Yucatan Painting Workshops - Living Adventure - Painting Workshops In The Yucatan Peninsula

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Summer Programs - Apostle Island Sea Kayaking Adventures

Winter Programs - Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

January 30 - February 6

There is no greater cure for the winter blahs then the Color Therapy of the Caribbean environment; colors just don’t get more gorgeous and our palette of watercolors and batik dyes are exactly what are needed to capture their luminescence on paper and cloth. Along with the expert guidance of our American and Mexican instructors, both those that are new to painting/ batik-ing and those that are well along in the process, will greatly enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of our tropical art workshops.

Watercolor is the focus for the painting segments of the week, and what a perfect medium it is for our aquatic environment. Like water rolling through a wave, you’ll learn to apply paint to wet paper, watch it run and transform to curves, bubbles and foam. Composition and balance are keys in all art, and you’ll learn where to locate areas of tension and areas of relief in your paintings. Discover how to pull in the viewer’s attention with strong value contrasts and the dimensionality of layered paints. Inspiration and learning swirl together on a seamless canvas of artful expression.

It’s a fluid leap across the easel to learn the batik process, which is painting on cloth with both pigment and wax. A negative/positive balance is studied as you ‘preserve’ areas of your design by the wax itself. The final black ‘crinkle’ stage brings depth and character to your piece. The greatest thing about batik is everything looks great! Random splashes of color on cloth become fabulous abstract artworks to be enjoyed as dividers, wall pieces, gifts. Bring cotton t-shirts, pants, tops, and create your own designer line of wearable art!

Michaelin Otis, original owner of Avalon Arts in St. Paul, MN, is our longest standing Yucatan faculty. She’s gone native (!) and thrives in our Yucatan location. Michaelin, a published watercolor book author and illustrator, writes for several national publications and teaches watercolor workshops around the country. Her classes are full of humor, and her passionate and straightforward teaching style is engaging for all.

Victor Javier has partnered with Michaelin in our Artful Adventures for over 10 years and they are fast friends. Victor’s batik studio, located at the base of the renowned Mayan archeological site, Coba, was an original inspiration for the Artful Adventure series. Through his beautiful batik artworks, Victor portrays stories of Mayan gods and symbolism. On the more contemporary side, he brings an ethereal feel to his batiks that feature tropical moons, palms and jungle. He walks students step by step through this age old art for all.

The grand finale for the week is a festive ‘gallery party’ where artworks are displayed and we celebrate the week’s creative journeys. You’re invited to join our horeography of outdoor adventure, brushstrokes, color and light this winter; just bring your imagination!

PAINTING/BATIK TRIP PHOTO GALLERY

Day 1	Fly to Cancun and leave high impact tourism behind. The first night is spent at beautiful Posada Mariposa in the fun beachside resort town of Playa Del Carmen.
Day 2	Sunday morning: breakfast at 100% Natural restaurant in Playa Del Carmen. We’ll introduce the group and resource people, hear your trip expectations and take a look at the maps. After some shopping for beverages of your preference we head to Tulum. Here we’ll pick up tamales for a quick lunch, buy ice and a few last items before heading down the dirt road to Rancho Caphe Ha, our home for the week in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. Mayan for "Where The Sky Is Born", this million-acre national park is abundant with indigenous flora and fauna and Mayan archeological sites. We’ll arrive midafternoon; settle in, SWIM (!), familiarize you with the area, and the unwinding begins.
Day 3-7	Each day is a mix of activities designed according to watercolor and batik sessions, weather and recreational pursuits. Each evening, the next day’s itinerary of art classes will be discussed and sequenced. Around those times, we’ll go kayaking, snorkeling, enjoy swimming and walking the beach, and relaxing. Remember; this is YOUR trip! You can choose to partake in as much or little of any planned (or unplanned) activities that you wish. Wednesdays are awesome tour days! We head out of Rancho Caphe Ha early in the morning and return typically around 10:00 pm. WEDNESDAY OUTING: MAYAN SITE & CENOTES
Day 8	An early start from Rancho Caphe Ha. We’ll travel back to Playa Del Carmen in time to get an airport taxi for our trip guest with the earliest flight back to the US. Others spend the day exploring, shopping and enjoying Playa until they need to also head to the airport.

SPECIFICS

The trip cost is $1,650. Special pricing available for groups.
This includes all major expenses; instruction, equipment, lodging, food, land travel in Mexico.
It does not include airfare, meals while traveling, certain taxi costs, alcoholic beverages, fees for outings, or tips; in Mexico it is customary to tip for services and we pool a tip for the caretakers who provide various services during the week.
A non-refundable deposit of $250 is required to secure a reservation
After securing a reservation you will receive a folder of information including; balance due and cancellation terms, a map of the area, suggested clothing and equipment list, reading materials on the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, travel and health requirements for Mexico. You will be given a medical/dietary information form and an acknowledgment of risk waiver to complete, sign and send back to this office
Airline reservations can be limited - don't wait too long. We are glad to make recommendations and help you with your travel arrangements.