Art in Nature Retreat
with Kimberlee Hummel, Karen Abel Dickinson and April Claxton
August 4 – 9, 2026
Tuesday August 4 Dinner – Sunday August 9 Breakfast
Immersed in Nature: Cyanotype printing, Watercolor and forest walks
Join us for a program of nature-inspired art. Explore new media and expand your relationships with art through your connection to nature. Through guided mindfulness walks, we will gain inspiration and reconnect with our sense of playfulness and wonder. Drawing inspiration from nature, we will explore the techniques of watercolor and cyanotypes, discovering how they complement each other. We’ll explore how nature influences art-making and how our art can impact our appreciation of nature.
All skill levels are welcome, learn something new, or share your knowledge.
Blueprints of Nature: The Art of Cyanotypes (Kimberlee Hummel)
This workshop will guide participants through the creation of cyanotype prints, an ancient photographic technique that dates back over 200 years. Using the sun’s UV light, light-sensitive paper, and natural materials, we will produce beautiful cobalt blue images. Using the beauty of Indralaya’s setting as our studio, you will learn each step of the traditional and the more experimental ‘wet’ cyanotype process, including preparing the solution, treating the paper, creating images, exposing them to light, and fixing the color. Additionally, participants can bring a natural fabric item—such as a t-shirt, pillowcase, or bandana—to print on during the workshop.
Watercolor Time (Karen Abel Dickinson)
Karen will start by showing a few foundational techniques to get you comfortable. She’ll walk you through the full process of creating a complete painting so you can understand the balance between paint, paper, and water. Step by step, you’ll learn to paint what you see, with Karen right there to guide you as much—or as little—as you’d like.
Natural Mindfulness Guide (April Claxton)
April will introduce you to the practices of forest bathing & nature mindfulness. Not simply a walk in the woods, it is a conscious and contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds, textures, and smells of the forest. You will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of practices from walks to nature meditation to seated sketching & journaling. Most walks will be silent in order for you to deepen your connection to the forests of Indralaya. We also move slowly and deliberately, which means they are appropriate for all fitness levels.
Registration
Register through Indralaya
Visit the Indralaya website for details on lodging options and program fees and to register.