Hi Laura!  I'm going.  It's a lot of fun - I'm sure you'll enjoy it!  I like to highlight the artists on the agenda that I want to see most, so I don't miss them.  I take a backpack with a note pad and pen, water, and snacks.  Sometimes it's hard to take time out to eat.  I visit the Expo early, and buy what I want before they're sold out.  For the paint-outs - sometimes I paint, and sometimes I just walk around and watch other artists.  I take a few pictures to refresh my memory later, but mostly try to soak it all in.  There are so many ways to paint - love to see all the different approaches. Hope to see you there!