# Color and Joy Art Retreat with Artist Andrea Garvey in Greece Join artist Andrea Garvey for a vibrant and inspiring mixed-media retreat on the sunlit island of Zakynthos, Greece. Throughout the week, we will create collages and watercolor paintings along with sketching during retreat, filling its pages with daily reflections, sketches, and layered artwork inspired by the rich textures, light, and colors of the region. Embrace play, and build a personal, colorful record of the journey. By the end of the week, your sketchbook will be a rich visual story full of memories, experiments, and creative momentum to carry forward.Inspiration continues in Zante Town, where climbing vines and sun-aged walls draw the eye, and on a boat trip to Navagio Beach, where a rusted shipwreck rests beneath high cliffs and shifting light.Stay in a peaceful Greek villa surrounded by island stillness and open skies. Paint outdoors under trees or among flowers, or take quiet time to review your progress. Work with watercolor, sketching, and drawing techniques both in and out of the studio as you develop a personal body of work shaped by your surroundings. ## Details - **Dates:** October 10 - 17, 2026 - **Location:** Planos, Zakynthos, Greece - **Starting Price:** $4,300 - **Category:** Painting ## Program ### Color and Joy Art Retreat Join Andrea Garvey on a colorful journey to the enchanting Greek island of Zakynthos. Nestled in a charming estate that feels both welcoming and inspiring, you’ll find the perfect setting to rest, recharge, and spark your creativity. This retreat celebrates the joy of making art that feels authentic to you, whether you’re drawn to painting, mixed media, or filling the pages of your art journal. There’s no pressure to create anything “perfect”—just lots of time and space to play, explore, and try new things.Inspiration flows not only in the studio but also beyond it. Wander through Zante Town, where climbing vines and weathered walls whisper stories of the past, and set out on a boat ride to Navagio Beach, where a rusted shipwreck lies cradled by towering cliffs and ever-changing light. Add in delicious meals, lively conversations, and the company of fellow creatives, and you’ll have an experience as nourishing as it is unforgettable.The topics covered during your lessons will include:Exploring abstracts, florals, and landscapesUsing watercolor and pen in sketchbooksArt journaling to capture memoriesFinding inspiration everywherePracticing mark-making and layeringTravel sketching on the goPainting vibrant Greek sightsEnjoying collage and mixed media afternoonsExploring collage techniques in journalsEmbracing playful creativityJoining daily classes and guided sessionsDiscovering a sense of wonderDiving deep into art and connectionPracticing creative mindfulness dailyExperiencing a trip of a lifetime!...and many more!Your venue, a stunning Greek villa perched high above the sea, offers the perfect setting to reconnect with your creativity. Paint every day in a sea-facing studio, connect with fellow artists in inviting shared spaces, and relax by a serene infinity pool. Delight in chef-prepared Greek cuisine and local wines, form lifelong friendships, and taste the wealth of Greek hospitality. As you slow down and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and flavors of Zakynthos, you’ll find your artistic voice strengthened and your perspective renewed.Please note: The retreat venue is located on terraced grounds, with access to the studio, common areas, and accommodations requiring the use of stairways. The beach can be reached by descending a steep stairway of approximately 50 meters (164 feet). Additionally, the trips involve moderate walking, so this retreat may not be ideal for those with limited mobility. ### Day 1: Arrival Arrive at Zakynthos Airport for your 3:30 PM transfer to a breathtaking seafront venue overlooking the Mediterranean. Settle into your elegant room and take a moment to recharge before joining a guided tour of the grounds. Discover the inviting pool, the shala art studio, and thoughtfully designed communal areas. In the evening, savor a delightful three-course welcome dinner in the lively company of your fellow artists. Meet your fellow artists and share what brought you here. Enjoy a glass of wine with Andrea and the group and plan out the week ahead. ### Day 2: Art at the venue Wake up to a sunlit morning and join Andrea and your sketch group for a nourishing breakfast and coffee to begin the day together. Settle in with your welcome gift and open your new watercolor paper journal that will carry your reflections and artwork through the week.Begin the morning in the studio by starting your art journal. Create painted backgrounds and handmade collage papers that will layer throughout the coming days. Andrea will guide you in writing short daily snippets and noticing small moments worth capturing. Try out loose sketching and playful warm-up exercises to break in your materials and loosen your line. Explore how watercolor, gouache, and a bit of acrylic can work together as a foundation for your pages. Practice building expressive marks and layering textures as you begin to shape a rhythm of writing, sketching, and painting into your process.Stop for a relaxed lunch, then head outside for your afternoon sketch lesson. Follow Andrea around the house and studio grounds as you find corners full of light and character to draw from. Capture the feel of the place with quick impressions and soft washes. Return inside for another round of short warm-ups and watercolor studies based on the architecture or atmosphere of the space. Keep layering with crayons or mixed media, adding lines and color to deepen what you've started.As evening arrives, recharge in the pool or keep working at your pace. Then gather for a shared dinner and good company while the sunset warms the Zakynthos countryside. ### Day 3: Boat trip to Navagio Beach Begin the morning outdoors on the terrace with a bright breakfast and coffee as sea breezes stir the air and sunlight stretches across the horizon.Board a boat at Porto Vromi and follow the coast of Zakynthos. Clear water reveals pale stone as you pass sea-carved caves and towering cliffs. Wild coastal plants grip the limestone and break the rock with flashes of green. Watch how light grazes the cliff faces and how the water shifts in hue. Notice the structure of the flora that thrives in salt air. At Navagio Beach you view the MV Panagiotis from the boat, a rusted hull in a bright cove against deep blue water and a clear sky.After lunch back at the venue, return to the studio for an afternoon of deepening your work. Begin by sketching from your reference photos and studies from the morning. Choose a few images to refine into stronger compositions, and explore how to build them out through watercolor and mixed media. Move into your art journal and create a page that reflects the energy of the day. Layer collage paper, draw loosely, and add washes of color pulled from the coast and skies of Zakynthos. Andrea will offer feedback as you work, helping you build structure while keeping the page intuitive and fluid.Afterward, move at your own pace. Take a swim or wander the garden, then rest as the light shifts across the terrace. As the sun lowers, gather for an evening meal and enjoy easy company while the Zakynthos hills take on warm color. ### Day 4: Art at the venue Rise with the day and share a fresh breakfast and coffee alongside Andrea as sunlight filters over the Zakynthos hills. Head into the studio with your journal and a fresh page, ready to begin the day surrounded by color and natural forms.Start with warm-up sketching and simple watercolor studies based on your favorite colors and loose floral shapes. Work both in your art journal and on loose watercolor paper, exploring how shape and color interact when things are kept soft and quick. Andrea will guide you in observing the structure of real flowers and pulling them apart visually to understand how each petal or stem creates rhythm on the page. Make marks that follow a line, edge, or gesture as your materials move freely. Focus on what feels expressive rather than polished. Keep layering or shifting your palette as needed to follow what the image wants to become.After a relaxed lunch, begin the afternoon floral bouquet project on watercolor paper. Use your studies from the morning to build a composition that feels bold and full of life. Layer mixed media on top of watercolor as you go. Add pencil, crayon, or linework to find contrast and texture. Andrea will move through the room to support your process, helping you explore arrangement, scale, and motion. When your page feels close to finished, return to your art journal and jot down a few lines about the day or the flowers that inspired you. Allow the writing to become part of the visual language.Spend the rest of the afternoon in your own rhythm. Keep painting or cool off with a swim, then find a comfortable spot to recharge. In the evening, gather for a filling dinner with unhurried conversation, joined by a Greek dance show and live band as the night unfolds. ### Day 5: Trip to Zante Town Awaken to the day with a fresh breakfast and coffee, setting the tone as you gather your sketchbook and materials for the second trip of the retreat.Take a short ride to Zante Town, the capital of Zakynthos. Wander through shaded streets where stone buildings show their age with warmth and character. Balconies bloom with color while shutters fade in the sun. Bougainvillea and oleander spill from gardens, and distant hills frame the harbor. Sketch what draws your eye or gather reference photos. The scene favors landscapes and flowers, from promenades by the sea to small courtyards wrapped in vines.Return to the venue for a nourishing lunch and take a moment to reset before you dive back into your work.In the afternoon, enjoy a focused session on landscape and structure. Begin by sketching the arches and cliff shapes from the morning. Keep your drawings loose while exploring how scale, depth, and light behave across the page. Choose one or two details to expand into small watercolor landscapes. Add soft layering and a little pencil or crayon, and see how your marks evolve. Work directly on watercolor paper or back in your journal. Stay intuitive in your process, returning to the same page if it asks for more.Close the day in your own rhythm. Swim or keep painting, then rest before coming together for dinner as the light softens across the sky. ### Day 6: Art at the venue Wake to a nourishing breakfast and coffee with Andrea, easing into the day as the island begins to stir around you.Head into the studio and begin a series of small abstract projects in your art journal. Pull from your photos and colors collected during Floral Day and use them to guide your choices as you create color swatches, mix new combinations, and layer shapes onto painted collage papers. Andrea will introduce simple abstract principles and help you focus on mark making, layering, and how to build rhythm into a page. Work freely across your journal while returning to the same themes, allowing repetition and variation to lead your process forward.After a light lunch, carry the work into the afternoon by shifting to watercolor paper. Bring together the ideas and textures from the morning and begin a larger abstract piece with layered washes, pencil marks, and shapes inspired by what you explored earlier in the week. Keep layering with intention and play, using crayon, watercolor, and whatever else feels right. Andrea will move through the space, offering guidance and helping you connect the abstract with the mood and memory of the week so far.As the Ionian light softens, choose what you need. Pick up your brush again or step away to recharge among olive trees and sea breezes. In the evening, meet for dinner and casual conversation while the sky dims over Zakynthos. The day closes with steady progress in your paintings and a clear path for tomorrow’s work. ### Day 7: Art at the venue Ease into the final full day with a satisfying breakfast and a delicious coffee, allowing the pace to settle as you return to the studio with your journal and favorite works from the week.Pick up on any thread you've started. Choose one piece to push further, or move between several projects to layer, write, and sketch where it feels natural. Andrea will offer feedback as you go, checking in one-on-one to help with last steps or ideas you still want to explore. Bring out your journal and flip through the pages to see how your sketches, color studies, and written notes have grown and gathered meaning over time.After a peaceful midday break, return for an afternoon of reflection. Spend a little more time in your journal, add a final watercolor wash or layer of pencil, and prepare a few pages to share. Then gather together for a mini-exhibition and closing circle. Share something from your week, listen to others, and hold space as a group for the work that’s been done. Andrea will offer closing words and individual reflections as the studio winds down.Step outside for a breath, take in the evening light, and gather again for a final dinner as the retreat draws to a close. Carry the rhythm of the week in your pages and your pocket. ### Day 8: Departure Enjoy breakfast with your art group and get ready for your transfer to Zakynthos Airport (ZTH). Check-out is at 10:00 AM, and you'll arrive at the airport at around 10:30 AM. ## Instructors - **Andrea Garvey** - Artist & educator ## Accommodation ### Stunning Greek Estate ### Shared standard ensuite room ### Shared superior ensuite room (female only) ### Shared penthouse ### Single standard ensuite room ### Single superior ensuite room ### Single ensuite room - shared villa with private pool ### Single deluxe suite ## Book This Retreat Visit [https://uptrek.com/retreat/color-joy-art-retreat-artist-andrea-garvey-greece](https://uptrek.com/retreat/color-joy-art-retreat-artist-andrea-garvey-greece) to make a reservation. *Provided by [UpTrek](https://uptrek.com)*