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2026 is all about composition
Why Composition?
You know that feeling when a painting almost works… but you can’t quite say why it doesn’t?
That missing piece is often composition. Because it’s the invisible force behind every strong piece of art. And once you understand it—truly feel it—everything changes.
When you learn the principles - balance, structure, rhythm, spatial tension - you begin to understand why something works. And once you know that, you can break the rules with power and purpose. This is how your work becomes not just expressive, but resolved. Not just spontaneous, but deeply felt and fully yours.
Intuition isn’t guesswork, it’s grounded in knowledge.
This retreat is a creative laboratory—a place to experiment, refine, and elevate your painting practice through the lens of Design Principles. You’ll come away with practical tools, visual clarity, and a new way of seeing your work. Whether you're an intuitive abstract painter or a meticulous realist, your work lives or dies by its composition.
Below is some need to know information about our 2026 retreat schedule.
We’ll open our retreats soon, but only our subscribers (you!) will have all this info in advance.
You’ll be ready to snag the room and destination you want!
Is 2026 the year you will join us? Sign up HERE to receive priority notification!
April 8 - 15, 2026 (8 days / 7 nights)
April 16 - 23, 2026 (8 days / 7 nights)
SPAIN (Andalusia)
INSTRUCTORS: Susan Melrath & Terri Froelich
CLOSEST AIRPORTS: Malaga (AGP) or Sevilla (SVQ)
PRICE RANGE: US $4,950 - 5,750 (includes art instruction, accommodation, meals)
DEPOSIT/PAYMENT SCHEDULE: A US $500 non-refundable deposit is required to book your room. At the time of booking, you pay one-third of the total retreat fee which includes the deposit. The balance of your retreat fee will be divided in half. The first half will be due in 30 days and the remaining amount due 30 days after that payment.
ACCOMMODATIONS AVAILABLE: There are ONLY 15 spots available for this retreat
(5 singles / 10 doubles)
August 15 - 22, 2026 (8 days / 7 nights)
PORTUGAL (Ribatejo)
INSTRUCTORS: Susan Melrath & Terri Froelich
CLOSEST AIRPORT: Lisbon (LIS)
PRICE RANGE: US $4,750 - 5,650 (includes art instruction, accommodation, meals)
DEPOSIT/PAYMENT SCHEDULE: A US $500 non-refundable deposit is required to book your room. At the time of booking, you pay one-third of the total retreat fee which includes the deposit. The balance of your retreat fee will be divided in half. The first half will be due in 30 days and the remaining amount due 30 days after that payment.
ACCOMMODATIONS AVAILABLE: There are ONLY 18 spots available for this retreat (12 singles / 6 doubles)
Cancellation policy for all retreats: Your US$ 500 deposit is non-refundable. non-transferable. If you need to cancel, we are happy to refund the amount paid (less your deposit), once a retreat is full and a person fills your spot. When they have paid in full, your refund will be processed . (We’ll be keeping a waitlist!)
You art feels inconsistent—some pieces work, others fall flat
You paint from intuition but second-guess your decisions
You’re stuck in familiar habits and ready to evolve
You want your work to feel more resolved
You want to build structure into your work without losing freedom
You want to learn to identify and fix “what’s not working” in a painting
You’re craving time, space, and community to focus on your art
Understanding composition isn’t about memorizing facts or learning formulas. It's about understanding why things work and then applying the learning to your work. During our week together, we’ll be your guides. Our morning exercises will strengthen your understanding of composition. Our afternoon painting prompts and one-on-one guidance will provide the experiential learning that sticks and applies to YOUR art. Are you ready?
This retreat is for you if…
