In this intensive 3-night/4-day workshop, instructor César Meza will will guide students through creation of paintings from a living bouquet of flowers that will be set, maintained and refreshed for continuous study.
Close Observation of Nature
This workshop is focused on the analysis, study and exchange of knowledge from classical and naturalistic traditions in oil painting. The workshop aims to help students gain mastery of time-tested technique and expand their personal range and voice.
The method to be implemented in this workshop is direct painting from life, applying pigment immediately on canvas and in this way encouraging expressive investigation of the elements of gesture, line, color, value/tonal relationships and form. Each painting is viewed as an artist’s public-facing discussion about the nature of flowers.
Expert Instruction
César Meza trained at Grand Central Acemy and now teaches in Mexico City
The instructor will support students through effective guidance, carefully planned process demonstrations, and focused communication on the practices involved in direct painting from life. The instructor will explain the technical fundamentals and guide students through the meticulously and enriching process of careful brushwork to understand the anatomy and charm of a floral composition.
During these sessions the instructor will give a demonstration and discuss compositional themes and create images through models of light and shapes. The concepts of color, saturation and tonal value will be analyzed in depth.
Each student will create floral studies, starting from a discussion of structure and separation of light and shade masses (block-in), continuing with layers of paint identifying how light turns over form, and concluding with adjusting passes until an expressive painting is rendered, capturing the subtlety and grace of living flowers.
Skills-based Methods in Contemporary Art
These skills-based methods are grounded on close observation and contemplation of nature. We are confident these skills will be viewed as core to the survival of art in challenging times ahead. A growing movement is gathering to restore these traditions at the center of contemporary art. Momentum is gathering through the emergence of new art institutions in New York City, Boston Massachusetts, Lyme Connecticut, New Salem Massachusetts, and through our full series of art workshops here at Willow. The momentum is, in fact, global; new institutions have emerged over the past several decades all over North America, Europe and many parts of Asia.
Student Skills-Building
Inside these practices are some essential points:
-How to organize the composition, giving priority to a color harmony study.
-What defines proportions to make an expressive and detailed image from paint directly on canvas.
-Why different brushwork techniques and expressive orientation of the pattern allow us to fully render images.
-How to interpret relationships between color, value and form.
What to Expect
The workshop time will be 18 hours over four days. The workshop is open to all who have an interest in painting — all levels are welcome. No previous painting experience is needed..
Accommodations and all meals are included. Guests may extend their stay at Willow booking a guest room for the nights before or after the workshop. Guest rooms come with continental breakfast.
The material used in the workshop are not included. A waterials list is provided below.
Seats limited to 12 students.
Fee Options
Double occupancy: $1201.55 per person inclusive of all taxes and fees. Includes accommodation, meals, studio time, and instructional program. Reserve a spot online or by phone.
Single occupancy: $1,814.54 per person, inclusive of all taxes and fees. Includes accommodation, meals, studio time, and instructional program. Reserve a spot by phone.
Commuter: $798.50 per person, inclusive of all taxes and fees. Includes lunches, studio time, and instructional program. Reserve a spot by phone.
Refund Policy
We understand that travel plans may change. We offer a number of refund options.
Grace Window: Willow offers a full refund for cancelations made within 24 hours of booking.
Early Cancelation Window: When you call or email to cancel at least 60 days prior to a retreat, Willow offers a 75% refund of deposit(s).
Travel Insurance and Late Cancelations: Our travel insurance partner, ResNexus, offers partial- to full-refund options right up to the day your retreat starts. Travel insurance must be purchased at booking. If you opt not to purchase travel insurance at booking, refunds are not possible after the early cancelation window closes.
In very rare circumstances—such as a natural disaster or global pandemic—Willow may be required to cancel the retreat. If we cancel the retreat for any reason, you will receive a full refund of all payments made to date.
Materials List
Canvases and panels
1 linen canvas and/or panel. Recommended sizes are the following: 12x 12 or 12 x 15
1 or 2 small panels for color sketches. Recommended sizer are the following: 5 x 7
Paints
Raw Umber
Burnt Umber
Raw sienna
Ivory Black
Ultramarine Blue
Cobalt Blue
Cobalt Violet
Alizarin Crimson
Burnt Sienna
Cadmium Orange
Lead white
Titanium white
Cadmium Yellow Pale
Brushes, Knives and Palettes
Assorted small and medium round brushes
Assorted small and medium round flat brushes
One soft fan brush
.Palette knife
Wood or disposable palette (for mixing oils)
Other
Paper towels
Mineral spirits
Brush cleaner (metal brush cleaner with hermetic lids are recommended)
Mediums recommended are: cold pressed linseed oil, walnut oil
Personal Items List
Shoes: house slippers, studio shoes, outdoor shoes
Hiking shoes and clothing
Flashlight or headlamp for evening walks
Water bottle
The Schedule
Arrival Day
Arrive between 12pm and 2pm. Get settled into your room and gather at 3pm in Willow’s studio for the first workshop. This session will feature 90 minutes of presentation, discussion and demonstration. Students will begin blocking in their first composition.
Full Day Workshops
The instructor will offer instruction and demonstration throughout each day. Structure, form, light and materials will be discussed. Meals will be provided and free time after the afternoon session will allow you and other students to go on self-planned excursions in Southern Vermont (Willow has many recommendations to choose from).
Departure day
Wake up to light breakfast followed by a concluding workshop from 9am to 12pm to finish up one or more studies and engage in group discussion and feedback. Enjoy midday brunch in the family-style dining room. Head home at 1pm with a renewed focus on painting floral arrangements
Want to stay longer? Extend your stay!
Willow encourages retreat participants who wish to stay in the area longer to book rooms or book the treehouse on nights before and after the retreat at sharply reduced rates. Extended bookings include a hearty continental breakfast. Individual rooms are $150-375/night for up to two people. A discount of 10% applies to bookings of 3 or more nights.
Careful Observation
Painting with emphasis on value and color.
Painting from Life
Structure, form, light, and materials will be discussed
Rooms and Amenities at Willow
Willow provides comfortable overnight accommodations in double occupancy rooms. All rooms have dedicated ensuite or hall baths. We are outfitted with all the comforts of a typical guest house — linens, blowdryers, individually controlled heating and air conditioning. Our mattresses, pillows and furniture are exceptionally comfortable. Our soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions are organic. We support local craftspeople by supplying Willow with handmade and high quality goods — everything from lamps to rugs have been made by hand. You will feel very much at home.
Meals at Willow
Meals are provided throughout the retreat. Our meals are healthy and filling, made of local organic and natural ingredients. Please let us know if you prefer vegetarian or gluten free options. Please let us know if you have any food allergies.
Area Attractions
Willow is located in the foothills of the Green Mountains on 5 acres of open space. The property abuts several hundred acres of woods with hiking trails. The property has a large pond, hillside garden, fire pit, and a large south-facing porch for lounging and gathering.
You will have time for optional area excursions in afternoons and evenings. On request, we would be happy to organize a group excursion. More information on amenities and area attractions is offered on our website.
Meet our cats
Willow is home to two sweet and friendly cats, Bear and Scratch. They love our guests and they absolutely adore being petted. But we ask that guests not pick them up. Too much of that and they will become stressed little souls.
We do our best to keep cats out of the guest rooms so that people with allergies can comfortably stay with us. Please help with this by discouraging the cats from entering or napping in your room.
Traveling to Willow
Willow is located in the beautiful and quintessential village of South Newfane (population 300), a satellite of Newfane (population 1,700). We are located 20 minutes northwest of Brattleboro, 20 minutes northeast of Wilmington, and 20 minutes east of Dover and Mount Snow.
By car:
From Brattleboro, take Route 30 north about 9 miles. Go left on Depot Road where the West River and Rock River meet; travel 2 miles on Depot Road until you cross a small bridge over the Rock River; go left on Dover Road through the village of Williamsville; after passing through Williamsville you will cross a covered bridge. Willow is exactly 1.2 miles on your left. If you come to a stop sign you have gone 300 feet past our driveway.
From Wilmington, take Route 100 north toward West Dover about 3.5 miles. A half mile past the River Valley Market, take a right on East Dover Road; travel 1 mile. Take a right on Dover Hill Road; travel 8 miles on Dover Hill Road and E Dover Road (they are continuous) until you reach a 3-way stop sign in the village of South Newfane. Willow is 300 feet past the stop sign on your right.
By train: the daily Amtrak Vermonter stops in Brattleboro as it travels from Washington DC to Montreal and back. You can pick it up in New York, Hartford, Springfield to the south or in Montpelier to the north. Taxis are available in Brattleboro or Willow’s owners will pick you up in Brattleboro on the Vermonter’s arrival at 5pm (note this is after check in time).
By plane: Travelers may find Hartford (BDL—64.4 miles, 90 minutes) and Boston (BOS—85.7 miles, 2 hours 20 minutes) to be most convenient. Other nearby airports to check are Rutland VT (RUT, 55 miles, 1 hour 20 minutes), Manchester NH (MHT—85 miles, 2 hours), Albany NY (ALB—73 miles, 1 hour 40 minutes), and Worcester MA (ORH, 81 miles, 1 hour 50 minutes).
A note on driving: We are located in rural Vermont! You may have spotty cell service in areas throughout our area. Be sure to set your GPS before leaving from home. Set it by typing our business name “Willow Vermont Retreat” into your search bar. Please don’t use our address, as most GPS engines get rural addresses wrong. But don’t worry one bit, just remember this: following our guidance will land you safely with us; following Google to our address will lead you 4 miles off target.