A Creative Journey Through the Red City

I invite you to join me for a once-in-a-lifetime art retreat inspired by the vibrant colors, ancient textures, and soul-stirring rhythm of Morocco. Together we’ll journey through the labyrinthine streets of the Marrakech Medina, the sun-drenched silence of the Agafay Desert, and the lush sanctuary of our private olive grove, creating art rooted in discovery, history, and place.

We’ll blend sketching, photography, and mixed media collage, using hand-painted papers, ephemera, magazine clippings, and intuitive layering to capture both the intricate patterns of the city and the serene landscapes of the Atlas foothills. This is a process of "gathering", collecting fragments of inspiration from the world around us and translating them into a personal record of your journey.

This retreat is designed for artists and dreamers alike, no previous experience necessary, just a love of beauty, exploration, and the magic of the creative process.

The Rhythm of our Days

Your seven days will be a rich balance of dedicated studio time, on location sketching and painting, sensory cultural excursions, and restorative moments to rest, reflect, and connect. We'll move slowly and intentionally through each project, taking inspiration from the shifting golden light on the ancient city walls and the timeless rhythm of the desert.

There is a quiet magic in this place, found in pattern repeated until it becomes prayer, in a hand-shaped symbol carried for protection, in the hush that falls over a courtyard at dusk. We'll work close to that magic all week, not to explain it, but to let it shape what ends up in our hands.

You’ll learn how to:

Capture the Spirit of the Medina

• Build a series of small, expressive mixed-media pieces drawn from the textures and warm palette of the souks, terracotta, saffron, ochre, worked quickly and intuitively.

Harvest Fragments of Place

• Develop a “material library” through photography and observational drawing, learning to see the world as a collection of textures.

Read Pattern & Color as Meaning

• Study the symbolic language behind the city's geometry, tilework, and carved screens, where shape and repetition carry centuries of meaning. Along the way, you'll sharpen your eye for color, building a palette drawn directly from the patterns and light around you.

Build Richly Layered Collages

• Construct visual stories using your gathered fragments, focusing on the history and “soul” of the places we visit.

Make a Personal Talisman

• Close the week with a small, contemplative piece built around a symbol of protection found throughout Morocco.

Practice Daily Creative Rituals

• Engage in morning sketching and evening reflective layering to deepen your connection to your intuition.

Fill Your Journal

• Create a lush, tactile record of your journey that serves as both a work of art and a sacred memory.

We’ll create in our light-filled studio surrounded by the quiet hum of the olive groves and the company of kindred creatives. These days are designed to be both nourishing and inspiring, a time to quiet the noise and refill your creative well.

Marrakech: A Tapestry of the Senses

We begin in the heart of the Red City, where the ancient pink-walled Medina rises in the shifting desert light. Here, history comes alive in every corner: the intricate arches of the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the spice-scented air of the Rahba Kedima, and the rhythmic clanging of the metalworkers' souk. You’ll sketch the city’s vibrant layers of texture, wander its labyrinthine streets guided by local experts, and dine together under the stars in warmth and laughter.

The Atlas Mountains: Echoes of the Earth

From the hum of the city, we travel toward the majestic Atlas Mountains, where the air turns crisp and the landscape opens into vast, rugged beauty. We’ll wander through ancient Berber villages perched on the mountainsides and witness the timeless connection between the people and the land. You’ll sketch the silhouettes of the peaks against the cobalt sky, capture the muted ochres of the earth, and let the quiet stillness of the mountains inspire a deeper, more reflective layer in your work.

Le Jardin Majorelle: A Sanctuary of Color

We’ll step into the cool, electric blue dream of the Jardin Majorelle, once the private sanctuary of Yves Saint Laurent. Here, the vibrant "Majorelle Blue" of the architecture contrasts strikingly against the architectural shapes of exotic cacti and lush palms. You’ll wander through the dappled light of the bamboo groves, sketch the elegant silhouettes of the botanical wonders, and find fresh inspiration in the bold, fearless use of color that defines this world-renowned desert oasis.

Koutoubia & Jemaa el-Fna: The Heartbeat of Marrakech

As the sun begins to dip, we’ll gather near the Koutoubia Mosque, its iconic minaret standing as a timeless sentinel over the city. From there, we’ll emerge into the legendary Jemaa el-Fna square, where the true magic of Morocco unfolds in a whirlwind of energy. You’ll witness the theater of daily life—storytellers, musicians, and the rising smoke of evening food stalls—capturing the flickering lights and the bustling silhouettes in your sketchbook as the square transforms under a twilight sky.

Where we will stay…

The Domaine – A Sanctuary of Light & Olive Groves

Our home for the week is a stunning private estate nestled just outside the bustling energy of Marrakech. Surrounded by a hundred-year-old olive grove with sweeping views of the Atlas Mountains and the Agafay Desert, this luxurious domaine is a true creative oasis. The property is ours exclusively, offering a peaceful, secure, and light-filled environment where inspiration is everywhere you look.

We’ll rest, create, and share nourishing farm-to-table meals prepared with fresh, local ingredients, all while surrounded by the serene beauty of the Moroccan countryside.

What’s Included

• Excursions: Enjoy daily trips to tailored locations chosen by the artist and our group. These outings offer wonderful opportunities to explore the local culture, shop the vibrant markets, paint plein air, or gather inspiration for your studio work.

• Tuition: Every day you will receive both group and one-to-one tuition, whether we are working outside or in the studio. Instruction includes live demonstrations and personalized individual feedback to support your creative journey.

• Food: Savor fresh baked goods, fresh fruit salads, and continental-style breakfasts every morning. Most of your meals are covered, featuring locally produced, freshly cooked lunches and evening meals. (Note: We will visit a couple of restaurants at your own expense to experience the local culinary scene).

• Accommodation: Seven nights of lodging on our luxurious private domaine. During your stay, you will have full use of the heated swimming pool, as well as access to the serene olive grove and the beautiful surrounding property.

  What’s Not Included

• Airfare or travel costs to Morocco

• Passport fees or travel insurance

• Meals not listed above

• Additional nights of lodging before or after the retreat