About Caitlin

A Modern Approach to Narrative Painting

Learn the process I developed as a self-taught painter to invent large-scale narrative paintings grounded in personal images, daily life, and historical references.

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"It was eye-opening to see Caitlin collage multiple photographs into a single, satisfying composition—something I’d heard of but never seen broken down so clearly. Her way of teaching composition through art history and her own process really helped me see differently." - Erin McIntosh 

This course is for you if:

  • You have ideas you want to turn into paintings but you’re not sure where to start

  • You feel stuck using a single photo as a reference

  • You want to learn how to use digital tools in your process

  • You’re self-taught or returning to painting after a break, and you’re looking for structure and inspiration

Session 1 Preview

Art isn’t made in a vacuum. We’re always in conversation with what’s come before. While working on Straw House, I traced another artist’s work back to a Pompeian fresco and realized we were both borrowing from the same ancient source. This preview explores how ideas echo across time, and how your own story might connect to that lineage.

 

What else is in the course?

🧭 10+ Hours of Lessons A clearly structured curriculum that guides you through the process

🧰 Tutorials Photoshop for painters, shooting source images with your phone and more

🎨 Demos Watch how I use gouache to test ideas, solve composition, and prepare for large scale

📄 Downloadable Resources Photo reference guide, slides and weekly homework prompts

🕒 Lifetime, Self-Paced Access Start anytime, revisit as your practice evolves

🖼️ Bonus Material Download my Photoshop file and watch my painting evolve after the course 

After this course you’ll be able to:

  • Blend references, sketches and photos into one cohesive composition

  • Use Photoshop (even as a beginner) to test out ideas

  • Make a gouache study that works as a blueprint for a larger painting

  • Invent figurative paintings about your life and story from your unique perspective

Risa Teksten

I really appreciate Caitlin’s transparency about her process—it validated so much of what I was already doing. As a self-taught novice, I used to feel like I was ‘cheating’ if I manipulated or photographed my paintings to see them more clearly. Hearing Caitlin’s perspective gave me real confidence in my process.

Dana Diaz

Caitlin was incredibly well prepared—each session was thorough, organized, and transparent. She was generous with her time and sharing her insights.

Foundations: Inventing Narrative Paintings With Modern Tools

$379 

Self Paced | Lifetime Access

✔️ A clear, repeatable process for making narrative paintings

✔️ Blend references, sketches and photos into a single image

✔️ Use Photoshop to build compositions, even as a beginner

✔️ Create gouache studies as a blueprint for larger paintings

✔️ Download materials lists, homework prompts, and guides

Get the Course