We wanted to bring you guys to paradise, join teachers & professional artists Mati McDonough and Faith Evans-Sills as they give you an infusion of jungle inspiration in an online retreat with us! We’ll take you on a Creative Journey as together we'll dive deeply into the ways in which we practice creative play with paint.
We’ll lay out the steps that we take to create our richly layered paintings. Renew your passion for painting in 14 Days with us! We bring some of that self care, delicious art making and colorful inspiration to you wherever you are, in this special online retreat. Its being on one of our International Art Retreats without leaving your home, and then having a bit of paradise in your pocket forever!
We've taken our now retired Painting in Paraiso E-Course and turned it into a 14 day journey that we'll take together as a group, and we've made the price super affordable so that all can come along!
Come along, flying in over the volcanoes of Nicaragua, your first stop will be the roadside fresh coconut stand before the beautiful drive towards the Pacific coast and the small town of Nosara, Costa Rica, our retreat home away from home! Nosara is a laid back town with lots of surfing, yoga and nature and loads of relaxed style all on a gorgeous beach. And the howler monkeys are always somewhere in town! We invite you to take a peek around with us. If you've ever been curious about what its like to be on retreat with us this is your chance, we've packed it all in. We want you to get a taste of what its like touring around town, learning from us in our in depth painting lessons right there in our jungle classroom! Kick your inspiration into high gear with this nourishing escape into the tropics that will reinvigorate your painting practice. We designed this to be a pause in your daily life, a re-set where you can stop everything and dive into these art projects with us.
Welcome to Paradise, we can't wait to show you around!
During our 14 days together you’ll get to:
Discover how to begin your paintings in a fun, stress free way. You'll beat that white canvas anxiety, learning how to playfully build up texture and pattern to create paintings full of depth and meaning.
Explore some of our favorite lessons inspired by nature: flowers, animals, ocean, water, elephants, birds, leaves….ease into your art, building your painted layers like a pro!
Create one painting a day: dive into our video painting lessons where you'll paint right along with us!
You'll gain access to 14 Video Painting Lessons (7 from EACH of us!)!
Re-imagine your potential as a creative: these assignments will be packed with painting knowledge giving you two weeks of artistic exploration and fun that you'll be able to access FOREVER, whenever you are needing a creative boost!
We'll walk you through each topic with long start to finish painting videos, inspirational prompts, guided activities and downloads. This class is open to all skill levels and all creative spirits looking to deepen their painting practice, broaden their painting skills, work their bravery muscles in the studio and expand their personal voice in their paintings.
This course is filmed on location in Costa Rica in our jungle studio. This is a candid and realistic invitation into our retreat environment, you’ll feel like you are right there with us. The sounds of the jungle insects & animals are all around, there is some student discussion during the painting demos and other ambient noise in the videos. Consider this an opportunity to relax, recharge and allow what is.
Here's your invitation to dive deeply into your paintings, to have lots of fun with a worldwide creative group of women to expand your painting skills & techniques in your work and come away with a reinvigorated painting practice. Let’s dive in!
Painting in Paradise: a 14 Day Online Retreat
{A SELF PACED 2 WEEK JOURNEY}
A FUN 14 DAY PAINTING CHALLENGE TO GET YOU PAINTING AND RENEW YOUR CREATIVE ENERGY, WITH A LITTLE BIT OF PARADISE IN YOUR POCKET! THIS COURSE IS FOR ANYONE LOOKING TO GROW THEIR UNIQUE VOICE IN THEIR WORK, EXPAND THEIR TECHNIQUES & WAYS OF THINKING THROUGH PAINT, AND COME AWAY WITH A STRONGER VISION OF WHERE THEY ARE GOING IN THEIR PAINTING PRACTICE.
Class details:
WHERE & WHEN: Online & Self Paced, 2 weeks of class, yours to keep forever;
YOUR INVESTMENT: $47
Watch the video for a preview into what it feels like to go on retreat with us!
Amazing things happen when we change our routines, push our fears aside, and spend time immersed in our work.
How it Works...
The class will begin with a Welcome & Introduction Unit, then you’ll dive into daily painting lessons. With each lesson you'll receive access to painting demo videos featuring start to finish painting lessons taught by Mati and Faith in our jungle classroom. These instructional demo videos are all filmed on location at our retreat home the Jungle Beach House in Costa Rica. They are a candid window into what its like to be right there on retreat with us. Each video will be around 20 minutes long, and will walk you through our painting processes based on the unit topic. These videos will usually show you the start to finish creation of one of our paintings! We encourage you to turn up the music and paint along with us, and crank the volume to hear all the amazing dialogue with our retreat participants there are some amazing conversations about painting that we've captured in these lessons! Each unit will also contain an inspiration video lesson taking you deeper into our jungle environment, where we'll post videos, ideas and other bits of beauty to keep you inspired. In total there are 29 videos for you in this class, chock full of inspiration! All of this rich content is supplemented with gorgeous photography, taken on location by our retreat photographer....giving you a beautiful window into paradise!
Testimonials
What is it like to take a painting E-Course with Mati & Faith? Here's what some of our former students have to say....
“This class really got my painting practice moving. I love where the inspiration has met me and I feel like I’m actually finding my own voice. Having done other online classes I feel the rhythm of this class has been so beneficial.. Having a lesson every day so I’m consistently showing up to my own imagination but with room to breathe through it. Thank you thank you thank you. I am excited to see what I create next and how my own style will merge and develop.”
“Mati and Faith are beautiful, vibrant, fierce female goddesses. They have inspired my painting practice and my life tremendously. I have done a few e-courses and they are fantastic because you get to meet artists from all over the world and you build this little community of support for each other. I developed the courage to share my art in this space privately and that helped me to feel confident to share it on a public platform like Instagram, which for me was hard because I’ve been social media-resistant for years because I am passionate about boundaries. ;) Anyway, I am learning to live with boundaries AND share my art and soul. Mati and Faith have similar aesthetics but have a very distinct personal style. They encourage you to also develop your own vocabulary of mark-making and your voice. I really felt seen, valued, and encouraged here and I would recommend this class for any human being. Art-making is therapeutic and magical and fun and I love seeing everyone’s particular style. With love and gratitude! Thank you Mati and Faith for your presence and love. <3”
“I feel like this class has been a sanctuary, a painting sisterhood, a place for growth and inspiration! My favorite painting class ever. Faith and Mati’s passion and gentle guidance and instruction have been a breath of fresh air into my artistic endeavors. I can’t wait to continue the journey!”
“I just want to say thank you from the depth of my heart and soul for this amazing class. You both have a beautiful purpose in this world and I am so honored to be a witness and student of your gifts and teachings. I have learned so much about abstract, myself and my art. I have painted more than I did in art school!”
“I really love love love this course very much! Not only teaching me painting technique, both of you also shared spirit, courage, fear...these true feeling of you! That make me gradually to accept my imperfection, and become less fear! I enjoyed every moment of painting! Also love the group here! I love to see,and read every response! It’s very important that show me the variety way to see every painting! Learn so much!”
“This class was so helpful. It really helped me move forward and out of my comfort zone. I actually feel like I can now see a path forward with abstract work that I wasn’t able to see before (!!) And I really enjoyed seeing other people’s work too, it was so inspiring.”
“Hugest unending thanks and gratitude to you both, Mati and Faith - the structure and love and compassion which you send out and share in these classes is so gentle, nurturing and supportive - it’s really the perfect loving recipe for me - and I thank you so very much. Your guidance is cracking open and helping me to welcome adore and accept the creative side within me which has yearned to be expressed for a lifetime - thank you for helping me connect further with myself and all of you wonderful souls.”
More Details and FAQ'S:
What is the curriculum for this class?
Painting in Paradise is a SELF PACED CLASS. Upon registration you’ll receive your first email with a link to the class so you can dive right in, to help you spark your creativity baby!
Each Video Lesson will feature a different topic in this order:
DAY 1 :: Welcome to Painting in Paradise: Let's Show You Around
Welcome to Paradise!
Paradise in Your Pocket
New To Ruzuku? Tips for Navigating the course
Supplies for your Retreat
We're So Glad You're Here :: Let us show you around!
Setting Intentions
Opening Circle: Let's Begin
DAY 2 :: Exploring Abstraction
Lesson 1 :: Exploring Abstraction {Mati}
Let's Explore the Jungle Beach House
DAY 3 :: Layered Botanicals
Lesson 2 :: Inspired Botanicals {Faith}
A Day in Paradise!
DAY 4 :: Gold Leaf
Lesson 3 :: Adding Gold Leaf {Mati}
Golf Carting Around Town
DAY 5 :: Watercolor Tapestries
Lesson 4 :: Watercolor Explorations {Faith}
Bonus Lesson :: Watercolor Explorations {Faith}
DAY 6 :: Watercolor Waves
Lesson 5 :: Watercolor Waves {Mati}
Daily Beach Sunsets
DAY 7 :: Nature Mandalas
Lesson 6 :: Creative Fuel with Nature Mandalas {Faith}
Bonus Video :: Mandala Magic
Gathering Inspiration :: An Infusion of Tropical Goodness
DAY 8 :: Collage
Lesson 7 :: Collage {Mati}
Bonus Lesson :: Collage First Layers {Mati}
DAY 9 :: Painted Mandalas
Lesson 8 :: Layered Mandalas {Faith}
Bonus Lesson :: Mandalas {Faith}
Dream a little dream
DAY 10 : Fun Techniques
Lesson 9 :: Fun Techniques {Mati}
Self Care & Flower Essences with Lara Cornell (Downloadable E-Book)
DAY 11 :: Soul Animals
Lesson 10 :: Soul Animals {Mati}
La Luna :: Out of a Dream
DAY 12 :: Incorporating Geometrics
Lesson 11 :: Incorporating Geometrics {Faith}
Inspiration :: Exploring the Sounds & Colors of the Jungle
DAY 13 :: Magic Muses
Lesson 12 :: Magic Muses {Mati}
Bonus Lesson Continuation :: Magic Muses {Mati}
DAY 14 :: Closing & Celebration
Art Show & Discussion
Blessing & Closing Circle
How much time should I dedicate to this?
Plan on spending 30 minutes a day each day of this challenge, to watch the video lesson, dive into painting right along with us while you watch! Then share it all over on Instagram so that we can celebrate YOU!
You're in the right place if:
You’re looking for a fun, creative escape!
You suddenly have a lot of free time at home/with kids :)
You're been feeling stale in your creative practice.
You know you feel most alive when you make art and you want to make it more of a priority in your life.
You want an accessible way to jump into making art.
You are a bit lost and looking for inspiration.
Who is this class for?
This online class is open to all skill levels and all creative spirits looking to feel deeply inspired, fill up their creative well, reinvigorate and deepen their painting practice, broaden their painting skills, work their bravery muscles in the studio and expand their personal voice in their paintings!
What materials do I need for this course, do I need a studio space?
No, you do not need a separate studio space for this course, but you will get the most out of it if you have a spot in your home where you can easily set up to paint, or that is dedicated just to painting. This could be a corner of your kitchen, dining room or just a cabinet where you store your supplies so you can easily access them when your inspiration strikes. Some of our projects will be messy and you will want a place where you can feel free to let those spirits lead you without worry. We will give you a list of art supplies, many of which you probably already have in your studio/art bin. We'll primarily use acrylic paints and watercolors, we'll go into detail during our first week of class sharing our favorite brands with you.
Basic course material include: 4-6 canvases (around 12 by 12 inches or larger, in the videos you'll see us working on 16 by 20 inch canvases), a simple set of acrylic paint including white & black, a simple watercolor set, a cold pressed watercolor pad, acrylic paint pens & markers, a variety of pens & pencils, gold leaf & foil, adhesive (modpodge or mat medium), a variety of collage papers, a variety of sizes of paint brushes.
Upon registration you will receive an email with a full list of supplies, with links, but we recommend you start with what you already have on hand!
How long will I have access to the course material?
You'll have lifetime access to all course material & workshop content immediately upon purchase, to enjoy, explore, go at your own pace and dive into as many times as you like. You simply need to be logged into your account on Ruzuku, the site that hosts my online classes, to access the workshop!
Do I have to complete all the projects?
You will have lifetime access to the course material in our online classroom, so you can go at your own pace! No need to worry if you miss a class or a week or a lesson! We want this class to feed your inspiration, and be a receptive place where you can relax and re-energize your art practice. You will never get any guilt or pressure from us to complete projects. Participants can share their projects on Instagram as they feel led using our tags #abstractbliss and #paintingthesacredwithin, gaining feedback and inspiration from each other!
How does the online class work?
We'll have our own easy to access password protected online classroom where you'll have instant access to all of the units, the complete online retreat will be yours to go at your own pace. You can access all of the lessons as your own schedule permits, and in your own time zone.
Sharing builds community, yay!
We'll be encouraging you to post your work and tag us on Instagram using our hashtags #AbstractBliss #PaintingTheSacredWithin and tag our account @abstractblissretreats In the meantime, make sure you're following us both @faithevanssills and @matirose so we can cheer you on.
We're so thrilled to share our slice of paradise with you in this exciting class,
xo Faith & Mati
A bit more about our teachers...
Faith is a painter, wife, mother, world traveler and creative guide making her home in sunny Charleston, South Carolina. After 15+ years in New York City Faith craved a closer daily connection to nature, so she took the leap moving her family to the South Carolina coast in 2011. In her work, Faith draws inspiration from nature’s wild and small moments; from love, textiles and most importantly, the relationships that shape her. Classically trained in painting with a BFA from Skidmore College and an MFA from Parsons School of Design, along with over twenty years of personal painting experience, Faith enjoys inspiring others to manifest their most heartfelt ideas through creating art. Her first book, Painting the Sacred Within, a guide to art techniques for expressing your authentic inner voice, was published in 2017 with Northlight Press. She is a well-loved teacher both online, across the United States and internationally at her annual art retreats in Morocco, Costa Rica and Mexico. Faith’s paintings have been exhibited widely and included in numerous books and publications including Painted Blossoms, Paint Lab, Color Lab, Seventeen, Calm, Happinez and Mabel Magazine. Her art has also been featured on designs for Anne Taylor Company Lou & Grey. Follow along on Instagram where she posts daily beauty and inspiration.
Mati is an artist and daring adventurer whose name is pronounced Matey, like Ahoy! She is an Oakland, California based artist, illustrator, painting teacher and author of Daring Adventures in Paint. After wanting to be an artist for many years, but feeling like it was “impractical”, at 29 years Mati took the leap and went back to art school at the California College of the Arts. Almost 10 years later, she is still excited and terrified every time she sees a blank canvas. She has had dozens of art shows, taught painting classes internationally and had her art used by clients Patagonia, University Games, Pier 1, as well as greeting cards, and her very own home decor line. She also has illustrated several children’s books including “i carry your heart” written by ee cummings. Through her workshops, book, and popular online course, she spreads a warm message of creative courage: it’s never too late to show the world your magic.