Let’s escape to Portugal together…

I’m thrilled to invite you to join me and my dear friend and fellow artist, Jeanne-Marie Webb for a transformative art retreat on the sunny coast of southern Portugal! This weeklong retreat promises a rich journey of artistic discovery and inspiration. We’ll dive into expressive portraits and landscapes, experiment with mixed media, and master new techniques using charcoal, Panpastel, soft pastel, and watercolor.

DATES: June 9-16th, 2025

Your Time With Ivy & Jeanne-Marie:

Join us for a weeklong art retreat on the sunny coast of southern Portugal, where creativity meets adventure! Experience daily creative classes, art trips to breathtaking locations, and on-location sketching, all while staying at a stunning Portuguese Quinta. Connect with 15 other like-minded artists and create expressive portrait and landscape pieces under the expert guidance of your instructors.

Enjoy engaging classes each day, with plenty of individual attention and tailored feedback. Sketch on-location and immerse yourself in an encouraging environment to experiment and play.

Prepare for unforgettable art trips, including sailing on traditional Portuguese boats, exploring hidden coves and beaches, and discovering the historic charm of Lagos. Gather inspiration at your retreat venue, featuring lush botanical gardens, a refreshing pool, and beautiful surroundings.

Begin your week with expressive portraiture using Ivy and Jeanne-Marie’s favorite sketching techniques with charcoal, graphite, Conte, and pastel. Explore portraiture with PanPastels and dreamy landscapes in soft pastel and pastel pencil with Ivy. Jeanne-Marie will guide you through creating emotive portraits with acrylics. Plus, dive into art journaling, creative collage, sketching, mixing paints, and combining mediums.

Indulge in chef-made meals every day and enjoy the inspiring atmosphere of an award-winning Portuguese Quinta. This retreat is designed to nurture your creative spirit, offering the perfect blend of art, adventure, and relaxation. Join us for an unforgettable creative journey!

This retreat is best suited to artists with some previous experience in mixed media.

• Day 1 - Arrival: Settle into your comfortable room and enjoy a welcome drink and dinner with Ivy and Jeanne-Marie.

• Day 2 - A Day of Creativity and Relaxation: Enjoy breakfast, morning art sessions, lunch, afternoon garden sketches, pool relaxation, and dinner.

• Day 3 - Sail & Sketch: An Artistic Adventure in the Algarve: Set sail from Lagos, sketch the Algarve, enjoy art classes, and dine on chef-prepared meals with wine.

• Day 4 - Creative Collage & Pastel Portraits Day: Start with breakfast, enjoy mixed media and pastel portrait sessions, and end with a three-course dinner.

• Day 5 - Sketch & Savor: A Lagos Art Adventure: Enjoy a Lagos art trip: sketch historic sites, watercolor urban scenes, and relax with gourmet meals.

• Day 6 - Floral Art Day: Mixed Media Mastery and Gourmet Dining: Start with breakfast, learn figurative florals in mixed media, and enjoy a chef-made dinner with wine.

• Day 7 - Final Day: Mini-Exhibition and Farewell Dinner: End with breakfast, polish paintings, enjoy a mini-exhibition, lunch and savor a farewell three-course dinner.

• Day 8 - Departure and Farewells: Join Ivy and Jeanne-Marie for breakfast, farewells, and transfer to Faro Airport

Set Sail - Algarve Coastal Adventure

After breakfast, sail from Lagos to explore the Algarve coast. Sketch or photograph the stunning scenery. Return for a sumptuous lunch and an art class with Ivy, painting landscapes, elevating the inspiring seascapes you encountered during your sailing trip. Unwind in the gardens before a chef-prepared dinner with Portuguese wine.

Sketch & Savor: A Day in Historic Lagos

Discover historic Lagos for urban sketching. Capture vibrant plazas, azure tiles, and marina views. Return for lunch, then join an art class to develop your sketches using pastels and watercolor. Unwind in the gardens or share impressions with fellow artists, ending with a gourmet dinner.

Workshops, individual tuition, and demonstrations

Kick off your week by delving into the art of expressive portraiture, embracing my cherished sketching techniques with charcoal, graphite, and pastels. I will guide you with a special emphasis on portraiture with PanPastels AND creating dreamy landscapes in soft pastel. Beyond this, prepare to journey through the captivating realms of art journaling, figurative collage, and loose urban sketching. Explore the dynamic art of blending mediums and much more, promising a week brimming with artistic discovery and inspiration!

Private Travel

Embark on a traditional Portuguese sailboat from Lagos, exploring the Algarve coastline and capturing the stunning scenery through sketches and photos.

Visit historic Lagos for urban sketching. Capture vibrant plazas and marina views. End each day with a gourmet dinner, relaxing in the gardens or socializing with fellow artists.

Accommodations

Nestled on the sun-drenched Algarvian coast, your venue is a stylish haven for an unforgettable art retreat with Ivy Newport and Jeanne-Marie Webb. Praised as "a jewel in the Algarve," this private estate overlooks Lagos, offering breathtaking views of the Marina and the azure sea beyond.

The heart of the estate is an enchanting botanical garden with over 1,500 plant species, statues, and fountains, perfect for relaxation and artistic inspiration. The estate's terraces and rooms blend modern conveniences with timeless charm, featuring unique decor, private balconies or patios, modern bathrooms with underfloor heating, and luxurious Portuguese Castelbel toiletries.

Food & Drink

The Algarve region offers a complete foodie experience, boasting incredible culinary delights. During your retreat, you'll indulge in daily meals prepared by a private chef. With fresh ingredients sourced locally or harvested from the venue's gardens, each dish promises a delightful exploration of Mediterranean and Atlantic flavors.

All meals are included, complemented by delectable wine service during dinner. Throughout your stay, enjoy refreshing beverages such as water, coffee, tea, or light snacks like fruits and biscuits.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

• Travel costs / Airfare

• Passport fees, photos and processing where applicable

• Airfare

• Travel insurance

• Art materials—a list of art materials recommended by artists Ivy Newport and Jeanne-Marie Webb will be provided five months before the retreat