Travel to Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, USA, and take part in a 6-day art retreat where expert tutor Jan-Willem Boer will help guide you through several artistic mediums. Students from all over the world come to the retreat to learn oil, acrylic, watercolor, and pastel painting, as well as drawing, airbrush, drypoint, lino, mono printing, and mixed media. UpTrek Painting Retreat 2020: 5 nights of accommodation, individualized art lessons with expert art tutor Jan-Willem Boer, all meals for the duration of your stay (breakfast, lunch, dinner), sStudio equipment for all the classes (easels, drawing boards, light box, artograph).
 
Location: Lexington, Virginia
Instructor: Jan-Willem Boer
Cost: $1731
Sponsor: UpTrek
Website, email, +40757302302

Picture yourself sitting at Mary Whytes' dinner table in Mary's home. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get to know the artist up close. Come paint and tour with internationally acclaimed watercolorist, Mary Whyte. Mary will guide you through the techniques of planning your compositions, drawing, mixing color and creating great backgrounds. She will show you how to work with the model, avoid mistakes and give personal critiques and great tips for marketing your work. Enjoy lots of painting action, one-on-one instruction, wonderful meals and wine, and Southern activities! Come, learn of Mary's beginning on John's Island, with a trip down Bohicket Road and the inspiration behind her life's work.
 
Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Instructor: Mary Whyte
Cost: $4500 All inclusive
Sponsor: Art in the Mountains
Website, email, 503-930-4572

Join me on this wonderful trip to Santa Barbara! We will explore and paint outdoors while enjoying the joie de vivre the town has to offer. If you’re looking for a cozy, personalized therefore very special painting holiday organized by an experienced tour operator, this is it. Since we will be a small group, I can also closely work with each one of you for a semi-private painting experience. My teaching style consists of a one-hour demo once or twice a day followed by one-to-one support.
 
Location: Santa Barbara, California
Instructor: Keiko Tanabe, www.ktanabefineart.com
Cost: $1,490 (Hotel is not incl.)
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Join me on the scenic magical coast of Santa Barbara. In true travel sketching tradition, we’ll pack light — carrying a small bag for art materials and a folding stool (that will be provided). This workshop is designed to give you confidence sketching wherever you are. We’ll work spontaneously, and I’ll show you how to keep your watercolour sketches fresh and colourful. Each day will start with a short demo and end with a critique, hopefully while sitting in a shady courtyard with a glass of wine in hand. As part of a small group, you’ll have plenty of individual attention as we work on value studies, composition, simplifying a scene and capturing the essence of a place.
 
Location: Santa Barbara, California
Instructor: Shari Blaukopf, www.shariblaukopf.com
Cost: $1,490 (Hotel is not incl.)
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Join us for 4 days of sketching with watercolor in beautiful Santa Barbara. We’ll enjoy the free-flowing and colorful nature of watercolor at its best while sketching and having fun! Brenda Swenson will help you develop observation skills, color awareness, simple design principles and learn about light and shadows. We’ll investigate various techniques, sketching tools, and approaches to watercolor. Enjoy time with fellow artists, instruction and friendly critiques. Space is very limited (max 12 participants). Brenda is the artist author of two books, Keeping a Watercolor Sketchbook (Award of Excellence Finalist) and Steps to Success in Watercolor. Her paintings and sketches have been featured in numerous books and magazines (Watercolor Artist, Watercolor Magazine, Watercolor Highlights, Plein Air Magazine).
 
Location: Santa Barbara, California
Instructor: Brenda Swenson, www.swensonsart.net
Cost: $1,490 (Hotel is not incl.)
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713

Join us for 4 days of sketching with watercolor in beautiful Santa Barbara. We’ll enjoy the free-flowing and colorful nature of watercolor at its best while sketching and having fun! Brenda Swenson will help you develop observation skills, color awareness, simple design principles and learn about light and shadows. We’ll investigate various techniques, sketching tools, and approaches to watercolor. Enjoy time with fellow artists, instruction and friendly critiques. Space is very limited (max 12 participants). Brenda is the artist author of two books, Keeping a Watercolor Sketchbook (Award of Excellence Finalist) and Steps to Success in Watercolor. Her paintings and sketches have been featured in numerous books and magazines (Watercolor Artist, Watercolor Magazine, Watercolor Highlights, Plein Air Magazine).
 
Location: Santa Barbara, California
Instructor: Brenda Swenson, www.swensonsart.net
Cost: $1,490 (Hotel is not incl.)
Sponsor: French Escapade
Website, email, 510-483-5713