ARTS ESCAPES WORKSHOP San Miguel de Allende, Allende, Mexico March 20 27, 2010 Led by Dory Kanter, Kanter, author of Art Escapes PLUS Additional Print Making Making Workshop March 16 16-20 Enjoy an enchanted week in San Miguel de Allende filled with inspiring art instruction, culture, cuisine and time to relax and discover this 400-year old Spanish-colonial jewel. Nestled in the Sierra Madre mountains four hours north of Mexico City lies the quaint village of San Miguel de Allende, designated a national historic monument by the Mexican government. With narrow cobblestone streets, colorful markets and fiestas, numerous shops, galleries and fine restaurants, San Miguel is a favorite destination for artists, writers and discriminating world travelers. It has the feel of a European city with the verve of the Mexican culture. A center for the arts and home to an international community of artists, San Miguel enjoys Conde Nast Travel Magazine s rating as one of the ten most desirable foreign cities in the world to visit. Indeed, its air of tranquility stimulates the mind and pleases the soul. Our home in San Miguel is a beautiful B&B set in a restored 18th century villa with splashing fountains, plant-filled patios, hacienda walls covered Travel & Leisure Magazine calls the with vines. An oasis Casa Luna B&B one of the world s most fabulous unknown hotels. located just a few blocks from the town square, each room has a fireplace, private bathroom with tub and shower and elegant antique decor. For a preview, go to www.casaluna.com. Our group will be the only occupants of the Casa Luna during the workshop. We ll have our own private, spacious, well-lit workshop studio with inspiring garden views all around. Painting opportunities are abundant, ranging from intimate courtyards and lush gardens, to open air markets and the arid high plains of Mexico s central plateau. Enjoy the daily practice of painting and creating an artistic travel journal. We will have ample free time to wander through San Miguel s exceptional collection of galleries and shops and enjoy its many restaurants offering international cuisine. San Miguel boasts a nearly perfect climate. March will have warm and sunny days in the high 70 s and cool nights that require a light wrap. San Miguel s charming cobblestone lanes and compact central district encourage walking. Learn to turn your sketches into memorable watercolor or acrylic paintings with Dory s four-step approach to plein air painting and triad color technique.
Trip Highlights Include Arrival and departure transfers to Leon Bajio Airport (BJX) Two group receptions: 6 pm on Saturday, March 20 and Sunday March 21 7 nights lodging with private bath 7 hearty and delicious breakfasts San Miguel 2010 Art Escapes trip book A locally designed Mexican-inspired work apron Guided orientation walking tour of San Miguel Daily workshop instruction in the art of the travel journal, watercolor and acrylic painting Lessons from photographer Bob Cantor to help you capture San Miguel through your camera lens On-site, well-lit, spacious workshop studio - available day or night A goodie bag of art materials for the workshop, including Dory s uniquely designed triad palette template Cooking lesson and lunch featuring gourmet Mexican recipes Gala farewell dinner Optional activities for non-painters can be privately arranged (for an additional fee), e.g., Spanish tutor, golf, tennis, massage, history walking tour, horseback riding, hiking, hot springs, nearby haciendas and villages, and more Create vibrant still life paintings inspired by the bounty of the garden before our gourmet cooking lesson during a special day at a luxurious retreat in the serene countryside outside of San Miguel. Saturday, March 20 A car and driver will meet you at the Leon (BJX) Airport to drive the 70 miles (1½ hours) to our B&B in San Miguel. Be sure to arrive in time for our first event, a festive welcome margarita party at 6 pm where you will receive your workshop materials. Sunday, March 21 After a delicious breakfast on the veranda, we gather in our studio classroom for an introduction to the Mexican travel journal with innovative ways to chronicle your thoughts and impressions. Dory will demonstrate how to use her triads in both watercolor and acrylic pigments. Learn to create luminous mixes with Watercolor Fusion paintings, an original project designed to spark your creativity and acquaint you with the expressive power of Dory s four color triads. We then go on an orientation walking tour of San Miguel, ending at the lively open-air market. Relax, swim or hot tub at our hotel in the afternoon. Join Dory at 6 pm for a rooftop reception and discover the magic of San Miguel sunsets. Monday, March 22 Join Dory as she makes it easy to capture the colors of San Miguel using her tried and true color triads in both watercolor and acrylic. This year s workshop will focus on all four triadic combinations of pigments how to mix them and how to use them to capture the sights and scenes of San Miguel. Today s inspiration comes from an exploration of symbols and shapes as Dory teaches you how to make brilliant paintings with her original Symbolic Shapes watercolor project. In the late afternoon, join photographer Bob Cantor for the first of two engaging lessons designed to help you capture San Miguel through your camera lens. Today s presentation is focused on composition and camera fundamentals. Tuesday, March 23 We begin the workshop today with a lesson in the art of the one-minute sketch. Dory then shows you how to make Quick Draw Circles as you experiment with a variety of different drawing tools. Turn a one minute drawing into vibrant and lively Outside the Lines watercolors another of Dory s
original projects. In the late afternoon, broaden your photographic skills as you listen to Bob Cantor s second presentation focusing on shooting tips, suggestions and post-processing. Wednesday, March 24 Today s treat is a day in the country with a visit to a beautiful home just outside of San Miguel to paint, sketch and learn the secrets of Mexican cuisine. Our chef shows us how to make some of the delicious favorites we enjoy at the Casa Luna. Enjoy a festive comida (meal) with our host, Dianne (creator and owner of Casa Luna), at her gracious country home and garden. Learn to create Lines and Layers paintings, combining delicate oil pastel line drawings with layers of transparent color washes and subtle surface texture. Our subject matter is inspired by the cornucopia of fresh fruits and vegetables gathered from the garden for our cooking lesson. Thursday, March 25 Today Dory teaches her liberating Four Steps to Plein Air Painting the key to painting the landscape freely, intuitively and passionately. Learn how to progress with ease from quick sketch to a vivid watercolor painting. Every corner of the Casa Luna offers wonderful vistas to paint: doorways, arches, ornate facades, flower gardens and more. Friday, March 26 Our workshop continues with a lesson in using the triads with acrylic paint to create Personal Nicho Shrines a traditional Mexican art form sure to ignite your creativity. Create a painted The beautiful workshop space at the Casa Luna, surrounded by lush gardens, is available to you day and night. nicho. Instant visual harmony will appear by using the same triad for your nicho as you used in your painting. This evening, we celebrate our artwork with a group exhibition before a gala farewell dinner to share stories, memories and friendship. Saturday, March 27 Enjoy one last delicious Casa Luna breakfast and time to say goodbye to workshop friends before departing by private car or van for your return flight from the Leon Airport. When you make your flight arrangements, remember that you need to allow 3 hours before departure to get to the airport and check-in. nicho to frame one of your San Miguel paintings. Dory provides acrylic paints in all four triad color combinations to decorate your metal Cost $1995 per person based on double occupancy. Airfare is not included. Single supplement is $670. A deposit of $300 is due at the time the reservation is made. A second non-refundable deposit of $600 is due October 1, 2009. Final payment is due on January 15, 2010. First deposit of $300 is refundable prior to October 1, 2009. After October 1, all payments are non-refundable. The itinerary, accommodations, and arrangements are subject to change if necessary. Travel insurance is strongly advised. Each participant must evaluate his/her own needs; however, it is strongly recommended that the participant purchase travel insurance, covering trip cancellation, baggage loss or damage, travel accident or illness, and medical and emergency evacuation. It is also strongly advised that the participant review his/her existing medical insurance to determine the extent of medical coverage while outside your normal coverage area, as well as the means of making a claim for such coverage. Workshop offered by Art Escapes, LLC Personal Nicho Shrine created by Norma Green, 2009 workshop participant.
About Dory Dory s book, Art Escapes: Creative Exercises to Enrich Your Life Through Art, was published in 2003 by North Light Books and continues to appear on Amazon s bestseller list. Internationally, her book has found many readers with Dutch, British and Chinese editions. Her belief in the ability of the arts to empower each of us informs her commitment to educational development projects. She has recently written two arts curricula used by high schools nationwide. Dory has a well-earned reputation for being a motivating art teacher; her workshops speak to and inspire beginners as well as experienced professional artists. She has lectured at Yale University and has been featured in many articles in Somerset Studio, Artists Sketchbook and Watercolor Magic magazines. Visit her website at www.dorykanter.com. Comments from past participants You instilled in me the confidence to paint again and I can't thank you enough for doing so. It was such a wonderful release to be able to journal and then portray in painting what I was feeling. I love the Casa Luna art room and B&B. Perfect location. Your teaching of the color triads is brilliant and a direct reflection of all your years of dedication to your craft. Years ago I took a color class on Johannes Itten and you made it all make sense just using 3 colors at a time. Wonderful approach and your choice of pigments works perfectly. The techniques taught were fascinating, as is your book. Nancy Dauray, West Palm Beach, Florida Thank you for your hard work and excellent soul. You pay attention, teach us to pay attention. You analyze what you do and translate it into excellent lessons. You give us tools we can take home to make art. Your expertise, excellent teaching and enthusiasm help us see a new world full of color. It is one thing to be an artist, quite another thing to teach art. You do both! Thank you for one of the best weeks in my life. Kathleen Hughes, Tucson, Arizona My trip journal is complete and everyone who has seen it is jealous of the fantastic time I had. I am looking forward to spending a little time every day drawing and painting. You are a very special lady... an inspiration to so many people and to me personally. Thank you for your generous spirit. Ricki Golick, Alberta, Canada I am still basking in the San Miguel glow. I feel so fortunate to have shared such a perfect week among such bright, caring, imaginative and humorous people. I have my memories and photos to remind me of our time in the studio, cooking together, walking the cobblestones, and sharing our ideas and art. Joyce Zobel, Palm Desert, California
OPTIONAL PRINT MAKING WORKSHOP Taught by artist Hugo Anaya in Guanajuato, Mexico March 16-20,, 2010 It is with great pleasure that I offer this very special opportunity to study print making with master artist and teacher, Hugo Anaya, in the beautiful nearby town of Guanajuato. This class is specially designed as a complement to my San Miguel workshop. Participants will use the color triads in a new way - to make prints! You will be generously guided and assisted through all the steps of the print making process so that you come away with newfound skills and brilliantly personal finished prints. Workshop Highlights 3 days of workshop instruction with Hugo Anaya 4 nights double occupancy at the Alma del Sol B&B Transportation from Leon (BJX) airport to Casa Alma del Sol B&B in Guanajuato Transportation from Alma del Sol B&B to Casa Luna B&B in San Miguel for Dory s workshop 4 hearty and delicious breakfasts 3 gourmet lunches Cost The cost is $825 per person, double occupancy. For companions not wishing to take the print workshop, the cost is $500 per person, double occupancy. A deposit of $300 is due at the time the reservation is made. Final payment is due on January 15, 2010. First deposit of $300 is refundable prior to October 1, 2009. After October 1, 2009 all payments are nonrefundable. Please note: this workshop is strictly limited to just 8 persons to ensure individual instruction time with Hugo. Be sure to reserve your spot right away. Explore charming Guanajuato, filled with inviting parks, plazas, cafes and restaurants, museums, and architecture from a rich past and vibrant present. Guanajuato is a culturally rich small Colonial city located 1.5 hours drive from San Miguel. Participants will stay at the charming and well-appointed Alma del Sol B&B, located in the historic center of town. Take in the sights and sounds of this vibrant city from the relaxing rooftop veranda and lounge. Guanajuato is a delightful place to walk and wander at your own pace as you discover its festive local color and charm.
Workshop Daily Schedule Tuesday, March 16 Participants are met at the Leon (BJX) airport and are taken to the Alma del Sol B&B. Settle into your room and then meet Hugo for a warm welcome and orientation to beautiful Guanajuato. Wednesday, March 17 10 6 pm: Workshop - Your first lesson at Hugo s delightful print studio includes a demonstration of the print making What an amazing workshop. Hugo was process. Learn how to mix print inks using the colors in tireless with his support, enthusiasm and Dory s Sun Triad to create the background for your first help. I loved every moment. I will definitely print. You will compose your first print using Hugo s be back. innovative design templates. Learn how to use a registering Ricki Golick template to make the print runs easy and fast. Complete Alberta, Canada your first print. 2 pm: Lunch served at the studio Thursday, March 18 10 6 pm: Workshop - Learn new techniques and approaches to print making with Hugo s attentive guidance. 2 pm: Lunch served at the studio Friday, March 19 10 6 pm: Workshop Learn more innovative techniques and approaches to print making with Hugo s attentive guidance. 2 pm: Lunch served at the studio The workshop was magnificent. Saturday, March 20 Hugo is a great teacher of art and Guanajuato culture. Afternoon departure to Casa Luna B&B in San Miguel for Dory s Barb Greiner Portland, Oregon workshop. For information or to register E-mail: dory@dorykanter.com Telephone: 503 224 224 3331 Website: www.dorykanter.com The accommodations were charming and wonderful. Great lunches on site. We all did so well! Wendella Edginton Portland, Oregon