Photoshop Painting Mastery: A 2-Day Intensive for 8 Artists
Working on your Photoshop painting skills? Dreaming of that PPA degree through MIR? Wishing you had that "painting" style for Image Competition?
This seminar is 10 years in the making!
This July is especially meaningful for me. I’m turning 60! Celebrating a decade of painting animals and competing in image competitions. There’s no better way I can think of to honor this journey than by doing what I love most: teaching and creating. So I’ve designed this special 2-day seminar as a celebration, not just of where I’ve been, but of what I can now share with you.
Join me for an inspiring, hands-on experience where we’ll paint, learn, and grow together inside Adobe Photoshop, and celebrate the art that brings us all here.
2-day workshop July 16th and 17th. 2026
9:30-6:00 EST
78Days
20 Hours
43Minutes
16Seconds
Seminar Overview
There is a moment in every artist’s journey when the work begins to transcend the photograph… and becomes something more.
In this immersive 2-day experience, you will learn how to transform your images into richly layered, painterly works of art using Adobe Photoshop, without losing the soul, structure, or authenticity of your subject. This is not about filters or quick effects.
This is about understanding light, brushwork, texture, and artistic intention. Learning how to create your own traditional painting style inside Photoshop.
You will be guided step-by-step through Judy’s signature process, where photography becomes the foundation and artistry takes over. Whether you photograph pets, horses, or wildlife, this class will elevate your work into pieces designed for high-end wall art, competition, and legacy clients.
By the end of this workshop, you won’t just “edit” your images, you will paint them with purpose.
Goodies!
1. A 1 hour of private mentoring session to review your work.
2. Recordings of what Judy Reinford covers during class. In class, feel free to take screenshots or film on your phone.
3. Custom Photoshop brushes.
Dates: July 16th–17th, 2026
Format: 2 Full Days of Hands-On Instruction
This intensive workshop is designed for photographers and digital artists ready to move beyond basic editing and step into true painterly craftsmanship.
Over two days, you will learn how to:
Day 1:
Foundations of Digital Painting: Understanding how light, form, and depth translate into painterly work.
Choosing the right images for transformation.
Mastering essential tools in Adobe Photoshop, including the Mixer Brush tool, Layer control, masking, and blending techniques.
Building your base painting without destroying detail.
Creating a strong, painterly foundation that still feels true to the subject.
Day 2: Refinement
Texture & Artistic Finish.
Developing brushwork that mimics traditional media.
Enhancing fur, hair, and fine details with intentional strokes
Creating depth, dimension, and atmosphere.
Adding texture and look, Judy is known for.
Finalizing your image for: Print competition, MIR for a PPA degree, and client wall art.
Location:
Bath, PA at my studio. Located just 15 minutes from ABE international airport, this rural location provides a quiet retreat style setting for an intensive, hands on in person workshop. With only 6 attendees, each person will get individual attention.
Studio address:
Judy Reinford Photography
6007 W Main Blvd. Suite D
Bath, PA 18014
Getting Here:
ABE international airport is 15 minutes away or PHL (Philadelphia) is 1.5 hours away.
WhereTo Stay:
Right by ABE airport ( Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton) on Airport Road, there are several hotels. Nearby Bethlehem and Easton also have an assortment of hotels.
Places to stay nearby, click the image to go to their website.
Springhill Suites By Marriott
Hampton Inn & Suites
Home 2 Suites By Hilton
Judy Reinford Photography is located just 10-15 minutes from the Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton Airport in Bath, PA. A wonderful country setting. Nearby Bethlehem is filled with historic buildings, museums, and the famous Hotel Bethlehem if looking for something extra special.
Hotel Bethlehem
Course Curriculum
Judy Reinford
Judy Reinford M. Photog., M. Artist, CR., CPP, MAI
Judy's passion for photography began when she was just six years old. She vividly remembers spending hours in the darkroom with her grandpa, the gentle glow of the red light casting a warm hue over the developing images. There was something magical about watching photos come to life in the developing tray. Her grandpa’s instructions, “don’t turn the light on,” and the silent anticipation as the image emerged, left a lasting impression on her. That early experience in the darkroom sparked a fascination with the art of capturing moments and transforming them into visual stories.
In 1989, Judy graduated from Kutztown University with a BFA in Communication Design and Fine Art Photography. She began her career in photography at Hess’s department store, photographing everything from china to jewelry to bed linens. Judy's interest in pet, equine, and zoo photography developed through her involvement in PPA print competitions. This led to a passion for fundraising and donating her finished work to zoo gala silent auctions. She is currently on the board of The Lehigh Valley Zoo Gala Committee, underscoring her dedication to animal conservation.
Judy's studio specializes in pet and equine photography, offering on-location or studio sessions (though they haven't had a horse in the studio yet—just dogs). Her services include digital mixed-media paintings and fairytale composites of both pets and people. Over the past three years, horses have become a significant passion for Judy. She resumed horseback riding in the summer of 2020 and finds photographing these gentle giants, either alone or with their owners, a rewarding experience.
Her teaching seminars have gained national attention, attracting attendees to PPA Community Partners and Photography Guilds across the country. Even small events have seen participants flying in from afar. Achieving the titles of Master Photographer and Master Artist through the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) was an exciting and challenging journey for Judy. PPA offers these prestigious degrees to recognize the significant achievements of its members. Determined to attain both degrees simultaneously, she completed the rigorous process in less than three IPC competitions, a remarkable feat.
In 2023, Judy embraced the future by becoming an educator in the field of AI, teaching the positive aspects and potential of this technology. She is excited to explore how AI can enhance creative processes and push the boundaries of traditional photography and digital art. This new area complements the extensive Photoshop techniques already covered in her online and in-person workshops. I see the future of photography and art evolving rapidly with the integration of advanced technologies like AI. These tools are opening up new possibilities for creativity and expression, allowing artists to push boundaries in ways that were previously unimaginable. I believe that AI will become an integral part of the artistic process, enhancing our ability to create, edit, and share our work.
In this evolving landscape, I hope to be someone on the cutting edge of these advancements, helping to educate and guide students in using AI in a safe and beneficial way. My goal is to demonstrate the positive potential of AI in art and photography, helping others to see the good it can bring to our creative endeavors. By incorporating AI into my workshops and teachings, I aim to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to leverage these technologies effectively, fostering a new generation of artists who are both innovative and responsible.
PPA 2026 Diamond Photographer Of The Year
5 Time Diamond Photographer
5 Time GIA Nominee
ASP IOD Image Of The Year 2025
ISAP Photographer Of The Year 2024
ASP Images Of Distinction, Best In Show Spring 2024
IPC 2024 Double Gold Medalist
2019-2022 PPA International Diamond Photographer Of The Year – Photographic Open
2023 PPA North Carolina Photographer Of The Year
2023, 2022 & 2020 Animal Image Makers - Best Equine Image
2023 Animal Image Makers - Best In Show
2023 Animal Image Makers - Master Of Animal Imaging
2021 Animal Image Makers - Accredited Professional Of Animal Imagery
PPNC Photographer Of The Year 2023
TXPPA Best Other Domestic Animal 2023
ASP 2nd Place Best Animal Portrait 2023
5 Time (2019- 2023) ASP State Elite Award
2021 MPI International Image Challenge - Digital Art Photographer Of The Year
2020 MPI International Image Challenge - Fine Art Photographer Of The Year
2020 - PPA International Platinum Photographer Of The Year – Master Artist
2019 WPPI Second Half Competition Third Place Animal Portrait
2019 ASP Bronze Medallion
2020 Imaging USA - Image Excellence Award
2019 ASP District Award 2019
Imaging USA - Craftsman Degree
2018 - PPA International Gold Photographer Of The Year – Photographic Open
2018 - PPA International Gold Photographer Of The Year – Master Artist
2018 ASP State Elite Award
2018 - PPA Northeast First Place Animal Portrait
2018 Imaging USA - Master Photography Degree and Mast Artist Degree
2017 - PPA International Gold Photographer Of The Year –Photographic Open
2017 - PPA International Platinum Photographer Of The Year – Master Artist
2016 - PPA International Silver Photographer Of The Year –Photographic Open
2016 - PPA International Gold Photographer Of The Year – Master Artist
Photoshop Painting Mastery July 2026
$760 USD
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Working on your Photoshop painting skills? Dreaming of that PPA degree through MIR? Wishing you had that "painting" style?
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- Transforming an image captured in bad lighting
- Creating expressive eyes
- Feather and fur techniques
- Mixer brush and paint brush techniques
- History brush lighting and painting
