2025 Sedona Retreat Update
A small change in the program!
Since my last post about hosting a retreat in Sedona, Arizona, April 7-11, 2025, things have changed a little. Rather than having participants stay with us in the same lodging, we are giving participants the opportunity to lodge elsewhere in places of their choosing. The new price is only $300!
I will be limiting this retreat to just four participants, each of whom should have experience painting en plein air. By this, I mean you should be comfortable with setting up your gear, handling a brush (or pastel!) and know the fundamentals of painting. All that said, I will happily answer questions, make suggestions, provide mentorship, give demonstrations and critiques, and guide you to some of the very best painting locations Sedona’s “red rock country” has to offer. I’ve taught literally over a hundred workshops in Sedona over the years, and the places we go I guarantee will surprise and delight you.
Mid-April is a great time to visit Sedona, as the cottonwoods and sycamores will be just putting out their leaves, making for some wonderful spring greens. Mornings will start cool, but with sun the day will warm up dramatically. Locations we’ll paint include red rock buttes and mesas, lovely water scenes and gracefully-sculpted trees. (If you haven’t seen the Arizona sycamore, you’re in for a treat!)
Our day will start off with critiques of the previous day’s work, followed by painting in one of my favorite spots. After a lunch break, we can continue to paint as a group, or we can split up—sometimes folks like to shop, visit galleries or do something other than paint. But quite often, we just end up painting more! I also try to get a couple of extracurricular visits in, such as a visit to a museum. Finally, although there’s no formal instruction, I plan to give at least two formal demonstrations in the week. I’ll be working in oil, pastel and gouache, but you are welcome to work in any medium you wish.
If you’d like to join us, please let me know with an email to mchesleyjohnson@gmail.com. I hope to see you in Sedona in April!
