This is an exploration of watercolor, mixed media/collage, painting with natural pigments, mark making with India ink + other simple materials to develop your unique voice - all while taking a deep dive into art, culture, and real ancestral traditions of Oaxaca, plus exploring a historic barrio in Puebla. First, a week-long deep dive into the art & culture of magical Oaxaca, with its soulful art scene, indigenous culture, rich culinary and artisanal traditions. Visit ancient ruins and artisan villages for weaving, papermaking, and red clay. Then, a weekend escape to Puebla for a vintage ephemera hunt in a picturesque alley, and collage sessions with our treasures in a beautiful 18th-C hotel in the heart of the old city center.
 
Location: Oaxaca & Puebla, Mexico
Instructor: Pedro Cruz Pacheco + Corrie McCluskey
Cost: $2750 (lodging included)
Sponsor: Talismán Oaxaca
Website, email, 707-529-9050

Need to feed your creative soul? Fill it to the brim with creative transformation and fresh inspiration. We'll mix art classes - watercolor, natural pigments, mixed media/collage and mask painting - with carefully curated field trips in magical Oaxaca. Experience the hauntingly beautiful, raucous celebration of Carnaval in the Zapotec pueblo of San Martín Tilcajete, where deeply rooted local culture and ancestral traditions are still practiced. We’ll see La Danza de Los Diablitos (Dance of the Devils), a Sunday market, studio visits to master alebrije & weaving families & papermaking studio, art center housed in a renovated textile factory, and a guided street art walk in a hip barrio - all mixed in with art instruction and creative play time.
 
Location: Oaxaca, Mexico
Instructor: Pedro Cruz Pacheco + Corrie McCluskey
Cost: $2595 (lodging included)
Sponsor: Talismán Oaxaca
Website, email, 707-529-9050

Paint & Printmaking: explore intuitive mark-making and mono-printing using gel plates and acrylic paints. Create layers of vibrant papers for collages, books, or mixed media works. Stitch Exploration: Integrate hand-stitching techniques to embellish and transform painted surfaces. Use thread as a drawing tool and stitch as a narrative element. Bring together the elements you’ve created and collected—painted and stitched papers, handmade paper—into personal art books or create artwork that refers to the traditions we experience. Cultural Immersion: explore local markets, taste traditional foods, visit artisan studios, absorb the rhythms of daily life. Field trips include artisan studio visits with a master weaving family and a papermaker, Sunday market, women’s red clay collective, famous art center, and gallery walk.
 
Location: Oaxaca, Mexico
Instructor: Lisa Pressman + Susan Stover
Cost: $3500 (lodging included)
Sponsor: Talismán Oaxaca
Website, email, 707-529-9050

Join textile artist and instructor Fleur Woods in South West France for a week of playful experimentation with textiles and hand embroidery, learning how to draw floral motifs with stitch. Participants can expect to be taken on a joyful, exciting creative journey with Fleur as your guide. This retreat offers you the opportunity to create your own contemporary stitched artwork using a variety of textile, collage, embroidery and beading techniques. Inspired by the region and the Atelier, you will draw from an abundant selection of vintage & hand painted textiles and threads, as well as Fleur’s hand dyed wools to design and create unique artworks. A basic level of stitching is useful for this workshop. All materials are supplied.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Fleur Woods
Cost: 1895€ to 2995€ for accommodation + $2500.00 NZD tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Join textile artist and instructor Fleur Woods in South West France for a week of playful experimentation with textiles and hand embroidery, learning how to draw floral motifs with stitch. Participants can expect to be taken on a joyful, exciting creative journey with Fleur as your guide. This retreat offers you the opportunity to create your own contemporary stitched artwork using a variety of textile, collage, embroidery and beading techniques. Inspired by the region and the Atelier, you will draw from an abundant selection of vintage & hand painted textiles and threads, as well as Fleur’s hand dyed wools to design and create unique artworks. A basic level of stitching is useful for this workshop. All materials are supplied.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Fleur Woods
Cost: 1895€ to 2995€ for accommodation + $2500.00 NZD tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Paper arts workshop focuses on mask making with "barro papel" (clay paper) and mixed media/collage incorporating paper ephemera. Handcraft a barro papel mask – a blend of paper pulp, clay, glue. Then, visual storytelling with mixed media collage, plus mark making experimentation to develop your unique visual voice when playing with handmade brushes and India ink. Create a simple artist book using exquisite handmade paper crafted by a master Oaxacan papermaker. Field trips include studio visits with a master weaving family and papermaker, a women’s red clay collective, guided street art tour, visit to a famous art center housed in a renovated textile factory, plus the renowned ancient tree of Tule – a mix of cultural immersion and creative playtime.
 
Location: Oaxaca, Mexico
Instructor: Pedro Cruz Pacheco + Corrie McCluskey
Cost: $2595 (lodging included)
Sponsor: Talismán Oaxaca
Website, email, 707-529-9050

We’ll start the art retreat by practicing the use of gouache paints through easy painting exercises. This will provide a good foundation for painting with gouache and help refine your painting technique for upcoming painting tasks. Participants will be guided to paint colorful botanical themes, including foliage in nature, colorful flowers and fruits. Participants will paint in the beautiful surroundings as well as indoors in the art studio using real flowers and fruits for inspiration. The painting style can be precise with bold lines or dreamy and gradient, gouache is suitable for a lot of different styles. Gouache has a matte finish when dry and is water-soluble, which makes painting fun and easy. Details can be added with colored pencils and oil pastels.
 
Location: Montelparo, Italy
Cost: €2999
Sponsor: Hotel Leone
Website, email, +39 340 4166054

A thought-provoking and inspirational art workshop open to artists of all levels and media (oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.). Nine full days of plein air painting, art history/theory lectures, touring, and gastronomy in the most beautiful area of Tuscany. Our teaching approach and groups limited to eight participants allow us to offer personalized instruction and a stimulating environment that fosters creativity. Cost of CAD 4350 (around US$ 3170) includes instruction, 9-night single or double accommodation (limited single rooms available at no extra cost), all breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 gourmet dinners including wine, transportation from and to the Arezzo train station, transportation to all painting sites (Montepulciano, Cortona, Pienza, etc.), train ticket to Florence, and a guided tour to the Uffizi Museum.
 
Location: Lucignano, Italy
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$3170
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

Join Charlotte Hamilton for an unforgettable artistic journey at a beautiful Boutique hotel nestled in the picturesque region of Le Marche, Italy. Surrounded by rolling hills, historic villages, and stunning landscapes, we will embark on a creative adventure that will inspire and rejuvenate your artistic spirit. From plein air painting sessions in the beautiful countryside to mixed media workshops in the hotel’s Art studio, each day will be filled with new experiences and artistic discoveries. Whether you’re a seasoned artist looking to refine your skills or a beginner eager to explore your creative side, this retreat is designed for artists of all levels. Join us for a week of inspiration, creativity, and relaxation in the heart of Italy!
 
Location: Montelparo, Italy
Instructor: Charlotte Hamilton
Cost: €3899
Sponsor: Hotel Leone
Website, email, +39 340 4166054

A unique 11-night art workshop/art tour open to artists of all levels and media (oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.). 7 days of plein-air painting, art history/theory lectures, and gastronomy in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence followed by 4 days visiting Barcelona’s top art sites and enjoying Catalan cuisine. The price of CAD 4890 per person (around US$ 3570) includes instruction, 11-night double accommodation, 11 breakfasts, 6 healthy lunches, 6 gourmet dinners including wine, transportation from the Manosque train station to our lodge, transportation to all painting sites, TGV train ticket Avignon-Barcelona, transportation and entrance fees to all sites on schedule (Cézanne’s studio, La Sagrada Familia, Picasso Museum, Miró Museum, etc.). Limited single rooms for a supplement of CAD 885 (around US$ 650).
 
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$3570
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

A unique 11-night art workshop/art tour open to artists of all levels and media (oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.). 7 days of plein-air painting, art history/theory lectures, and gastronomy in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence followed by 4 days visiting Barcelona’s top art sites and enjoying Catalan cuisine. The price of CAD 4890 per person (around US$ 3570) includes instruction, 11-night double accommodation, 11 breakfasts, 6 healthy lunches, 6 gourmet dinners including wine, transportation from the Manosque train station to our lodge, transportation to all painting sites, TGV train ticket Avignon-Barcelona, transportation and entrance fees to all sites on schedule (Cézanne’s studio, La Sagrada Familia, Picasso Museum, Miró Museum, etc.). Limited single rooms for a supplement of CAD 885 (around US$ 650).
 
Location: Provence, France
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$3570
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

Join us in the breathtaking Le Marche region of Italy, where art, nature, and travel come together in a joyful celebration of discovery. This immersive retreat invites adult participants of all experience levels to explore the art of collage inspired by the beautiful birds of Le Marche. From birds of prey circling high in the Apennine Mountains, to seabirds gliding over crystalline waters, to songbirds flitting through vineyards and olive groves, the region hums with natural beauty. Bring your binoculars—bird-spotting adventures will fill our days! These feathered residents will be our artistic muses as we create expressive collages using handmade papers, painted textures, and found ephemera gathered during our travels. Explore, observe, and create with us!
 
Location: Montelparo, Italy
Instructor: Joann McDaniel
Cost: €3349
Sponsor: Hotel Leone
Website, email, +39 340 4166054

Step into a world of creativity and inspiration at this transformative art retreat in the breathtaking landscapes of Italy. This immersive experience is designed for artists of all levels—whether you’re just beginning your creative journey or looking to deepen your artistic practice. Together, we’ll explore PanPastel portraiture, field journaling, watercolor studies, mixed media storytelling collage and on-location sketching, all while soaking in the rich atmosphere of Italy. We’ll take our sketchbooks into cobblestone streets, quiet gardens, and sun-drenched piazzas for some urban sketching and watercolor play and swatching. We’ll also spend time in nature, doing studies of local flora and fauna—slowing down to observe the beauty of our surroundings. Learn to release perfectionism and embrace joyful experimentation!
 
Location: Montelparo, Italy
Instructor: Ivy Newport
Cost: €3699
Sponsor: Hotel Leone
Website, email, +39 340 4166054

Immerse yourself in a weeklong journey of creativity, growth, and connection in beautiful Italy. Guided by Jenny Grant, you’ll explore her mixed media process with collage, acrylic painting, and expressive portraits, all while discovering the joy of letting go and embracing your unique creative voice. You’ll connect with a group of like-minded creatives, creating friendships as you learn, and explore Italy together. By the end of the week, you’ll leave with a new approach to your art, full of inspiration, and amazing memories. We will also create a simple art journal to document our creative journey, capturing meaningful moments and exploring the freedom of creating without attachment to perfection. This retreat is open to all levels.
 
Location: Montelparo, Italy
Instructor: Jenny Grant
Cost: €3499
Sponsor: Hotel Leone
Website, email, +39 340 4166054

Over the course of this week-long retreat, participants will have opportunities to explore the Le Marche region of Italy, visit regional food producers, and sample local culinary delights. All these materials and experiences will influence our work and find their way into our mixed media art journaling – which we’ll do in a handmade concertina journal, on paper, and on wood panels! You’ll work intuitively, allowing yourself to be influenced by the day’s experiences and materials discovered. Learn to be on the lookout for materials that will add “local spice” to your encaustic and mixed media creations. And you’ll be guided and supported each day by Bridget Benton with excursions, lessons, and exercises to delight your senses and help build your mixed media vocabulary.
 
Location: Montelparo, Italy
Instructor: Bridget Benton
Cost: €3199
Sponsor: Hotel Leone
Website, email, +39 340 4166054

Join UK Artist Jenny Muncaster for a fun filled creative retreat exploring and developing your skills in mixed media. Jenny is a professional artist whose work is mainly focused on mixed media and acrylics. Jenny is committed to making creativity available to everyone. During this week-long painting holiday, she will introduce you to different techniques using a whole range of wonderful art materials. Combining traditional & non-traditional methods & tools for exploring line, painting, print, texture & collage in your work. Using these new skills, capture & interpret your subject matter to create totally original artwork inspired by the beautiful surroundings of Clos Mirabel in the French Pyrenees.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Jenny Muncaster
Cost: 1895€ to 2995€ for accommodation + £400 tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Join Cindy Briggs and Theresa Goesling for their workshop at the stunning Salinara Art Farm in Sicily. Discover an endless variety of restaurants and cafés, blue skies and beautiful nature, joyful and welcoming people, traditional foods, and excellent local wines. There will be plenty of opportunities to swim in the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Cindy and Theresa will provide daily painting lessons, personalized guidance, and inspiring demonstrations. They’ll share techniques for sketching and simplifying your subject, playing with color and water, adding texture and composition, and enhancing your watercolor journal pages with writing and creative expression. The workshop will conclude with a review session and discussion of participants’ works. Limited spots available.
 
Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy
Instructor: Theresa Goesling and Cindy Briggs
Cost: Starts at € 3200
Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre
Website, email, (+39) 339 77 57 062

A thought-provoking and inspirational art workshop open to artists of all levels and media (oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.). Nine full days of plein air painting, art history/theory lectures, touring, and gastronomy in the most beautiful area of Tuscany. Our teaching approach and groups limited to eight participants allow us to offer personalized instruction and a stimulating environment that fosters creativity. Cost of CAD 4350 (around US$ 3170) includes instruction, 9-night single or double accommodation (limited single rooms available at no extra cost), all breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 gourmet dinners including wine, transportation from and to the Arezzo train station, transportation to all painting sites (Montepulciano, Cortona, Pienza, etc.), train ticket to Florence, and a guided tour to the Uffizi Museum.
 
Location: Lucignano, Italy
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$3170
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

During this painting holiday, Ali will be exploring a variety of water-based media including watercolours, Brusho, water soluble pens & crayons, and acrylic inks. She will encourage you to experiment to your heart’s delight…and then guide you through planning and including some of these ideas in your paintings. Ali has a lot of exciting techniques to share. You will also be encouraged to use materials usually saved for the kitchen as well as materials from nature. You will be greatly encouraged to add texture and pattern and interest to your paintings. This could be anything from print to splattering techniques. Ali pushes her students to experiment and therefore evolve as artists. She is known for her enthusiastic and fun-loving approach.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Ali Hargreaves
Cost: 1895€ to 2995€ for accommodation + £300 tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Join Cathy for an unforgettable art retreat in the heart Le Marche—where golden hills, winding cobblestone streets, and the warm hospitality of Hotel Leone create the perfect backdrop for artistic inspiration. Each day, you’ll dive into Cathy’s signature layered mixed media botanical techniques, using the Italian landscape as your muse. You’ll learn how to build rich, expressive pieces filled with color, texture, and story—infused with the joy of intuitive painting and the magic of place. But that’s only the beginning… Your adventure includes a special botanical eco-printing workshop at a family-run weaving farm, a curated tour of three local, family-run producers of wine, cheese, and olive oil—with a delicious lunch included, and a “pizza-giro” evening at a nearby trattoria!
 
Location: Montelparo, Italy
Instructor: Cathy Nichols
Cost: €3799
Sponsor: Hotel Leone
Website, email, +39 340 4166054