IDAL - International Decorative Artisans League

08/20/2026

Full class list, schedule and registration: www.idal.org/workshops

Are you a student? Scholarships may be available for select classes. Visit IDAL.org to learn more and inquire.

Thank you to our sponsors: Golden Paintworks, Valpaint, Novacolor, Meoded, Coverit, Protek, Texturline, Co.Me, Oro Tricolore and IDAL.

08/14/2026

08/14/2026

Surface Poetics Workshop September 25th-26th!

Hello IDAL followers - just another reminder of the upcoming workshop, Surface Poetics. It is a two-day workshop for artists who want to push their work into more expressive, dimensional, and contemporary surface design. This hands-on workshop explores texture, depth, and pattern with like-minded artists. Learn fresh approaches for interior environments whether you paint on traditional canvas or express directly onto walls. Create EIGHT beautiful finishes with Ms. Leslie Nesbitt, a decorative artist in the DC area with over 25 years of experience.

WHAT ARTISTS WILL EXPLORE
• Dimensional plaster and surface building techniques
• Embedded and disrupted pattern systems
• Moving beyond repeat-based design.
• Layered color as atmosphere and depth
• Translating surface work into interior environment

Please join your new, very friendly, artistic tribe at the St. Louis Artists Guild in St. Louis, MO for the very low price of $250 or $200 for IDAL members. Hotels within walking distance of the classroom and St. Louis is an easy airport to fly in and out of.
For more information contact Beth Warnecke at 618.698.4202 or [email protected]. Or pm her
MAG is a regional chapter and they love to make you feel welcome as you make new friends and create new art!

07/29/2026

Here is a closer look at the very ON-TREND and COOL artistic finishes we will be learning from Leslie Nesbitt in St. Louis on Sept 25 & 26th. Come be inspired, create and have fun with your paint tribe! Contact info is on the sheet. Current IDAL members get a $50 discount and are only $200. Stay tuned for additional finishes featured....!

07/20/2026

Surface Poetics Workshop

September 25th-26th!

The St. Louis chapter Metro Artisans Group is excited to announce that Leslie Nesbit, Master Surface Artist, will be teaching an intensive 2 day class expanding decorative finishes into Expressive, Contemporary Surface Design. This hands-on workshop explores texture, depth, and pattern in ways that move beyond traditional decorative painting and faux finishing, offering fresh approaches for interior environments. Eight art pieces will be created using a bridge between traditional techniques and contemporary applications.

Hotel accommodations within walking distance to the classroom. A major airport is very near to the classroom. $200 for IDAL members, $125 for students. Contact Beth Warnecke for more information and to hold your spot! We would love to see you!

618-698-4202
[email protected]

07/03/2026

📍 OCTOBER 7–9 | MINNEAPOLIS, MN

The decorative arts event you don't want to miss is almost here! ✨

Whether you're just starting out or you're a seasoned pro, this is your chance to level up your craft and your business.

Here's what's waiting for you:
🎨 Fun, creative, profit-building classes — novice to expert
👏 An incredible lineup of instructors
🆓 FREE demo day & expo featuring trusted, proven industry sponsors, leaders & mentors
🛠️ Hands-on learning with plaster application, tools & products from Texturline, Novacolor, Coverit, Valpaint, Golden Paintworks, Meoded, Comex & more
🤝 Networking, creativity & fun in a great city, surrounded by like-minded artists.

Decorative artist, painter, designer, contractor, applicator — what more could you ask for in a learning and industry event?

🗓️ Mark your calendars now and keep following along for detailed class and registration info!

Can't wait to meet you there! 👋

06/04/2026

We've got a workshop
to spark a thread!
Here's some joy we'd like to spread.

Colorful paints and brushes
— a creative workshop

Mark your calendars for this upcoming event sponsored by Drew Beninati, owner of PlasterCenter, and Mave Alft, owner of Mave's Decorative Market, in Minneapolis.

We're so fortunate to be able to utilize the Union Painter's Training facility.

✨ Save the date — more details coming soon ✨

LOCATION
Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest
3205 Country Drive #150
Little Canada, MN 55117

PROPOSED DATE
October 8 – 10
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

05/06/2026

Learn how to grow your faux and mural business with practical tips on finding clients, networking, pricing jobs, and building a steady stream of work.

05/06/2026

Dear IDAL Members,

We want to share that our current President, Dora Kearney, will be stepping down from her role to focus on her health. This was not an easy decision, and we are incredibly grateful for her leadership, dedication, and the many contributions she has made to IDAL.

Please join us in wishing Dora all the very best during this time.

We are pleased to announce that Kathy Otto, Past IDAL President, resumed her role effective April 15, 2026. Kathy brings extensive experience and a deep commitment to IDAL’s mission, and we are confident in her ability to provide steady leadership during this transition.

Over the next week, we will be highlighting our video library on the front page of our website and through email. We encourage you to take a look and explore the resources available.

We appreciate your continued support and look forward to moving ahead together as a community.

Warm regards,
The IDAL Board

02/26/2026

New Online Class Alert 🚨
Transforming Craft into Art With

What if the key to making decorative finishes look truly real has nothing to do with talent and everything to do with how nature works? In this video, a lifelong decorative artisan shares the unexpected path that led from acting to faux finishing, marble, plaster, and a deep understanding of composition rooted in fractal design rather than rigid geometry. You will hear how learning a small set of powerful rules completely changed the way finishes look, feel, and age on a wall. This conversation explores: • How fractal design breaks free from flat, human-made patterns • Why Euclidean geometry often makes finishes look artificial • How odd shapes, movement, and asymmetry pull the eye naturally • The difference between executing a finish correctly and creating art • Why stepping into a client’s vision matters more than ego How these rules apply beyond painting, including murals, landscaping, interiors, photography, and more Whether you are a professional decorative artist, a student, or a passionate DIY creator, this approach can elevate your work from well-crafted to truly organic and timeless. The video also introduces a rare composition class focused entirely on these principles, something seldom taught in modern decorative arts education. The goal is simple: to help artists create work that feels like it came from the earth, not from a brush. If you have ever stepped back from a wall and felt something was “off” but could not explain why, this video may finally give you the language and tools to understand and fix it. Watch, listen, and rethink how you see composition.

https://www.idal.org/service-page/transforming-craft-into-art