OUR MISSION
"To provide quality art instruction workshops while visiting first class international locations"
What we do:
International Plein Air Painting Workshops (IPAW) aims to inspire artists with quality art instruction in breathtaking environments that beckon to be painted. We strive to excite your artisan soul and wanderlust life. We know that vacationing is fun, but that we artists long to immerse ourselves in creativity wherever we go. So we decided to bring the two together! We get the best of both worlds by choosing places we want to paint, grow, experience, and vacation in. On our trips you’ll enjoy curated cultural experiences like museum excursions, symphonies, food and wine tastings, local shopping, and unwinding in stunning environments. You will also advance in painterly technique with acclaimed top-notch instructors in an intimate daily Plein Air workshop setting while being encouraged to loosen up and play — it is a vacation after all!
International Plein Air Painting Workshops (IPAW) aims to inspire artists with quality art instruction in breathtaking environments that beckon to be painted. We strive to excite your artisan soul and wanderlust life. We know that vacationing is fun, but that we artists long to immerse ourselves in creativity wherever we go. So we decided to bring the two together! We get the best of both worlds by choosing places we want to paint, grow, experience, and vacation in. On our trips you’ll enjoy curated cultural experiences like museum excursions, symphonies, food and wine tastings, local shopping, and unwinding in stunning environments. You will also advance in painterly technique with acclaimed top-notch instructors in an intimate daily Plein Air workshop setting while being encouraged to loosen up and play — it is a vacation after all!
Bill Sperling
Who we are:
Joe Mac Kechnie made his first trip to Europe as an art instructor in association with Magic Palette-Skillet Workshops owned by Bill Sperling in 2010. Bill was an amazing workshop organizer and world traveler. He knew that when artists immersed themselves in inspiring environments with helpful instruction, beautiful things could happen. Sadly, Bill passed away in early 2016. Joe continues to carry out the dream he became so hooked on from Bill of providing artists with enriching art experiences and cultured vacations.
Joe Mac Kechnie
More about Joe:
Professional artist Joe Mac Kechnie is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America, Northwest Watercolor Society, Northwest Pastel Society, and the Puget Sound Group of NW Artists. He is a member of the Portrait Society of America, the Oil Painters of America and has served as president of the Evergreen Association of Fine Arts and president of the Puget Sound Group of NW Artists. Joe teaches art workshops locally and in Europe. Joe has artworks in several local galleries in the Seattle area and Alaska. And, he has had artworks in the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio and the National Arts Club, Grand Gallery in New York, NY. Joe has won many local and national art awards and has been featured in Southwest Art magazine, American Art Collector magazine and Strokes of Genius.
Professional artist Joe Mac Kechnie is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America, Northwest Watercolor Society, Northwest Pastel Society, and the Puget Sound Group of NW Artists. He is a member of the Portrait Society of America, the Oil Painters of America and has served as president of the Evergreen Association of Fine Arts and president of the Puget Sound Group of NW Artists. Joe teaches art workshops locally and in Europe. Joe has artworks in several local galleries in the Seattle area and Alaska. And, he has had artworks in the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio and the National Arts Club, Grand Gallery in New York, NY. Joe has won many local and national art awards and has been featured in Southwest Art magazine, American Art Collector magazine and Strokes of Genius.