# Color Quest Art Retreat with Artist and Agent Lilla Rogers in Portugal Join celebrated artist, agent, author, and mentor Lilla Rogers for a joyful art retreat on the sunny coast of southern Portugal. Create a gorgeous collection of color palettes from your own deck of visuals, plus recolor images with any of your newfound color palettes. Study color in an unconventional way, play with Lilla's whimsical exercises and creative challenges, and get invaluable insider information into the art and illustration business from Lilla herself. You'll benefit from daily classes, demonstrations, individual guidance and feedback, Q&A sessions, secret color recipes, loads of support materials, and, of course, Lilla's extensive experience as the founder of an accomplished illustration agency.This retreat is open to beginners and advanced artists alike; from learning the basics in an accessible way to completely reinventing your approach to color, there's something here for all creative souls. Using watercolor and gouache, create unexpected color combinations, craft your own palettes, and paint the vibrant sights of Portugal.Explore the beautiful Algarve region through an art trip to the historic town of Lagos and a sailing adventure across the Atlantic. Create alongside 15 other artists, enjoy chef-made meals every day, and stay at an award-winning venue, a traditional Portuguese Quinta. ## Details - **Dates:** March 25 - April 1, 2025 - **Location:** Lagos, Algarve, Portugal - **Starting Price:** $4,700 - **Category:** Painting ## Program ### Color Quest Art Retreat Join a playful and transformative art retreat with renowned artist and agent Lilla Rogers, taking place on the shores of southern Portugal. Explore color like never before with Lilla's innovative techniques, whimsical exercises, unconventional approach to color theory, and loads of creative challenges! Lilla's treasure trove of experience as an agent will also help you gain invaluable insights into the world of art business. From setting up an art business to booking illustration deals, curating your portfolio, or discovering your style, your instructor's got you covered.This retreat welcomes beginners and advanced artists alike. If you're at the start of your creative journey, Lilla's accessible and engaging classes on color theory, creating your own palettes, and mixing a kaleidoscope of rich hues will equip you with a solid set of essential skills. Advanced artists will love creating an array of gorgeous color palettes to broaden their repertoire. Above all else, you'll fall in love with color all over again. Lilla will help you create color palettes unique to you and support you every step of the way. You'll benefit from her daily classes, individual guidance, demonstrations, secret color recipes, intriguing exercises, and so much more!All content taught by Lilla during this weeklong art adventure is brand new and custom-designed for this retreat; you won't find it anywhere else. Beyond the classes, you'll receive materials to help you practice back home: a deck of 25 gorgeous cards, crafted specifically for this course, displaying curated images with stunning color palettes. You'll use these cards to support your daily creative assignments as you work on your vibrant palettes. They'll be your very own color treasure chest.Your color classes are harmoniously complemented by the afternoon sessions of 'Ask Lilla Anything'. These are informal Q&As over tea and coffee where you'll learn more about the illustration business, the ins and outs of creative entrepreneurship, pitching and authoring a book, teaching online, various lucrative illustration markets and income streams, and building a thriving creative career. You'll benefit from Lilla's expertise as a celebrated mentor to some of the biggest names in illustration. You'll also learn why an excellent sense of color is a game-changer for your art career; it is one of the very first things that agents respond to when looking over a portfolio. Lilla may also do a career tarot reading during the afternoon sessions if time permits. [Note: As Lilla will only be doing a few readings during the week, participants are not guaranteed a reading.] Elements covered in your classes with Lilla Rogers include:Concocting gorgeous color palettes from your own set of 25 cards, displaying a variety of colorful images such as vintage packaging, Parisian scenes, or contemporary productsDaily exercises of recoloring a vintage image using one of your new color palettesGouache and watercolor demonstrations on color mixingSupportive and encouraging advice to bring out your own unique giftsEngaging exercises, creative challenges, and assignmentsMixing beautiful, rich muted colors with Lilla’s color recipe worksheetsDeveloping a greater sensitivity to color, more control, and a better understanding of color mixingUsing color to shift the mood of a pieceFinding and photographing color inspiration in your surroundings, whether that's the venue gardens, the art trips, or even your delicious mealsBusiness conversations might include:How color can enhance your portfolioPitching a project in a way you enjoy and that reflects your passionsUncovering your creative pathHow to get an agentGrowing your artistic career and staying focusedGetting a book dealLilla’s career tarot readings [Note: As Lilla will only be doing a few readings during the week, participants are not guaranteed a reading.]...and much more. All elements of the retreat were carefully curated to stoke your creative fires. The hues of Portugal are as rich as its culture; you'll explore the Algarve region during an outing to the town of Lagos, where you'll draw inspiration from the golden beaches, colorful buildings, and the deep blue ocean. You'll also explore the coastline during a sailing adventure aboard a traditional boat, discovering secret beaches, hidden caves, and dramatic rock formations.You'll stay at a premium Portuguese villa, gather inspiration from its blooming Italian garden, enjoy regional, chef-made cuisine every day, and connect with a community of 15 other artists. Return home with new abilities, stunning color palettes, a boatload of knowledge, and precious memories! ### Day 1: Arrival Arrive at Faro Airport and board the 3:00 PM transfer to your retreat venue. Settle into your comfortable room, freshen up, and join your fellow artists for an orientation tour. Explore the expansive gardens, the art studio, the inviting terraces, and the refreshing pool area. Gather for a welcome drink with your lovely instructor, distinguished artist and agent Lilla Rogers. Celebrate your arrival with a delightful three-course dinner prepared by the in-house chef, accompanied by a glass of local Portuguese wine. Get excited for the week ahead and discuss your experiences with your newfound art family. ### Day 2: Art at the venue Start your day with a delicious breakfast at the estate, then join your instructor and fellow artists for your first class.In the studio, you'll take your first few steps into your adventurous color quest. We'll discuss an overview of your lessons together and set some personal creative goals with Lilla's help. At the beginning of each morning class, you'll receive five of Lilla's specially crafted assignment cards. You’ll match the colors of each of the inspiring images on the cards, and then even recolor an image on one of the cards with one of your new color palettes! Beyond being an excellent way to get the creative juices flowing, the carefully curated cards are a fantastic source of inspiration for your color studies. You'll use the cards throughout the classes, but they'll be an invaluable tool for practicing back home!As you go through the exercises, you'll get familiar with your materials (watercolor and gouache) and try out Lilla's playful and practical color-mixing method. Particularly for new artists, mixing can be a bit daunting, but this accessible technique will have you creating gorgeous palettes in no time. Like a scientist with your very own creative lab, you'll experiment with Lilla's unique color recipes. Learn to create beautiful, rich mutes and come up with combinations you may have never imagined before. Lilla will offer individual and supportive guidance, helping you find your signature color style.Take a break with a light lunch, then regroup for an informal Q&A session with Lilla ('Ask Lilla Anything') in the blooming gardens. As a renowned agent, Lilla has an endless trove of information about the illustration and publishing business. She'll tell you more about her lengthy experience and career. Regardless of where you are in your creative journey, you may have questions about finding your style, starting an art business, and how to develop your uniqueness. If time permits, Lilla may do a career tarot reading which was a big hit at her last retreat. [Note: As Lilla will only be doing a few readings during the week, participants are not guaranteed a reading.]Relax by the pool or lounge on the sunny terraces. End your first day with another exquisite dinner prepared by the private chef, paired with a glass of Portuguese wine. ### Day 3: Art trip to Lagos Start your morning with a scrumptious breakfast, then get ready for the first outing of the retreat. You'll travel to the nearby coastal town of Lagos, located a short drive away from the venue.The history of Lagos spans centuries and multiple civilizations (the Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians, and Moors, just to name a few), but it's the relaxed vibe and quirky buildings that make it a firm favorite with both tourists and locals. And, of course, let's not forget the pristine beaches.Wander Lagos' cobbled streets in search of inspiration for your color studies. The palettes of Lagos are as varied as its culture: get inspired by the kaleidoscope of mosaics, check out the marina and its snow-white boats, or dip your toes in the azure waves of the ocean. Lagos is also world-famous for the intricate ceramic "azulejos" tiles that cover the buildings. Take photos or sketch interesting sights using your watercolors. You'll also receive your next set of assignment cards from Lilla; these will help you figure out what to look for when exploring. When you need a break, you can enjoy a cup of coffee by the port or go hunting for a beautiful souvenir.Return to the venue for lunch, then join Lilla for another insightful 'Ask Lilla Anything' session. Lilla will explain how color can enhance your portfolio. Agents often have a gut response to beautiful color (it's one of the very first things they notice), and you'll learn how to use your color skills to your advantage. Moreover, as the founder of the highly successful Lilla Rogers Studio agency, she will give you the scoop on what agents look for in artists, and her loads of experience cover everything you can think of: making a children's book, pitching an idea for illustrated journals or arty non-fiction books, getting a book deal, and the inner workings of the illustration market.Take part in the discussion as you doodle in your sketchbook, putting the color inspiration from Lagos to good use. If time permits, Lilla may do a career tarot reading. [Note: As Lilla will only be doing a few readings during the week, participants are not guaranteed a reading.]Relax with a dip in the pool or wander the gardens to reflect on your progress. As night falls, join your group for a delightful three-course dinner crafted by the venue's private chef. ### Day 4: Art at the venue Indulge in a delightful breakfast and a chat with your fellow artists before your morning art session.Start with the usual warm-up exercises, aided by a brand new set of assignment cards from Lilla. Today we'll also explore how essential color is when defining the mood of an art piece. Using your knowledge about color recipes, creating rich mutes, and mixing it all up, you'll play with different combinations of warm and cold colors. Experiment with switching up quantities of colors from the same palette and observe how they can completely change the vibe of your artwork, using Lilla's two-tone images as support. If you need some color inspiration, the blooming gardens of the venue are a good place to start.Savor a delicious lunch, then continue with the usual relaxed afternoon Q&A. Use this opportunity to learn all about networking in the illustration business, how to promote your work in ways that fit your temperament and shyness level, and what the best markets for your art might be. If time permits, Lilla may do a career tarot reading. [Note: as Lilla will only be doing a few readings during the week, participants are not guaranteed a reading]. If you'd rather listen in, you can continue practicing your assignments or simply journal your day.Indulge in a delectable three-course dinner, perfectly paired with a glass of wine, as you unwind and reflect on the day's artistic discoveries. ### Day 5: Sailing trip Enjoy a hearty breakfast, then prepare for an exciting trip aboard a traditional Portuguese sailboat. Before you set off, you'll receive your next set of vibrant assignment cards.Reach the Lagos marina, hop on the sailboat, and we're off! Spend the morning gliding across the glistening water of the Atlantic. Snap reference photos of the rolling waves, rugged cliffs, hidden grottoes, and dramatic rock formations. The rich azure and deep turquoise of the ocean are sure to inspire some amazing future palettes. Let the beauty of your surroundings ignite your creativity, and feel the breeze in your hair.Return to the venue in the afternoon to enjoy a refreshing lunch. Follow it up with another invaluable 'Ask Lilla Anything' session, where she'll answer anything and everything related to career advice from an agent's perspective, getting the hang of an art technique, or your creative progress so far. As usual, if you'd rather listen in, you're free to work on your color card assignments, paint in your sketchbook, or sort through your reference materials from the sailing trip.Take a walk in the tranquil gardens of the venue or chat with your group, then enjoy another chef-prepared dinner accompanied by Portuguese wine. ### Day 6: Art at the venue Greet the morning with a delicious breakfast, followed by another check-in with Lilla, in preparation for the next exciting class.You'll start with those much-needed warm-ups, followed by the next five color card challenges. Your deck will have grown quite a lot by now! When you're done, take part in another unique color exercise designed by Lilla. With the many color-mixing, palette-making, and selection techniques under your belt, you'll redraw and recolor a beautifully designed product provided by Lilla; it might be delicious too! Put your newly acquired sensitivity to color and gorgeous combinations to the test. Lilla will perform demos of new techniques, offer one-to-one guidance where necessary, and give individual feedback.Enjoy a satisfying lunch, then meet up with your art group for the next 'Ask Lilla Anything' session. This discussion is all about personal growth and refinement, aided by Lilla's endless trove of experience. Receive answers to any questions you might have about the next steps of your art career, fill the pages of your sketchbook with doodles and experiments, and enjoy a wonderful afternoon with your retreat family. If time permits, Lilla may do another career tarot reading. [Note: as Lilla will only be doing a few readings during the week, participants are not guaranteed a reading.]Take a nap in the gardens among the greenery or stretch your legs with a trek to the beach. Join your group for another chef-made dinner under the enchanting light of the moon. Relish the flavors as you sip a glass of local wine. ### Day 7: Art at the venue Your last day at the venue begins with another tasty breakfast.The next class is reserved for personal practice and development. You'll have time to finish the remaining assignments under Lilla's attentive guidance and keep working on your recoloring project from the previous day. You'll also receive the last few color cards, completing your deck. The deck will be an invaluable practice tool for your individual practice back home. Take your time and don't rush the process. You'll soon see unexpected combinations of colors bloom from your fingertips.After lunch, the last Q&A with Lilla will begin, with an added show-and-tell. She'll help you find the answer to any question you may have about progressing in your artistic career or improving your skills. This Q&A session will also include an exhibition of your work during this retreat. It's not obligatory to participate, but this is an excellent opportunity to get supportive feedback from Lilla and the group and to further strengthen your newfound connections. Lilla will give you advice specific to your needs, as her goal is to encourage you to develop your approach to color.End the day with a farewell three-course dinner, expertly prepared by the private chef. Toast to the friendships made and to the amazing journey you experienced! ### Day 8: Departure Gather with Lilla and your fellow participants for breakfast, exchange any final contact information, bid your farewells, and prepare for your transfer to Faro Airport (FAO). Check-out time is 10:00 AM. ## Instructors - **Lilla Rogers** - Illustrator, mentor, artistic agent ## Accommodation ### Portuguese Quinta ### Shared room in the cottage ### Shared standard ensuite room ### Shared superior room - garden view (female only) ### Shared superior room - sea view ### Shared deluxe room - sea view (female only) ### Single room in the cottage ### Single deluxe master suite - sea view ## Book This Retreat Visit [https://uptrek.com/retreat/color-quest-art-retreat-artist-agent-lilla-rogers-portugal](https://uptrek.com/retreat/color-quest-art-retreat-artist-agent-lilla-rogers-portugal) to make a reservation. *Provided by [UpTrek](https://uptrek.com)*