Renee and I just wrapped up hosting the most fabulous retreat at my home in Santa Cruz, California! I can't even believe it - we've been planning and preparing for months, and then all of a sudden the weekend we've been thinking about and working toward was here. My heart is full! What a fabulous retreat this first one turned out to be!
We kicked off our inaugural Land + Sea Retreat with a beautiful sunset meet and greet. It was such a joy to finally meet everyone before the "arting" began. The weather was perfect for sitting outside, enjoying delicious food, and watching the fog roll in as the sun set over the ocean.
Renee and I knew right away that this was going to be an amazing group of women, and we couldn’t have asked for a better start.
Day 1
We began the day with a light breakfast on the deck under bright blue skies and perfect mid-70s weather. Renee led the first lesson—a beautiful floral painting with gouache and watercolor. Afterward, we enjoyed a delicious lunch from our local favorite, Gayle’s Bakery.
Post-lunch, we headed to the beach for a relaxing afternoon. Some of us sketched, some relaxed on the sand watching for whale spouts (Valerie even spotted one!), while others strolled along the path or painted under the shade.
Later, I hosted a mixed-media flower lesson in the back garden, surrounded by cosmos, dahlias, and the cottage garden with stunning valley views of the mountains. We capped off the day with Gayle’s cookies and a lovely dinner at Dos Pescadero. It was truly a day full of creativity and connection.
Renee and I loved making the gifts for our group; a set of handpicked watercolors, a treasure bag with bits of sea glass, one of my flour sack towels, a micron pen, a special pencil, and a packet of different papers.
I love this photo of Renee! I have always wanted to redo my gallery wall, so 3 nights before the retreat, Mark painted it for me. Then Renee and I hung up the beautiful art pieces the night before everyone came to the Meet + Greet. I just love how it turned out!
After lunch, we had an art lesson from Renee down at my local beach. The weather was amazing - high 70s and sunny. Some of us walked along the path and others (like me) sat in the sand and looked for whales - Valerie saw one!
Seacliff Beach is only 5 minutes from my house! We sketched the historic cement ship and found some beach treasures.
One of my favorite photos of Day 1 - looking at all the color, art, and supplies in my home, this makes me so happy!
With Day 1 reaching in the high 70's I was happy to teach under this huge top sail Mark put up before the retreat. In this photo, I am standing on what used to be the boy's baseball field! And where Scout used to play fetch (over and over) and now Mark has created a beautiful garden space for me.
I love this photo of JJ just playing with colors and shapes from all the flowers!
One of my favorite things to do is go around and check out all the beautiful art created during this retreat. So much gorgeousness!!
We made sure to have the yummiest food during the workshop - being creative makes you hungry!
Day 2
Day 2 greeted us with a refreshing fog, much to the delight of our Texas guests! I began the morning with a lesson in painting the stunning scenery of Point Lobos.
So many smiles in this photo - my heart is full!
The morning lesson was a watercolor sketch of Point Lobos, an hour's drive from my house. We used photos for reference to paint this place.
But the highlight of the day was undoubtedly our time spent in Nisene Forest.
Living just 5 minutes from both the ocean and the forest is such a blessing, and being in the misty, magical forest was an unforgettable experience. I led the group to one of my favorite spots in the Redwoods—where we sat in the stillness, breathing in the fresh air and sketching the majestic trees. In the heart of the grove was a fairy ring, a circle of younger trees formed from the roots of an older redwood—a true marvel of nature. And, believe it or not, amidst the quiet, we heard a donkey’s call echo through the forest! It was pure magic.
So many fairy rings found in the forest! Breathtaking!
I loved how quiet and peaceful it was, and then I'd look around and see everyone sketching and taking it all in!
We returned for another wonderful lesson with Renee and ended the day with a celebration of macarons and sparkling prosecco.
Hosting this retreat has filled me up in ways I can’t quite put into words, and I’m already planning more for the future!
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xo Andrea
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