Painters Unite

Free, in-person painting gatherings around San Francisco. We meet in gardens, museums, parks, and squares to paint from life, together.

The world wants us to move faster, to trust our hands less, to look at screens instead of at each other. Painters Unite is two hours that ask the opposite. We gather in a real place, a garden, a museum, a square full of people, and we paint and sketch from life, together. No pressure, no finished product, no one keeping score. Just the small good feeling of making something with your hands, beside others doing the same.

Why I'm doing this

I teach watercolor around San Francisco at the Sharon Art Studio and the SF Botanical Garden, including workshops with SFMOMA and other museums, and most of my work is paid, as it should be. But this is different. I'm organizing Painters Unite because the need for it is real right now, and it shouldn't sit behind a price. So this isn't a class and I'm not teaching at the front. I'll be there painting alongside you, answering the occasional question, same as anyone. It's simply a chance for us to make something human together, in different corners of the city.

Who it's for

This is for anyone. People who paint all the time, and people who haven't picked up a brush since they were small. People looking for company, for a slower afternoon, for a reason to be out in the city, or for a way through a hard stretch. You don't need to be good. You don't need to be anything. You show up, and the rest happens together.

What to expect

We meet, we settle in, and I offer a prompt to start us off, a small, fresh challenge for the day. It comes three ways, one for people just beginning, one for the middle, one for the more experienced, so you pick where to jump in and we all take on the same idea together. It's different every time, so there's always something new to chew on, and you never have to face a blank page wondering where to start. Then we paint for an hour or so, alone or in clusters, talking or quiet as you like. The slower pace is the point. Paint takes time, and in that time people watch each other work, ask questions, and pick up the kind of craft you only learn beside someone doing it. At the end, anyone who wants to can show what they found. It stays light and easy, every time.

What to bring

Whatever you have. A small watercolor kit if you own one. If you don't, a sketchbook and a pencil is plenty to begin, or message me and I'll tell you the few simple things to pick up. Bring water, something to sit on, and a layer or two, dress for where we're going, since some days we're in a garden and some days indoors. Mostly, bring yourself.

FAQ

Do I need to be any good?
No. This isn't a class and there's no critique. The point is looking, not performing.

What if I've never painted?
You're exactly who this is for. Bring curiosity and something to make a mark with. The rest comes.

Will I be the only beginner?
No. People come at every level, and most of them are quietly sure they're behind. They're not, and neither are you.

Is it really free?
Yes. The gathering stays free. Just sign up so I can send you where we're meeting.

How often do you meet?
Every couple of weeks, in rotating places around the city. Sign up and you'll always know the next one.

Most of what we do here stays free and easy like this. For anyone who wants to take it further, I also teach small paid sessions through the year. The gathering never turns into a sales pitch, but if you're curious, ask me anytime.