Immersive Portraits with Daniel Bilmes
In June, we look forward to a much-anticipated painting workshop with the renowned Daniel Bilmes, a contemporary painter, working in Los Angeles. Bilmes is an award-winning artist and instructor offering this transformative four-day portrait painting course designed for artists of all levels who are passionate about capturing the beauty, complexity, and spirit of the human face. Daniel began his art education at the age of 8 under the tutelage of his father, the respected artist and educator, Semyon Bilmes. Being immersed in art from such an early age had a profound impact on his personal growth and creativity, laying a lasting foundation of curiosity that continues to drive and inform his work today.
His approach is characterized by deep personal exploration, combining realism with elements of symbolism and abstraction. Through tactile textures and delicate expressions, his paintings weave together the magical and mundane. His work is at once hopeful and brooding. Realistic and symbolic. Somewhere between the vitality of the Russian circus and the gravitas of a Churchill speech! Experiencing his multiple works at once can be quite moving; I find it both intimate yet austere. Boldly timeless, and softly exquisite. At Willow Pond, we aim to provide opportunities for artists to learn from the best!
Daniel’s more recent shows include solo exhibitions in Arcadia Contemporary in Soho, NYC and Los Angeles and group exhibitions in Melbourne, Australia, Denver, CO, and San Francisco, CA.
This intensive workshop will guide participants through the full arc of the portrait painting process—blending classical techniques with a deep emphasis on personal expression and individual style development. So whether you're an experienced artist or just beginning your journey, you'll be challenged and inspired to refine your technique and deepen your understanding of the human form. We will work directly from live models, and students will explore a wide range of oil painting strategies. Emphasis will be placed on paint application, composition, color mixing, value control, glazing, mood, and the subtleties that bring a subject’s character and presence to life on canvas.
Booking is now open, and the four-day workshop, FORM and FEEING, IMMERSIVE PORTRAIT PAINTING, will take place June 25-28, 2026.
