The Art of Travel: Planning Workshops in Remote Locations

SCOTLAND

Dunskey Castle, Scotland

One thing I love to do is to organize workshops in gorgeous retreat centres or lodges or castles in remote areas of the world. The intention in each of the workshops listed below, is to invite students, through various exercises and outdoor meditations, to connect with the landscape, to carry home that connection and translate it into abstract paintings. Contemplation, writing and painting are ways of connecting with and honouring the land.

My friend Rebecca Crowell and I are finalizing plans to co-teach a workshop in a magnificent castle in Scotland, south of Glasgow in September 2019. Located near the sea, it has stunning views from the art studio on the top floor and 2000 acres of beautiful grounds to wander, including 2 lochs. We will stay in the West Wing. Registration for this workshop will open in September 2018. www.dunskey.com

NEWFOUNDLAND

I'm in the process of planning a cold wax painting workshop in Newfoundland, Canada for June of 2019. That's the season when icebergs break off the glaciers in western Greenland and the Gulf Stream floats them down along the east coast of Newfoundland, a route known as Iceberg Alley. As well, sometimes whales can be seen off the coast. On our day off from our painting workshop, we'll catch a boat to see if we can find icebergs and whales. The workshop will be held in The Doctor's House in early June 2019. Watch for an ad for this workshop in June 2018.

The Doctor's House, Newfoundland

ICELAND

I'm also in the process of planning another cold wax painting workshop at the Baer Art Center in Iceland for the summer of 2019. Stay tuned for more on this.

Baer Art Center, Iceland

MONGOLIA

And finally, Rebecca and I are also planning to co-teach a small class of 8 people, in a remote outpost in Mongolia, probably in August of 2020. There we will stay in the Three Camel Lodge where our accommodation is in luxury gers (or yurts) in the Gobi Desert, each with it's own bathroom. We'll hold our workshop in a ger, eat gourmet meals in the dining room and spend 2 days on out-trips in land rovers to see this area of Mongolia. There will be a tour of Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia the day after we arrive. Out-trips from our lodge would include a visit to the Yol Valley National Park, the Singing Sands, a meditation temple and the Flaming Cliffs. How exciting is this??

The Flaming Cliffs

The Singing Sands

We would appreciate your letting us know if any of these workshops are of interest to you. We'll put your name on any list or lists you like! janicemasonsteeves@gmail.com

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”― Mark Twain

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Janice Mason Steeves

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