Wisconsin
Learning at Lake Geneva: Watercolor, History & Lakeside Beauty
Program No. 25531RJ
Unleash your creativity in beautiful Lake Geneva! Under the guidance of an expert, refine your watercolor skills while exploring the region’s artistic inspiration and rich history.
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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
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
13 meals (
5B, 3L, 5D
)
6 expert-led lectures
2 expert-led field trips
7 hands-on experiences
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Location:
Lake Geneva, WI
Meals:
D
Stay:
Geneva Bay Retreat Center at Covenant Harbor
Activity Note
Retreat Center check-in from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Check-in. In the Geneva Bay Center lobby, you will meet the Group Leader, pick up your welcome packet, up-to-date schedule, and receive your room key. If you arrive after 5:45 p.m., the Group Leader may not be in the lobby. You can meet the Group Leader at 6:00 p.m. in the dining room, which is below the lobby. You will receive your welcome packet during orientation.
Dinner:
In the Geneva Bay Center dining room.
Evening:
Orientation. 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. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “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, and personnel, 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. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Understanding Watercolors, Landscape Painting, Local History
Location:
Lake Geneva, WI
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Geneva Bay Retreat Center at Covenant Harbor
Activity Note
Extended periods of sitting while painting with periodic stretch breaks.
Breakfast:
In the Geneva Bay Center dining room.
Morning:
We will begin the week’s instruction with learning about the basic elements of the watercolor medium and tips on how to simplify the watercolor process. We will learn about paper, paints, brushes, and why we might use different ones.
Lunch:
In the Geneva Bay Center dining room.
Afternoon:
We will enhance our understanding of the watercolor medium by learning why different types of techniques would be used, depending on the subject we're painting. Landscapes and natural scenery such as mountains and valleys, trees and rivers, will be our first painting. The main subject will be a wide view, and we will learn how to arrange elements into a coherent composition.
Dinner:
In the Geneva Bay Center dining room.
Evening:
We will learn about Lake Geneva’s history. A local historian will portray Mary Sturges. Mary was part of the family that was instrumental in developing the town of Lake Geneva during the 1870s, which led to Lake Geneva’s nickname “Newport of the Midwest.” The studio will be open for those of us who want to continue painting.
Day
3
Boat Excursion, Explore the town of Lake Geneva
Location:
Lake Geneva, WI
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Geneva Bay Retreat Center at Covenant Harbor
Activity Note
Getting on/off a Transit van & tour boat. Walking up/down 100 steps from boat dock to historical estate. Walking with a docent through the historic house.
Breakfast:
In the Geneva Bay Center dining room.
Morning:
We will meet in the studio for a brief workshop session to prepare for the field trip. If time permits before leaving for the field trip, you will have opportunities for individual/small group instruction and critiques on our landscape paintings. Then, we will board the van and travel to the Riviera Docks in downtown Lake Geneva. From the docks, we will board a Gage Cruise Line Boat and sail to Black Point Estate & Gardens. The narrated boat tour to the estate is about 45 minutes. Reaching the Black Point Estate pier, we will disembark and then walk up approximately 100 stairs to the top of the bluff and the Black Point Estate and Gardens. Chicago beer baron Conrad Seipp built the estate for his family in 1888 to retreat from the summer heat of the city. In the late 1800s, there wasn't a road around the lake, the only way to reach the home was by boat. The 20-room Queen Anne-style "cottage" was completed in 1888 for $20,000. It had 13 bedrooms and only one bathroom. With a docent we will explore various rooms on the first and second floors, see the original historical furnishings, listen to stories of the generations who used the house, and learn about the estate’s preservation work. The tour will be 90 minutes and will provide many photo opportunities for future watercolor paintings.
Lunch:
On your own in downtown Lake Geneva. This lunch has been excluded from the program cost so you can choose what you want to eat. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
Spend time exploring downtown Lake Geneva. You may want to check out the Geneva Lake Arts Foundation Gallery 223, Artisan Market, Geneva Lake Museum, Donian Nature Preserve, Library Park, and the many shops in Lake Geneva. When you are ready to return to the Retreat Center, you have two options: 1) call the Group Leader for a shuttle ride or 2) walk along the lake path from the Riviera Docks to Covenant Harbor (about 1.25 miles). The studio will be open to allow participants to pick one of their photos from the field trip to paint.
Dinner:
In the Geneva Bay Center dining room.
Evening:
At leisure. The studio will be open. If the weather allows, we will have a campfire and s’mores on the Retreat Center’s front lawn.
Day
4
Still Life Paintings
Location:
Lake Geneva, WI
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Geneva Bay Retreat Center at Covenant Harbor
Activity Note
Extended periods of sitting while painting with periodic stretch breaks.
Breakfast:
In the Geneva Bay Center dining room.
Morning:
Today’s focus will be on the timeless art form of still life paintings. By studying the shapes of inanimate objects, such as flowers and fruits, we can draw these shapes and then add color to our works of art. Don’t worry. Our instructor will guide us through every step until we see a vibrant and beautiful still life painting.
Lunch:
In the Geneva Bay Center dining room.
Afternoon:
We will continue practicing our still life painting skills by working on our original painting and/or finding new still life objects with unique shapes to study and paint.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. The studio will be open. If the weather allows, we will have a campfire and s’mores along the lake shore or experience the lake on a pontoon boat.
Day
5
Final Classes, Art Show
Location:
Lake Geneva, WI
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Geneva Bay Retreat Center at Covenant Harbor
Activity Note
Extended periods of sitting while painting with periodic stretch breaks. Setting up the art show.
Breakfast:
In the Geneva Bay Center dining room.
Morning:
We will continue painting by starting a new work or enhancing a previous painting from the week with guidance from our instructor. While we paint, we will think about which paintings we want to display in our art show.
Lunch:
In the Geneva Bay Center dining room.
Afternoon:
During the afternoon, we will prepare our watercolor paintings for the art show, set up the artwork, and put away our supplies.
Dinner:
In the Geneva Bay Center dining room. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
Art Show & Social. We will display our art works in an on-site gallery show. This show will be an opportunity to demonstrate our newly earned watercolor skills and share our paintings with fellow participants. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
6
Program Concludes
Location:
Lake Geneva, WI
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Check-out by 10:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
In the Geneva Bay Center dining room. This concludes our program.
Morning:
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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