I have a lot of international bucket list items, but here’s a place I’ve been itching to go in the US: Charleston, South Carolina!
Charleston was the perfect blend of historic charm, great coffee, and artistic inspiration during my trip for Layover Conference—the first-ever live artist conference. It was a whirlwind of creative energy, amazing food, and exploring this beautifully preserved Southern city.
Where I stayed
Checked into the Andrew Pinckney Inn, a charming boutique hotel right in the heart of the city. Perfectly located for exploring the cobblestone streets, colorful houses, and all the best coffee shops (because, obviously, I had to try all the things). Conference venue: William Aiken House.
Day 1
After checking in, we had some time to kill before the welcome cocktail hour and took the chance to explore. Here’s what we did:
Lunch at Church and Union Charleston – A great introduction to the Charleston food scene with a lively atmosphere and delicious bites. The restaurant used to be a church and they kept the original architecture and beautiful stained glass windows!
Pineapple Fountain & Rainbow Row – No visit to Charleston is complete without seeing these two iconic spots. The pastel-colored houses along Rainbow Row? Chef’s kiss.
The Spice & Tea Exchange of Charleston – Couldn’t resist stopping by this shop, filled with fragrant spices and unique tea blends. I got rose and lavender flavored sugars! Absolute game changer for my morning coffee.
City Market – Browsed the famous market filled with local artisans, sweetgrass baskets, and souvenirs.
Welcome Party at The Greenhouse at Hotel Emeline – Cocktail hour and heavy hors d’oeuvres kicked off the conference. The perfect chance to meet fellow artists and get excited for the days ahead.
Dinner at TBonz Gill & Grill – A casual, no-frills meal to wrap up the first day with new friends.
Day 2
Coffee at Emeline – A beautiful spot with cozy, stylish decor with coffee from Clerks Coffee Company inside the hotel before hopping on the CUTEST vintage bus to kick off our first full conference day. Coffee order: lavender flavored chai latte—INCREDIBLE. Spoiler: I drank this the rest of the trip.
Artist Panel – Kicked off the day with an inspiring panel featuring Stephanie Gaffney, Heather Wolfe, and Chloe Campbell, who shared insights on expanding their businesses beyond live painting—covering topics like team-building, diversifying services, courses, and products.
Composition & Proportion Workshop by Stephanie Gaffney – A deep dive into composition techniques and balancing proportion in live painting.
Casual Lunch on the Lawn – A relaxed midday break before heading into more sessions.
Luxury Market Positioning Panel – A discussion on how to elevate your business in the luxury space, featuring event planner Haley Kelly, operations consultant Laurie Lindsey, and hospitality expert Nelson Billington.
Dinner at the Venue – More networking, amazing food, and conversations with fellow creatives. We each also got our own sketches by the ever talented Jessica Sebok-Brooks. I’m absolutely obsessed with mine!
Live Model Fashion Illustrations Workshop by Chloe Campbell – An opportunity to loosen up, gain confidence in line work, and experiment with new mediums while illustrating live models.
Day 3
Another day another lavender chai latte from Clerks Coffee Company. No regrets.
Speed, Portraits & Productivity Workshop by Heather Wolfe – Focused on improving speed and efficiency in live painting while capturing portraits with ease.
Farewell Brunch – A perfect wrap-up to an inspiring and creatively fulfilling conference with new artist friends.
Rooftop Drinks at the Grand Bohemian Hotel – Sipped cocktails with a great view of the city. The hotel is incredibly beautiful with a quirky twist and even an art gallery inside!
Dinner at Magnolias – One of the best meals of the trip, featuring refined Southern cuisine.
Day 4
After breakfast at the hotel, I wandered through the shopping district on my way to Kudu Coffee – A final coffee stop before heading out. Great atmosphere and a solid way to close out my Charleston adventure.
Charleston was the perfect city for an art conference. It’s such an adorable city filled with pastel colors, friendly people, and delicious food that spikes my cholesterol levels (again, no regrets for a short trip). Charleston is also packed with creativity, history, and some of the best coffee and cocktails I’ve had in a while.
Samantha Shammas, Author
A true travel enthusiast, Samantha has been going around the globe her entire life and has visited over 35 countries and counting. With a lust to wander, she’s always excited to visit new places and soak in inspiration for her artwork.
