Stepping into this part of the retreat feels like discovering a hidden world—where color lives quietly inside leaves, flowers, bark, and roots, waiting to be revealed.

You’ll begin to see plants differently… not just as something to gather, but as a source of rich, living color.

We’ll explore how these natural materials release their pigments—transforming into dyes, inks, and subtle stains—along with the simple shifts and reactions that deepen tones and bring out unexpected beauty.

There will be time to experiment, to observe, and to follow your curiosity as color unfolds in ways that feel both surprising and deeply connected to the natural world.

Working directly with plants, you’ll create a foundation of natural marks—capturing shape, detail, and movement in a way that feels both guided and organic.

Through bundling and steaming, each piece reveals itself in its own time… never rushed, never repeated.

From there, you’ll begin to respond.

Using inks, you’ll gently enhance and interpret what has emerged—allowing your eye and intuition to guide the next layer.

This is where the process shifts…
from receiving, to creating.

What begins with the plants becomes something deeply personal.

Working with silk brings a different kind of sensitivity—colors move more freely, soften at the edges, and unfold in unexpected ways.

You’ll arrange flowers and plant materials, then allow heat and time to do their work. As the silk steams, colors begin to shift, blend, and quietly expand.

When you unroll your piece, what’s revealed is never fully predictable… only guided.

It becomes a moment of discovery—one that feels less like control, and more like collaboration with nature.

Using sunlight as part of the process, you’ll explore cyanotype—creating soft, blue-toned impressions from natural forms.

This method introduces a different rhythm—light, exposure, and timing all playing a role in what emerges.

It’s simple, yet quietly magical.

There is color held within the earth—subtle, grounded, and enduring.

In this part of the retreat, you’ll begin to see the landscape differently. Stones, soil, and natural fragments become a source of mark and material.

You’ll explore how these elements can be brought into your work—creating in a way that feels connected, intentional, and rooted in place.

It’s a quieter kind of color… one that holds the feeling of where it came from.

Not every moment is structured.

There will be space to walk the garden, notice the small details, and gather inspiration from what’s growing around you.

Often, this is where the most meaningful ideas begin.

Between creating, there is time to rest.

To share meals, sit quietly, or connect with others who are drawn to this way of working.

The experience is intentionally spacious—allowing both creativity and stillness to coexist.