What's a Painting Retreat?
Consider giving your artistic self (or artistic loved one) the gift of a retreat
As a plein air painter, are you:
Eager to renew the excitement of painting by experiencing a new landscape?
Interested in forging friendships with fellow artists in a warm and welcoming setting?
Excited to discover different approaches to painting that could take your art in a new direction?
If so, then my Sedona painting retreat is for you!
I’ve been leading retreats for experienced plein air painters in some of my very favorite locations for several years now. For everyone—including me!—each retreat has been a rewarding and fulfilling experience.
So here is an opportunity for you. Consider it a Christmas gift you might give yourself or an artistic loved one.
My next retreat for experienced plein air painters will be in Sedona, Arizona, April 7-11, 2025. I spent ten years painting in the Sedona area, and the places we go I guarantee will surprise and delight you.
The cost is only $300, which does not include lodging, meals or travel. And although this isn’t a workshop with formal instruction, here’s what you do get:
Daily critiques
Field demonstrations
Me, as in-house expert and location scout, plus
The company of like-minded artists, and
The chance to paint in a stunningly beautiful landscape!
I am 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 and know the fundamentals.
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’re hunting for a Christmas gift for your favorite plein air painter (who could very well be yourself), then make shopping easy and consider this painting retreat.
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!
