Creative Magic in Italy
a retreat experience of art, culture and cuisine
Hosted by Art and Soul at the Hotel Relais Ducale
Join me for a memorable week of art, culture and Italian cuisine in the ancient city of Gubbio, a town of history and cobblestoned streets that is off the beaten path.
Your retreat will include art making workshops with a focus on watercolor art, sketching, collage and crafting oracle cards.
I will demonstrate loose and free approaches to capturing form and place with ink and watercolor, with sketching exercises in and outside of the classroom with thoughtful instruction. No drawing experience is needed, as I guide the process of loose lines and color to help you create lasting impressions of local scenes and self-expression.
There will be structured time in the art studio to paint watercolor artworks with multiple layers of mixed-media, including stencils and various water-soluble mediums.
Participants will also create oracle cards with mixed-media collage art and inspirational words. Oracle cards are small 5x7 artworks that will include written insights mined from your creative wisdom with my guidance to inspire and empower you during your time in Gubbio and beyond.
This week of art making and excursions will be rich for creative magic for the heart, mind, and soul,
a time to rewild your imagination as you make the leap into a highly curated experience designed to fan the flames of your creative brilliance.
SUPPLIES PROVIDED for you to KEEP
An art kit designed and assembled just for you will be provided to each participant that includes a travel-friendly pro-grade watercolor palette, professional paint brushes, watercolor sketchbook, paper, pens and pencils, as well as an artist pouch to keep it all together during class and to take home with you.
I will also be gifting each student with an original small painting as well as other art treats intended to delight and inspire.
SHARED SUPPLIES
Included from my art studio are shared supplies such as collage papers, gel medium, various mark-making mediums, as well as rubber stamps and stencils.
WHAT TO BRING
To help nurture creative camaraderie, each participant is asked to bring a small memento from home to add to the studio altar of gratitude that will be in the classroom. This might be something like a small stone or gem that means something to you, a trinket from your travels, an empty perfume bottle you treasure, a photo, something that will lend your presence to our group’s altar of gratitude.
No need to bring any art supplies unless you choose to. Everything is provided for your convenience and designed to travel home with hassle-free ease. I GOT YOU!
BONUS ART SOCIAL
There will be a time set aside for retreat participants to gather for a big group art making social with all three instructors during this week. Pamela, along with artists Stephanie Burton and Dina Wakely, will lead a casual creative session that will be brimming with laughter as these three instructors collaborate to create a memorable experience. A rare opportunity!
THINGS TO CONSIDER
It ought to be noted that this kind of retreat does require a degree of physicality as there are uneven cobblestone streets to navigate and much walking if you venture from the hotel (which I hope you will do, especially as I have planned a sketching local scenes walking field trip I will guide you on!) This is definitely a bring-your-good-walking-shoes kind of retreat. There will be many group activities of art and planned excursions as well as ample time for rest and solo exploring. You can view the itinerary of this retreat HERE.
HOW TO GET THERE
Flying into Rome is what most people do, though Florence is also another way to travel in. The train will get you to the closest rail station near Gubbio and then you can take a hotel shuttle or taxi as it is not too far away. Cost of the shuttle is included in your retreat registration.
More details will be provided once you register for you to organize your travels with ease. (I suggest consider flying in to Rome and departing from Florence or vice-versa. That way you see more of the country as you travel by rail to the airport or extend your stay for exploring other parts of Italy.)
Consider flying into the country a day or two before the retreat to acclimate yourself and arrive more rested. There are many online travel services to help guide accommodation and travel. And I am also here to help you as much as I can.
This retreat is limited to eight participants per teaching artist. It is designed to be intimate and brimming with creative magic, and there will also time for rest and solitude (I see my introverts!!!).
If this opportunity to join me for art, culture, and Italy is stirring you, study all the information available at the Art and Soul website which you can do HERE.
Art and Soul is one of the largest mixed-media art conference organizers in the western United States. Art and Soul began offering a retreat experience in Gubbio, Italy three years with growing success. I am so honored and thrilled to have been invited to join the roster of artists for this year's retreat. I look forward to seeing who will be in my creative cohort. Together we will make memories and creative magic in a place rich with ancient history and unforgettable scenery.
THE HOTEL RELAIS DUCALE
We will stay as a group onsite at the Hotel Relais Ducale, a restored palace of an Italian duke. Your accommodation is included in your registration which also includes breakfast each morning and several group meals. There is dining available at the hotel as well as many nearby restaurants within walking distance.
RETREAT COST
SINGLE ROOM : $4599
DOUBLE ROOM : $4299
Your registration includes :
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Accommodation
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Shuttle to and from the hotel to the rail station
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Arrival Reception of Wine/Hors d’oeuvres
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Daily breakfast buffet
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Several group meals
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Excursion to the famed town of Fabriano for it's papermaking crafting where we will make paper under the guidance of a master papermaker
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Excursion to a pottery studio where we will have a tour and glaze a piece to take home
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Excursion to Assisi to explore the Basilica of St. Francis
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Three full days of art classes plus bonus times of art making and guided instruction as well as open studio time
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Art Kit for you to keep
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Original artwork made by me specifically for each participant
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Art Journal
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Art Apron
FAQ
Can I bring my spouse or a plus one and share a room if they are along for the ride but not participating in the art workshops?
There is a spousal rate which would include all group excursions and meals, but not the art class sessions. Let me know if this interests you for more detailed information.
Will I be able to get to Gubbio on my own from the airport? I don't want to get lost in Italy!
International travel can be daunting, but with so much information available, you can plan your trip from door to door and take out the guess work. The train system in Italy is widely used by locals and visitors from all over the world. Getting from the airport in Rome or Florence to Gubbio is just a few hours of rail travel which can be booked ahead of time. One of my favorite travel tools is the website www.rome2rio.com Also, you will be well supported with guidance in making your travel plans. If all this makes your nervous... GOOD! It is an adventure that will stretch you as well as broaden your sense of travel confidence and discovery.
What if I have to cancel? Life happens and the unexpected can occur.
The cancellation policy for the retreat is as follows :
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More than 180 days before the retreat: 50% refund of the total amount paid (excluding the non-refundable deposit).
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Between 180 and 120 days before the retreat: 25% refund of the total amount paid (excluding the non-refundable deposit).
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Less than 120 days before the retreat: No refund available.
TRAVEL INSURANCE IS HIGHLY ADVISED. I personally always purchase travel insurance when I travel abroad. It is not expensive and it will give you peace of mind. Travel insurance will cover airfare and any other incidentals you book on your own. It will not cover forfeited funds for the retreat itself.
Do I need to be an experienced artist?
No you do not! All of my creative experiences and workshops are designed to be beginner friendly as well as useful for the seasoned art maker. We will spend at least three full days in the creative studio making art with guided instruction. I will provide all materials and there will also be free time for you to work on art as much as you like. (Any night owls?!) If you have a creative practice of any kind, even if it is sporadic yet enjoyable for you, then you will be fine. Our pace in the studio will be unrushed with breaks, yet you can be sure of this : You Will Learn and Grow and Make a Lot of Art to take home!
I know you said you provide all art supplies. Should I still bring some of my supplies anyway?
That is up to you. I will bring everything you need including a travel-friendly art pouch to safely carry all the things home. If you do want to bring your fave things to make art with, by all means do so!
I've never heard of Gubbio. What is there to do or see in the area?
Gubbio is a medieval town with much ancient history. There are Roman ruins to visit, museums full of local artifacts and art, as well as cathedrals and castles amidst the cobblestoned streets. We will have several excursions as a group that will explore some of this history, and you will also have free time to explore as you wish. Learn more about Gubbio HERE
From Pamela:
I have been designing meaningful creative experiences for women for years and have seen over and over again the magic that happens when we witness and celebrate one another. Every class, workshop, and retreat I design is intended to support creative self-expression. With the backdrop of Gubbio, Italy, we will not only experience each other’s creative magic, we will also have the shared experience of rich culture and communal meals featuring Italian food and wine in this beautiful region. I look forward to sharing this extraordinary time of creative magic with you.
Reach out with any questions about joining me for Creative Magic in Italy at pamelasuejohnson11@gmail.com
Registration is by email only for this retreat. Send your interest to me at pamelasuejohnson11@gmail.com to begin the registration process.
It will be the experience of a lifetime!!!
