Creative Escape: Oil Portrait Painting Retreat on Spain's Costa Brava

This seven-day retreat is built around the transformative practice of alla prima portrait painting, a method that emphasizes placing paint with intention rather than building it up cautiously through multiple stages. Working directly on the canvas from the very first brushstroke, you'll address tone, color, and proportion as they arise naturally, developing a more immediate and responsive relationship with your work.

Torsten Wolber brings a unique perspective to the workshop, drawing on his background in graphic design and illustration alongside his mastery of oil painting. His teaching method involves working in front of participants, demonstrating how the image develops in real time, so you can observe how tones are placed early, how color is introduced without hesitation, and how the structure of the portrait is maintained while certain elements are allowed to soften or dissolve.

Live model sessions form the heart of the program, providing you with the opportunity to work from a real presence rather than photographs. This changes how you observe and respond, leading to more considered and authentic paintings. Sessions are long enough for you to settle into the creative process without rushing toward a finished result, allowing discoveries to emerge naturally.

As the week progresses, you'll delve deeper into the relationships within your paintings—how values interact, how edges can be held or lost, and how shapes can be simplified without becoming vague. Torsten introduces his concept of 'imaginative shapes' as an organizing principle that often transforms how participants see their subjects entirely.

The intimate group size of 10-13 participants ensures consistent one-to-one guidance throughout the week. Feedback happens while you're painting, allowing for real-time adjustments and insights. Not every painting needs to be resolved; some works remain unfinished as part of the learning process, and that's perfectly embraced here.

By the final day, most participants notice a visible shift in how they approach the canvas—less cautious, more attentive, and more able to discern what truly matters in their work and what can be released.

What's included

- 6 nights accommodation in private or shared rooms - 3 daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) prepared by resident chef - 5 days of specialized art tuition (6 hours per day) - Live models for portrait sessions - Group excursion to the Dalí Museum plus surprise activity - Transportation during the retreat - Group transfers from/to Figueres-Vilafant Train Station - Painting mediums, solvents, and easels - Wi-Fi connection - Daily group reviews and individual feedback

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flights and travel costs - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Art materials (paints, palette, palette knife, canvases) - Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks - Additional activities not included in the itinerary - Private transfers outside scheduled times