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NEW ADDITIONS to this PROGRAM
including silk-screen & cyanotype
printing techniques
+bonus basket weaving with Sandy
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with
Nadine Bastow, Sandy Winkle
& Anna Kwiecinska
5 - 12 July 2025
8 days/7 nights
Accommodation is included
Day 1 - 5 July - program starts 4pm
Day 8- 12 July - departure day, no program
AIRPORT : Denpasar Bali
by Rebecca Loan
'PORTRAIT OF BALI' ~ Art Retreat BALI 2025
"A portrait is first and foremost, a painting" says Aaron Shikler
Nadine Bastow has held 5 Portrait of Bali Retreats with me since 2014 - we wouldn't do that unless this is a popular retreat with successful outcomes!
There's nothing more compelling than the human face, is there?
Think about how much we judge from even a nanosecond of meeting someone for the first time. So when we create an image of another person we have not only all of that information we have assumed, but all that we see before our own eyes. Nadine Bastow has a way of explaining how to map out the landscape of the human face with astonishing ease ... most people come to our retreats trying portraiture for the first time - and return with compelling works of art, where the likeness can be as much or as little as your artistic flair desires!
PORTRAIT OF BALI is a way to learn portraiture techniques to create a large-scale work on canvas reflecting your experience of this beautiful island using a number of mixed media printing techniques to build up rich layers of pattern, line and colour reflecting your visual experience as you immerse yourself in the landscape and culture.
Nadine will teach you a bagful of techniques that include printing, stamping, gold-leafing, as well as principles of rendering to help you bring your impression of Bali to life in the style that you want it ... you can see what we did in 2024 in the video below.
This is the perfect mid-winter warm getaway to paint in Bali with Nadine Bastow and Anna Kwiecinska at Villa Nilaya in beautiful East Bali.
See you there!
This really special 8-day/7-night retreat offers you the opportunity to gift yourself gentle days by the sea to focus on learning the basics of portraiture, along with several print-making techniques to create a large format canvas that reflects your experience of beautiful East Bali.
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Tutoring with Nadine Bastow - 36 hours over 6 days in two parts, before and after lunch
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Techniques include;
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- Detailed tuition on approaching how to plan your portrait, and executing it from real life models using a variety of media
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- Silk-screen printing (NEW addition)
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- Cyanotype printing on fabric (NEW addition)
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- Creating a Reduction print. How to plan, design, cutting and carving a soft and lino print so that you can create a detailed print design in 3 colours to create a striking background for your large-scale canvas
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- Gold leafing for embellishment
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- Rendering and highlighting
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- Ultimately creating a large-scale portrait in mixed media that incorporates all of the techniques you've learnt which reflects your experience of beautiful East Bali and its people, flora and gorgeous colours.
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Your painting will be wrapped and ready for you to take home.
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BASKET WEAVING WORKSHOPS with SANDY WINKLE are included as part of this retreat - everything is included (fabrics, material, beads et) - no need to bring anything -
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A stylish night out on the town with fine dining and cocktails
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Short morning practice with sound and meditation with Anna
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A 60-minute deliciously restorative Balinese massage or reflexology treat with our expert masseuses using Sensatia's pure sweet almond oil infused with restorative essential oils where you choose your favourite scent - Meditation or Relaxation.
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A gentle 'de-planing' yoga session followed by a heavenly, live sound-bathing experience (some call it 'sound therapy' or 'healing' - we just call it divine) that will have your senses and imagination floating ...
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plus your choice of accommodation and breakfast for 7 nights + airport collection
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5 lunches and 4 dinners
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A wide variety of good restaurants within easy walking distance of your hotel for other meals, a coffee or time out
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and time to yourself
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retreat bag with arty gifts
A luxurious week where all you need do is turn up each day at 9.30 am, after breakfast (and perhaps an early-morning dip? ... the snorkeling is fabulous), having taken the short walk in our pretty village to Villa Nilaya.
Lets' begin with some calm and focusing breathwork and a gentle introduction to gathering us together each morning.
This is led by Anna, who has been introducing participants over the last 3 years of retreats to the A.W.E. technique of 'microdosing mindfulness' ... it's fully integrated into the week, which has as its theme, the chakra flute of 7 colours.
Your painting studio is an airy upstairs terrace beneath the soaring grass roof of Villa Nilaya.
Most materials are provided, and you will be provided with a specific list when you enrol.
Our program includes a Welcome Dinner after a delicious session of gentle de-planing yoga, followed by an indulgent hour of extended shavasana (relaxation) as you experience the sensory pleasures of a healing, sound bath journey by Eva Kroes.
On the three peaceful evenings when there is no after-painting program, you can discover the seaside dining venues in our village of Mendira near Candi Dasa
See the Accommodation - WE RECOMMEND AMARTA BUNGALOWS!
You can choose where you stay from one of three accommodations - from cute Balinese bungalows (AMARTA ) to luxe-plus resort suites at the Candi Beach Hotel, or a variety of types of rooms at the SEA BREEZE VILLAS.
All venues have dining facilities if you fancy a night at home. Your retreat cost INCLUDES accommodation with breakfast in the retreat price. There is nothing else to pay, except for dinners on the 'free nights' (4 dinners are included).
We really recommend Amarta as they provide a helpful evironment, 8 minutes' walk from the villa and are right on a white sandy beach that is perfect for safe swimming. They're situated close to several good local restaurants (warungs), and have a good sea-side restaurant of their own. As value for money goes, this is a great choice, but if you're after something more luxurious, please check in with Anna
Nadine and I warmly invite you to join our group in 2025 for this exceptional art experience By The Sea in beautiful East Bali.
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MEET NADINE BASTOW
Nadine is a West Australian artist and art educator, with a Diploma of Education and Bachelor of Education in Secondary Art. She has mentored award-winning students and is a patient teacher who explains carefully and in details whilst keeping her teaching fresh and stimulating.
In 2024 Nadine took time off her teaching job to expand my art experience and knowledge by travelling abroad working with artists from around the world sharing knowledge, skills and ideas. Scenes and work from those residencies are shown in the gallery above.
She attended two art residencies in Galway and Sardinia, learning about Cyanotype, ran a drawing and painting workshop with the local community and exhibited there
She also travelled to north Western Australia to do a mixed media painting retreat with renowned Australian artist Judith White, specialising in chalk, collage, print and paint techniques as mixed media.
Many of these techniques will be shared with you on the 2025 art retreat in Bali.
Creative Living Retreats 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.
The practice of meditation has under-pinned Creative Living Retreats, as a source of focus for creative inspiration.
In 202o Anna was part of a pilot study group led by two reseachers in the bay Area of San Francisco, into the practice of 'microdosing mindfulness' .Dr David Amster a pain management specialist and Jake Eagle, life coach and counsellor, - both meditators - have since published their findings as "The Power of A.W.E', and it is this wisdom that we draw on in recent retreats.
What You'll Do
This week you have plenty of time to play AND get enough solid work time to complete works.
We will be working on large sheets of quality paper and canvas - the same kind and quality that Nadine uses in her professional work.
You can roll your artworks and they'll be ready to frame at home.
We begin the retreat on DAY One in the mid-afternoon of your arrival day, with an introductory art encounter, followed by a gentle yoga session which leads into the sound bathing event, followed by dinner at Villa Nilaya and an early night.
DAYS Two to Six are full time painting days with Nadine - and our Balinese models, starting at 9.30 am, with 3 hours before lunch, and 3 hours afterwards, with morning and afternoon tea served.
On a couple of evenings we have dining events, and on three evenings, which are free dining options, we offer you a Balinese massage a Villa Nilaya.
DAY Seven with Nadine - consolidate your previous work, and on this last day the studio closes at 1pm, with our closing ceremony, and the remainder of the afternoon is a free time to explore, relax and rest before we meet you this evening for our exhibition night and party!
There is no limit to the amount of time that you can spend in the studio (Open from 9.30 am to 9 pm)
DAY Eight - there is no program, and the retreat ends at the time of your room checkout time (12pm). We can assist you with transfers
MEET SANDY WINKLE
Sandy is an artist, weaver and photographer living in Western Australia, whose love of travel intertwines her weaving techniques to create eclectic woven baskets made from materials collected around the world.
Sandy is passionate about sharing her knowledge, which she gained from the indigenous women of West Kakadu in Northern Australia.
In 2024she exhibited at the WAFTA ReGEN Exhibition in Fremantle, and in 2025 her solo exhibition will be in Busselton.
We are absolutely thrilled to welcome sandy Winkle to our retreat as a workshop leader for 3 sessions during which you'll choose the textiles and beads you wish to use, and she'll show you what to do to get going. You'll then have all week to work on your basket, and sandy will follow up with two sessions to make sure you're on the right track. What fun!
Loved the whole thing. Food was amazing and plenty of variety. Staff amazing ... 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, Bali Art Retreat 2019
What does your Retreat include? Practically everything except your airfare !
see all the inclusions >
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A/C Airport Taxi collection with name board on arrival at the International Airport
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Accommodation with Breakfast for 7 nights in your choice of beachside hotels and bungalows
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5 and half days of Art Tuition with Nadine Bastow
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Breakfasts 7
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Lunches 5 - buffet, provided at Villa Nilaya during the retreat. We serve really fresh food, with an emphasis on vegetarian, tofu and seafood protein, and not too starchy (quinoa and red rice often replaces white rice).
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Morning and afternoon teas each day
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Bottled Water available throughout the retreat
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Dinners 4 including:
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‘Welcome Dinner BBQ' at Villa Nilaya (dietary restrictions catered for - please advise)
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Farewell Night Dinner and concert performance
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A fine dining experience in town
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Balinese Massage or reflexology treatment in-house at Villa Nilaya
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a sound-bathing event (some call it 'sound healing or sound therapy ... we just call it divine!)
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a gift bag with arty goodies
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and surprises along the way,,,,,
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PLUS SPECIAL BONUS WORKSHOPS with SANDY WINKLE to create your own WOVEN TEXTILE BASKET
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all materials, textiles, beads and adornments are included - these workshops do not impinge on painting time, and are held over cocktails on 2 evenings at the villa, and you can complete the basket in spare moments thriughout the week.
What's not included?
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flights
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taxi transfer from retreat
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all personal expenses incurred at hotel (laundry etc)
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3 dinners
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any trips, tours or transports not included in the descripton of 'inclusions'
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.
Bali Art Retreat 2022
