15-19 May 2025
In this creative retreat Jennifer Bonneteau will be exploring the versatile qualities of watercolor, gouache and other mixed-media for dynamic landscape and urban paintings and sketches. Jen will teach you to mix, match and master your palette through color craving exercises and playful studies that will infuse your paintings with beautiful hues and palettes that reflect your personality. She will also help you hone your visual eye and observation skills as you compose captivating sketches and paintings from life in the beautiful outdoors. You’lll build your visual vocabulary and personal style as you fill your journal with a variety of marks, shapes, patterns and personal pictorials of the wonders we’ll experience together. As we take in the beauty of Monsaraz, we’ll combine all the concepts of color, composition, contrast and personal expression in order to compose a painting that captures the essence and energy of your time at the retreat. Jennifer’s desire is that you come away from this retreat feeling cared for, connected and creatively confident.
Jennifer Bonneteau is a colorful, Southern California Artist, Educator and Expressive Arts Coach. Her art and offerings are an invitation for people to experience freedom, connection and just plain joy. Jen’s been making art, both hangable and wearable, for four decades. She started painting walls and ceilings in 1997 when wall murals were all the rage. Fast forward to 2005 when she and her best friend partnered up to create Chick Picks, guitar-pick jewelry; they’d spend afternoons together painting guitar picks over a glass of wine and a good laugh (or cry) before bringing their artsy earrings to market in Palm Springs, California…fun times!“Painting is a portal to endless possibilities.”
From guitar picks to Jen’s favorite pair of boots, she’s painted everything under the sun. She feels alive and free when splashing around in her spirited studio. Jen loves entering that profound space where she can both lose and discover herself at the same time…it’s magical. Jen draws inspiration for her lively, paintings from the people, places and experiences that move her.
15, 16, 17, 18, 19 May 2025
(5 days and 4 nights)
Shared Room:
1.800€ PP (+vat 23%, only 6 rooms available) = total 2.214€
Single Room:
2.000€ PP (+vat 23%) = total 2.460€
(Paid 2 times: Reservations Until end December, and Final Payment 5th March 2025)
Paid 2 times:
Reservations:
1st Payment:
1107€ (shared room)
1230€ (single room)
2º payment until 5th March 2025:
2nd Payment:
1107€ (shared room)
1230€ (single room)
3 full day Art Classes with Jennifer Bonneteau
3 Dinners
3 Lunches
Yoga Class
Visit old rug factory
Wine tasting event
4 Nights Acommodation (with breakfast included)
Transport from Lisbon Airport to the Hotel (2 hours) and transport in the area.
• It is advisable to book the plane after the final confirmation that the retreat will happen, or sooner until we have 10 participants.
• If we cannot gather the minimum participants of 10, the event can be canceled and the payments refund to the participants, less 50€ for cancelation costs.
THURSDAY, 15 May 2025
The bus will pick up the participants at Lisbon airport at 4 pm. It is advisable to arrive at Lisbon airport before 3.30 pm. The trip to Monsaraz, to the hotel at Telheiro, lasts 2 hours, so we will arrive at the hotel around 6 pm. A light dinner will be served at the hotel upon arrival.
FRIDAY, 16 May 2025
After breakfast at the hotel, we will have a 15 minute walk to the retreat centre “Sofia In Monsaraz” with our teacher around 9am.
Once there we will introduce ourselves in a welcome session before starting the first class at 10 am. Jennifer will offer a short introduction into her artistic background and practice. Next we’ll kick off our creative time together with a few playful sketching prompts and get right into our lessons on color and composition. After lunch in the garden, we’ll head back to the studio for our second painting session which will be all about painting light…this is always an exciting part of the painting process! With detailed explanations and personalized instruction, you will build the foundation for a more independent practice over the following days.
In the afternoon we will travel to the castle where dinner will be served at a local restaurant.
SATURDAY, 17 May 2025
Session 3 will be offered in the village of Monsaraz where you’ll focus on simplifying shapes and capturing light in your artworks as we draw and paint from life in this beautiful urban setting.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we will travel to an old rug factory and then we visit the lake, where you can swim, chat with your new friends or indulge in a relaxed, informal sketching session in nature. Then we will travel back to the hotel where participants make their own dinner arrangements.
SUNDAY, 18 May 202
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll gather again around 9:00 am for our 15 minute walk to the retreat center “SIM” with Jen. Before beginning painting you’re invited (but not required) to enjoy 30 minutes of yoga.
The 4th and last formal painting session will start with a painting demo in which Jennifer will build on the concepts from the previous lessons while sharing her tips for completing a painting. Afterwards you’ll be encouraged to continue your individual works by choosing your own subjects from around the retreat center and creating an art piece that resonates with you and your experience at the retreat.
Jennifer will support you with personalised feedback and gentle guidance as you paint and develop your final paintings. After lunch in the garden, we’ll have an informal “mini group show” to appreciate the original artworks created during the retreat and to reflect on our artistic experiences. Before ending the day we will appreciate some Portuguese wines, selected by a local sommelier. During our last evening together, you’ll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant with your new friends while reliving the best moments of your experience here in Monsaraz.
MONDAY, 19 May 2025
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.
Shared Room:
1.800€ PP (+vat 23%, only 6 rooms available) = total 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 5th March 2025:
2nd Payment:
1107€ (shared room)
1230€ (single room)
If you would like to make a direct booking: info@sofiainmonsaraz.site
Internacional roundtrip airfare, transport to the place, alcoholic drinks, activities not included in the itinery, hotel incidentals including room service, 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, Thursday evening and finish when you leave the hotel, by Monday morning. 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 a walking tour where the ground may be uneven. You may be on your feet for several hours at a time and should be comfortable with walking.
The supplies list will be comunicated a few months before the event.
In this event we will accept up to 15 people. The event does not include spouses, partners or friends if they are not taking the workshop.Please contact us if you would like to bring a non-participant partner.
If we cannot gather the minimum participants of 10, the event can be cancelled, and the payments refunded 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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