
SCOTT BURDICK & SUSAN LYON
3 - 7 NOVEMBER 2025
Finding Inspiration FROM THE BEST
An incredible experience for all artists
Take your portrait painting to the next level in this intensive workshop led by Susan and Scott, two experienced painters passionate about capturing the human form with color, light, and expression. Each day, you’ll watch live demonstrations, practice with stunning models, and receive personalized feedback to refine your skills.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned artist, this workshop will transform the way you approach portraiture.

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW
Each morning, Susan and Scott will guide you through live painting demonstrations, exploring different color palettes and techniques with a new portrait each day. You’ll gain insight into how to capture likeness, structure, and expression in a dynamic way.
Afternoons will be dedicated to hands-on painting sessions with live models. Students will work from the same model, allowing time to truly understand the subject. Susan will move around the room, offering one-on-one critiques and personal guidance, while Scott will continue painting, demonstrating how to take a portrait to a more refined finish.
We’ll be working with stunning Native models throughout the week, both male and female. If we find an exceptional model, they may return for a second session, giving students the chance to capture them from a fresh perspective.
Artists should bring at least five canvases (recommended sizes: 11x14” - 12x16”) to accommodate daily practice.
This immersive and interactive workshop will be small and focused, ensuring each participant gets valuable time to improve. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your fundamentals or push your painting style further, this experience will help you achieve a new level of confidence in portrait painting.
Meet our Artists

Susan Lyon
Susan Lyon grew up in Oak Park, Illinois. Her initial interest in art was sparked by a PBS television show on Georgia O'Keefe, that inspired her to take weekend art classes. Lyon studied art at the American Academy of Art in Chicago and was an active participant in Chicago's Palette and Chisel Club. It is there she first began exhibiting and selling her work. She entered the Oil Painters of America. Susan draws inspiration from painters of the Guilded age such as Anders Zorn, Joaquin Sorolla and John Singer Sargent. She also is passionate about artists like Philip Malavin from Russia and contemporary masters Richard Schmid and Nancy Guzik. Lyon's technique is to paint wet on wet to start and then wet on dry for her finishing touches. "My style is realistic with as much impressionistic color as possible. I like to combine wide brushes for sweeping strokes in the background with small, soft brushes for subtle details in my center of interest. One of my greatest passions is drawing, I hope to show collectors that works on paper is a wonderful addition to a serious collection."
Susan lives in a rural area of North Carolina with her husband, artist Scott Burdick, whom she met at the Palette and Chisel Art Club in Chicago. She and her husband travel widely "The excitement of traveling, seeing so many new sights and people, plus incredible works in museums; combined with the challenge of painting on the spot make me a travel addict! Even before I go on a trip I'm planning the one after."
Susan works equally in Oil and Pastel/charcoal and Mixed Media.

Scott Burdick
Scott was born in Chicago, where his mother and father early on encouraged his interest in Art. "I spent a lot of time in hospitals as a child and remember my mother showing me how to transform simple shapes like circles, triangles, and squares into objects like planes, helicopters, and fish. It seemed such a magical thing and made spending so much time in casts and on crutches much more bearable."
In high school, Scott began taking life-drawing classes at the American Academy of Art under the legendary Bill Parks. "Though I'd always loved drawing, it was Mr. Parks who filled me with the enthusiasm and discipline necessary to improve my skills. His love of painting and creative expression infected us all." After finishing the Academy, Scott continued his study at the Palette and Chisel Art club, where he met his wife, painter Susan Lyon. "It's a wonderful thing being able to paint together all the time and grow as artists together," Scott says.
His ideas for paintings come from everywhere. "What makes a subject attractive to me are the same things that attract us all. The beauty of a young girl, the character of a weathered face, the solitude of a farm at sunset, or even the story itself behind someone or something that makes it interesting." Scott believes it is the job of the artist to recognize this when it happens, analyze why, and use his technical skills to convey the feeling to someone else. He notes that some paintings are as simple as stopping at the sight of something interesting, while others may take more time to research than to actually paint.
Today, Scott and Susan live in a rural area of North Carolina..
"I see painting as both a way of exploring the world and then as the vehicle of sharing those discoveries with others. I travel to find subjects to paint as much as paint so I can travel and expand my horizons. Through this unique language, one can say things that are impossible with words."
What to expect
Morning Demonstrations:
• Watch as Susan and Scott create a fresh portrait each morning.
• Discover unique color strategies and techniques for capturing personality and expression.
Afternoon Studio Sessions:
• Work from live models (featuring beautiful Black models, both male and female) to refine your skills.
• Receive personalized critiques and guidance as I circulate the room, offering one-on-one attention.
• See Scott continue to paint in real time, illustrating how to develop a more finished portrait while answering your questions.
Model Sessions:
• Each day includes a live model session for morning demos and two models in the afternoon.
• If a standout model is available, we’ll have them pose twice—giving you the opportunity to explore different angles and techniques.

INCLUDED
-
Tuition fees
-
Paper Towel
-
Gloves
-
Solvent
-
Jars
-
Easels
-
Model fees

NOT INCLUDED
-
Any flights
-
Travel insurance
-
Meals and drinks
-
Items of a personal nature
-
Visa fees
-
Optional activities
-
Travel insurance
-
Accommodation. Email us for recommendations or booking help.
(We do have a service where you can order paints etc. in advance just send us a quick email for the info.)