Painting courses in Basel with a fun factor

Splash. Drip. Splatter. Then… Glow.
Looking for a creative experience that’s energetic, expressive and unlike anything you’ve tried before?

Our Neon Action Painting Workshop combines the freedom and excitement of Action Painting with the spectacular world of fluorescent colours and UV light, creating abstract artworks that transform before your eyes.

After a short introduction, your instructor will guide the group through a series of Action Painting techniques while explaining the artistic principles behind strong abstract compositions. You’ll explore layering, movement, colour relationships, texture and composition as your painting gradually develops over approximately two hours. Rather than following a predefined design, every splash, brushstroke and creative decision becomes the inspiration for the next, allowing your artwork to evolve naturally from one moment to another.

Action Painting is an intuitive creative journey. Every mark on the canvas invites a new response, creating a continuous process of experimenting, observing and building upon what has already emerged. Throughout the workshop, you’ll work with a wide variety of paints, bottles, brushes, palette knives, rollers and other creative tools while your instructor demonstrates techniques, shares artistic insights and offers individual guidance whenever you need it.

And then the magic begins.

As the studio lights fade and the UV lights come to life, your painting reveals an entirely new personality. Fluorescent colours begin to glow, hidden details suddenly appear, and layers you barely noticed under daylight transform into vibrant, luminous compositions. What felt exciting before suddenly becomes immersive.

No two paintings will ever look alike. While everyone explores the same techniques together, each participant follows their own creative path, discovering a unique balance between spontaneity, intuition and artistic intention.

Whether you’re looking to switch off after a busy week, celebrate with friends or simply experience painting in a completely different way, the Neon Action Painting Workshop combines creative freedom, artistic guidance and an unforgettable visual spectacle unlike any other workshop.

You’ll leave with a one-of-a-kind artwork that tells two stories—one in daylight, and another that only comes alive under UV light.

Your painting journey starts here.

This six-week foundation course is designed to give you something far more valuable than simply learning how to use acrylic paint. It teaches you the universal principles of painting—the skills and artistic thinking that form the foundation of almost every painting technique, style and medium you’ll encounter in the future.

Using acrylics as our starting point, you’ll discover how paintings are built from the ground up. Together we’ll explore colour theory, composition, brushwork, values, light and shadow, perspective, texture and layering while gradually developing the confidence to approach any blank canvas with purpose.

Throughout the course, every new concept is introduced through demonstrations, practical exercises and individual projects. Rather than simply copying paintings, you’ll learn why artistic decisions work and how to apply those principles to your own creative ideas.

Because acrylics dry quickly, are incredibly versatile and wonderfully forgiving, they’re the perfect medium for learning the fundamentals of painting. Once you understand these principles, you’ll find it much easier to explore oils, watercolours, gouache or almost any other painting medium in the future.

Whether you’re holding a brush for the very first time or looking to replace guesswork with genuine understanding, this course gives you the knowledge, confidence and creative foundation to continue growing as an artist long after the six weeks are over.

✏️ What to Expect

• A comprehensive six-week introduction to painting
• Weekly guidance from a professional artist
• Live demonstrations introducing essential techniques and artistic principles
• Practical exercises and plenty of personal painting time with individual feedback
• A relaxed and encouraging studio environment 

🧠 What You’ll Learn

• The fundamental principles of painting
• Colour theory, colour mixing and color palettes
• Brush techniques, layering and texture
• Light, shadow, values and depth
• Composition and visual balance
• How to confidently start, develop and finish a painting
• Artistic thinking that applies to almost every painting medium

🤔 Is This Course Right for Me?

Absolutely.
Whether you’ve never picked up a paintbrush before or you’re looking for a structured foundation before exploring different artistic styles, this course is the ideal place to begin.

Rather than focusing only on acrylic painting, you’ll develop skills and knowledge that will support your artistic journey across virtually every painting medium you’ll encounter in the future.

Sunset? Set Sail.
Somewhere between day and night, colour and calm, there’s a moment where everything just glows. That’s what we’re capturing in this impressionist-inspired painting session — a sailboat drifting into golden hour, two figures silhouetted against a sky that forgot how to be subtle.

But this time, it’s all about how we paint it. Inspired by impressionist techniques, you’ll work with hundreds — even thousands — of small, expressive brushstrokes that come together to form a rich, vibrant whole. Up close, it’s texture, rhythm, and movement; from a distance, it all blends into a luminous, atmospheric scene.

We’ll guide you in building layers, balancing warm and cool tones, and composing a scene that feels both complex and harmonious. It’s a process of patience and intuition — letting each small mark play its role in something much bigger.
No heavy blending, no overworking — just colour, light, and the quiet magic of many small strokes coming together into one glowing, unforgettable piece.

Every great artist starts by learning to see.

Drawing is much more than putting pencil to paper. It’s the foundation of almost every visual art form—the skill that teaches you to observe, understand and interpret the world around you.

In this six-week foundation course, you’ll develop the most important artistic ability of all: seeing like an artist. Together we’ll explore observation, proportion, perspective, light, shadow, composition and form while learning how to transform the three-dimensional world around us into convincing drawings.

Every week introduces new concepts through demonstrations, structured exercises and practical projects that gradually build your confidence. Rather than simply learning how to copy what you see, you’ll discover why objects look the way they do—and how artists simplify, analyse and reconstruct them on paper.

Drawing is often described as the language of visual art. Whether you dream of becoming a painter, illustrator, designer, sculptor or simply want to draw with confidence, the skills you develop here will support everything you create afterwards.

If you’ve ever thought “I can’t draw,” this course is here to change your mind. With the right guidance and plenty of practice, you’ll soon discover that drawing isn’t a talent reserved for a few—it’s a skill that anyone can learn.

✏️ What to Expect

• A comprehensive six-week introduction to drawing
• Weekly guidance from a professional artist
• Live demonstrations introducing essential drawing techniques
• Structured exercises that gradually build your observation and drawing skills
• Plenty of individual drawing time with personal feedback
• A relaxed and encouraging studio environment where curiosity and experimentation are always welcome

🧠 What You’ll Learn

• How to observe like an artist
• Shape, proportion and perspective
• Light, shadow and creating three-dimensional form
• Line quality, values and texture
• Composition and visual storytelling
• The universal drawing principles that support every artistic medium

🤔 Is This Course Right for Me?

Absolutely.
Whether you’ve never held a pencil with artistic intention before or you’d like to build a stronger creative foundation before exploring painting, illustration or other artistic disciplines, this course is the ideal place to begin.

The skills you’ll develop here won’t just improve your drawings—they’ll change the way you observe the world and support every creative step that follows.

Ready to escape into a landscape of quiet power?
In this session, you’ll create a stunning mountain scene in rich earth tones, where rugged textures meet snowy peaks and every layer tells part of the story.

We’ll move through warm, natural hues, blending and building colours that feel grounded and alive. You`ll be mixing your own version of earth shades and explore thick, tactile layers with modelling paste to shape the landscape, then bring it all together by carving in those striking snowy peaks with our favourite tool — the palette knife.

This is all about texture, contrast, and that satisfying moment when your painting starts to feel like something you could step right into. Let your strokes be bold, your layers imperfect, and your mountains rise in their own way.


✨ How PIE Semi-Guided Workshops Run
You arrive, take a breath, pick your welcome drink and settle into your spot at the table where the magic will happen. We start on time, so make sure you`re there and ready to dive in.

Next, your instructor takes the stage, giving you a quick, easy intro to the materials — a clear theme and technique to start with – think of them as your creative launchpad. From there, it’s all about what you do with it.

Then the fun really begins. Our instructors are there to show you the essentials, share tips, and keep you inspired… but the real magic happens when you dive into your own creative waters ;) Follow the guidance closely or take a playful detour – both paths are perfect.
It’s the ideal balance of support and self-expression: enough structure to feel confident, enough freedom to surprise yourself. A little deeper, a little more intentional, and always a lot of fun.

Splash. Drip. Splatter. Total Freedom.
Looking for a creative experience that’s energetic, expressive and completely different from traditional painting?

Our Action Painting Workshop combines the excitement of throwing, dripping and splashing paint with the artistic principles behind creating a powerful abstract artwork.

After a short introduction, your instructor will guide the group through a series of Action Painting techniques while explaining how abstract paintings are built through composition, layering, colour relationships and texture. Rather than recreating a predefined motif, you’ll gradually develop your own artwork over approximately two hours, allowing every splash, brushstroke and creative decision to influence what comes next.

Action Painting is an intuitive journey. Every mark on the canvas becomes the starting point for the next, creating a continuous process of acting, observing and reacting. Along the way, you’ll experiment with a wide variety of paints, tools and creative techniques while your instructor shares demonstrations, artistic guidance and individual feedback whenever you need it.

No two paintings will ever look alike. While everyone explores the same techniques together, each participant follows their own creative path, discovering their own balance between spontaneity and intention.

Whether you’re looking to switch off after a busy week, reconnect with your creativity or simply experience painting in a completely different way, Action Painting offers the freedom to experiment while giving you the artistic guidance to turn expressive marks into a finished abstract composition.

You’ll leave not only with a unique artwork, but with a deeper understanding of how abstract paintings evolve—and the confidence to trust your own creative instincts.

Floral chaos. Creamy colours. Big still life energy.
Ever wanted to paint something that looks fancy but feels like fun? This is that.
In this oil painting session, you’ll create your own still life starring peaches, petals, and painterly vibes — no pressure, no pretentiousness, just pure colour joy.

We’ll guide you through mixing lush tones, building those soft shapes, and playing with texture like you totally know what you’re doing (even if you don’t yet — we got you).

Perfect for total newbies, colour nerds, flower fans, and anyone who just needs a bit of peachy escapism.

Light. Flowing. Wonderfully unpredictable.

Watercolour has a magic unlike any other painting medium. Transparent colours, delicate layers and the gentle movement of water create paintings full of light, atmosphere and spontaneity. Rather than fighting the medium, you’ll learn how to work with it—and discover that some of the most beautiful effects happen when you allow the water to do part of the painting for you.

In this four-week course, you’ll build a solid foundation in watercolour painting while learning to balance control with creative freedom. Whether you’re completely new to the medium or looking to deepen your painting skills, we’ll guide you through the essential techniques step by step.

Throughout the course, you’ll explore washes, layering, glazing, blending and lifting techniques while learning how pigment, water and paper interact. With every exercise, you’ll gain more confidence in controlling the flow of colour while embracing the happy accidents that make watercolour so unique.

Every class combines demonstrations, practical exercises and plenty of individual painting time, allowing you to immediately apply what you’ve learned while receiving personal guidance from your instructor.

Watercolour rewards patience, observation and experimentation. Some artists create delicate botanical studies, others loose landscapes or expressive abstract compositions. This course gives you the technical foundation to confidently explore whichever direction inspires you most.

✏️ What to Expect

• A structured four-week introduction to watercolour painting
• Weekly guidance from a professional artist
• Live demonstrations introducing each new technique
• Plenty of individual painting time with personal feedback
• A relaxed and encouraging atmosphere to experiment and grow
• Step-by-step exploration of water, pigment and transparent colour

🧠 What You’ll Learn

• Wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry techniques
• Building depth through transparent layers and glazing
• Controlling water and pigment flow
• Lifting, blending and correcting techniques
• Creating light, atmosphere and texture
• Developing confidence with one of the world’s most expressive painting mediums

🤔 Is This Course Right for Me?
Absolutely.
Whether you’re discovering watercolour for the first time or looking to build on your painting experience, this course offers the perfect introduction to one of the most elegant and rewarding painting techniques.
No previous watercolour experience is required. All you need is curiosity, patience and a willingness to let the paint surprise you.

One bike. One basket. Unlimited flower power.
Hop on and paint your way into a summer daydream! In this guided acrylic session, you’ll bring a vintage bicycle to life — complete with a classic wicker basket bursting with blooms. Think wildflowers, soft pastels, and a sky that feels like Sunday morning.

Muted bike frame? Check. Lush, over-the-top floral explosion? Double check. It’s the kind of scene that makes you want to take the long way home — slowly.

Whether you’re in it for the floral fun, the retro vibes, or just a few hours of chill painting joy, this one’s all about slowing down and soaking it up.
No pedals required. Just paint, relax, and enjoy the ride. 🌼🚲✨

Fluorescent, fabulous, and floating straight into your heart.
Dive into the deep, dark, and dazzling as we paint one of the ocean’s most mesmerizing creatures: the jellyfish. Ethereal, elegant, and slightly alien, these drifting wonders take center stage in this glowing, one-night-only art session.

You’ll create your own luminous jelly in motion — translucent, flowing, and completely hypnotic. And here’s the twist: we’ll be using fluorescent paint that glows in the dark. Yep. When the lights go out, your jellyfish lights up like it just came back from a rave in the Mariana Trench. 🪼💫

Along the way, you’ll learn how to build your painting in layers — creating depth, movement, and that signature underwater glow. We’ll experiment with palette knife and sponge techniques to form soft gradients, organic textures, and fluid transitions. You’ll also explore opacity and transparency: how some colours cover, others reveal, and how combining both creates that magical, floating effect.

Two fish, one pond, and a world of flowing colour.
In this playful watercolour session, we dive into a serene pond scene featuring two beautifully loose, colourful white fish gliding between water lilies, floating pads, and delicate blossoms. It’s all about movement, softness, and letting the water do part of the work for you.

This piece is perfect for exploring the wet-on-wet technique — watching pigments bloom, blend, and surprise you as they spread across the paper. You’ll learn how to control (and sometimes release control of) your washes, creating different levels of pigment intensity to suggest depth, light, and transparency in the water.

Alongside the fluidity, we’ll also gently introduce selective detail — knowing when to let edges dissolve and when a few thoughtful marks can bring a fish, a petal, or a lily pad into focus.
It’s a balance of spontaneity and intention: soft washes, flowing colour, and just enough detail to guide the eye through a calm, living pond scene.


✨ How PIE Kafi & Gipfeli Watercolor Painting Workshops Run
What could be better than starting your Sunday morning with a coffee and a gipfeli while getting creative? You arrive, take a breath, grab your kafi & gipfeli, and settle into your spot at the table where the magic happens. We start on time, so make sure you’re there and ready to dive in.

Next, your instructor takes the stage, giving you a quick, easy intro to the materials — nothing overwhelming, just getting you comfortable and ready to play.

Then the fun really begins. You’ll be guided step by step through the painting process, with plenty of room to play, experiment, and make it your own. Sip your drink, enjoy the moment, and let the creativity flow.

Shimmer a little. Smudge a lot. Trust the sparkle.
This abstract painting session is all about contrast and rythm — bold moves, quiet moments, and the magic of gold leaf. We’ll show you how to use this shimmering material to bring depth, light, and a little drama to your canvas.

Whether you layer it delicately or go full shine-mode, gold leaf adds that extra something to any artwork. And here? There are no mistakes — just golden opportunities ;)

You’ll experiment with brushes, sponge and palette knife to create various textures, all while tuning into your own style. Abstract art, after all, is about letting go of rules and letting your instincts lead the way. So relax, play, and let your inner artist shine — literally.