Amy.Roadman.Art

Hosting creative retreats has been an idea of ours since the fall of 2019. Our first one was planned for March 28th, 2020. Well, you know why we didn’t get them started quite as early as we had hoped but since this past August, we have had great fun and success hosting shorter retreats and workshops. It is finally time for us to go all out and host the overnight retreat that we have been dreaming of!

There is a reason it is called a retreat, it is meant to allow you time to reflect and reset. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I was so excited about the prospect of propping my feet up in front of the fireplace that I bought a pair of adorable fuzzy slippers to do just that.

I am not a winter person, but living in the Laurel Highlands provides a scenic view of the woods and with any luck, they will be covered and quieted by a calm snow while we are there.

Of course, we aren’t inviting you to just sit around and do nothing (although sometimes the idea of that is quite tempting). With our guidance and expertise and your creative spirit, we will also explore art mediums and techniques to make and create alongside one another in a no-pressure zone. We strive to make everyone feel comfortable and successful with each and every project.

Let me introduce myself and my artist friend Rita. We have been teaching together for many years and have found a style that compliments each other while providing an experience to create a space that everyone can feel like letting their guard down and dreaming about the possibilities that can happen within a project. You don’t have to be an accomplished artist to want to make something but little by little you can hone your skills and feel more at ease while using the art materials. A creative retreat with us will be an artistic experience but it will also be a place to be adventurous, use your imagination, all the while being able to reset, recharge, and relax.

We have gone to great lengths to plan workshops and experiences based on good feelings. The theme of this retreat will take on the form of hygge – of creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. Finding comfort, pleasure, and warmth in simple, soothing things such as a cozy atmosphere or the feeling of a creative friendship.

The location we have chosen is so magical, no matter what time of year. We’ll have the chance to take a walk through the wooded trails or stroll through Jimberg Village.

While we are enjoying our time at a lodge that provides the perfect setting for this kind of experience we will also be focused on everyone developing their own personal style. We will use the same materials yet make beautiful art that shows our own character and personalities. Whether you are a beginner or have experience, there is room for all of us to create alongside each other, to learn from each other, and to gain inspiration within a warm, welcoming, supportive environment to nurture your creative passions.

We have chosen a holiday weekend so that you can easily extend it by retreating to the mountains. JOIN US on February 20th-21st, 2022 at Oak Lodge, an 800-acre Laurel Highlands Bed and Breakfast located in Stahlstown, Pennsylvania. This is the location outside of Pittsburgh that has become an escape from reality, whether you live in the city or not. (I only live 7 minutes from here and still can’t wait to “escape”)!

We can’t wait for you to share this experience with us!

FIND OUT MORE!

If you answered yes to one or all of these questions then I’m willing to bet that a creative retreat might just be the answer to being able to relax, recharge, and be creative. Even if you don’t think you are artistic, you can still experience success with a creative project because everyone has their own style that is meaningful.

Hi, I’m Amy, and I have been an art teacher for over 20 years. During that time I have planned many classes, workshops, and events for people of all ages and artistic abilities so I have the experience to create a space that everyone can feel like letting their guard down and dreaming about the possibilities that can be produced in many different art media. A creative retreat with me will not be focused so much on an intensive artistic experience, rather a place to be adventurous, use your imagination, but also reset, recharge, and take part in exciting activities that the locale has to offer in between the laid back workshops.

There is a reason it is called a retreat, it is meant to allow you time to reflect and reset. For example, I am not a winter person, but we live in an area that experiences cold winter weather and by February I have had enough. My best friend from college used to live an easy 3-hour drive away, so we made sure to always schedule in time to visit each other several times a year, including a February birthday celebration. These visits were the closest thing that I had to a retreat. I always had mom guilt leaving for the weekend, but I clearly remember just needing that break from everything – cleaning the house, shoveling snow, taking care of the kids, teaching, you name it, I needed to leave it behind. (Let’s be honest, I still need that and they are now teenagers). As I was driving across the state I could actually feel the relief of the tension I was holding in my shoulders. I don’t really remember what we did that weekend, it usually consisted of lots of catching up, binge-watching trash tv as we sat and crafted at her dining room table, a Target and A.C. Moore run, maybe a haircut and color, and, of course, eating a slice of DQ ice cream cake at every meal, but by the end, I was ready to go back. I missed my husband and kids, I felt refreshed and ready to teach again and that stress had melted away.

As an artist and teacher, I strive to bring out the creativity in each individual but I also know how much connecting with others, enjoying a slower pace, and experiencing our surroundings means to get those creative juices flowing. So grab a girlfriend, or be extra adventurous and trust that you will make new friends at one of my creative retreats in the near future.

I have many plans, locations, and dates that are being determined as we assess the safety precautions and restrictions currently in place so be sure to put yourself on the waiting list to stay on top of what will be happening.