Watercolor ~Travel ~ Journal
Painting Retreat in
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
March 19-26, 2022
With Susan Singer
Come revive all of your senses, Mexican style, at this retreat designed to inspire your most vivid self.
During your seven days in San Miguel de Allende you will:
* Learn the basics of watercolor and drawing.
* Have daily opportunities to draw and paint outdoors.
* Visit a winery, markets, thermal hot springs, and botanical gardens.
* Have time to relax, explore and wander Mexico's "Most Enchanting Destination".
(Drawing/painting experience is helpful, but not required. Classes will be planned according to the experience level of the participants.)
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We will be staying at the old-world style hotel, Hacienda de las Flores, situated in centro close to everything you will need. There are 3 different price points according to the room you choose. Rooms may be shared at no additional cost (room only).
$2080: Standard
$2265: Jr. Suite
$2370: King Suite
Included in retreat price:
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Workshop (24 hours of instruction)
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Seven nights accommodations including taxes and tips
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Daily breakfast
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Garden swimming pool
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Arrival dinner including margaritas and piña coladas (at hotel)
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Departure dinner
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All transportation to excursions
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Excursion to El Charco Ingenio (botanical gardens)
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Excursion to Hot Springs
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Excursion to El Pavo Real (sketching, wine tasting, food)
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Water, coffee and jamaica (hibiscus) water with cookies in the garden on studio days there.
Seven Day Schedule
Note: Slight schedule changes may occur according to circumstances.
Day 1 - Saturday
Arrival
6 – Welcome dinner at the hotel, introductions, getting to know each other
Day 2 - Sunday
8:30 Breakfast
9-1 Hot Springs
1-3 Lunch at Hot Springs (not included)
3-6 Introduction to watercolor
Dinner on your own
Day 3 - Monday
9 – Breakfast
10-1 Tips on architectural drawing
1-3. Lunch on your own
3-6 Drawing plein air in San Miguel
Dinner on your own
Day 4 - Tuesday
9 – Breakfast
10-1 Drawing/painting flowers
1-3. Lunch on your own
3-6 Botanical Gardens/flower painting
Dinner on your own
Day 5 – Wednesday
Optional sunrise painting
Day on your own to explore the town
Day 6 – Thursday
9 - Breakfast
10-1 Painting landscapes lesson
1-3 Lunch on your own
3-6 Excursion to El Pavo Real to paint including sunset wine tasting
and dinner.
Day 7 - Friday
9- Breakfast
10-1 Painting plein air in San Miguel
1-3 Lunch
3-6 Meet individually with the instructor
7 – Farewell dinner together
Day 8 – Saturday
9 – Breakfast
Final Group gathering
Departure
Supplies
A shopping list has been created on Dick Blick for your convenience. There are also a couple of art supply stores in San Miguel should you need something. Click here for a more detailed/optional supply list.
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A set of pan watercolor
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Pad of watercolor paper
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Watercolor Paintbrushes
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Palette for watercolor
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Travel Journal in the format of your choice with 100 lb paper (at least) which is good for watercolor, sketching, and other media. (Arteza has very good journals in many sizes which I’ve enjoyed using. I like their 8.5” x 8.5”, but you can choose the size you prefer – just not tiny!)
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Kneaded eraser
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Micron 01 pen, black
Small drawing board,
s
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Optional:
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Backpack for carrying supplies
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4-6 binder clips
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Container for water
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Pencils
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Small, compact travel stool
Reserve Your Room
In order to reserve your spot, please choose your room, fill out the registration form and send a $500 non-refundable deposit to lindalaino@gmail.com through Zelle. All final payments due January 1, 2022. We are offering an early bird discount of $100 if you register by June 10th.
Note: If you need to pay through Paypal, a 3% service charge will be applied to your final payment. When reserving your room, please make a note on the "wildest dream" section of thereservation form and with your name, type of room and number. (Georgia O'Keefe, Jr. Suite #2). Rooms may be shared for the listed price.
Room #2 Junior Suite
Room # 3 Junior Suite
Room #5 Junior suite
Room # 6 Suite
Room #4 Junior Suite
Room #8 Suite
Room #11 Standard
Room #12 Suite
Reserved
Reserved
Room #14 Junior Suite
Room #15 Junior Suite
Room #17 Suite
Reserved
Reserved
Reserved
Travel
The retreat price does not include your travel costs to San Miguel. We suggest you make your reservation to arrive at BJX (Leon) or QRO (Queretaro) which are 1-1 1/2 hours from San Miguel. If for other reasons, you prefer to fly into Mexico City, please know it is another 4 hours by car or bus. As a precaution, we suggest that you purchase travel insurance. Super easy and reliable airport shuttle information will be shared with registered participants. If you have any other specific concerns about traveling to Mexico, please email Linda and she will be happy to assist!
Cancellation Policy Please Review
We understand that it is sometimes difficult to plan ahead for a trip such as this and these uncertain times have created a bit more challenge. We thank you for your understanding the need for these policies on our end.
The $500 deposit is NON-refundable. That means, if you pay the deposit and before you pay your balance, you decide to cancel, there is no refund. Once you pay your balance, there is no refund. An exception is made if there is someone waiting to fill your spot. All balances are due January 1, 2022.
If we decide to cancel the retreat for any reason, then all money will be returned, including deposit (minus any paypal or credit card fees). We need at least five students for the workshop to go. For this reason we strongly advise that you wait to make your flight reservations until you hear from us.
If it becomes impossible to travel due to a government mandate or border restrictions, in this case, we will not refund any money but attempt to reschedule the retreat. Note: Mexico never closed its borders to travelers during 2020. Mask and tracing mandates, as well as sanitary precautions are still taking place as a rule here in San Miguel.
About Susan Singer
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Susan Singer is a professional artist from Richmond, Virginia, who spends her time creating, teaching, and feeling delighted by life. A practicing artist for over 20 years and with a Master's in Interdisciplinary studies from Virginia Commonwealth University, she works in pastel, oil, watercolor, or any medium that helps to convey her message. Often working in a series, much of her work centers around the body including, Twelve Naked Men, Beyond Barbie, Scar Series, Birth Affirmations, and The Eyes Project.
Singer is equally passionate about teaching and has taught at The Visual Arts Center in Richmond since 2006, overseas in Austria, Iceland, and on an international cruise ship for "Semester at Sea" as their resident artist. Encouraging students to find their own unique gifts, and her love of sharing knowledge are part of her strengths and joy as a teacher.
She has shown her paintings extensively in the Richmond Metropolitan area, in Washington, DC, in Iceland at the Akureyri Art Museum, and in Austria. Her work can be found in private and corporate collections nationwide and internationally.
She loves to combine art and travel as she believes that drawing something is the best way to keep it in our memories forever.
Testimonials
"Susan Singer is a fantastic leader! It was great to have time to sketch, paint and just be in the landscape. Thank you very much for hosting a great retreat." ~ Carol Meese (Iceland retreat)
"You did an amazing job of organizing this experience for the group and doing everything you could to accommodate everyone's needs. Thank you again for such a beautiful trip." ~ Chelsea Wilkinson (Iceland Retreat)
"Susan teaches with heart and it is obvious that she lives her craft. I really appreciate that she teaches technique and acknowledges each student’s ability and tailors her lessons to accommodate each one."~ student, Visual Arts Center
"Susan Singer has the personality and confidence to capture an audience, hold their attention, encouraging questioning, opinion and participation." ~ Ciro M. Robustelli
About San Miguel
Mexico is a huge country that offers its visitors an amazing amount of diversity. San Miguel de Allende is located in the geographical center of the country and is said to be built upon a bed of crystal quartz. Many people believe this legend aids in the “magical” quality so often associated with this town. San Miguel is a peaceful, safe environment, full of friendly people, sophistication and charm to spare. It is small, but far from sleepy. The streets are always full of visitors and locals in a lively and festive atmosphere.
There is more than plenty to see and do on off hours during the retreat. The weather in late March is temperate: breezy and cool. Most days you can count on cool mornings, warm to hot sunny afternoons, and slightly cooler evenings. Think layers and bring a light sweater. There is virtually no humidity. San Miguel is quite hilly in parts, and the streets are cobbled. You will most likely be doing a lot of walking (the best way to see the town!), so we suggest to bring good shoes. We are at 6000 feet and if you have not been in high altitudes, you may feel a bit tired the first day or two. Luckily, there are numerous cafes, parks and plazas for rest and refreshments all over town.
There are also ample and inexpensive cabs available should you need a break from the walking. The cab drivers, incidentally are some of the best locals to practice your Spanish with!
The web is full of articles and videos about San Miguel. Here are two to whet your whistle:
"San Miguel de Allende Travel Guide"
About Linda Laino
Linda is an artist, writer and teacher who received her MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. She has lived in San Miguel de Allende for almost ten years where she formally taught English Language Arts and continues to paint and write. She has organized writing and painting retreats of her own in San Miguel and is recently sharing her love and knowledge of this charming and colorful town with other artists and teachers. Her many pleasures in San Miguel include terrace cocktails with friends, hiking in the countryside and feeding the hummingbirds. Her painting and writing can be accessed here:
Photo: Regula Franz
Waiver
All participants are asked to download, sign and return this waiver to Susan Singer before the retreat. Please email to: susansingerart@msn.com.
All photos of San Miguel © Linda Laino
More details to come after registering for the retreat.
For any questions about the workshop, please refer to Susan: susansingerart@msn.com. For any questions about San Miguel, Linda is happy to help: lalainoart@yahoo.com.
We hope you will join us in San Miguel in 2022!