Five Joyful Creative Retreats to Choose From!
Hello, friends!
The start of the 2026 Smiley retreat season is fast approaching and we're SO excited for all the joy, connection, and creativity that will take place here. There's truly something for everyone. Take a look through our offerings below and see what strikes your fancy. We can't wait to host you!
Come join me (Lynn) as you jump into the world of lettering and collage! We can all be kids again, creating art and finding happiness at our kitchen table. No experience necessary—just bring your willingness to play and discover magic!
Workshops will focus on basic lettering, positive and negative abstract shape collage, finding your own mantra to collage, a big group project and collaging from nature.
It doesn’t matter if you're at the very beginning of your art journey or a seasoned artist—we're going to make beautiful things together!
We'll be using watercolours, gouache and acryla gouache and focusing on variety of techniques. We’ll paint from nature and from within and learn how to see what’s there and what could be there. If you love colour, nature and a bit of whim—you are going to have a wonderful time.
Lori Siebert can never resist a good junk shop or flea market find—and the quirkier, the better! What she loves most is giving these well-loved treasures a brand-new life. This time, she’s bringing her playful spirit to junk flowers and junk bouquets—because who says a bouquet has to be made of petals and stems?
In this fun workshop, Lori will show you how to turn buttons, bobbles, springs, spools, and all kinds of unexpected bits into fabulous flowers and funky bouquets. No green thumb required—just a sense of curiosity and a love of making!
All levels are welcome, and you’re encouraged to bring along some of your own “junk gems” to mix in with Lori’s stash. By the end, you’ll walk away with a whimsical bouquet that will never wilt—and lots of new ideas for seeing everyday objects in a whole new way.
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.
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!
In just a few months we'll be kicking off this beautiful season and we sure hope you'll join us!
And don't forget—you can save $100 on your retreat deposit if you sign up by March 1, 2026. Use the code “SMILEY100” at checkout.