Want more expressive art? Want more confidence in yourself and your art? Want to have a transformative experience with like-minded people? This class will take you beyond predictable painting methods. We will experiment with innovative techniques and a mindset of relaxed awareness, which have been designed to cultivate curiosity and self-confidence. Inspiring demos, lots of time to paint, and group critiques will reinforce design and mindset objectives. Critiques will model how to discuss paintings with non-judgmental language that educates you to “see” more and to appreciate whatever might show up so that you and your art will flourish. Discussions will address confidence, procrastination, vulnerability, curiosity, courage, inspiration, and more! All levels of experience are encouraged to attend.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Joan Fullerton
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

A mixed media workshop discovering your language though materials, process and observation. This workshop is based on demonstrations of a variety of materials, prompts and exercises to get to the core of personal meaning. The focus is on exploration, intuition, and pushing out of your comfort zone. Directives include formal elements such as line, shape, space, color, and composition with fast-paced timing based on discovery rather than finished products. Techniques will focus on markmaking, layering, collaging, excavating, combining materials, and more. Materials include: dirt, coffee, natural materials, inks, acrylic mediums and paint plus cold wax and R&F Pigment Sticks. Participants will create many small works to let go of the "precious" mentality. Freedom of expression is emphasized!
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Lisa Pressman
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

During this exciting retreat, you will learn to paint florals, looking at colour, composition and techniques and how to approach flower painting creatively with a focus on the process rather than the outcome. Victoria will demonstrate a wide variety of materials and show you how to be explorative and experimental, letting go of the fear of making mistakes. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced level artist, you’ll develop the confidence and skills to creatively loosen up, be more spontaneous, and let go of self-doubt. You’ll be provided with a huge array of gorgeous flowers as inspiration. Quick and easy exercises will introduce you to collage and mixed media techniques. Victoria will be on hand, offering support and advice.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Victoria Johnson
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

Why flowers? I have always been drawn to painting flowers in my work. To me, flowers represent the healing power of beauty. I believe that the world could use a little more beauty (and art). I am delighted to share my love of flowers and my process of painting with all of you! Come arrange, sketch and paint flowers with me. During this five-day intensive workshop, we will explore shape, line, and color through a variety of expressions, including sketching, collage, and painting. We will use mixed media techniques to layer and create beautiful expressive florals. I will be walking artists through exercises to loosen up their process, create from a place of joy, play with color, and explore composition.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Wendy Brightbill
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

Barbara offers workshops in pastel or oil, or both, focusing on landscapes. Her workshops are primarily in the studio, but she may occasionally offer a plein air portion to a workshop if requested. All demos are in the studio. Her teaching style includes daily demonstrations, during which she talks through each step and allows questions. She provides exercises that have very specific objectives so that students are able to see achievable results and she offers plenty of individual assistance at the easel. Barbara holds Signature Memberships in Oil Painters of America and American Impressionist Society, is a Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America, and an Eminent Pastelist with the International Association of Pastel Societies.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Barbara Jaenicke
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

Slow down and discover inner peace through improvisational stitching on linen, using simple techniques inspired by Boro mending that yield beautiful results without needing perfection. Judy will share her mindful stitching process that encourages the concept of letting go of plans and expectations and embracing improvisation while using a simple running stitch as a form of active meditation. This approach fosters a sense of artistic freedom, encouraging a deeper connection with your stitching while focusing on the process, rather than striving for perfection. With Judy's guidance, through hands-on demonstration and PowerPoint presentation, you will learn not only the technical aspects of slow stitching, working with color and design, but also how to find elements of inspiration from the world around you.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Judy Coates Perez
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

Learn the basics of good design and explore exercises to unleash your creative process. Tap into your inner artist and apply principles to the creation of art quilts. This class promises to be very exciting and fulfilling. Each day begins with a different exercise in color and composition using a 12-inch square format. These exercises can serve as inspiration for larger pieces. We will explore composition with line and shape, addressing negative space, soft and hard edges, and the abstraction of realistic inspirations. For each daily class, we will explore a different design concept. Evening critiques of your work will also be held.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Katie Pasquini Masopust
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

Immerse yourself in a serene setting surrounded by lush gardens and sweeping landscapes, perfect for sparking creativity. In this workshop, you'll explore the art of floral sketching, experiment with abstract florals, and bring landscapes to life using watercolors and gouache. Guided exercises will lead you to create a one-of-a-kind handmade book, a cherished collection of botanical beauty and artistic expression. Join us for days of creativity, connection, and inspiration among the blooms.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Renee Mueller
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

I am constantly in awe and inspired by nature and I believe she’s our best teacher! I cannot wait to lead you in this exploratory workshop where we will use and study elements from nature to create a wide variety of beautiful art. From watercolor and stamped flowers, pressed elements and mark making in sketchbooks and journals, to mixed media, collage work and pattern play… it will be a wonderful, creative time together!! Whether you haven’t picked up a paintbrush since elementary school or you create art daily, I love teaching new techniques, sharing my process and favorite materials and I promise you will learn a lot, love what you create, and have fun and be inspired by nature!
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Caroline Simas
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

Do you struggle with finding subject matter or with staying inspired to paint? Have you thought about exploring different subject matter? Join Melinda in this fast-paced workshop where we work with multiple subjects including landscape, still life, figure and abstract to re-ignite excitement in your own work. We will start each morning with “Spark it!” projects to get your creative juices flowing and continue with afternoon painting sessions where Melinda will focus on each individual student. Students will leave with new and different approaches as well as renewed confidence. Join us!
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Melinda Cootsona
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

Let me take you on an exciting journey to explore the unlimited possibilities of creating with PanPastel! In this immersive workshop, I’ll share the creative process I’ve developed over seven years of working with this remarkable medium. Together, we’ll explore essential steps to unlock your creativity through simplified composition, value, color, and layering. My goal is to demystify soft pastels, helping you feel confident, inspired, and ready to explore this magical medium long after the retreat ends.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Dawn Vander Stoep
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

Join me and immerse yourself in the creative process. The experience begins the moment you register as you source, find, and gather your own personal collection of papers, fibers, ephemera, and other bits & pieces that will become the basis of your creation. As the workshop begins and unfolds, we will gather together, both within the workshop space at The Connecticut River Valley Inn and at some special, local locations. You will spend your time transforming your treasures into a series of what might loosely be called artist books. Instruction will cover the range of techniques used in mixed media: surface designing, using paints and inks, hand stitching, book binding, rusting, dyeing, embossing, mark making, gel printing, collaging, creative layering, and more.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Seth Apter
Cost: $975 + Materials fee & CT Sales Tax
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

Learn a non-traditional approach to oil painting or explore oils for the first time. Cold wax medium is an additive that thickens oil paint, speeds up the drying time (a bit), and neutralizes the paint so there’s no concern about “fat over lean” rules. We will be using R&F’s Pigment Sticks (compressed oil paints) along with tube oils to create paintings without brushes or smelly solvents. You will discover new tools and methods for creating rich and authentic small works on paper and Ampersand’s Gessoboard. With Arches oil paper as our primary substrate, you’ll have several paintings going at once. This workshop is fun, a bit messy, and will change the way you think about oil painting.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Julie Snidle
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

Open to students of all artistic levels, Paper and Book Artistry is for those who are ready to ditch perfection, get messy, and play with no rules. Roben-Marie’s teaching style is friendly and easy going with a focus on having fun and playing with supplies in non-traditional ways. Join Roben-Marie in a lovely historic inn located in The Connecticut River Valley for an inspiring and joyful workshop designed to help you with creative play, building up a stash of amazing art papers, and exploring the mixing of different mediums and journal making. Paper and Book Artistry is more than creative time…it’s time brimming with togetherness and friendship.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Roben Marie Smith
Cost: $975 + Materials fee & CT Sales Tax
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

Watercolor paintings can be so much more than a checklist of watercolor techniques. David goes beyond paint application basics and shows how to construct strong, vibrant, personality-filled paintings. David firmly believes that planning does not destroy creativity, but creates opportunity. Daily one-on-one critiques and demos will be vital to helping you find your watercolor voice. Students will learn: • how to find the essence of your subject matter • how to construct compelling compositions • to see shapes, not objects • how to create a color strategy • how to use frisket to achieve batik-like effects • the importance of value patterns in your work • how to paint loosely while staying true to your subject matter.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: David Daniels
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389

Jodi Ohl, the artist and author of “Abstracts in Acrylic and Ink,” will guide you through a variety of inspiring chats, comprehensive demonstrations, and provide personal guidance daily as you immerse yourself in the creative process of abstract painting with elements of collage and mixed media. Students who have a desire to find their own personal voice and style, will find many opportunities to flourish in this robust workshop. Students can expect to work on multiple pieces on both paper and canvas (or hardboard) as they learn to build stronger compositions and incorporate design principles.
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Jodi Ohl
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-781-4389