explore your creativity

Friday 10/10

As the retreat begins, artists arrive at the ranch, stepping into a landscape that feels both wild and welcoming. The air hums with possibility as they connect, taking in the rugged beauty that will shape their days ahead.

A hidden wonder awaits—an invitation to pause, to marvel, to be fully present. As twilight deepens, the glow of the fire beckons, weaving warmth, conversation, and quiet inspiration beneath a sky ablaze with stars. The night closes in a hush of creative intention, carried on the wind, waiting to take form with the first light of dawn.

2:00 pm - “The Gathering”

4:00 pm - “Excursion”

5:00 pm “Dinner at the ranch”

Closing - “Intentions for creativity”

The day unfolds in the soft glow of the tipi, where creativity awakens with the delicate forms of native plants, birds, and flowers. Create with Melissa where Watercolor becomes a language of observation and wonder, each brushstroke a meditation on the beauty of the land.

Like the desert wind, the hours move effortlessly between stillness and creation—art, craft, and the quiet wisdom of tradition. After lunch, a gentle walk with Emily leads to hidden treasures, foraged pigments waiting to become color in the days ahead. As twilight deepens, firelight flickers over a shared meal, giving way to the steady rhythm of the drum—a heartbeat of the land, grounding the night in sound and spirit. Beneath the vast desert star filled sky, intentions settle into the earth, and the journey begins to take shape.

9:00 am “Gathering”

Morning Session - “Exploring with paint”

Lunch prepared on the ranch with local foods

Afternoon Session - “Experience the land”

5:00 pm - Dinner

Closing - creative mindset and words of wisdom

The journey expands beyond the ranch, leading to the shifting sands of Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. Here, the desert unveils its ever-changing palette—blush tones at dawn, fiery golds at midday, deep indigos as the sun begins to wane. Let the colors stir your creativity, capturing the essence of the land in memory, sketch, or simply in spirit.

The afternoon invites personal exploration—wander the trails, find solace in stillness, trace the footsteps of artists at the Maynard Dixon Museum, or lose yourself in the quiet charm of Kanab. Whether seeking inspiration in movement or rest, the day is yours to follow where curiosity leads.

9:00 am “Explore”

7 pm- Camp Fire

The ranch beckons us home as dusk settles, the firelight flickering like echoes of ancient stories. Gathered beneath the endless night sky, we share laughter and legends, the scent of woodsmoke mingling with sweet s’mores. Western lore weaves through the flames, while sacred fire techniques honor the traditions that came before. In the quiet glow, time slows, and the night hums with the spirit of the land.

Building upon our time immersed in the land—from the ranch to the rolling dunes—we turn earth into art. Gathering minerals and pigments, we grind, mix, and create, coaxing color from the very essence of Utah’s landscape. A simple box lunch fuels the afternoon as hands stain with ochre and sienna, testing the hues of the desert on paper, each stroke a reflection of days spent observing and absorbing the natural world.

As twilight deepens, fire and flame draw us close for a final evening together. A Cowboy BBQ unfolds beneath a canopy of stars, the long table adorned with wild blooms, the scent of woodsmoke curling into the night. Laughter mingles with the sounds of Western music, and memories take root—woven together by creativity, connection, and the spirit of the land.

9:00 am “Creating” until 4:00 pm

Catered Lunch - provided

6:00 pm - Cowboy BBQ and music

As the first light touches the desert, we gather one last time in the tipi, the scent of a farewell brunch drifting through the morning air. Voices intertwine—stories shared, laughter lingering, and the quiet understanding that this journey will stay with us long after we part.

A soothing sound bowl experience guides us into reflection, each note carrying the echoes of our time together. With hearts full and spirits lifted, we step forward, dreaming of what’s to come, forever connected by the land, the art, and the moments we created.

9:00 am - “Final Gathering”

*All times may vary based on activity outcomes.