October/November 2024 (5 days and 4 nights)
From 30 October (Wednesday) until 3th November (Sunday) 2024
This retreat is taught by illustrator and artist Sarah Dyer and writer and poet Andrew McMillan.
It is suitable for all levels of artists and writers. It would be great for artists who want to explore more of an idea of the role of story and sequence in their work. And writers who want to combine image and text, drawers who want to write and anyone new to image-making that would like to expand their visual voice with narrative, poetry and the image in sequence.
Sarah Dyer is an artist and illustrator based in the UK with a passion for capturing narrative and sequence within her work. She enjoys working primarily in her sketchbooks capturing and observing what is around her to translate into images. She enjoys using mixed media, including colour pencil, pastels, inks and collage. She has taught up to MA level for 20 years, currently teaching one day a week on the Foundation Course at Kingston University. Sarah has had 14 books published as a picture book artist and author and they’ve been translated into over 10 languages.
Know More About Sarah Dyer’s work: @INSTA
Andrew McMillan was born in Barnsley in 1988. His debut collection of poetry, physical, was the only poetry book to ever win the Guardian First Book Award; it was also awarded a Somerset Maugham award, an Eric Gregory Award, the Aldeburgh First Collection Prize and in 2019 was voted as one of the Top 25 Poetry Books of the Past 25 Years by the Booksellers Association. His second collection, playtime, won the inaugural Polari Prize. A third collection, pandemonium, was published in 2021 and in 2022 he co-edited the acclaimed anthology 100 Queer Poems, which was shortlisted in the British Book Awards. He is professor of contemporary writing at Manchester Metropolitan University and a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Know More About Andrew McMillan work
October/November 2024 (5 days and 4 nights) From 30th October (Wednesday) until 4th November (Sunday) 2024
Shared Room:
1.800€ PP (+vat 23%, only 6 rooms available) = 2.214€
Single Room:
2.000€ PP (+vat 23%) = total 2.460€
Paid 2 times:
Reservations:
1st Payment:
1107€ (shared room)
1230€ (single room)
2º payment until 15 June 2024:
2nd Payment:
1107€ (shared room)
1230€ (single room)
3 full day Art and Writing Classes with Sarah Dyer and Andrew McMillan
Visit to Tile Museum- Estremoz
3 Dinners local restaurants
3 Lunches
4 Nights Accommodation (with breakfast included)
Wine tasting Event
Transport from Lisbon Airport to the Hotel (2 hours) and transport in the area.
NOTE: A pottery lesson is available upon request.
• It is advisable to book the plane after the final confirmation that the retreat will happen, by end May 2024, or sooner until we have 10 participants.
• If we cannot gather the minimum participants of 10 until the end of May 2024, the event will be cancel and the payments refund to the participants.
WEDNESDAY, 30 October
The bus will pick the participants at Lisbon airport around 16 pm. It is advisable to arrive at Lisbon airport before 16 pm.
We will arrive at the hotel Vila Planície, Monsaraz, around 8 pm, where we will be served a light dinner.
THURSDAY, 31 October -Recording an experience
After breakfast at the hotel, you will walk 15 minutes to “Sofia In Monsaraz” with our teachers. After the welcoming session, we will share current work and chat about some goals we’d like to achieve during our time here.
This morning we will be looking at process, and not be concerned by a final outcome. A lovely way to warm up, test out the materials we brought with us and have some fun! No pressure on where your drawing is going. An exploration of materials and mark marking and getting used to our surroundings.
Before lunch we will experience olive picking with local neighbours. Around 13h we’ll gather around the lunch table in the garden, where the food can be cooked in the outdoor oven.
In the afternoon we will have our first writing class. We’ll look at ways we can pick the perfect word – thinking about the texture and feel of our individual choices and how they can affect a wider piece. Using the exploratory drawings from this morning and language gathered from the olive picking session we will combine to explore new imagery.
In the afternoon we will have a chat around the fire pitt, and taste some local wines. The dinner is not included.
FRIDAY, 1st November – Combining imagination and observation
After breakfast at the hotel, you will walk 15 minutes to “Sofia In Monsaraz” with our teachers. Today you will draw from a space you have enjoyed around the venue. We will spend some time really observing the space. Make a few drawings from different angles. You will need this for Andrews class. How can we use language to inhabit a space, and how can we use our imagination to transform a location in our writing.
After lunch in the garden, served with local produce and vegetables, it is time for Andrew’s class.
Now using the text introduce something else into that space. Think about what you’ve written. Does it conjure a colour, weather, a mood, person, object or animal? We will be using exercises to help us make the connections between observation and imagination. Draw the drawing again but allow these things to inhabit that space. Don’t over think it or be critical, enjoy the process.
Then is time for a wine tasting followed by dinner at a local restaurant in the castle, to celebrate this special portuguese public holiday “All Saints Day”.
SATURDAY, 2nd November- Put into practise what has been learnt in an outside environment
The day starts at 9 am with a trip (by Bus) to Estremoz, where we will be visiting the antiques market (also farmers market) and the Tile Museum with our sketchbooks and cameras.
Sarah will share tips and exercises for recording an experience on location, combining what has been learnt so far. Andrew will teach how to think about narrative and action, how we animate our words.
After the visit to the museaum we will record our experience in the space through photos, drawings, and language. Note what is important to you to develop your visual voice.
The visit to the market will be an opportunity to put into practice what you have learnt from the exercises. Ways to record your experiences through image and language. Bring imagination and observation together.
Lunch will be a picnic on the way back to the hotel, where we will share our inspirations and drawings from the trip to the tile museum and identify what we like about them, choosing areas we’d like to continue developing.
Time in the afternoon to finish off any work, talk to Sarah and Andrew 1:1 about ideas, work, etc. Exhibition of work before the final dinner.
SUNDAY, 3 November
After breakfast at 9 am you return to Lisbon, and estimated arrival time is 12.30h. On the way to Lisbon the bus stop in a local pottery shop, for 45 minutes.
Everything is organised to detail so that nothing will prevent you from enjoying all the peace and quiet of the Alentejo.
All the rooms have air conditioning, full and private bathroom, shared or private balcony and outdoor access.
This accommodation is a 15-minute walk from the workshop venue (SIM) and passes by the Bulhoa menhir (National Monument) and the Alentejo plain, ideal for reflection before starting work.
October/November 2024 (5 days and 4 nights) From 30 October (Wednesday) until 3 November (Sunday) 2024
Shared Room:
1.800€ PP (+vat 23%, only 6 rooms available) = 2.214€
Single Room:
2.000€ PP (+vat 23%) = total 2.460€
Paid 2 times:
Reservations:
1st Payment:
1107€ (shared room)
1230€ (single room)
2º payment until 15 June 2024:
2nd Payment:
1107€ (shared room)
1230€
– Deposit due to Secure your place in the event: 1107€/ 1230€
– It is advisable to book the plane after the final confirmation that the retreat will happen, by end May 2024.
If you would like to make a direct booking: info@sofiainmonsaraz.site
Internacional roundtrip airfare, alcoholic drinks, boat trip, activities not included in the itinery, hotel incidentals including room service, materials list, expenses during free time, laundry service and hotel bar, food and beverages not included in the itinerary. COVID-19 test, if applicable.
We require all participantes to have a personal travel insurance that at minimum covers medical emergencies and cancellations. We do not provide travel insurance for the retreat and each participant is required to have their own individual travel insurance. The place, where the retreat happens, has an Insurance that covers accidents. Will not be responsible for refunding any lost trip funds if you have to miss your scheduled trip.
We cannot guarantee to accommodate vegan, gluten free or dairy/egg free, and some allergies. We are unable to accommodate participants with severe food allergies or food intolerances. Please contact us in advance of registering if you have any dietary questions.
It will start when arriving at the hotel, Wednesday and finish when you leave the hotel, by Sunday. We are not responsible for any non-retreat activity that a participant decides to purchase outside of the retreat and such activity will not form part of the participant’s contract with us. The bus transport is insurance secure.
This retreat includes one walking tour, where the ground may be uneven and you may be on your feet for several of hours at a time and should be comfortable walking 1km.
The supllies list will be sent with the Booking Form.
You may cancel before the end of January 2024 and receive a full refund minus 50€ fee.
Your payments will be split in two, with an initial deposit to secure your place on the retreat.
After you have completed your registration you will be sent an Invoice to complete your deposit payment. Payment can be made by Banktransfer or PayPal in euros. Additional costs may apply where special accommodations are made available to participants.
In this event we will accept until 15 people. The event does not include spouses, partners or friends if they are not taking the workshop.
If we cannot gather the minumum participants of 10 until the end of May 2024 the event will be cancel and the payments refund to the participants.
Other questions about this retreat please contact: info@sofiainmonsaraz.site
For more info or questions please consult here our Terms & Conditions.
Rua do Chafariz, nº 6 Aldeia do Outeiro
7200-179 Reguengos de Monsaraz
(+351) 266 557 091
Sofia in Monsaraz Ⓒ 2023 – All rights reserved | Identity design by Jorge Silva | Video created by Janz Anton-Iago | Photos by Ana Paula Carvalho
We will contact you with the details for payment.
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