What Is An Art Retreat?
Whether you’re looking for an escape to the country or are looking to learn a new skill, an art retreat can be enriching for a range of reasons.
So, what exactly is an art retreat?
In short, an art retreat is a dedicated getaway or holiday where creatives from all walks of life can come together to connect and create in a peaceful and inspirational setting, guided by a professional artist.
In this guide, we’ll cover what exactly happens at an art retreat, so you know what to expect before booking one.
Let’s get started.
What Is Involved In An Art Retreat?
Although every artist will have their own process and unique ideas of what an art retreat should include, an art retreat with Diana involves:
Gaining inspiration by spending time in the landscape
Contemplative walks
Documenting reactions
Creative discussion and collating responses into a creative piece
Creative preparation for the future
1. Gaining Inspiration By Spending Time In The Landscape
In the wild, coastal environment of the Pembrokeshire coast, Diana helps artists take inspiration from the landscape around them.
Whether it’s the windy and rugged coastline that inspires them, or the winding coastal paths, there’s a lot to be said for truly seeing the environment and allowing yourself to be inspired by what you experience.
Attendees will be encouraged to use photography, sketching, and the written word to formulate their creative responses to the rugged landscape.
The rugged landscape of Pembrokeshire is the perfect backdrop for an art retreat.
2. Contemplative Walks
Contemplative walks in nature are a rich stream of inspiration for formulating a variety of artistic responses.
Walking not only gets you out in nature to spark but also improves your creativity, as supported by a Stanford study.
It also helps to deepen your connection with the landscape itself, which is essential when it comes to documenting your reactions.
From your contemplative walks, you can think more deeply and foster a deeper connection with the landscape, which will contribute hugely to the piece of art you produce at the end.
3. Documenting Reactions
A key part of an art retreat is to document reactions.
Journaling, taking photos, and sketching are just a few of the ways aspiring artists can note down their reactions to use as a reference when it comes to creating their piece.
You will have a few days to document your reactions, providing you with ample time to draw inspiration from what you’ve seen and experienced within the landscape.
Are you looking to attend an art retreat? Look no further than an artist's inspiration holiday, led by lettering artist Diana Hoare.
Inspiration holidays can be tailored to visitor preference and start at £100 per day. Accommodation is available above the gallery at 73 Nun Street, St. Davids, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Get in touch today to book your retreat.
An art retreat is a dedicated getaway or holiday where creatives from all walks of life can come together to connect and create in a peaceful and inspirational setting, guided by a professional artist.
4. Creative Discussion & Collating Responses Into A Creative Piece
A key aspect of an art retreat is creative discussion and collating responses into a creative piece.
Creative discussion is the foundation of drawing together what you’ve seen and documented in a creative walk and transforming them into a piece of artwork.
Art retreats are designed to help formulate those reactions into a piece of artwork, through a choice of various art mediums, including calligraphy, tapestry, and more.
5. Creative Preparation For The Future
The key to being an artist is how you look and taking inspiration from what you see.
An art retreat will encourage you to go beyond preconceived, conventional ideas of how the world looks to open your eyes to a whole world of wonder.
With Diana’s encouragement and expertise, students will leave the art retreat not only with a finished piece of work but also with a new sense of sight.
A newfound appreciation and skills which will enable them to continue and expand their own creativity in response to the natural world around them.
Through learning about the use of materials, tools, and techniques, students will be equipped to formulate the inspiration they find in their own natural surroundings.
With Diana’s encouragement and expertise, students will leave the art retreat not only with a finished piece of work but also with a new sense of sight.
How Long Is An Art Retreat?
The answer to this question is that it depends! Art retreats can run over the weekend (2-3 days) or throughout the week, largely depending on the attendees' preferences and the complexity of the project.
Diana's art inspiration holidays start at £100 per day, and can be tailored to you.
How We Can Help
Whether you’re looking for an art retreat to try something entirely new or return home to your creativity, Diana can help.
With over 40 years of experience, Diana is well-versed in helping artists use the coastal landscape around them as inspiration from her studio space in the heart of St David’s.
If you’re interested in learning more about attending an art retreat, please get in touch with Diana today.
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Diana is an experienced artist, calligrapher, letterer, embroiderer, and the author of Advanced Calligraphy Techniques published by Cassells. Drawing inspiration from the wild landscape which surrounds St David's, she has worked as an artist all her professional life.
