Travel Sketching in Watercolor in Santa Fe with Brenda Swenson, May 11-16 & 17-22, 2024
Painting Workshops.
When quality matters!
When quality matters!
Painting Tours: USA-Santa Fe-Brenda Swenson
About the Workshop: Space is very limited (max 15 participants).
“Join me for 4 days of sketching with watercolor in beautiful Santa Fe. We’ll enjoy the free-flowing and colorful nature of watercolor at its best while sketching and having fun!
I’ll help you develop observation skills, color awareness, simple design principles and learn about light and shadows. We’ll investigate various techniques, sketching tools, and approaches to watercolor. Enjoy time with fellow artists, instruction and friendly critiques”.
About Brenda Swenson: www.swensonsart.net
Brenda Swenson is the artist author of two books, Keeping a Watercolor Sketchbook (Finalist, Award of Excellence) and Steps to Success in Watercolor.
Her artwork has been featured in Splash (11,12, 14,19 & 20), An Illustrated Journey, Creative Freedom, Complete Guide to Watercolor, Watercolor Artist, Watercolor Magazine, Watercolor Highlights, Plein Air Magazine and numerous other publications.
She has two instructional DVD’s on painting and sketching techniques. Brenda has achieved signature status in WW, NWWS, SDWS and CWA. An active participant in the arts community she has served on the board of directors for the National Watercolor Society and Watercolor West.
She is in demand to judge shows, demonstrate and teach workshops to groups nationwide and abroad.
Santa Fe is one of America’s most historic, artistic, and fascinating cities.
Known as “The City Different,” the nation’s oldest state capital city is a place unlike in other in the world.
There are scores of art galleries, restaurants, places to shop as well as a dozen museums featuring culture, history and traditions of this region and the world.
Santa Fe feels like a giant art museum, given how much amazing creativity is all around the city
Day 1: Orientation Meeting and Welcome Dinner
5 pm: Meet your fellow travelers, your instructor Brenda Swenson and your two tour leaders, Valerie and Jackie, at our selected hotel in Santa Fe for our orientation meeting.
We will go over the schedule for the workshop and treat you for a welcome dinner to celebrate the beginning of a week full of laughter, painting and new friendships.
Days 2 to 5: Sketching in Santa Fe
Here is a list of some emblematic spots of Santa Fe but not necessary our painting sites.
The charm of the adobe-constructed buildings.
Native American Culture
Colored doors striking on adobe buildings
One of the most striking churches in the Southwest
Mexican tile design on stair cases, Andalusian inspiration
Dried red chilies and spices everywhere
Santa Fe Watercolor Sketches and Drawings by Brenda Swenson
Our treat in a hidden garden
We would like to share with you a secluded hidden gem, an outdoor garden located in the heart of Santa Fe.
At the end of a painting day, we will treat you to appetizers and drinks in this in this peaceful desert oasis garden, surrounded with works of art.
End of Day 5: Show and Tell and Farewell Dinner
Afternoon:
It is time to finish up some of the paintings started this week. The sketching workshop will end with a little “Show and Tell”.
We will then treat you for the farewell dinner before saying goodbye.
Day 6: Departure
You can leave at your convenience or extend your stay to enjoy this wonderful place. If you live close to Santa Fe, you can leave the night before after the farewell dinner.
Optional: May 16: One painting day in Ghost Ranch (uninstructed)
On May 16, we offer the possibility of going to paint in Ghost Ranch. Spaces are limited to 25 people (and minimum 12). There won’t be any instructor. You will paint on your own (or go hiking, etc…). We will bring the folding chairs.
Price: Transportation + entrance to Ghost Ranch:
For a group of 12-20: $199 (per person)
For a group of 21-25: $159 (per person)
The landscape of Ghost Ranch is colorful and dramatic due to the red and yellow cliffs. It encompasses 21,000 acres of towering rock walls, vivid colors and vast skies. It was the home and studio of Georgia O’Keeffe, as well as the subject of many of her paintings. Although we can’t visit Georgia’s home, painting the same dramatic sceneries will be a unique experience.
We have selected a very charming hotel located only 2 blocks from the main plaza.
The tour leaders as well as the art instructor will stay there. We recommend you stay with the group so you can benefit from the studio.
We have booked some rooms for the group at a discounted price. Email us to get the code and the hotel info. You need to call the hotel directly in order together the discounted price. The hotel will not charge your card. They offer free cancellation until 5 days prior to the workshop. However, because of the limited number of rooms we were able to secure, please do not book a room if you are unsure you will stay there.
The air-conditioned rooms are designed with Spanish art work and include amenities such as free Wi-FI, bathrobes and refrigerators. Cable TVs, coffee makers and ironing facilities are provided.
They also offer free full breakfast and free parking.
Price varies with the dates and type of rooms: it starts at $219 + tax for a traditional room.
Dates and Rates
May 11-16, 2024 –open and May 17-22, 2024 –open
Price: $1,690 (hotel is not included, see below)
Optional: One painting day in Ghost Ranch on May 16 (uninstructed): from $159 till $199 depending of the size of the group. See info here. Let us know when you register if you are interested in the optional Ghost Ranch. If you chose Brenda’s first workshop, it ends on May 15th after dinner and if you take Brenda’s second workshop, it starts on May 17th so participants from both workshops can join the outing in Ghost Ranch.
What is included in the price
Includes
- A welcome reception
- 2 dinners: one welcome dinner on day 1 and one farewell dinner on day 5
- Drinks and appetizers in an outdoor garden
- All art classes (daily demos, one-on-one support and instructions)
- Transportation of all participant’s painting supplies to the painting locations
- The use of folding chairs
- Complementary snacks and drinks brought to the painting sites
- A tour leader throughout the week
- The use of a studio
Excludes
- Your hotel. We have booked some rooms for the participants interested in staying at the hotel where the teacher and the tour leaders are staying. Check the hotel info here. Email us to get the code and hotel name.
- Some meals (the ones not listed as included)
- Painting supplies (folding chairs will be provided)
How to Book
To reserve your spot, please complete the form below (one per person) and pay US$ 600 deposit. After receiving your form, we will send you the information for the payment. Note that the deposit is not refundable but US$ 300 is transferrable within one year. See our cancelation policy below.
You will be able to pay:
1- By check
2- Via ZELLE, free instant pay, offered by many major US banks
3- By bank transfer
4- By credit card