Retreat Among the Trees - Watch.Learn.Play. House (2027)

There’s nothing like gathering in person with your people—with time to make art, share meals, and let one creative discovery lead to another.

Retreat Among the Trees is an invitation to spend four full days immersed in creativity at the Watch.Learn.Play. Studio and home of artist Andrea Chebeleu, just south of Portland, Oregon.

Set on five wooded acres, this intimate retreat offers inspiration both inside the studio and out among the trees.

We’ll begin Wednesday evening with a welcome dinner and settle into a gentle daily rhythm: breakfast together, watercolor meditation around the kitchen table, and generous stretches of studio time to explore mixed media with Andrea’s guidance. There’s room to experiment, follow your curiosity, and linger with an idea—without rushing off to the next thing.

Between creative sessions, enjoy home-cooked meals, wander the property, or find a quiet spot to rest. Evenings are yours to connect with fellow artists, keep creating, or turn in early.

A Different Creative Focus Each Month

Retreat Among the Trees follows a rotating schedule of three creative themes. Choose the experience that speaks to you—or return throughout the year to explore something new.

January, April, July & October · Co-Create in Nature
Bring the projects you’ve been meaning to return to, the handmade books waiting to be filled, or the journals you’d love to finish. These retreats offer spacious studio time, Andrea’s guidance, and the company of fellow makers to help you move your work forward. Follow your own creative thread and enjoy giving it your attention.

February, May, August & November · Painting Big in Nature
Give your creativity room to stretch as we work on three large backgrounds: one on paper, one on canvas, and one on a paper quilt or snippet sheet. This retreat is all about exploring a generous surface—building layers, making bold marks, and discovering what happens when you give yourself more room to play.

March, June, September & December · Among the Trees Nature Journal
Experience the original Among the Trees retreat, exploring mark making and printmaking with nature as we create a nature journal. Gather inspiration from the wooded setting and discover ways to bring the shapes, textures, and patterns of the natural world onto your pages.

Your registration includes:

• Four full days of art making, with all supplies provided

• Morning watercolor meditations and guided studio sessions

• Twelve home-cooked meals, beginning with Wednesday dinner

• Coffee, tea, sparkling water, and an always-available snack bar

• Four nights of on-site lodging in shared rooms

Meals are mainly vegetarian, with fish or chicken options available. We do our best to accommodate dietary needs—please share yours when you register.

We gather Wednesday at 5 PM and conclude Sunday by 4 PM.

Come make yourself at home, enjoy the company of creative people, and give yourself the spacious gift of time to create.