with
Kasey Sealy
& Anna Kwiecinska
27 September - 5 October, 2025
9 days/8 nights
Day 1 - arrival day - Welcome dinner
Day 9 - departure day - no program
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6 Days with Art Program + 1 free day
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AIRPORT is ATHENS (and then a 2-hr ferry to Hydra)
Discover this legendery home to artists and writers throughout the C.20th
For many artists a stay on Hydra, the enchanting, some say magical, Aegean island, was a significant part of how their art was created, now you can join renowned Australian artist Kasey Sealy for a week of plein-air painting in mid-Autumn, when the light is beautiful and the Saronic Gulf is absolutely wonderful!
Kasey Sealy is renowned for his mastery of light and atmosphere.
He has held four solo exhibitions in London and has been represented in major art fairs in London, including "Olympia" 2002, where a record price of £18,000 was established for a major canvas.
His articles are regularly published in Australian Artist Magazine and International Artist.
Kasey has studied and painted in many countries including The UK, France, Italy - particularly Venice, and the USA, and he still takes regular painting trips around Australia.
Has been a lecturer at Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, teaches art throughout Australia and also judges art shows.
Hydra offers you its spectacular port with its C.18th century mansions, white stone houses cubically arranged on an amphitheatre-like enclosure, donkeys clopping by, their minders often sporting fantastic moustaches, then there's the fabulous blue of the Aegean Sea mountain vistas, distant horizons with the soft hills of the Peloponnese, coves with boats, fishing villages and delightful stairways trellised with bougainvillea ... more than enough subject matter to fill your watercolour pad!
The retreat includes your accommodation, tuition, some meals and some water taxi transfers to painting locations and is organised by Anna, who has created the series "Painting by the Sea in Greece" to welcome artists to this very special destination.
Kasey and I warmly invite you to join our group in 2025 for this exceptional art experience By the Sea on the legendary Greek Island of Hydra.
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WHAT YOU'LL DO
This 9-day/8-night retreat offers you full week to explore Hydra and paint, paint, paint!
Over 6 days of painting with Kasey you'll enjoy morning master-class painting demonstrations to learn specific technical aspects, and then paint along-side Kasey, or if you wish, of course, to go off on your own and paint, and review work with Kasey later . there is a free day at the end of the week for you to explore, relax, or discover nearby islands with short same-day boat trips.
For this retreat you should bring all of your favourite materials - if you happen to be acquiring a watercolour kit for the first time then we will share with you a list of recommendations.
WHO WILL THIS RETREAT SUIT?
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Kasey is a widely experienced teacher of watercolour technique, and encourages people of all abilities and experiences to join his retreats, yes, even complete beginners will gain a strong grounding from which to continue.
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If you have some prior art-making experience, particularly watercolours, at any level, then this retreat will be rocket fuel for your technique.
WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE
The daytime temperature n September hovers around 28 Celcius, it's mainly dry, with warm evenings, and people who really know and love this area of Greece know that this is the best time of the year to enjoy its charms without the summer crowds, The water is still warm and it's lovely for swimming. the light is crisp, and for plein-air artists, its a comfortable time to be working out doors.
How does the retreat work?
A brilliant week of painting awaits you!
After a leisurely breakfast in our lovely shaded courtyard- perhaps after an early morning walk through the quiet alleys of this picturesque port, or even a quick dip - we'll set off with Kasey to spend the morning painting in a variety of locations. If walking isn't for you, take a water taxi to beachside coves, we'll spend the day there, stopping for lunch at a seaside taverna, and relaxing with a swim before continuing painting.
You are always welcome to work at any time in the olive-tree shaded courtyard of our hotel, and if rain or shine is too much, there's an indoor area to work too. And of course you can go off and paint on your own and review your work with Kasey later in the day.
Your hotel has a wonderful terrace from which you can work, surveying the entire port and hills behind.
In all, the retreat comprises 30 hours of class time with Kasey Sealy
Other activities available on the island include horse trail treks, suitable even for novices, and superb trekking to the island's famous mountain top monasteries and convent.
The port features three historical museums, two of which are included in the retreat program, an art cinema and two art museums, with free entry for you to enjoy.
Anna will share menus from favourite taverns during the week - there's a wide choice, from fine dining to take-away souvlaki, and the several supermarkets are available for self-catering too.
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You have organised us beautifully, Anna!
Huge thanks for every day you pulled together for us
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Gina S. U.K,- Hydra Art Retreat October 2024
The Retreat is organised by Anna Kwiecinska
With a background as an art historian and art gallery owner, my collaboration with artists continues to be a fascinating career which evolved into specialist art retreats designed to combine seriously good art tuition with authentic cultural experiences.
Over the last 14 years, hundreds of people over dozens of retreats have experienced the depth of wellbeing that being creative can foster.
Creative Living Retreats are a source of focus for creative inspiration, with our intuitive teachers guiding you to Live Creatively.
Having spent two wonderful years living on Hydra, and knowing the island well, in 2024 Anna created the series of Painting by the Sea in Greece. This retreat with Kasey Sealy takes full advantage of Anna's familiarity with the island.
Over a decade, many retreatants have returned for our thoughtfully curated weeks of supported creativity, and I genuinely look forward to welcoming you to experience the depth of wellbeing that Creative Living Retreats have become known for, More info
Born in Forbes in 1961, Kasey began painting at the age of 17 yearrs in 1978, and has painted professionally since 1980.
He has had 6 solo exhibitions in London and has been represented at major London Art Fairs, such as ‘Olympia’ where a record price of 18,000 pounds was established for a major canvas in 2002.
He has been commissioned by the American Australian Association to provide works, painted and presented as awards to Greg Norman and Andrew Liveris, president of Dow Chemical Co USA, and Paul Anderson, ex CEO BHP and present CEO of Duke Energy in America.
Commissions for 2007 include Chip Goodyear, ex CEO BHP & James McInerney, Vice President of Boeing Air USA
Kasey was selected for the Ingles equestrian Prize 2012.
Kasey’s a Learn to Paint “Visions in Oils” was published in 2012
Kasey’s book “The Art of Kasey Sealy” was published in 1993.
Kasey has painted in many overseas countries, including UK, France, Venice, Italy & USA.
He still manages regular painting trips around Australia, as his love of the Australian bush is the source of much of his inspiration.
He was previously a regular lecturer at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst, but now holds tutorials for Art Society members, throughout Australia, and holds his own home tutorials in his studio.
He has also produced 5 educational; learn to paint Videos/DVD’s.
His paintings have been shown as a major prize on popular Australian TV game shows, on numerous occasions.
His articles on painting are regularly published in Australian Artist magazine as well as the International Artist.
In 2013 Kasey appeared in the ABC Landline documentary called “Brush Strokes”.
Where does the retreat take place ?
The retreat hub is a historic mansion whose owners offer friendly service in a traditional Greek style accommodation. Breakfast is outside and the hotel offers and relaxed and private places for you to work on your art both outside beneath a 200-year old olive tree in high-walled courtyard, and inside beneath a high-beamed ceiling (should very occasional rain happen).
Although Hydra is a very vertical island, with steeps scaling steep hills populated with the iconic, picturesque stone houses, our hotel is just a few minutes' walk from the port, on flat ground, with no steps required to approach it. The hotel has ground, first and second floors (no lift), with a dedicated buffet breakfast bar, sea view terrace access for all.
Loved the whole thing ... I just thought you did the retreat so well.
I felt totally satisfied with the way you made it all happen and
made us all feel very special. You really were the glue.
Very professional.
The exhibition was just so beautifully put together.
Lyn Mowday, Busselton, Australia, 2019 on a BALI RETREAT
What does your Retreat include?
see all the inclusions >
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Accommodation with Breakfast for 8 nights
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Breakfasts 8
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Taverna Lunches 2
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Welcome Dinner
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Farewell Dinner
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30 Hours of contact time with Kasey Sealy over 6 days
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a day trip (by boat) to Spetses island for painting
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1 free day (no organised tuition)
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Water taxis to 2 destinations for painting and lunch
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National Museum visit
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Visit to the home and studio of Hydra's famous C.20th artist Panayotis Tetsis, a master watercolourist
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gift bag with art goodies
What's Not Included
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airfares
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ferry to and from Hydra from Piraeus (Athens)
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porterage between ferry and your hotel on Hydra (can be arranged, cost applies)
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your personal insurance
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all alcoholic beverages
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any entrance tickets to places not described in the itinerary supplied on this site
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all personal expenses laundry, telephone etc.
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any boat taxis extra to those described in the itinerary (ie to two destinations for painting trips)
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any extra activities such as horse riding,
Thank you Anna for convening this fabulous experience.
Your style, grace and attention to detail made everyone feel important. Sharing your home for those days of art and food and armchair yoga will be a special memory for me to hold. You have gathered an amazing staff around you ... thank you again.
Gloria C. Queensland, Australia.
ART RETREAT in Bali 2022
What's not included
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airfare
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travel insurance
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personal expenses
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return taxi after arrival at Piraeus port on retrun
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return boat from Hydra to Piraues as you may wish to stay on Hydra longer (this can be organised by Anna for you)
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5 dinners
GETTING THERE
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You fly into ATHENS AIRPORT : ATH - Eleftherious Venizelos
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YOUR RETREAT STARTS on DAY 1 (27 September) when we meet for our welcome drink prior to port tour followed by Welcome Dinner
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GETTING FROM ATHENS TO HYDRA
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The port of Piraeus is 30 minutes from Athens airport and central Athens by taxi.
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You can purchase your boat tickets AHEAD OF TIME online for about Euro 38-44 - several boat companies operate this route, so check here for the sailing time that best suits you:
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The RETREAT FINISHES after breakfast on DAY 9 (5 October)
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Extra nights may be available at the retreat hotel - enquire with Anna - please mention this on your booking form.
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GETTING FROM ATHENS TO HYDRA - be sure to NOT BOOK the last available boat if you are planning to fly out of Athens that night (just in case the sailing is delayed or cancelled ... rare but possible).
ART MATERIALS
A detailed list is available when you book, or on request, but generally speaking, you'll need;
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a pad of good quality 300 gsm watercolour paper
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a sketch pad
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your watercolours
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your brushes
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a stool or foldable seat for plein air location work
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Rooms with own direct terrace are on 2nd floor; terrace-access rooms on 1st floor (as is suite).
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There is no elevator in this hotel as it is a historical building. Terraces face towards the sea. Rooms allocated strictly on first-come basis.
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Non-participating partners are welcome to join in our group activities - fee applies
