We just wrapped up our latest art retreat, Ink & Watercolor, and loved every minute of it. The group enjoyed fantastic weather and painted some stunning pieces. In addition to daily workshops, they also explored Óbidos, hiked along the Atlantic coast, and even organized an impromptu visit to Sintra during their free time.
Every group that comes through our doors leaves behind its own unique impressions, and this retreat was no different. The Ink & Watercolor cohort meshed quickly; within a day, it was as if they had known each other for years. Some of the participants had never been on a retreat before, others had several under their belt. However, everyone got into the flow of things quickly after our welcome dinner.
Sarah Sutton, a talented artist and experienced teacher from the UK, taught this retreat’s workshops. She began by introducing participants to their tools, walking them through line drawing with ink, and then moving onto watercolor. Although most participants did not have extensive painting experience beforehand, they took to the craft with ease. We loved seeing how they would tackle the same drawing with different shades of paint; each artist left their own unique vision on the paper.
Participants kicked off their mornings with a gentle yoga flow followed by hands-on art workshops.Afternoons were spent romping around Portugal, exploring the country with a variety of activities—a guided nature walk in the heart of the World Surfing Reserve, a day trip to Óbidos (complete with ginja sampling and souvenir shopping), a wine tasting at a local winery, and free time to explore whichever site spoke to the participants (this group decided to tour Quinta da Regaleira together).
We’ll miss their late night conversations, positive attitudes, and beautiful art projects. This group was one that embraced every day to the fullest, and their infectious energy is something we hope to embody in our day-to-day.
