# Acrylic Gouache Art Retreat with Artist Rebecca Green in Spain

Join artist Rebecca Green on a transformational creative journey in the South of Spain. Learn how to paint timeless illustrations in acrylic gouache from one of the most celebrated picture-book artists. Join a group of like-minded creatives and develop your art skills beyond what you ever dreamed. Stay at an exclusive private estate and enjoy premium accommodation in Spain's first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Get inspired by the lush nature reserve and the captivating trips to El Gastor, Setenil de las Bodegas, and the famous Ronda. Indulge in a special tapas and wine-tasting event and delicious vegetarian chef-made Spanish meals every day, paired with amazing Spanish wine.

## Details

- **Dates:** July 5 – 12, 2023
- **Location:** Sierra de Grazalema, Andalucía, Spain
- **Starting Price:** $3,850
- **Category:** Painting

## Program

### Acrylic Gouache Art Retreat
Join artist and illustrator Rebecca Green on a fantastic week of painting in the spectacular Sierra de Grazalema Nature Reserve in Spain. Throughout the week, you'll explore the use of acrylic gouache in a painting sketchbook. In addition to learning some of Rebecca's favorite techniques for painting, you'll be exploring line, texture, and negative space. Rebecca will also dig a little into creating a narrative and the illustration industry, and you'll end the week with a 15-minute personal portfolio review for each student.The retreat is open to all experience levels. Everyone from complete beginners to professionals is welcome, and the teaching will be adapted to suit everyone's capabilities.Included in the art classes:three techniques for working in acrylic gouachecombining line work in ink and colored pencil to acrylic gouache paintingsadding texture in acrylic gouacheworking with negative spacecreating narrative work through sketchbook exploration1-hour Q&A session to discuss illustration, publishing, agents, and the industrya 15-minute personal portfolio review with feedbackIn addition to painting alongside Rebecca Green every day, you'll also have plenty of time to relax, have fun, enjoy the Sierra de Grazalema Nature Reserve, explore the surrounding villages, and share your experiences with fellow creatives over a delicious glass of Spanish wine.

### Day 1: Arrival
Catch the 2:30 PM transfer from Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) and meet artist Rebecca Green at Nature Retreat. Get shown to your room and take a tour to familiarize yourself with the spectacular property that will be your home for the week. After settling in and enjoying some refreshments, join Rebecca and the art group at the welcome circle where you’ll enjoy some drinks and get to know the artists that will be joining you on this transformative journey. Afterward, savor a delicious three-course chef-made welcome dinner served with Andalusian wine and have fantastic conversations well into the night.

### Day 2: Art classes at the venue
After a delicious brunch, join Rebecca and the art group for a relaxed morning check-in over coffee where you’ll discuss the plans for the day. Then, move to the art studio for the morning art class on keeping a painting sketchbook. Rebecca will give everyone an overview of the art materials and what you’ll learn throughout the week. She will share her painting sketchbooks for reference. Guided by Rebecca, you’ll get comfortable with acrylic gouache and do three types of techniques that will help you deeply understand just how versatile acrylic gouache can be. Take breaks as you desire and feast on the abundant 24-hour snack bar with cakes, cookies, fruit, vegetables, coffee, tea, and water. Later in the afternoon, Rebecca will teach about shape and line. You’ll learn how to incorporate lines into your paintings for quick details, movement, and clarification. Spend some time sunbathing by the pool, reading in the gardens, or exploring the beautiful property at Nature Retreat in the late afternoon. After, join Rebecca and the art group for a fun "aperitivo" hour and a flavorful chef-made dinner paired with unlimited Spanish wine.

### Day 3: El Gastor & art class
After brunch and the morning check-in at Nature Retreat, you'll go on an exciting guided hiking tour to El Gastor, one of the most beautiful white villages in the area. On the 30-minute hike, you will be accompanied by your retreat host who will share knowledge about the natural park and many interesting facts about the local culture. El Gastor is known as the "Balcony of the Andalucían White Villages" because it provides magnificent views of all the other charming white villages in the area and the surrounding countryside. While in the village, you have the opportunity to get inspired by breathtaking panoramic views, discover mysterious prehistoric dolmens, and walk around El Gastor's enchanting cobbled streets lined with whitewashed houses. You’ll walk around, sketch, take reference pictures, and have a great time with Rebecca and your fellow artists. Enjoy snacks and refreshments back at the retreat venue, then join Rebecca in the air-conditioned art studio for a texture workshop. You’ll be invited to use photos and inspiration from the morning’s hike to explore adding texture to your painting and sketchbook pages. Relax, then enjoy an "aperitivo" hour and a scrumptious chef-made vegetarian dinner paired with delicious Andalusian wine.

### Day 4: Setenil & Art class
In the morning, enjoy breakfast and a check-in over coffee, then journey to the spectacular town of Setenil de las Bodegas. What sets Setenil apart is the unique way the houses blend into the mountainside, creating a striking landscape of buildings that seem to jut out of the cliffs overlooking the Trejo river. The town is now a major tourist attraction, with many of the town's original cave houses converted into bars and restaurants. Setenil de las Bodegas is a picturesque bucket-list destination, perfect for getting inspired, drawing in your sketchbook, and taking notes and photographs of everything that catches your eye. Setenil de las Bodegas is named after its flourishing wineries - Bodegas - and has a reputation for great wines. After exploring the town you’ll be enjoying an exclusive wine tasting with tapas for lunch. Return to Nature Retreat where you'll join Rebecca in the gardens for an art class about negative space. Rebecca will guide you to draw the surreal buildings you’ve discovered in Setenil in the morning while keeping the white of the paper in the sketchbook. Take some time to rest in the late afternoon, and enjoy an ‘aperitivo hour’ and dinner with wine with Rebecca Green and your fellow artists.

### Day 5: Art classes at the venue
After a scrumptious brunch and morning check-in, join Rebecca and the art group in the gardens where you’ll learn how to work with narrative in your sketchbook and beyond. Rebecca will be showing you how to take note of small details that will reveal what you’re drawn to — is it a conversation? A detail of food? Or maybe a little animal you saw? Rebecca will be guiding you to work on a narrative page in your sketchbook. Take breaks as you wish and enjoy the 24-hour snack bar, then return to the gardens and continue working on your narrative piece. In the afternoon, Rebecca will discuss analog work as an illustrator. The class will end with a Q&A session where you’ll have the chance to ask questions about publishing, agents, self-promotion, portfolios, and more. Take a break in the late afternoon to dip in the pool, relax in your room, or have a walk through the gardens. Then, join Rebecca and the art group for a social "aperitivo" hour and a delicious chef-made dinner paired with Spanish wine.

### Day 6: Painting in Ronda
Today, you’ll discover the spectacular town of Ronda, the largest of Andalucía's white towns. Sitting on top of a dramatic chasm carved by Río Guadalevín through the El Torje gorge, Ronda's fame was spread further by Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles (whose ashes are buried in the whitewashed Andalusian town). Visit the 18th-century Puente Nuevo, and walk the cobbled alleys lined with superb town mansions to discover Casa Museo Don Bosco, the Palacio de Mondragón, and the Plaza del Campillo.Bring along some light art supplies and stop for a sketching session at a lovely terrace with stunning views of Puento Nuevo. After sketching, wander around Ronda or go shopping on Calle Espinel, the town's pedestrianized 'high street'.Return to Nature Retreat in the evening and enjoy a delicious vegetarian chef-made dinner paired with fragrant Spanish wine.

### Day 7: Art classes at the venue
After brunch and the morning check-in, you’ll get to spend a relaxed morning with free time to paint, while Rebecca leads individual 15-minute portfolio reviews.In the afternoon, you can enjoy your time as you wish — relaxing, nibbling from the 24-hour snack bar, or possibly doing some last-minute touch-ups on your art. You’ll have the chance to ask Rebecca any remaining questions, share your work with the art group, give and receive constructive feedback, and appreciate your artistic growth and evolution throughout the week. Exchange contacts with your newfound art community, and celebrate your accomplishments with a special three-course farewell dinner paired with Spanish wine.

### Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, get ready to catch the 10:00 AM airport transfer to Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (arriving at the airport around 12:00 PM).

## Instructors

- **Rebecca Green** - Illustrator, Author

## Accommodation

### Nature Retreat

### Standard room — shared bathroom

### Superior room — shared bathroom

### Superior single ensuite room

### Standard single suite

### Superior single suite

### Deluxe tower ensuite room

## Book This Retreat

Visit [https://uptrek.com/retreat/acrylic-gouache-art-retreat-rebecca-green-spain](https://uptrek.com/retreat/acrylic-gouache-art-retreat-rebecca-green-spain) to make a reservation.

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