Workshop begins December 8th and runs to December 15th, 2018!
Nicholas Wilton is pleased to announce his 5th annual Art2Life Workshop held at the stunning Haramara Retreat. Nestled along the warm Pacific ocean in the coastal village of Sayulita, Mexico, the Haramara Retreat has established itself as a place of intimate seaside learning, where mind, body, and soul come together in what can only be described as a magical experience.
It is within this spectacular equatorial environment that we will begin our playful exploration of the creative image-making process. Utilizing imagery inspired from our own personal stories, life experience – and of course Sayulita and the surrounding rainforest – we will engage in a hands-on journey through fundamental painting principles, and learn how to sustain our own creative momentum. Haramara is a perfect setting for this, as it allows us to detach from our fast pace of our daily lives.
“The Haramara retreat was amazing beyond words. Nick is an incredible teacher and a very special human being. I am very interested in signing up for a repeat Haramara retreat in the future.”
– Linda Wallace, attended December 2014 Haramara ArtLife Workshop
Throughout the week, we will work on a series of small paintings on wood panels, often working on several pieces simultaneously, which leaves little time to worry about success or failure. We will also explore how themes of change and spontaneity enable us to create our own unique artwork, and illuminate life lessons inherent in the creative process. We seek to engage both sides of the brain, and invite in mistakes, intuition, and spontaneity. We will explore the six ArtLife Creativity Principles: value, design, color, texture, risk, and soul. Generous time will be given for experimentation with new tools, mediums, and techniques, and as the class progresses we will create a fertile environment for art making with in depth demonstrations, music, and one on one instruction.
Haramara also offers a variety of open-air accommodations. Participants have their choice of lodging in spacious double, triple or quadruple occupancy cabanas, each designed with the perfect amount of privacy. While at Haramara we will also have the pleasure of enjoying the finest vegetarian cuisine, made from the best locally sourced, organically grown ingredients. Haramara also has a staff of highly trained massage therapists, as well as a pool, cooking and yoga classes, not to mention long quiet stretches of beach, just a short walk away. There will be ample time for choosing different excursions such as a day on a catamaran to watch migrating Gray whales and Bottlenose dolphins – or we can explore remote, pristine beaches accessible only by boat.
“I want to say your workshop was absolutely amazing for me. It feels life changing. It’s like I’ve discovered the core of my art again after being buried for a very long time. Your way of describing the process sounds true and simple – very cool!!! Thanks again!”
– December 2014 Haramara ArtLife Workshop Attendee
We will also partake in some of Sayulita’s local cultural flare – not only does Sayulita have its own vibrant artist community, December is also a time of lively festivities for this otherwise quiet seaside town; we will be fortunate enough to enjoy these celebrations amidst delicious food and drink, as the sounds of local musicians drift through the temperate night air.
Additionally, all workshop participants will receive their very own Art2Life Workshop Art Kit! The supplies in your Art Kit were hand selected by Nicholas, and contain everything you need in order to enjoy this retreat. Each Art Kit comes fully stocked with a set of 21 custom-made fluid acrylic colors, gloss medium, twelve 12″ x 12″ panels, a set of 8 brushes in various sizes, a painting tray, sandpaper, steel wool, pencil, and a 2-pocket apron. And the best part about the Art Kit is that it’s yours to keep once the retreat concludes!
“An art retreat in a secluded area immersed in nature was a present to myself I had been craving for a longtime. When I found Nicholas Wilton’s workshop in Haramara, I immediately knew I found what I was looking for. I didn’t have any specific expectations in terms of academics or to take home results. The only thing I wanted was to give my art all the space it needed, stay open to whatever could come out, be inspired and encouraged by an established artist and other fellow artists. My experience at Haramara ended up being really extraordinary. I had a wonderful time painting, exploring, and learning new tools to help and nourish my explorations. But, most of all, I realized how vital and fundamental art making is in my life. Thanks Nicholas!” – Paola Lanfranchi
This workshop is designed for people from a wide variety of disciplines and skill levels, from beginner to professional. The sole prerequisite to attending is an openness to playing, experimentation and a willingness to explore your artistic practice against a backdrop of shimmering Pacific waters, delicious food, and like-minded creative individuals. Please join us as we celebrate a process of inspiration, reclamation, and the journey of self-discovery through painting.
“The artlife workshop at haramara was exactly what I needed. a tranquil environment where time slowed down and i got to fully immerse into my creativity. as well as laugh, connect and completely relax (white sands, clear water, good people, interesting dinner discussions… on and on). Nicholas has a true gift of holding such a wonderful space for anyone who has a desire to explore and get playful with their creativity. fine-tune their voice. push through their blocks. learn new techniques.”
– Ann-Britt Malden, attended December 2014 Haramara ArtLife Workshop
Course Fee
All accommodations for this workshop are shared, and the fee for this workshop varies depending on whether participants register at the double, triple, or quadruple occupancy rate. The more people you decide to share a cabana with, the more the overall cost of the workshop decreases per person. The breakdown for these 3 options is as follows:
Double occupancy course rate (2 adults per cabana): $3,200 per person
Triple occupancy course rate (3 adults per cabana): $2,900 per person
Quad occupancy course rate (4 adults per cabana): $2,600 per person
Interested parties please contact Ferris at [email protected]
The above fees cover all room, food, and art material expenses. The accommodations for this workshop are first come, first served. There is also no need for car rentals, as Haramara offers multiple daily shuttles going to and from the Puerto Vallarta airport. Please read about our payment and refund policies here.
To submit your deposit by check, please make payable to Nicholas Wilton, and mail to:
480 Gate 5 Road, Suite 300W, Sausalito, CA, 94965.
To submit your deposit by phone, please contact Ferris at [email protected] with your name, telephone number, date, and time that would be best to call you.
