Portugal

March 31 - April 7, 2025

Abstracting the Portuguese Landscape

with ANDREW FAULKNER 

This retreat is sold out. Please click HERE to be added to our waitlist. If a spot opens up, we will contact people on the waitlist first, before our mailing list and social media. So don’t delay, get on the waitlist!

Join ANDREW FAULKNER for an immersive oil painting workshop in beautiful Portugal from March 31st to April 7th, 2025, organized by ARTfuel Studios. This retreat will take place in the picturesque region of Alentejo, known for its stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage, making it the perfect backdrop for your artistic exploration.

In This Retreat

We'll delve into various landscape painting techniques, inspired by my previous workshop in Tuscany. Participants will learn the process of “photo-notetaking,” where we draw inspiration from outdoor settings to create vibrant abstract landscapes in the studio. This method emphasizes observation and memory, allowing you to translate the essence of a place onto the canvas.

This workshop is ideal for intermediate artists looking to elevate their landscape painting skills with dynamic color and composition techniques. Class size is limited to ensure personalized instruction, so sign up soon to secure your spot.

Andrew Faulkner 

With a focus on abstract landscapes and architectural interiors, my art is influenced by my Northern California surroundings. In my hands, each piece becomes a world of ‘invented color space’ where abstract landscapes and architectural interiors come alive. My work invites you to journey through compositions where color fractures and reforms, creating depth and atmosphere open to personal interpretation.

Born into a family of artists, designers, and architects, my paintings fuse the structural sensibilities of my architect father and color sense of my interior designer mother. I studied painting at Trinity College with colorist George Chapman who was a student of Joseph Albers.

GALLERY PARTNERSHIPS: My work is shown at The Pamela Walsh Gallery (Palo Alto, CA), The Portland Art Gallery (Portland, ME), The Blue Print Gallery (Dallas, TX) and Ruby Living Design in Mill Valley. 

PAST EXHIBITIONS: I have also exhibited at The Jen Tough Gallery, Benicia, and sold work at other Bay Area galleries, such as SLATE Contemporary, Andrea Schwartz Gallery, and Chandra Cerrito / Art Advisors. 

ILLUSTRATION WORK: My illustrations have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and Marin Magazine. 

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Testimonials

  • I absolutely did not expect such profound changes in myself, so the workshop one hundred percent exceeded all my expectations. I think I jumped years ahead in my understanding of art, of myself and my path. Incredibly grateful. ~. Maria

  • Without getting too sappy, this experience was life changing for me!! Overall, I think the biggest takeaway was to loosen up and not take myself or painting too seriously! Thank you, thank you for organizing and being such an incredible teacher. Can’t wait for the next trip!! ~ Megan

  • I absolutely loved the workshop and the people. I thoroughly enjoyed the classes. I loved learning techniques with a palette knife. Regarding composition I liked working with photography and pastels and breaking photos down to totally abstract paintings. I thought that you were an extremely generous teacher. ~ Jill

This will be your home for the week.

What you will learn

  • Expressive brush and palette knife techniques

  • Observing value, composition, and color organization

  • Knowing when your painting is complete

  • The importance of sketching and color studies

  • Northern California artist, Linda Wegmann, will be Andrew’s assistant during this retreat. She is a painter and teacher at the ICB Building in Sausalito where Andrew works. Linda will demonstrate a Cold Wax Painting Technique.

    * Check out our FAQ below for more information on the daily schedule

What’s Included

  • 6 full days of instruction with Andrew Faulkner

  • 7 nights of accommodation

  • All meals - made fresh daily with organically grown ingredients on property or sourced locally (local wines and beers available for purchase)

  • Indoor painting studio with stunning views

  • Sustainability tour

  • Afternoon excursion - visiting local artisans

  • Transportation assistance to/from the airport (retreat participants will be responsible for the cost of the shuttle service)

How it Works

  • At the time of booking, you pay a US$500 non-refundable deposit.

  • The remaining balance is split into half.

  • The first half is due 30 days from the date of booking

  • The remaining balance is due 30 days after that (60 days from the date of booking)

  • The images shown of rooms are for reference only and may not be the exact room you reserve.

  • Note: This retreat venue is rustic and not suitable for people with mobility issues.

Accommodations & Costs

  • Single Occupancy

    Queen Bed / Private Bath

  • Double Occupancy

    Two Twin Beds / Shared Bath

  • The dates are March 31 - April 7, 2025

  • This retreat will be hosted at Quinta Camarena which is located in the protected area of Costa Vicentina, in the Alentejo Region of Southwest Portugal. The venue is about a 1.5 hour drive from the Lisbon (LIS) Airport. A few months before the retreat, we will send you options for transportation services from the airport to the retreat center. Each attendee will be responsible for the cost of their own transportation to and from the retreat center.

  • This retreat accommodates 14 artists with instructor Andrew Faulkner and assistant Linda Wegman. There are 10 single rooms and two double shared rooms (total 4 people with individual twin beds for each person). All rooms have ensuite bathrooms. Accommodations are on a first come, first basis and all reservations must be completed through this website.

  • Accommodations for 7 nights, 6 days of painting instruction with Andrew Faulkner - (morning and afternoon sessions each day), meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Wine and other beverages are available for purchase.

  • Airfare, travel insurance (required), transportation to and from the venue, supplies, alcoholic beverages, tips for staff, art supplies, travel before or after the workshop and/or any personal purchases made.

  • Here is the tentative daily schedule which is subject to change slightly to accommodate artisan visits, etc.

    Monday, Mar 31

    3:00pm - Check in begins

    5:30pm - Welcome reception / Wine by the Pool

    6:30pm - Dinner (this might be 7pm)

    Tuesday, Apr 1

    8:30am Breakfast

    9:30am Intro to class -

    DEMO: guide Composition/Value/Harmony

    Going outdoors for photo reference

    12:30pm lunch break

    Preliminary sketch from photos

    2:00pm DEMO: Sepia underpainting Developing your underpainting

    6:30pm Dinner

    Wednesday, Apr 2

    8:30am Breakfast

    9:30am Develop under paintings

    DEMO: Color mixing demo - learn about harmonizing with “sludge”

    Check your sketches/under-paintings for Composition/Value/Harmony

    Talk about tools - palette knife, brush sizes (“big ass brush tm)

    12:30pm lunch break

    2:00pm DEMO: How to “break it to fix it”

    Going outdoors for photo reference

    5:30pm wine break and Q & A

    6:30pm special Portuguese dinner (TBD)

    Thursday, Apr 3

    8:30am Breakfast

    9:30am

    Talk abstracting your landscape. Demo abstraction. Breaking your landscapes to shapes

    and color blocks. Less is more?

    12:30pm lunch break - Excursion TDB

    2:00pm Open afternoon of painting

    4:30pm wine break and Q & A

    6:30pm Dinner

    Friday, Apr 4

    8:30 Breakfast

    9:30am Morning Demo (class chooses what they want demo of)

    DEMO: Finalizing paintings revisit Edgar Payne composition samples

    How to know when it’s done? We talk about leaving it up on the wall. Time will tell.

    Open morning of painting (teacher one on one time)

    12:30pm lunch break

    2:00pm DEMO: Digital painting

    Open afternoon of painting (teacher one on one time)

    5:30pm wine break and Q & A

    6:30pm Dinner

    Saturday, Apr 5

    8:30 Breakfast

    FREE DAY TO EXPLORE COUNTRYSIDE

    Demo: Painting Trees

    Andrew will be in the studio helping students who want to stay behind and work on

    paintings. If enough people want to paint outside we could organize a small group. For

    those who want to explore Florence or the countryside, this is your day!

    6:30pm Dinner

    Sunday, Apr 6

    8:30AM Breakfast

    9:30am Morning Demo: Sepia glazing with “Sludge” (class chooses what they want demo of)

    Open morning of painting (teacher one on one time)

    12:30pm lunch break

    2:00pm Open afternoon of painting (teacher one on one time)

    5:30pm wine break and Q & A

    6:30pm Farewell Dinner

    Monday, Apr 7 

    8:00am - Breakfast 

    10:00am - All guest must leave the property by this time

  • We accept all major credit card. If you prefer an alternative payment method, please reach out to us at info@artfuelstudio.com. All payments are billed in US Dollars.

  • Yes, to reserve your spot for the retreat, we require a US$ 500 non-refundable deposit.  The remaining balance will be billed as follows: 

    The remaining balance is split into half.

    The first half is due 30 days from the date of booking

    The remaining balance is due 30 days after that (60 days from the date of booking)

    All retreat fees must be paid in full 90 days before the start of the retreat.

  • Your US$ 500 deposit is non-refundable. If you need to cancel after additional payments have been made, we are happy to refund the amount paid (less your deposit), once the retreat is full and we find a replacement for your spot, and they have paid in full - (we’ll be keeping a waitlist).

  • Yes, travel insurance is required for all workshops.  Please do your research to determine if you should purchase standard travel insurance or if CFAR travel insurance (cancel for any reason) is better for you.

  • The retreat can accommodate vegetarian, gluten free and other common food sensitivities. We will send a questionnaire prior to the workshop asking for your requests at that time so the venue is prepared.

  • This retreat is taught in oil.  However, the principles taught apply to acrylic or oil painting. If you prefer to paint in acrylic, the most important thing is to have an understanding of acrylic paint.  This retreat is for intermediate/higher level painters. 

  • Packing suggestions and a full detailed list will be emailed once you have registered. This list will include suggested oil paint colors, brands, etc. Artists will bring a small paint set. Liquid mediums and canvases will be provided. Below is a short recap of the supplies needed for this retreat:

    • Oil paints

    • Canvas board panels 12"x12" (Andrew will supply 12"x16" canvas board panels)

    • Pad of canvas paper

    • Assorted paint brushes

    • Flexible palette knife

  • To view the ARTfuel Studio Retreats Terms & Conditions, please click HERE.

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