Art Retreat Course Outlines

WEEKEND COURSE: 2 nights lodging*, all meals
Friday:
4:00 – 6:00:   Arrival; get acquainted with facility & studios; settle into room, relax, explore grounds & meet other guests.

6:30 pm:         Dinner at Shenandoah Art Destination.

7:45 – 9:45 pm: Introduction to art studios; Each guest given 5 minutes to discuss possible subject(s) and they media they use; goals and expectations for course time.  Also time to share work you have done.

A short drawing workshop called “Ways of Seeing”; several drawing exercises to let the instructor/tutor see the way you think, approach and interpret on paper.

Saturday:
Morning:     Group workshop “Composition”.  Define subject matter & media – begin painting or drawing.
Afternoon:   Work on art project with personalized instruction.
Evening:       Evaluate progress and reflect on the direction of your art.

Sunday.
Morning:     Continue on art piece or painting and review product with personal instruction.
Afternoon:   Finish up projects.

2:00 pm  Celebration of work completed – “Show and Tell”.  Finish up packing.

4:00 pm  Departure

All independent painting is with instructor oversight/instruction/tutoring.

Demo’s given by instructor as requested/needed.

Plein air guests will be taken to local plein air destinations.  Two large studios on-site for use.

* Course may be attended without lodging (see Rate Page)

4 DAY COURSE: 3 nights lodging*, all meals

Whilst our courses are essentially flexible to meet individual and personal needs, we do follow a general structure.

  • 8:30                         breakfast
  • 9:30 – 12:00           Studio/Art Class
  • 12:30                       lunch
  • 1:30 – 4:30             work individually with individual guidance/instruction
  • 6:30                        Dinner
  • evenings                 except for Day 1, evenings are free to do as you wish (ie. visit, campfire) – however, you are always welcome to continue painting.

Day 1: 

4:00 – 6:00:   Arrival; get acquainted with facility & studios; settle into room, relax, explore grounds & meet other guests.

6:30 pm:         Dinner at Shenandoah Art Destination.

7:45 – 9:45 pm: Introduction to art studios; Each guest given 5 minutes to discuss possible subject(s) and they media they use; goals and expectations for course time.  Also time to share work you have done.

A short drawing workshop called “Ways of Seeing”; several drawing exercises to let the instructor/tutor see the way you think, approach and interpret on paper.

Day 2 & 3:

Morning:     Day 2 Composition Workshop; begin independent painting** or printing.

Day 3 any particular requested Workshop

Afternoon:  Continue painting/printing

Day 4:

Morning:     Finish up final work/printing

2:00 pm:     Celebration of work completed – “Show and Tell”

4:00 pm:     Departure

*************************************

Optional Workshops given based on participants and what their particular interests/requests are.

Possibilities include:

  • prepare for plein air painting
  • painting with various mediums: tricks & trades of watercolor, acrylic, oils and pastels
  • color theory
  • the basics of drawing

**All independent painting is with instructor oversight/instruction/tutoring.

Demo’s given by instructor as requested/needed.

Plein air guests will be taken to local plein air destinations.  Two large studios on-site for use.

* Course may be attended without lodging (see Rate Page)

6 DAY COURSE: 5 nights lodging, all meals

Whilst our courses are essentially flexible to meet individual and personal needs, we do follow a general structure.

  • 8:30                         breakfast
  • 9:30 – 12:00           Studio/Art Class
  • 12:30                       lunch
  • 1:30 – 4:30             work individually with individual guidance/instruction
  • 6:30                        Dinner
  • evenings                 except for Day 1, evenings are free to do as you wish (ie. visit, campfire) – however, you are always welcome to continue painting.

Day 1: 

4:00 – 6:00:   Arrival; get acquainted with facility & studios; settle into room, relax, explore grounds & meet other guests.

6:30 pm:         Dinner at Shenandoah Art Destination.

7:45 – 9:45 pm: Introduction to art studios; Each guest given 5 minutes to discuss possible subject(s) and they media they use; goals and expectations for course time.  Also time to share work you have done.

A short drawing workshop called “Ways of Seeing”; several drawing exercises to let the instructor/tutor see the way you think, approach and interpret on paper.

Day 2 :

Morning:     Composition Workshop; begin independent painting** or printing.

Afternoon:  Continue painting/printing

Day 3-4-5:

Morning:     Additional workshops as needed/requested.

Afternoon:  Continue painting/printing

Day 6:

Morning:     Finish up final work/printing

11:30 am:     Celebration of work completed – “Show and Tell”

2:00 pm:     Departure

*************************************

Optional Workshops given based on participants and what their particular interests/requests are.

Possibilities include:

  • prepare for plein air painting
  • painting with various mediums: tricks & trades of watercolor, acrylic, oils and pastels
  • color theory
  • the basics of drawing

All independent painting is with instructor oversight/instruction/tutoring.

Demo’s given by instructor as requested/needed.

Plein air guests will be taken to local plein air destinations.  Two large studios on-site for use.

10 DAY COURSE: 9 nights lodging, all meals*
The ten day option provides a greater opportunity for those who want to take full advantage of the studio, its facilities and workshops. Guests can focus on their own areas of interest, and are able to consolidate ideas and approach over a longer period of studio time.  The first 5 days will follow the schedule of the 6-day course; and the outline for the additional days will be devised upon arrival with these interests in mind.

* Excludes 1 lunch and 1 dinner (probably not on the same day).   You are also welcome to a free afternoon during this stay; giving you a chance to explore the local town of Lexington.

Each course accommodates a maximum of 7-9 artists.  You will be provided with individual instruction for drawing, painting and or printing.  We follow a general structure for students who require it.

Any questions? Call 612.221.1140

Email: nancy@shenandoahartdestination.com

Shenandoah Art Destination, 325 Union Run, Lexington VA, USA. 24450

Established in 2010, The Shenandoah Art Destination is one of the only, art vacation retreat schools in the United States.  Home to students from all continents, the Shenandoah Art Destination offers rigorous art classes that include painting (oil and acrylic, watercolor, pastel), plein air painting, drawing, airbrush, drypoint, lino, mono printing and mixed media.
The Manors’s beautiful, 10-acre property is located in Lexington, Virginia, 50 miles north of Roanoke, VA.