Pennsylvania
Nature's Canvas: Intermediate Watercolor Workshop in the Laurel Highlands
Program No. 25008RJ
Break out your watercolors for this immersive five-day plein air workshop in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands and enjoy a field trip to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Kentuck Knob.
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
5 days
4 nights
What's Included
12 meals (
4B, 4L, 4D
)
8 expert-led lectures
2 expert-led field trips
8 hands-on experiences
An experienced Group Leader
4 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Welcome Dinner, Orientation & Introduction
Location:
Mount Pleasant, PA
Meals:
D
Stay:
Laurelville Retreat Center
Activity Note
Check-in from 5:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
5:00 p.m.: Join us at the Road Scholar table in the Dining Hall lobby to meet with program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive after 7:00 p.m., please locate your Site Coordinator and let them know you have arrived.
Dinner:
In the Dining Hall.
Evening:
Orientation: 7:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Our instructor for this workshop will present a brief talk about himself, and present a demonstration including the individual steps in the process, from initial sketching to completed piece, including a review of the materials list and a handful of tips and tricks to help us get started and grow this week. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. We will have meals in the dining room and at local restaurants. Periods in the schedule designated as “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. After our introduction, participants will have time to continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Understanding Landscape Painting, Plein Air Experience
Location:
Mount Pleasant, PA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Laurelville Retreat Center
Activity Note
Walking around campus.
Breakfast:
In the Dining Hall.
Morning:
We will begin instruction and painting with landscapes by walking the grounds and photographing areas of interest for painting later. We’ll begin our project with an understanding of the natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests.
Lunch:
In the Dining Hall.
Afternoon:
Plein air painting brings in a lesson in paying attention to the moment we are in, so the afternoon watercolor workshop will continue with painting on the lovely grounds of Laurelville Retreat Center with our instructor.
Dinner:
In the Dining Hall.
Evening:
After dinner, we will return to the classroom for an opportunity for individual instruction and critiques on our landscape projects. Our instructor will guide each artist in understanding the watercolor medium and advise how to create a process for their skill level, pace, medium and subject matter.
Day
3
Kentuck Knob Plein Air Experience
Location:
Mount Pleasant, PA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Laurelville Retreat Center
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 27 miles, over 1/2 hour riding time to Kentuck Knob. Four stone steps from courtyard to front door of Kentuck Knob house, with ramp for those needing it; some areas are not wheelchair accessible.
Breakfast:
In the Dining Hall.
Morning:
After breakfast, we will pick up our supplies and head over to Kentuck Knob, a house designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. With our instructor, we will explore the house and its unique style prior to our painting plein air experience.
Lunch:
Box lunch at Kentuck Knob.
Afternoon:
At Kentuck Knob, we’ll continue to paint with our instructor, who will share tips on how to simplify the watercolor process by breaking down the essential elements that lend success to plein air artwork.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Socialize with fellow participants, catch up on your reading, or take part in additional instruction/critique with the instructor.
Day
4
Latrobe Art Center, Gallery Showing
Location:
Mount Pleasant, PA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Laurelville Retreat Center
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 15 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time to art center.
Breakfast:
In the Dining Hall.
Morning:
After breakfast, we will pick up our supplies and head over to the Latrobe Art Center whose mission is to create a welcoming environment that encourages and fosters creativity and artistic development of every individual. The Latrobe Art Center was founded in 2002 by Mrs. Nancy Rogers Crozier (sister of Mister Fred Rogers) and Mrs. Elisabeth Hazlett, and provides educational programs, workshops, community gatherings, and artwork. We will visit the current exhibit of plein air art by regional artists and enjoy a brief workshop on site with our instructor.
Lunch:
At Latrobe Art Center.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will head back to Laurelville and go back outside to continue plein air painting. Our instructor will continue to walk the grounds and work with each participant individually.
Dinner:
In the Dining Hall. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
We will have a chance to display our works in an on-site gallery show. This will be an opportunity to demonstrate our newly earned plein air skills and share our work with fellow participants. Prepare for check-out and departure tomorrow.
Day
5
Breakfast, Final Critiques, Program Concludes
Location:
Mount Pleasant, PA
Meals:
B,L
Activity Note
Check-out by 12:00 Noon.
Breakfast:
In the Dining Hall.
Morning:
The last day of the workshop, we will return to the classroom for an opportunity for a final review and critique individual instruction and critiques on our landscape projects.
Lunch:
In the Dining Hall. This concludes our program.
Afternoon:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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