Chasing Rainbows with Jessica Swift
DATES: June 28-July 2, 2027
FEE: $1,995.00
Please confirm by March 28 to help ensure this retreat moves forward.
Also, if you're in need of financial assistance, please contact us.
This is an immersive art retreat centered around color, creative exploration, and self-discovery. No previous art experience is necessary. Participants will learn approachable techniques for working with color, shape, composition, collage, layering, pattern, and mark-making, while using art-making as a way to slow down, play, reflect, and reconnect with their own creative voice. The retreat combines guided art instruction with nature, rest, journaling, solo time, playful excursions, and community. A central theme throughout the retreat is the rainbow as a metaphor for the full spectrum of our creative and inner lives.
CHASING RAINBOWS RETREAT SCHEDULE
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Participants settle into The Smiley Manse and receive a retreat sketchbook. An introduction to the retreat philosophy, followed by a simple sketchbook exercise: What color are you arriving in? Participants will reflect through words, color, drawing, or collage on what they're bringing to the retreat and what they'd like to make space for.
4:30 pm | Welcome Gathering
6:00 pm | Dinner
Evening: Optional Rainbow Walk
A gentle invitation to explore the property, notice color and details in the landscape, and record observations in the sketchbook.
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9:30 am | Light in-studio breakfast
10:00 am | Art Session: The Sketchbook as a Place to Notice
Participants learn approachable sketchbook practices including observation, simplifying objects into shapes, expressive mark-making, and combining drawing, color, and words.
– break for lunch –
2:00 pm | Afternoon Art Session: Building a Little Painting
A hands-on introduction to creating small paintings on wood. Jessica demonstrates her process of choosing color, building layers, creating shapes and patterns, adding marks, and making intuitive compositional decisions.
Participants create their own small paintings using these techniques.
6:00 pm | Simple in-studio dinner
– post-dinner studio time is available –
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8:30 am | Early studio access
9:30 am | Light in-studio breakfast
10:00 am | Morning Art Session: The Color Playground
A playful introduction to color relationships, collage, layering, texture, and mixed-media experimentation.
Participants explore limited palettes, unexpected color combinations, and techniques for transforming “mistakes” into something new.
– break for lunch –
2:00 pm | Afternoon Art Session: The Rainbow Relay
A collaborative painting project inspired by a rainbow. Each participant begins a small painting on wood, which is then passed around the group. Through a series of playful prompts, each person adds to the paintings before they return to their original maker. The finished paintings become collaborative keepsakes for everyone to take home.
4:00-6:00pm | Free Time/Optional Excursion
6:00 pm | Dinner at local restaurant*
– post-dinner studio time is available –
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8:30 am | Early studio access
9:30 am | Light in-studio breakfast
Following What Wants to Emerge
10:00 am | Morning Art Session: The Inner Rainbow
Participants explore their personal relationships with color and create an intuitive piece using color, shape, pattern, words, and layering.
The session explores art as a tool for self-expression without requiring participants to have a predetermined idea of what they want to make.
– break for lunch –
2:00 pm | Afternoon Art Session: Bringing It All In
Participants combine techniques explored throughout the retreat to create a personal piece of artwork inspired by the prompt: What do you want to carry home with you?
4:00-6:00pm | Solo Time, Nature, Rest
6:00 pm | Dinner at The Smiley
– post-dinner studio time is available –
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8:30 am | Early studio access
9:30 am | Light in-studio breakfast
Bringing It Home
10:00 am | Final Art Session: My Full Spectrum
Participants return to their sketchbooks for a final creative reflection, exploring what they noticed, discovered, and want to remember from the retreat.
They'll create one final small artwork inspired by: If this retreat could leave you with one image, what would it be?
Closing Circle: A simple closing reflection centered around the question: What color are you leaving as?
1:00 pm | Light lunch & goodbyes
– optional studio time until 5pm –
*Not included in retreat fee. Date of dinner out also subject to restaurant availability.
About Jessica Swift
“I felt relaxed and welcomed. Beautiful spaces, excellent food, and thoughtful details everywhere.”
— Ann
2024 Smiley retreat participant
Where You’ll Be Creating
Springfield, Vermont
The Smiley Manse Barn
Nestled up behind the main property is the barn. This turn of the last century post-and-beam construction with a slate roof that rises to a massive walled cupola, the barn is noted as one of the finest carriage barns in the region. Learn more about the history of The Smiley here.
Inside, you’ll find large flat work tables, each a place to explore and express your individual creativity, yet the atmosphere encourages connection and dialogue. Whether it’s the sound of a paintbrush sweeping across the page or folks discussing technique over coffee, the barn serves as a meeting ground for artists of all levels to create and build lasting relationships, exchange ideas, and learn from one another.
We strive to create a space where the act of making art is as much about building community as it is about self-expression.
Join us for a chance to unwind and create in an idyllic setting.
Your Retreat Includes:
Custom designed art curriculum by Maryellen
4 days of creative instruction
Extra studio access before/after each full day
All meals (except 1 dinner out)
Tea, coffee, and snacks always available in the barn
Usage of our art supply stash during the retreat
What’s Not Included:
Accommodations – there are several great options nearby!
Transportation to/from The Smiley
1 dinner out at a local restaurant