Whimsical Women in Living Color
A Whimsical Women Art Retreat with Joanne Sharpe
October 3-6, 2021

Dust off your overnight bags and treat yourself to a creative escape after a very long absence from in-person gatherings and join us for a 3-day art retreat, “Whimsical Women in Living Color.” Enjoy this memorable event with like-minded creatives for a joyful art-making experience, friendship, and laughter with Joanne Sharpe.

Artful hearts will gather and stay on campus (or commute) with all accommodations, meals and art activities provided. Enjoy comfortable, safety compliant accommodations and choose a room that suits your comfort level or simply commute for daily sessions. Proof of vaccination  and wearing of masks while indoors will be required and workstations will be separated by as much space as possible. 

CREATE! Delight in an artful adventure each day in FIVE big instructional art and creativity sessions with Joanne Sharpe.  Themed mixed media projects for art journaling and bookmaking will focus on painting, collage, colorful illustration with hand lettering, textiles, and simple slow stitching. 

PLAY! Bring just a few of your own supplies and then feast on banquet of yummy art materials at Joanne’s “Art Bar”, FREE to use in class and even take home.

EAT WELL!  Enjoy every scrumptious meal and snacks onsite prepared by our outstanding chef. All meals are included in retreat fee. 

BREATHE! Relax and make art to your heart’s content in our open studio day and night. 

TREASURE!  There are always presents for your “presence”!  Swoon over some very special art swag and supplies gathered and gifted just for you to celebrate this artful journey.

​EMPOWER! All skill levels welcome! Enjoy personal art coaching and encouragement from Joanne.  We’ll inspire you, empower you and spoil you!  
“The second I arrived on the grounds of the gorgeous Monastery Gallery of Art in West Hartford, CT, I knew this location would be an annual stop on the Whimsical Women Art Retreat offerings.  So simple, so serene, peaceful, inspiration everywhere….When our gathering ended,  I couldn’t wait to come back!
- Joanne Sharpe

SUPPLY LIST
No worries if it’s not on the list, we’ll have it for you.
  • Watercolor paint- Joanne uses Daniel Smith.  Any brand is fine, get the best you can as your budget allows.
  • Acrylic paint- 5-6 craft store acrylics are perfect, or artist grade only of you have them.
  • Brushes for watercolor and acrylic paint- Simply Simmons brand recommended- Round #4, #8 and ¾” flat
  • Gesso- 4oz Liquitex brand
  • Matte medium- 4oz Liquitex brand
  • DMC floss- at least 4-5 skeins in your favorite color combination
  • Assorted stencils (4-5 pieces) by “Stencil Girl” or “Crafter’s Workshop”- if you have them
  • Posca paint markers- PC-3M and PC-5M- 2-3 each size, favorite colors
  • Black waterproof drawing pens- assorted tips by Micron, Uniball, Pitt, etc.
  • Scissors for cutting paper and fabric 
  • PVA glue (Lineco 4oz)
If you have any questions about the supply list email Joanne: jzsharpe@yahoo.com
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ABOUT JOANNE SHARPE
​Joanne Sharpe is a life-long creative artist dedicated to empowering women to embrace their own creativity through national and international workshops and innovative online classes that explore journaling, lettering, textiles and mixed media art. She is the author of the best-selling title The Art of Whimsical Lettering (Interweave 2014), named Amazon’s Editor’s Pick for the Best Craft Book of 2014.

Joanne is proud to be a BERNINA Artisan Ambassador, sharing her love of threads and fabric with an audience eager to learn how to bring these expressive media into their own artwork. Look for her second book, The Art of Whimsical Stitching, and find out more about Joanne and her art adventures on her new website at joannesharpe.com.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION
This retreat is being hosted by The Monastery Gallery of Art with space and online registration provided by Holy Family Retreat & Conference Center.  Registration fees cover provided art supplies, accommodations, snacks and meals during your stay. The retreat begins on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. with an overview of planned activities followed by dinner at 6:00 p.m. and will conclude after brunch on Wednesday afternoon by 1:30 p.m. 

​We feel it is safest, with the current rise in the spread of Covid, to welcome all vaccinated persons back into the building at this time. We will require those on retreat to bring proof of vaccination and present it at the registration desk.  We will provide more information about this process as the retreat nears.  We will also require retreatants to wear masks and maintain a reasonable social distance (to the greatest extent possible in the spaces we utilize) while inside the building. These protocols could change according to state regulations.

​​The following accommodations are available, please register below by making a non-refundable deposit with the unit you would like to reserve. 
Private Room with Private Bath - $ 1430 - SOLD OUT
​Private Room with Hall Bath - $ 1250
Commuter - $750

If you have any questions or special dietary/health-related requests, please contact Beth at beth@monasterygallery.art.