Ready to (re)discover your creative self?
Join us on an unforgettable
art adventure in Mexico!
Art, sisterhood, food, exploration!
The Phenomenal Woman Art Retreat will help you reclaim the creative side of yourself. This retreat offers a unique travel experience that will inspire and awaken the artist in you!
Oaxaca City Mexico is a feast for the senses. The colors and flavors will inspire and delight you. If you're looking for a creative infusion, this is the place!
We will immerse ourselves in art in this wonderful little city as we visit art studios, museums, and cathedrals. While we're exploring the city, we'll look for clues and insights into ourselves and how we relate to the world around us. And I'll help you develop your "creative eye'. All of the inspiration you gather will be used to express yourself through art.
If you're not an artist, or if you're not even sure you're creative, don't worry! If you are woman who is willing to awaken a dormant part of yourself, and open to diving in and exploring some art supplies, this retreat is for you.
If you do consider yourself an artist of any level, this retreat is for you, too. We will work with busting through creative blocks, and help you uncover your creative side if it's become a bit dusty. You will learn some great techniques to create art on the go and to even develop a daily creative practice.
Oaxaca City Mexico is a feast for the senses. The colors and flavors will inspire and delight you. If you're looking for a creative infusion, this is the place!
We will immerse ourselves in art in this wonderful little city as we visit art studios, museums, and cathedrals. While we're exploring the city, we'll look for clues and insights into ourselves and how we relate to the world around us. And I'll help you develop your "creative eye'. All of the inspiration you gather will be used to express yourself through art.
If you're not an artist, or if you're not even sure you're creative, don't worry! If you are woman who is willing to awaken a dormant part of yourself, and open to diving in and exploring some art supplies, this retreat is for you.
If you do consider yourself an artist of any level, this retreat is for you, too. We will work with busting through creative blocks, and help you uncover your creative side if it's become a bit dusty. You will learn some great techniques to create art on the go and to even develop a daily creative practice.
Creating art is an incredible way to record the memories. And creating art in a new place brings new ideas, inspiration and completely new art. When you get back home you'll look at your sketches, paintings, writings and (art) journal and be transported back to the great moments you had in Oaxaca.
Don't worry - you don't have to consider yourself an artist to join us! The workshops and experiences are designed to unlock your creativity. The focus will be on the creative process and how to incorporate it into your daily life - not on creating the "perfect" painting. You just have to be willing to dive in and explore your creative side.
This will be a small group of women, and a safe, nurturing environment, so you can let your hair down and create friendships, memories, and art.
Every woman is phenomenal in her own way. What makes you phenomenal? Lets embrace and celebrate it!
Don't worry - you don't have to consider yourself an artist to join us! The workshops and experiences are designed to unlock your creativity. The focus will be on the creative process and how to incorporate it into your daily life - not on creating the "perfect" painting. You just have to be willing to dive in and explore your creative side.
This will be a small group of women, and a safe, nurturing environment, so you can let your hair down and create friendships, memories, and art.
Every woman is phenomenal in her own way. What makes you phenomenal? Lets embrace and celebrate it!
Fall in love with Oaxaca
(Pronounced wa-ha-ka)
Oaxaca is a feast for the senses. Vibrant colors, cobblestone streets, amazing food... everything there seems to spark my creativity!
And there is so much art - it really is an arts town. Museums, art studios, galleries, and crafts abound. There are also wedding parades, dancers, and tons of merchants selling their hand-made clothes and crafts.
I can't leave out the dozens of cathedrals, all works of art themselves, are sprinkled throughout the city.
Our 2019 retreat was nothing short of amazing. Click here to learn of some of our adventurers, and watch video testimonials from the Phenomenal Women who came on this wonderful adventure with me!
"I will be forever grateful for this experience; life-changing, transitional, transformational... yes, all of that and more."
Sheila J. 2019 Phenomenal Women Art Retreat
Why Phenomenal Women?
Early in 2017 I was inspired by the Women's Marches across the country. It was beautiful to see women come together and march through the streets all over the world. There is this myth that women can't work together. I've never understood nor experienced it. Perhaps it's been fed to us by people who want to keep us separate.
We are more powerful together.
I was moved to create an ongoing series of paintings - and classes - called "Phenomenal Women" to bring women together to celebrate the different aspects of being women; including sisterhood. Some of the paintings we've done have been Power, Dancing Through the Storm, Freedom... to name a few. I have found these classes to be powerful and affirming.
Why an all women retreat? Something magical happens when there are no men around. Women feel free to let their hair down, and to say what we feel. I believe that in a group setting women feel more empowered without men around.
What will we do in Oaxaca, and what does the registration fee include?
With your registration you'll get 7 nights lodging, and two meals a day. The fee also includes painting workshops, walking tours and visits to painting studios, murals, galleries, museums, and the Frida Kahlo art store.
Each day we will have a word of the day to focus on. We journal on the word in the morning, then look for evidence of that word, and how it moves and shapes us, in our daily travels. Then we create artwork inspired by the word. Last year's words were: community, faith, curiosity, courage, gratitude, power, and freedom,
We will sample the amazing food and be inspired by the sights, colors and culture of the beautiful town. And of course we will paint! There will be workshops in addition to open studio time, on-site sketching and art journaling. And there will be unstructured free time for you to explore or relax.
Accommodations and Food
We'll be staying and creating art in the studio at Casa Colonial!
There are 2 private rooms available, 2 private rooms with a shared bathroom, and several double occupancy rooms. If you sign up to share a room with a friend, you each save $50! Otherwise you will be assigned a roommate.
Each room has filtered water and a covered veranda.
Two meals per day are included: breakfast, and lunch or dinner, depending on the day.
Breakfast will be prepared at the in-house cafe, and consists of a full breakfast with American and Mexican fare. Order eggs any way you'd like, enjoy freshly squeezed orange juice, an array of tropical fruits, toast, oatmeal, granola, yogurt, Oaxacan coffee is served in the beautiful dining room, with views of front and back gardens.
The Zocalo is just a quick walk away, and features restaurants, museums, galleries, and more! Taxi’s are easily available and affordable if you prefer not to walk.
There are 2 private rooms available, 2 private rooms with a shared bathroom, and several double occupancy rooms. If you sign up to share a room with a friend, you each save $50! Otherwise you will be assigned a roommate.
Each room has filtered water and a covered veranda.
Two meals per day are included: breakfast, and lunch or dinner, depending on the day.
Breakfast will be prepared at the in-house cafe, and consists of a full breakfast with American and Mexican fare. Order eggs any way you'd like, enjoy freshly squeezed orange juice, an array of tropical fruits, toast, oatmeal, granola, yogurt, Oaxacan coffee is served in the beautiful dining room, with views of front and back gardens.
The Zocalo is just a quick walk away, and features restaurants, museums, galleries, and more! Taxi’s are easily available and affordable if you prefer not to walk.
About Oaxaca
Oaxaca is a Unesco world heritage site in recognition of its treasure of historic buildings and monuments. It has more than 20 cathedrals within the historic center, towering limestone walls, and secret gardens behind every adobe wall and doorway.
Oaxaca has a rich art scene, amazing food, and friendly people. All of this will renew our creativity and inspire our painting!
Oaxaca is a Unesco world heritage site in recognition of its treasure of historic buildings and monuments. It has more than 20 cathedrals within the historic center, towering limestone walls, and secret gardens behind every adobe wall and doorway.
Oaxaca has a rich art scene, amazing food, and friendly people. All of this will renew our creativity and inspire our painting!
Itinerary (subject to change)
Day 1: We'll meet at Casa Colonial for a welcome dinner and orientation at 6pm, then we'll set up the studio work-space and do some creativity exercises.
Day 2: Breakfast, meditation and journaling on the word of the day. Workshop: Intuitive Painting. Lunch and sketching at the Zocalo. Visit the Oaxaca Cathedral and the Painters Museum. Dinner. Free time in the evening to paint or relax.
Day 3: Breakfast, meditation and journaling on the word of the day. Creative Process workshop. Outing to the Mercado 20 de Noviembre where we will have lunch, do some guided sketching, and soak up inspiration. Visit to the Frida Kahlo Art Supply store. Dinner. Workshop: Taking it in and Getting it Out - Processing Through Painting.
Day 4: Breakfast, meditation and journaling on the word of the day. Day trip to nearby towns to tour the workshop of Jacabo y Maria Angeles where we will see how the alebrijes and pigments are made. Then we'll explore the Ex-Monastery of Santiago Apostol in Cuilapam De Guerroro, Mexico. After that we'll head back to the casa for dinner, and some open studio time, or free time to relax in a hammock, or browse the library and read a book.
Day 5: Breakfast, meditation and journaling on the word of the day. Art workshop at local artist's studio. Then we'll head to the wonderful La Jicara for lunch and browsing. We'll hit up the Contemporary Art Museum as well some galleries on the way back to the casa for Dinner. Evening art journaling workshop.
Day 6: Breakfast, meditation and journaling on the word of the day. Workshop: Walls, Doors and Cobblestones: Painting the Colors of Oaxaca. Lunch. Textile Museum. Free time to explore or rest. Dinner at the casa. Studio time: group art project.
Day 7: Breakfast, meditation and journaling on the word of the day. Morning workshop. Lunch at Tierra del Sol, festivities and sketching at Santo Domingo Plaza. Free time. Celebratory dinner on the rooftop patio of Casa Oaxaca Restaurante. Studio time: closing reflections.
Day 8: Check out 11am
Day 2: Breakfast, meditation and journaling on the word of the day. Workshop: Intuitive Painting. Lunch and sketching at the Zocalo. Visit the Oaxaca Cathedral and the Painters Museum. Dinner. Free time in the evening to paint or relax.
Day 3: Breakfast, meditation and journaling on the word of the day. Creative Process workshop. Outing to the Mercado 20 de Noviembre where we will have lunch, do some guided sketching, and soak up inspiration. Visit to the Frida Kahlo Art Supply store. Dinner. Workshop: Taking it in and Getting it Out - Processing Through Painting.
Day 4: Breakfast, meditation and journaling on the word of the day. Day trip to nearby towns to tour the workshop of Jacabo y Maria Angeles where we will see how the alebrijes and pigments are made. Then we'll explore the Ex-Monastery of Santiago Apostol in Cuilapam De Guerroro, Mexico. After that we'll head back to the casa for dinner, and some open studio time, or free time to relax in a hammock, or browse the library and read a book.
Day 5: Breakfast, meditation and journaling on the word of the day. Art workshop at local artist's studio. Then we'll head to the wonderful La Jicara for lunch and browsing. We'll hit up the Contemporary Art Museum as well some galleries on the way back to the casa for Dinner. Evening art journaling workshop.
Day 6: Breakfast, meditation and journaling on the word of the day. Workshop: Walls, Doors and Cobblestones: Painting the Colors of Oaxaca. Lunch. Textile Museum. Free time to explore or rest. Dinner at the casa. Studio time: group art project.
Day 7: Breakfast, meditation and journaling on the word of the day. Morning workshop. Lunch at Tierra del Sol, festivities and sketching at Santo Domingo Plaza. Free time. Celebratory dinner on the rooftop patio of Casa Oaxaca Restaurante. Studio time: closing reflections.
Day 8: Check out 11am
Art Supplies
You will be provided a list of art supplies, but basically we're using acrylic paints, paper, and you will need an unlined journal. None of the supplies need be expensive and you are always welcome to improvise with what you already have. Also, we will take a trip to the Frida Kahlo art store, so you'll be able to pick up more supplies there if you like.
You will be provided a list of art supplies, but basically we're using acrylic paints, paper, and you will need an unlined journal. None of the supplies need be expensive and you are always welcome to improvise with what you already have. Also, we will take a trip to the Frida Kahlo art store, so you'll be able to pick up more supplies there if you like.
