Incredible Art workshop and retreat, super charming and comfortable hotel.
The instructors were great and Sigrid was very helpful and understanding
and provided the right mix of support. Thanks, guys for a wonderful
workshop.

The Workshop was not only fantastic learning experience but also great fun
and in good company.

Our excellent and knowledgeable hosts, Sigrid and Bjorg picked
us up at the airport in Keflavik and we got our first tour of Iceland
driving to our hotel and our workshop.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time there last summer and am so glad I
decided to do it. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot. The hotel
where we stayed was located on beautiful and pristine Lake
Ellidavatn surrounded by fields of purple-blue lupin and other
wildflowers. Our bedroom door opened onto this vista, which we
could enjoy far into the night, since the sun did not set until after
11 pm. This was the view we got to paint as a family of swans
glided by on the lake. Arctic terns called to one another overhead
and there were Icelandic horses grazing nearby.
We had amazing teachers, as both Pattee Hipschen (landscape)
and Danni Dawson (portrait) are expert living artists and excellent
instructors. We also got to meet some wonderful Icelandic artists
that were in our classes as well as the models that posed for us.
We were warmly welcomed into several Icelandic homes, where
we got to know our new colleagues better.
The atmosphere at the hotel was warm and familial and the staff
exceptionally friendly and helpful. Our day started with a huge
breakfast buffet that included everything from pastries, to eggs in
various forms, to meats and fruit. Delicious lunches and dinners
were prepared by an expert chef and we all ate together familystyle at one table, overlooking the lake. In the evening, after
dinner, we were able to relax in the outdoor hot tub and sauna,
before heading to bed. The rooms were very comfortable and
cosy and peaceful.

What I found most valuable about the workshop was its focus on mindfulness and self-expression. Through guided exercises and prompts, we were encouraged to tap into our emotions and experiences, using art as a vehicle for self-discovery.