# Joyous Watercolor Adventures Retreat with Artist Emily Olson in Greece Join artist Emily Olson for a harmonious and joyful art retreat on the sun-kissed island of Zakynthos, "The Flower of the East." Focus on still life, portraiture, landscape, and sketchbook studies while drawing inspiration from the textures, light, and colors of the region. Move through the topics as a lead-up to portraiture. By the end of the retreat, you will have created a focused collection that reflects both the environment and your evolving creative direction.Throughout the retreat, you will draw inspiration directly from life across Zakynthos. A half day in Zante Town places you among arcades, harbor views, and sunlit facades as you sketch and paint on location, studying light moving across architecture and water. You will board a boat for a half-day visit to Navagio Beach, also known as Shipwreck Beach, painting above bright turquoise water and steep white cliffs shaped by the sea.At an award-winning olive oil farm, spend time working from groves and long agricultural lines that invite strong compositional choices. Another half day takes place at a Zakynthos horse farm, where you can translate movement into confident marks.Stay at a charming Greek villa, soak in the sun at the nearby beach, enjoy authentic Greek cuisine bursting with flavor, and make unforgettable memories with a like-minded group of artists. The retreat welcomes all levels of experience, though you’ll benefit most if you already have some familiarity with watercolors and Emily’s work and style of teaching. ## Details - **Dates:** April 29 - May 6, 2027 - **Location:** Planos, Zakynthos, Greece - **Starting Price:** $4,850 - **Category:** Painting ## Program ### Joyous Watercolor Adventures Retreat Experience a transformative art retreat with artist Emily Olson on the sunny island of Zakynthos. Work across still life, landscape, portraiture, and sketchbook studies as a natural progression, starting with simple objects and environments and building toward painting someone with presence and soul. With Emily’s guidance, you will explore foundational watercolor techniques, including palette setup, water control, brush handling, and composition. Begin with still life studies to understand shape, light, and color. Then move into landscapes drawn from the surrounding gardens and scenery, focusing on structure, texture, and atmosphere.Paint your way across Zakynthos, letting each place dictate a different visual language and pace of looking. In Zante Town, a trip unfolds among arcades, balconies, harbor masts, and worn pastel walls shaped by Venetian and Byzantine history. Bells, footsteps, and moving shadows keep the page alive. Then, a boat ride carries you to Navagio Beach. From high above the electric blue cove, create large shapes while wind and glare simplify the scene in bold contrast. The stranded hull becomes an anchor for composition as cliffs curve around it.At an award-winning olive oil farm established in 1890, work among trees older than most buildings you have known, some over 1500 years old. The olive oil tasting that follows deepens your sense of place, linking flavor, scent, and memory to what you painted. At a Zakynthos horse farm, movement replaces stillness. Try your hand at quick studies of the horses and ponies, merging landscape and anatomy into a single painted moment.By the end of the retreat, you will have created a focused collection that reflects both the environment and your evolving creative direction.The retreat is open to all levels of experience, though you’ll benefit most if you already have some familiarity with watercolors and Emily Olson's work and style of teaching. The topics covered during your lessons will include:Basic water control, controlling your watercolor when working uprightPainting in a sketchbook, on locationPainting from life, whether that's a still life setup, a model, or the landscapes of ZakynthosFocusing on valuesNarrowing down complex pieces to simple shapesCreating strong compositionsDefeating artist's block and finding inspirationSketching and painting on the goColor mixing and working with a cohesive palette...and many more!The venue, a stunning Greek villa perched on a cliff with sweeping views of the sea, will be your creative haven. The villa offers exclusive access to a sea-facing studio, welcoming common areas, and a refreshing infinity pool, providing plenty of space to work in and relax. Savor authentic Greek cuisine prepared by a private chef, and bond with an intimate group of fellow artists over a glass of local wine.Please note: the retreat venue is located on terraced grounds, with access to the studio, common areas, and accommodations requiring the use of stairways. Getting to the nearby beach also requires descending a steep stairway of approximately 50 meters (164 feet), and there will be plenty of walking during the trips. Therefore, this retreat is not suitable for individuals with low or 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 unwind before joining a guided tour of the venue grounds. Discover the inviting pool, the shala art studio, and the inviting common areas. Meet your instructor for the retreat, Emily Olson, as well as your fellow artists. As the evening winds down, savor a delightful three-course welcome dinner in a warm and lively atmosphere. Enjoy a glass of wine with Emily and the group and make plans for the week ahead. ### Day 2: Art classes at the venue Start your morning with a delightful breakfast and a cup of freshly brewed coffee. Join a brief check-in with Emily and the venue hosts, then get ready for the first class of the retreat.Begin the morning session by focusing on the essentials of watercolor painting. Emily will walk you through tools, palettes, and foundational techniques. Learn how to control water and pigment, practice different types of washes, and explore how colors mix and interact on paper. Clear demonstrations and hands-on exercises will build your confidence and help you settle into a relaxed, productive rhythm.In the afternoon, bring your sketchbook and step outside. The peaceful surroundings at the venue offer plenty of inspiration, with the sea as your backdrop. Fill your pages with studies of still life, natural forms, or scenes from around the estate. Emily will guide you through composition choices, brushwork, and layering techniques, offering feedback to help sharpen your eye and develop your voice on paper.As the day comes to an end, enjoy some leisure time before dinner. Take a quick dip in the pool, wander the estate grounds, or socialize with your fellow creatives on one of the sea-facing terraces. Indulge in a delicious three-course dinner prepared by the in-house chef, paired with a glass of fragrant, local wine. ### Day 3: Boat trip to Navagio Beach Begin the day with a refreshing breakfast and a warm cup of coffee, prepare for the first trip of the retreat, and welcome the spirit of adventure as you head towards the sea. Spend the morning exploring the Zakynthian coast aboard a boat taxi. Depart from Porto Vromi and ride across crystalline waters, passing silent caves and jagged cliffs that echo with ancient stillness. Let the rhythm of the boat, the salt in the air, and the colors of the sea awaken your senses. You'll soon arrive at Navagio Beach, also known as Shipwreck Beach, where the bones of an old shipwreck rest in the sand, rusted and storied. Take reference photos or make quick sketches from your boat as you hear more about the vessel's past as a (rumored) smuggling ship for the Italian mafia back in the 1980s.After returning by boat to Porto Vromi, enjoy a nourishing lunch at the venue and some time to rest and reset before returning to the studio.In the afternoon, join Emily for a watercolor session built around translating your observations into finished work. Start by selecting one or two elements from the morning and develop thumbnail sketches to experiment with layout. Create value studies to understand light and structure, then begin layering watercolor to build shape and form. Emily will guide you in capturing the essence of what inspired you earlier, helping you refine your choices and move with intention from sketch to composition.As the class ends, take some time to recharge after a day filled with exploration and creativity. Relax by the pool, bathe in the sun, or go for a short walk on the nearby beach. Gather with Emily and the group for a hearty three-course dinner prepared by the private chef, accompanied by a glass of wine. ### Day 4: Art trip to a Zakynthos horse farm Ease into the day with a relaxed breakfast, letting the peaceful rhythm of the morning ground you. Morning light will set the pace for a lively painting session at the farm. Step into the traditional horse farm and paint the movement of Zakynthian horses and ponies raised on site. Work fast to catch shifting weight and turning heads, then build those gestures into stronger studies. Use fences, halters, buckets, stable doors, and trampled grass as ready-made structures for composition, and rearrange them across the page as the scene changes. Settle into the shaded saloon where tables and chairs will give you a steady base while the farm continues around you. Emily will offer individual feedback and guidance.Pause midday for a light lunch, then return to the charming shala art studio for another painting session. Emily will guide you as you refine your brushwork, develop your color choices, and adjust your compositions directly on the page. Begin new work with a fresh setup. Select objects that interest you and consider how their scale, texture, and lighting affect the overall feel. Experiment with smaller-scale studies and simplify your arrangements. Pay close attention to subtle shifts in value and color, using these short studies to sharpen your observation and refine your technique.Spend the rest of the evening as you wish. Wander the venue grounds, take a swim in the pool, catch the sunset on the nearby beach, or take a moment to reflect on your experience on the retreat so far. Enjoy a flavorful three-course dinner prepared by the in-house chef, complemented by aromatic wine. ### Day 5: Art trip to an olive oil farm with olive oil tasting Kick off your day with a hearty breakfast and a hot cup of coffee before heading into a day full of creativity and connection. Indulge in an on-location drawing session at a renowned olive oil farm that has been running since 1890. Old olive trees, some of which are more than 150 years old, dot the property. No matter what you observe during the Silver Medal Global Elite Olive Oils tasting—the enormous trunks, the girls in traditional attire, the farmer leading the way through the groves, the animals frolicking about, or even other tourists—feel free to sketch it! Photograph what inspires you for any future work, and enjoy the relaxing moments alongside your fellow artists.Pause for a simple lunch and take a moment to reflect on the direction your work is heading. Continue developing your work, using references gathered earlier in the week or drawing directly from the venue’s surroundings. Focus on refining value studies, experimenting with color, and exploring the textures and shapes that define your chosen scene. Emily will be nearby throughout the afternoon to check in, offer guidance, and sit down one-on-one to discuss your process and progress.Unwind with some spare time in the afternoon, then gather for a freshly made dinner, enjoying the lovely company of Emily and your fellow artists. ### Day 6: Art trip to Zante Town Fuel up with a delicious breakfast and a fresh cup of coffee, then jump into your next adventure: a trip to the town of Zante, the lively capital of Zakynthos. Wander the streets lined with Venetian arches, sunlit balconies, and shifting shadows. Collect inspiration in the form of quick sketches or reference photos for your later studies. Capture the tranquil turquoise sea, the colorful traditional Greek houses, and the sun-drenched beaches. Scribble, gather color inspiration, or simply shop for a souvenir as you explore Zante. Return to the venue for a filling lunch, then continue your work in the studio or garden during the afternoon session. Use sketches and photos from the morning to develop landscape compositions and value studies. Begin distilling the scenes into monochromatic watercolor paintings that focus on structure and clarity. Emily will guide you in refining your ideas, experimenting with layering, and pulling depth from simple forms. Focus on atmosphere, shape, and line to carry the visual feeling of Zante into your work.The evening will offer some time to rest, swim, or simply just be. As the day ends, gather with Emily and the group for a nourishing dinner and a pleasant atmosphere, paired with a glass of fragrant wine. ### Day 7: Art classes at the venue Enjoy a wholesome breakfast and a comforting morning coffee before attending another art workshop with Emily and the group. The focus today is portraiture. Join Emily in the shala studio to work from a model, practicing how to build structure and proportion while capturing presence and emotion through watercolor. Learn how to mix skin tones that stay clear and vibrant and how to layer paint with subtlety and control. Emily will demonstrate key techniques and offer individual feedback as you refine your approach and deepen your confidence with the human form.After a relaxed lunch, continue exploring portraiture through a subject of your choice. Paint someone in the group, work from a family photo, or return to a portrait you started earlier. Choose what feels most meaningful and stay open to discovery. Emily will be available for one-on-one feedback and questions throughout the afternoon. Later, gather for a mini-exhibition. Share what you've created, speak about the process behind your pieces, and celebrate the work of the group. Emily will offer closing reflections and individual insights on your development.As the evening approaches, enjoy some spare time to reset before dinner. Come together one more time for a generous farewell dinner, accompanied by a Greek dance show and band. Soak in the pleasant atmosphere, surrounded by delicious food, Greek music, and lively conversations. Raise a glass to the art you have brought to life, the friendships you have forged, and the unforgettable memories you have made! ### Day 8: Departure Enjoy one last breakfast with Emily and your art group, and exchange any last contact details before getting 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 - **Emily Olson** - Watercolor artist and teacher ## Accommodation ### Stunning Greek Estate ### Shared standard ensuite room ### Shared superior ensuite room ### Shared penthouse ### Single standard ensuite room ### Single superior ensuite room ### Single ensuite room - shared villa ### Single deluxe suite ## Book This Retreat Visit [https://uptrek.com/retreat/joyous-watercolor-adventures-retreat-artist-emily-olson-greece](https://uptrek.com/retreat/joyous-watercolor-adventures-retreat-artist-emily-olson-greece) to make a reservation. *Provided by [UpTrek](https://uptrek.com)*