2025 Visionary Painting Intensive with Alex Grey & Allyson Grey
Chapel of Sacred Mirrors
46 Deer Hill Rd, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590, United States
New York
41.5820128
-73.93928110000002
Description
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
Applications are OPEN NOW for painters at intermediate to advanced levels of experience.
Deadline to apply: Friday, February 14th | APPLY NOW
Visionary Painting Intensive: Class of 2024
The expressive language of painting has uniquely traced the human soul’s evolution of consciousness for over 30,000 years. Sacred art traditions throughout the ages have celebrated the visionary realms, exploring Heaven Hell and the multiverse inbetween. Each individual artist continues the evolving wave of visual culture. Today, the internet provides access to the entire history of the human imagination through the iconography of past civilizations. Geometric and organic pattern and ornament, spectral color, light and shadow, texture, focus, symbolism and naturalism offer abundant creative means for the interpreter and illuminator of mystical and transcendental domains. Skilled painters, intimate with expanded states of awareness, translate these subtle archetypal dimensions to facilitate the realization of divine spirit.
This workshop will explore the importance of intention, process, subject matter, and the historic context of visionary painting in an open studio environment that supports independent thinking and artistic maturity. Building on existing painting skills, the Greys will support participants in celebrating their uniqueness, developing personal themes. Both conceptual and technical skills will be addressed in pursuit of defining and communicating the artist's intention.
Objectives include:
Honing a unique artistic voice.
Refining critical-thinking and verbalization skills through class discussion and interaction.
Expanded recognition & understanding of Visionary Art history as inspiration informing future artworks.
Examining professional artist practices.
APPLY NOW: VISIONARY PAINTING INTENSIVE
The messages of our souls can be shared more effectively by evolving our consciousness and our craft. Through practice, the ability to express ourselves can always improve. Painters develop when they draw from their authentic self, sharing their truth and insights in their creation. When expressive uniqueness is witnessed by supportive peers, a sacred energy field is generated that empowers artistic evolution. Learning from each other, we collectively support the creative progress of every member. Discussing our progress at group meal times and in the library, participants connect with other painters who are exploring the path of Visionary Art.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
PORTFOLIO REVIEW
The 2025 CoSM 7-Day Visionary Painting Intensive with Alex Grey & Allyson Grey offers an immersive program for serious painters at intermediate to advanced levels of experience.
An application with samples of your work will be required for the selection process of participants in the Visionary Painting Intensive.
This application requests each candidate to include three examples of their best paintings.
The application for the Visionary Painting Intensive requests access to the artist's social media and contact information, as well as a brief artist statement honed to a few sentences.
Because an artist statement is useful to serious artists, your statement will be part of this workshop. For a good guide on writing an artist statement, read this Article Posted by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago …or any number of guides posted on the internet.
APPLY NOW: VISIONARY PAINTING INTENSIVE
For artists proficient in mediums other than painting on canvas, paper (watercolor) or wood panel as well as those embarking on their painting journey:
We encourage you to apply to the Visionary Art Intensive, an all-levels course for artists of all mediums, scheduled for July 27th - August 2nd, 2025.
Applications for the Visionary Art Intensive (VAI) will launch on Tuesday, December 10th, 2024.
PAINTING INTENSIVE
During this seven-day Master Class, participants will work on two paintings, with an intention to make substantial progress on both works. One painting will be a self-portrait (in the widest definition) and the second work will be an original painting in line with the development of your personal style and concept.
Class members should come to the workshop prepared with at least one (or more) concept sketch(es).
Techniques, elements of design and composition, color study and the development of expressive content will be discussed daily. In-depth conversations about the work of each participant will be part of the schedule and flow. Offered also will be talks on The History of Visionary Art, daily silent painting meditations accompanied by inspiring music, presentations by class members, conversations concerning the life of an artist and open discussion of the work of every person in the class, providing valuable insights for all participants. Guided vision practices will catalyze and crystalize an image to be realized as a painting. Oil paint, acrylic paint, and watercolors on a 2-dimensional surface are welcome mediums for this class.
If seven days of painting sounds too delicious to be true — as it does for us, consider applying for the Visionary Painting Intensive at CoSM.
APPLY NOW: VISIONARY PAINTING INTENSIVE
YOUR INSTRUCTORS:
Alex Grey & Allyson Grey
Alex Grey, world-renowned artist, poet, and author, is best loved for his paintings which portray multiple dimensions of reality, interweaving biological anatomy with psychic and spiritual energies. His books, Sacred Mirrors, The Mission of Art, Transfigurations, and Art Psalms, trace the development of his work and mystical experiences that shaped his spiritual artistic life. Alex’s most recent monograph, Net of Being, addresses how his art is evolving the cultural body through icons of interconnectedness. alexgrey.com
Net of Being by Alex Grey
Allyson Grey is an artist whose paintings have been exhibited and sold internationally. Co-founder of the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, Grey is a community leader with a Master of Fine Arts degree from Tufts University. She has edited and co-authored over a dozen books and journals, lectured widely, and has been an educator and muse to artists for over 30 years. The symbol system in her paintings represent an essentialized world-view comprised of chaos, order and secret writing. Allyson is the wife and partner of internationally renowned artist, Alex Grey, and the mother of accomplished film actress, Zena Grey. allysongrey.com
Chaos Order Secret Writing by Allyson Grey
Together, the Grey’s co-founded the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, CoSM, a spiritual creative retreat center in the Hudson Valley of New York. On the forefront of a movement in which painters join musicians on stage, the Grey’s painted together live before tens of thousands of folks at New York Broadway theaters, at sold-out festivals and arenas in dozens of international cities across five continents. As long-time advocates of “cognitive liberty,” a growing international “sacramental culture” has embraced the Grey’s as important mapmakers and spokespersons for the visionary realm. The Grey’s, with a dedicated and evolving team, have created CoSM, an interspiritual Art Church and Entheon, a Visionary Art sanctuary at CoSM. cosm.org
Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in Entheon, sanctuary of Visionary Art at CoSM
CoSM WORKSHOP SETTING:
Class sessions will take place in the beautiful, newly renovated MAGI Art Lab.
The Grey House, CoSM's Visionary Victorian guest house, provides accommodations for all participants.
Residing onsite together is encouraged as part of this immersively creative week, providing maximum benefit & enrichment. Accommodations in Grey House are offered in a variety of economies, in addition to the workshop fee.
For participants choosing to stay off-site, a $250 commuter’s fee covers use of CoSM facilities and amenities.
Participants are welcome to extend their overnight stay at CoSM to the Thursday before and/or the Monday after the workshop.
WORKSHOP AMENITIES
Available for the duration of the 7 day workshop:
Three healthy meals daily provided by CoSM chefs
Coffee, tea and snacks available in the Art Lab between meals
Access to Grey House common spaces — The Library, The Parlor, The Dining Hall & Gallery Spaces on all three floors
Yoga mats for self guided practice
Accommodations include private rooms and shared dorm rooms—femme only or co-ed options
The Wisdom Trail offers a contemplative walk through the CoSM woods, including a labyrinth, outdoor sculptural installations by visionary artists
Participation also includes Day Admission to CoSM: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 12pm - 6pm:
Access to Facilities, grounds and self-touring Entheon
Students are welcome to experience Entheon and Grey House Galleries, including both CoSM Shop & Entheon Shop.
Beverages and light fare will be available for purchase in the Mushroom Cafe, an immersively muraled space with mushroom themed contributions from 19 accomplished visionary artists
MATERIALS:
SUGGESTED MATERIALS LIST
Pencils and pens for drawing
Graphite pencils — 2B, 3B, 4B, HB (a few or all)
Kneadable eraser and other preferred types
Pencil sharpener
Roll or large sheets of tracing paper
Sketch book and/or pad of larger sketch paper — 11″ x 14″
Painting surface — canvas(es), gesso board, painting panel, watercolor block
Size Limitation: Painting supports may be no smaller than 11″ or larger than 40" in either dimension.
Watercolor paint set (option) — tubes or travel set in pans
Acrylics — at least 12 colors (option)
Oil paint — at least 12 colors (option)
Good quality paint brushes for each medium — a variety of sizes
Best quality of materials is recommended to all serious artists.
MATERIALS PROVIDED in the ART LAB at CoSM
Easel
Small work table for painting supplies and horizontal work
Clip lamp & extension cord
SCHEDULE:
All times are listed in EDT
Sunday, June 29th
3pm-5pm: Guests arrive by 5pm and check-in to their rooms.
6pm: Dinner & Orientation are part of the workshop for all participants.
7:30pm: Work Session in the Art Lab
Monday, June 30th through Friday, July 4th
8am - 10am: Self-serve breakfast in the Dining Hall
10am: Work Session in the Library
1pm: Lunch in the Dining Hall
3pm: Work Session in the Art Lab.
6pm: Dinner in the Dining Hall
7:30pm: Work Session in the Art Lab
Saturday, July 5th
8am - 10am: Self-serve Breakfast in the Dining Hall
10am: Work Session in the Art Lab
1pm: Lunch in the Dining Hall
2pm: End of Workshop
6pm: CoSM closes
CoSM and Entheon are open weekly on Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 12pm - 6pm when CoSM Grounds close.
Participation includes day passes during open hours to CoSM facilities and grounds for the duration of the workshop.
A private tour of Entheon will be scheduled for workshop participants so class time is not missed.
ITINERARY NOTE: You are welcome to arrive early on Sunday, June 29th—Day 1 of the workshop— as CoSM will be open to the public starting at 12pm. This is a great time to explore Entheon, Grey House Galleries and CoSM grounds before the workshop starts, as the workshop schedule is quite immersive once in session.
TUITION:
APPLY NOW: VISIONARY PAINTING INTENSIVE
Deadline to Apply: Friday, February 14th
Response letters to all applications will be sent in the first week of March, 2025.
Tuition for the 7-day Visionary Painting Intensive includes meals - $1,400.00.
Accommodations are additional.
Payment plans available, with all funds due one month before the start of the workshop..
For further information, contact workshop@cosm.org.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
The Grey House, CoSM’s Visionary Victorian guest house, offers accommodations for all participants. Works of art by Alex Grey, Allyson Grey and accomplished artists of the international Visionary Art community are featured throughout the guest rooms and common spaces of the Grey House.
Onsite accommodations are a part of the course experience and are available in a variety of economies. Here is the pricing for the six night stay, arriving Sunday, June 29th, departing Saturday, July 5th, 2025, reflective of the 10% workshop discount:
Private king room with ensuite bathroom $1,485.00
Private queen room with ensuite bathroom $1,350.00
Private queen room with a shared bath $1,080.00
Single bed in a dorm room $729.00 *femme only and co-ed options
A $250 commuters fee applies to participants staying off-site, covering use of CoSM facilities and amenities.
Accepted participants will receive instructions on booking accommodations along with their acceptance letter.
Questions about tuition or accommodation fees, payment plans, travel, retreat amenities, materials etc.?
Contact Genevieve Wood, Workshop Coordinator: workshop@cosm.org.
Times
Start:
2025-06-29T17:00:00-04:00
End:
2025-07-05T14:00:00-04:00
Category
Crafts
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