Blooming Whimsy with Helen Dardik, a June 2026 art retreat at The Smiley Manse in Southern Vermont

Blooming Whimsy with Helen Dardik

DATES: June 17-21, 2026

Artists at every stage of their art journey came together to make beautiful things with Helen Dardik!

The week was all about watercolours, gouache and acryla gouache and a wonderful variety of techniques. Artists painted from nature and from within, learning to see what’s there and what could be there, with plenty of colour, nature and a bit of whim.

The week opened with getting to know the materials and starting a floral, then artists spent a full day working on the full bloom. Next came a break from the colourful toomuchery with a monochromatic folklore piece, a fun chance to explore a whole new look.

Artists then created their own garden or kitchen mobiles, and on the final day everyone finished up their projects and shared their work. It was a week at The Smiley overflowing with colour, nature and Helen’s playful spirit.

Watch the video on Instagram: highlights from Helen Dardik’s Blooming Whimsy retreat at The Smiley Manse in Southern Vermont
Close-up of a bright magenta peony in a bouquet in the barn studio
Helen Dardik in a mustard cardigan painting colorful florals at the barn studio table
Smiling artist painting florals at a table by the barn studio windows

Blooming Whimsy Retreat Schedule

WEDS, JUN 17: Get to know your Materials and start a Floral

THURS, JUN 18: Working on the Full Bloom

FRI, JUN 19: A break from the colourful Toomuchery,
a Monochromatic folklore

SAT, JUNE 20: Creating a garden or kitchen mobile

SUN, JUN 21: Finishing up projects and sharing

Bumblebee on a bright yellow marigold beside red flowers with the green lawn behind
Retreat artist in a green t-shirt painting gouache flowers on a large sheet of paper at a shared table of paint tubes, watercolor palettes and sketchbooks in the sunlit barn studio at The Smiley Manse
Artists gathered for lunch at a long table on the covered porch with flowers down the center
Artists painting watercolor florals together at a long table in the barn studio
Finished gouache painting of a colorful floral bouquet with a butterfly and berries
Overhead view of a bowl of red and green apples beside a bowl of colorful farm-fresh eggs on a red checked tablecloth at The Smiley Manse retreat breakfast
Smiling artist in a paint-splattered apron holding up her finished painted garden mobile in the barn studio
Red barn studio with its cupola and weathervane on a sunny summer day, with green lawn, a gravel drive and white clouds in a blue sky

“What I’ll remember most are the stories told and the incredible gifts shared by the participants. I loved the openness of the studio, so easy to walk around and see what other’s were up to and how I might approach things differently. And of course, Helen’s incredible talents on display, her generous spirit and wicked sense of humor!”

— Eric
Smiley Retreat Artist