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Johny Vieira

Loosen up

4 Day Watercolour Art Retreat

4 Day Watercolour Art Retreat

20th to 23rd of March 2025

Max 10 Guests

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Accommodation

Join us for a 4-day, 3-night watercolour art retreat with Portugues artist Johny Vieira in sunny Lanzarote. Surrounded by dramatic volcanoes and stunning beaches, you’ll loosen up and embrace the freedom of watercolour painting.

Whether you’re new to painting or experienced, Johny will teach you the magic of wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry techniques, capturing the movement of the sea, waves, and surfers with vibrant energy. Encouraging a sense of freedom in your painting. Our objective would be: loosen up.

Enjoy daily classes, Spanish cuisine, a yoga session, and a beach trip, all while staying in a beautiful villa in the heart of Lanzarote. This retreat is designed to help you unlock your artistic potential and find your creative flow.


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We want to share with you what it's like to live in this slice of paradise

Waking up every day to the warmth of a sun that shines bright all year round, so you can capture it on paper.

Lessons will be tailored dynamically to suit the group's needs and interests. We only move forward to the next topic when we finish the previous one.

The goal of this week's art is loosen up and to provide a place for sharing knowledge in a relaxing environment where you can immerse into painting without worrying about anything else that usually traps us during our daily lives.

All set in the heart of Lanzarote. In a majestic villa surrounded by stunning views that instantly connect us to the island's spirit.

Daily Schedule of Your Artistic Journey

Beyond painting alongside Johny Vieira every day, you'll also have free time to relax, to practice by your own or to discover Lanzarote island and share your experiences with other artists.

Day 1

Welcome to Lanzarote

Your retreat begins from the airport to the villa, where the beauty of Lanzarote starts to unfold. Settle in your room, then join us for a special dinner to meet everyone.

Day 2

The watercolour art

Greeted by the morning sun, enjoy a buffet breakfast to dive into a morning and afternoon watercolour sessions mastery with Johny Vieira. End the day with a yoga class and a sunset dinner.

Day 3

Famara Half-Day Beach Trip

Morning a walk sketching session at Famara beach, surfers and artist inspiration, followed by lunch at Caleta de Famara village. In the afternoon a watercolour workshop at the villa and a farewell dinner will close the day.

Day 4

Watercolour secrets and goodbyes

Wake up surrounded by the sea for a calm last closure session and goodbyes. Pack your memories and get ready for the transfer to the airport.

Johny Vieira

Johny Vieira is a Portuguese watercolor artist and avid surfer for over 20 years. He has a deep connection with the ocean that vividly shows in his art. It's like he brings the stormy sea's energy right onto the canvas. Painting the ocean with watercolors is his special magic, capturing the sea's spirit with a unique flair and light touch. He sees his art as a way to give back to the ocean that's given him so much.

A natural artist, he delved into painting and drawing techniques at the Technical School of Duran Castaibert, where he was drawn to watercolor process for its no-correction approach and the purity and translucency of its results.

The line that guides his inspiration, comes naturally from inside out, the surf essence itself, the exploration of new spots, the path, the joy, the silence of nature, the connection, the love that we share with the ocean.

He has been lecturing workshops and week camps since 2020, with the same patience and care he puts into each brushstroke. He truly feels excited to share with others the same passion, and to see the progress of their skills happening in real time. Now, he's coming to Lanzarote with his caravan and surfboard to lead his first full program at The Sun Collective, "Watercolor Retreat."

Know Him More

Jump to Jhony's Instagram to see his amazing work

@wavesbyjohny
  • What You Get

    • Painting workshops and personal guidance from Johny Vieira.
    • 4-day and 3 nights stay at a private Villa, with full estate access.
    • Art studio with natural light in Lanzarote's nature reserve.
    • Daily meals by our chef (dietary/allergens options available).
    • Filtered water provided with meals and at the venue.
    • One yoga class.
    • Famara Beach half day trip including private transportation.
    • Airport transfers from/to Lanzarote Airport.
    • On-site retreat support.
    • All local taxes and fees included.
    • Pre-retreat WhatsApp group with Johny and participants.
  • What You Don’t

    • Airfare.
    • Travel insurance.
    • Art materials.
    • Last lunch at Caleta de Famara
    • Alcohol beverages.
    • Extra costs guests might incur on their own.

FAQs

What can I expect to learn during the retreat?

  • Mastering watercolor techniques for painting waves, surfers, and the ocean with Johny's unique teaching method.
  • Loosen up and enjoy a sense of freedom in your painting.
  • Learning to capture the energy of your subject.
  • Improving fundamental techniques like wet on dry, wet on wet, and dry on dry.
  • Applying what you've learned in the first part of the week to a special ocean-themed painting session.
  • Enhancing your skills in color mixing and creating compelling compositions of surf scenes.
  • Experimenting with gradients and a range of tones.
  • Crafting realistic water effects such as reflections, shimmers, and waves.
  • Techniques for taking reference photos, sketching on location, and adapting to live painting.
  • Advanced techniques including gravity and drop methods, spray use, and revealing whites.
  • And much more!

Beyond painting alongside Johny Vieira every day, you'll also have free time to relax, to practice by your own or to discover Lanzarote island and share your experiences with other artists.

Is this artistic retreat available to all levels?

Yes, it is suitable for painters of all levels. If it’s your first time with watercolours, you’ll be amazed at how much you’ll learn in just a few days. Johny is an excellent teacher.

What art supplies do I need for the workshop?

A detailed list of art materials recommended by artist Johny Vieira will be provided upon booking before the retreat. Masking tape, water containers, and paper towels are included.

What features does the rooms have?

The shared double room features two single beds, storage space for personal belongings, and is designed to provide comfort and privacy for both guests.

The private room features one queen size bed and storage space for personal belongings.

All our rooms includes sheets, towels and toiletries.

In the villa guests will find a refrigerator, water, tea and coffee maker.

Are all meals included during the retreat?

It includes 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 3 dinners, all meticulously prepared by our private chef. We cater to gluten-free diets and other allergies or dietary intolerances upon request.

The only meal that is not included is lunch at a local restaurant in Caleta de Famara on Saturday.

Can the retreat cater to specific dietary requirements?

Regular, vegetarian, vegan, diabetic, gluten-free, and lactose-free diets are catered for. Please get in touch in advance so we can discuss your dietary requirements and plan them with our personal chef.

Is the art retreat available to guests with limited mobility?

Unfortunately, the retreat venue and trips are not well suited to host people with limited mobility.

What language is used during the art workshop and other activities?

English is the main language at our retreats, though I’d call it “international English” since everyone is from different countries.

We are also fluent in Spanish and Portuguese so don´t worry if English is not your first language.

What should I pack?

The weather in Lanzarote is sunny and warm. You can expect average highs of 21°C during the day that drop to around 14°C at night. Lanzarote enjoys very mild winters and warm summers, and very little rain throughout the year. It is a windy island so bring a coat with you to protect from it.

Please pack appropriate clothing, sunscreen, a swimsuit, a beach towel, flip flops, a coat for evenings and nights, comfortable shoes, a sun hat and sunglasses, personal care items, and any personal medication you might need.

Is transportation included?

The retreat include airport transfers from/to Lanzarote Airport at prearranged times, and excursions trips in private transportation.

Host tip: Given Lanzarote's limited public transportation and costly taxi services, we suggest teaming up with fellow retreat participants for car-sharing if you wish to explore the island during our retreat's free time. We're here to help facilitate these arrangements with you.

How does the payment process work for reserving a spot in the retreat?

To ensure a smooth and transparent reservation process, here's a breakdown of our payment system:

  • To secure your place in the retreat, a 100 € payment is required. Once your spot is reserved, we will reach out via email with additional details about the retreat. We recommend holding off on your flight booking until the retreat is guaranteed, as this is subject to a minimum participant requirement.
  • Once the retreat is guaranteed, we will notify you by email and recommend that you proceed with your flight bookings.
  • Retreat payment. The remaining balance for the retreat is due 45 days before the start date. We will send you a reminder a few days prior to this deadline for the remaining payment.

Will I receive a full refund if the retreat is cancelled?

Yes, absolutely. If the retreat is canceled due to force majeure events or circumstances out of The Sun Collective and/or artist´s control, we will let you know as soon as possible, refund the total cost of the retreat and help you find another great holiday option.

Participants are recommend to purchase travel, medical, and cancellation insurance for protection against any circumstances that might require cancellation or change of travel arrangements.

Here’s the corrected version of your text:

Yes, absolutely. If the retreat is canceled due to force majeure events or circumstances beyond the control of The Sun Collective and/or the artist, we will inform you as soon as possible, refund the total cost of the retreat, and assist you in finding another great holiday option.

Participants are advised to purchase travel, medical, and cancellation insurance for protection against any circumstances that may require a cancellation or changes to travel arrangements.

What happens if I need to cancel?

Once your complete payment is processed, if you need to cancel:

  • If you cancel up to 45 days before the retreat, you will receive a full refund of your reservation fee.
  • If you cancel between 44 and 30 days before the retreat, you will receive 50% of the total amount you paid.
  • Unfortunately, if you cancel within 29 days of the retreat, we cannot offer a refund.

To protect yourself against any potential need for cancellation or changes in travel plans, including no-shows, medical emergencies, or travel disruptions, we highly recommend to purchase travel, medical, and cancellation insurance.

Please ensure your insurance covers trip cancellation and interruption. We advise carefully reviewing your insurance policy to understand the coverage details and claims process. Remember, securing suitable insurance is your responsibility, as The Sun Collective does not partner with any insurance providers.

If I want to extend my trip to Lanzarote, where can I stay?

We sincerely recommend looking for a room at Pitaya Coliving in Arrecife, a place with unique energy co-livers. If you prefer something on your own, we suggest searching for apartments in Costa Teguise, a well-located town close to the sea.

Don't hesitate to contact us if you need more information.