Alpine Art Retreat
This year is unique in that we’ve moved our retreat dates to include more of the late summer. With the one month jump forward one participant from last year gleefully declared, “more wildflowers!!” In addition more activity on the lake, more subjects to sketch and maybe even lively music on the lodge deck weekends will add to the atmosphere.
These are fully packed, yet gently paced, days of creativity. Each day includes personalized instruction with your tandem teachers Elaine Frenett and Jean Warren. Along with learning we take time to savor the beauty of the sparkling lake and relish fascinating food.
Arrive with a curious heart and you will depart with a refreshed spirit and a wealth of insights.
SUNDAY, August 14th, 2016
This is a day of gently re-calibrating hectic lives to the lake life. Arrive at the
Lake
Alpine Resort as early as you wish and you may wander the Lodge, the docks, the shore.
Cabins open at 2:00 pm. Get settled in and start meeting cabin mates as they too saunter in. We share two cabins, both with views of the lake.
At 6:00 pm our Alpine Retreat formally begins. With
food!And like a happy clan of quail we trail off to our delicious dinner – and as you can see – even food becomes “sketch-able”.
MONDAY – FRIDAY, August 15-21, 2016
We ease into each day meandering to the shore for yoga (or stretching, or walking).
Then back to our cabins for breakfast.
The remainder of the morning is devoted to hands-on work.
Among the many topics we will explore:
Quickening our seeing to simplify during plein air painting … Allowing pigments to paint themselves …
Exploring abstraction in nature to find the essence of the scene … Guiding our eyes to see from our inner world …
Conjuring images new and different through word play … Painting just the shadows to feel nature’s design …
Collaboration … Distilling the essential elements to integrate 
with other … Appreciating how others translate visuals … Discovering how other painters paint …
Experimenting loosely to free inhibitions/inner
chatter … Returning to experiment listening for what emerges from the established patterns …
Watching for intuition to whisper what we are to paint … 
At noon, we break for an extended, refreshing lunch. With plenty of time to take 
a private stroll, catch up in our journal, or maybe even nap. Each day will be a mix of topics
and activities. Mid-week we either hike or drive to an entire fresh landscape. The focus is on plunging into learning while also staying loose, relaxed and inventive. We return to class endeavors, dwelling in creativity and mutual discovery until unwinding around a savory meal.
Then, after dinner we take time to share what discoveries came during our day and our lives.
As much as these days are packed with workshops, learning, and group activity, there is also plenty of time to just be on your own. Relax, take in the mountain air, savor a mug of something steamy. Amble to the shore and drink in nature.
FRIDAY, August 21st, 2016
This is the last day of our final workshop format.
After optional yoga, we breakfast. Then we share one final project for focusing on what we have garnered in our time together, to share what we’ve discovered, what we’ve learned, and how we have been infused by our mutual creativity.
We savor one last lunch together chattering and we enrich the experience by inviting any interested Retreat Alumni to join us!
Shortly after noon participants depart. That is unless you’ve registered before June 15 and will be staying on for the extra two days (see below).
This is an ideal retreat for spirited women who feel invigorated in the rustic beauty of a mountain setting, who love words, art,
journaling, painting and the energy of women.
Want to add 2 more days?
For free!
This all inclusive retreat of lodging, food, and workshops from Sunday to Friday is a fabulous value at less than $300.00 per day. And yet we want to make it even better! By giving you two more free nights.
Instead of leaving Friday you can linger till Sunday! All you have to do is register before June 15, 2016 (while spaces remain) and the two free nights are yours.
Why are we giving away two free nights?
We believe in retreats that dovetail to real people. And lot 
of planning and preparation goes into a great retreat. So, the sooner we know who will be there, the better we can plan a wonderful experience.
So it just makes sense to have a sense of who our cabin mates will be. To start sharing information and to learn about special interests. You can see how real and relaxed we all get here (yes, the breakfast was that GOOD!) And that’s why we would love to give two free nights to those women most eager to live a week at the lake being creative.
These two free nights are doubly free! There’s no extra charge and you are free to do whatever your heart desires. These two free days are a great way to practice, while fresh, your new skills and insights. Also a lovely way to enjoy the new friends you will have made.
At less than $300.00 a day this all inclusive retreat is a treat already. Yet when you add two free nights– now your retreat is only $219.00 each day.
Just imagine, five days of workshops and then the added delight of two more relaxing days for exploration and play.
The feedback forms from last year’s retreat had one overwhelming complaint– “It ended too soon” … “didn’t want to leave” … “went by too fast.” And we agree. We had already felt that when planning last year’s retreat, and that’s why we (Jean and Elaine) lingered longer previous years. And it was wonderful! And that’s why we are offering you the same wonderful pleasure– open days to savor all the memories your journal’s can capture during this generous time of shared spirits.
Do two free days sound delicious to you? Then sign up today!
Visual Art Journaling 
