This Fall at The Smiley Manse
Autumn in Vermont is something out of a storybook—vibrant leaves, crisp mountain air, scenic vistas... Add to that an artist-led retreat at The Smiley Manse and you've got a recipe for the picture perfect fall!
We've been thoroughly enjoying the first half of our busy season this summer. You all have filled the Smiley barn studio with boundless creativity, color, and kindhearted community. Time surely flies when you're having fun! If attending a retreat at The Smiley has been on your 2026 bucket list, there's still time to make a plan to join us for one of three terrific retreats taking place this fall. We cannot wait to host you here during the most magical time of year.
Wild Pages with Sue Schlabach
Dates: September 13-16, 2026
Registration Deadline: July 13th
Wild Pages is a four-day immersive art retreat where painting, memory, and handmade books come together. Through layered work in watercolor, gouache, ink, and simple printmaking, you’ll create a series of expressive pages inspired by place, home, and your own visual storytelling.
Guided prompts, demonstrations, and open studio time help you build depth and rhythm in your work before you bind your painted pages into a one-of-a-kind book with handmade flax covers. Come gather images, experiment boldly, and leave with a finished Wild Pages book that holds your marks, your stories, and your sense of place.
Creative Reset with Allison Cole
Dates: September 23-27, 2026
Registration Deadline: July 23rd
Ready to revitalize your art practice? Over the course of this retreat, we will focus on sharpening your artistic voice, whether you are a new or experienced illustrator.
Participants will explore, refine, and reinvent their way of working in a supportive setting with personalized guidance. Through hands-on demonstrations, discussions, exercises, and feedback, you will connect your artistic voice with your personal story and perspective.
By the end of the retreat, you will have completed a series of rough experimental pieces along with 1-2 more polished works, blending what you've learned from experimentation with your intentions.
Fall Florals with Victoria Johnson
Dates: October 5-10, 2026
Registration Deadline: August 6th
This immersive, creative experience features six hands-on workshop sessions. During your week with Victoria, you’ll learn to draw from the local aesthetic and combine its rich visual bounty with your own taste and style to create unique floral artworks.
Victoria will share her painting and drawing techniques, focusing on curiosity and experimentation, and can’t wait to guide your explorations of the stunning autumnal florals and foliage from breathtaking natural surroundings.
Throughout the week, Victoria will be hands-on, delighted to help with a huge range of queries, whether they’re about painting techniques, how to photograph and edit your inspiration or artwork, the logistics of running an art business, or anything else you can think of! Victoria loves to have a chat—especially one that helps you reach your goals!
The Marian Nixon Scholarship Fund supports artists who dream of attending a retreat but need a little help getting here.
Want to apply? If finances have stood between you and a retreat, please reply to this newsletter and I'll take it from there. All inquiries are handled with care and complete privacy.
Want to contribute? You can donate online via PayPal or send a check made out to The Smiley Manse (memo: Marian Nixon Scholarship) to 485 Cherry Hill, Springfield, VT 05156. All donations go directly into a restricted fund used exclusively for scholarship support. Please note these are personal gifts and are not tax-deductible.
Learn more HERE.