Tuition for the 5-day Start A Painting workshop includes meals - $800.00.
  
• Accommodations are additional. 
  
• Payment plans available, with all funds due one month before the start of the workshop. 
  
• Questions? Contact [email protected].
  

Payment Plan Schedule:

• A non-refundable deposit of $200 + 25% of accommodations is due upon receipt to secure space in the workshop.
  
• A second minimum payment of $300 of tuition + 50% of accommodations is due at the halfway point between registration and the final payment date.
  
• Final payment of tuition & accommodations is due in full one month prior to the workshop on Friday, February 6th, 2026.
  

 
ACCOMMODATIONS:
 

 

The Grey House, CoSM’s Visionary Victorian guest house offers accommodations for all participants. Works of art by Alex Grey, Allyson Grey and accomplished artists of the international Visionary Art community are featured throughout the guest rooms and common spaces of the guest house.

Onsite accommodations are a part of the course experience and are available in a variety of economies. Here is the pricing for the four night stay, arriving Friday, March 6th, and departing Tuesday, March 10th, reflective of the 10% workshop discount:

• King with ensuite bathroom $990.00
  
• Queen with ensuite bathroom $900.00
  
• Private Queen/shared bath $720.00
  
• Dorm Bed: Queen $603.00 
  
• Dorm bed: Single $432.00 *co-ed & women’s only options available
  

A $150.00 commuters fee applies to participants staying off-site, covering use of CoSM facilities and amenities.

Workshop accommodations must be booked as part of the registration process. Email [email protected] to register for the workshop and to secure your stay.

Questions about tuition or accommodation fees, payment plans, travel, retreat amenities, materials? Contact us at [email protected].