Painting Presence — Art Workshop with Pavlinsky

A first encounter with abstract mark-making — no experience required, no expected outcome.

This is where to begin. The session is built for people who have never painted as an adult and believe they cannot. The goal is not to produce a finished piece — it is to discover how paint, texture, and colour behave when you stop trying to control them. Pavlina works from this principle in her own practice: the mind is not the painter. This session makes that idea tangible.

What you'll experience

• Fundamentals of abstract mark-making with acrylics and palette knife
• Colour mixing by feel rather than formula
• Working with texture — building, scraping, layering, and responding
• How to move past self-editing and stay present with the canvas
• A short conversation with Pavlina about her own origin as a painter

Session details

Duration: 3 hours
Group size: Maximum 6 guests
Location: Zermatt studio
Includes: All materials and equipment, artist guidance throughout, light refreshments

Prerequisites: None. Designed specifically for those with no painting background.

Guests leave with their own completed canvas and a different way of thinking about what it means to make something. Suitable for couples, chalet groups, and individual travellers seeking a meaningful afternoon in Zermatt.