Collage and Lettering with Lynn Giunta, a June 2026 art retreat at The Smiley Manse in Southern Vermont

Collage & Lettering with Lynn Giunta

DATES: June 1-5, 2026

Lynn Giunta invited everyone to jump into the world of lettering and collage, and we all got to be kids again, creating art and finding happiness around the table.

The week was full of play and discovery, with workshops on basic lettering, positive and negative abstract shape collage, finding your own mantra to collage, a big group project and collaging from nature.

The week began with a warm welcome and a chance for everyone to get to know each other. From there, artists dove into finding words, shapes and pattern, and painted papers to cut and collage.

Midweek brought lettering collage and hand lettering, with a nature walk for fresh inspiration. Artists created their own collage collections and joined together on a big group project, the colorful Hello Spring collage, filling the barn studio with color and cheerful words.

On the final day, everyone finished up their pieces and shared their projects. It was a joyful week at The Smiley full of play, color and happy words.

Watch the video on Instagram: a timelapse of artists creating the Hello Spring group collage at the June 2026 collage retreat with Lynn Giunta at The Smiley Manse in Southern Vermont
Hand-cut paper collage of a colorful flower bouquet in a striped vase, held up in the barn studio
Lynn Giunta in a pink shirt holding up the hand-cut paper MORE of THIS collage on the sunny deck with gardens behind
Group of smiling artists cheering with arms raised on the sunny hillside beside The Smiley Manse sign

Collage & Lettering Retreat Schedule

MON, JUN 1: Welcome & get to know each other

TUES, JUN 2: Finding words, shapes, pattern & painting

WEDS, JUN 3: Lettering collage & hand lettering

THURS, JUN 4: Creating a collage collection & a big group project

FRI, JUN 5: Debrief, finishing up, & sharing projects

Collaborative collage reading Hello Spring, filled with paper flowers, hearts, butterflies and a smiling sun.
Smiling artist outdoors holding a lettered card that reads You Belong Here with a rainbow and pink flower.
Patterned cut paper collage lettering that reads More Art Retreats in green, teal, orange and coral.
Artist painting hand lettering with a watercolor palette and jar of water at a studio table covered in reference sheets.
Paper collage of a smiling cat figure in an orange sweater on an old book page, beside a black and white striped vase of flowers.
Red barn with a cupola and a covered porch hung with paper lanterns, softened by morning fog
Paper collage of an orange vase labeled Love holding pink, yellow and green paper flowers, taped to the barn wall.
Jennifer Nelson in round glasses taking a close selfie over the Hello Spring collage laid on the table.
Round tart topped with sliced fresh strawberries on a glass cake stand on a butcher block counter
Two smiling retreat artists taking a selfie on the sunny hillside with the red barn behind them.
Artists cutting colorful papers and assembling collages at a long worktable in the barn studio.

“The creative space was perfect, full of light and room to create. The meals were exceptional, not your ordinary retreat food, beautifully presented and so delicious. And the grounds of the manse are stunning. I can’t wait for my next visit!”

— Kay
Smiley Retreat Artist