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Our 2025 Arts West Artists' Retreat was held June 15-20th at Camp Wannakumbac at Clear Lake in the beautiful Riding Mountain National Park. 

And what an inspiring experience it was!  Also such a pleasure to meet all who attended! Huge thanks to George Phillips our 2025 Retreat Co-ordinator, and to our 2025 Instructors Ben Davis (drawing), Jan Layh (acrylic/oils), Karen Cornelius (printmaking) and Leona Herzog (botanical watercolour).  Besides instruction during the day, Monday and Tuesday evenings our Instructors gave presentations, sharing their creative journeys with us!  Wednesday evening was a visit to Poor Michaels in Onanole, and Thursday evening the weather cooperated for a campfire social. 

Our delightful 2025 printmaking instructor, Karen Cornelius, guided her group in screenprinting techniques using watersoluble media, stencils and botanicals.  Participants learned to print both on paper and fabric items, including t-shirts and tote bags.  A lively, energetic group of creatives occupied the printshack and our screenprinting adventures were a team effort. 

2025 acrylic/oils saw the return of instructor Jan Layh who is not only an amazing artist and instructor, but she also worked at Camp Wannakumbac as a youth counsellor!  Jan joyfully led the way with a good morning camp song at breakfast and around the Thursday night campfire.  The acrylic/oil participants ended their week with a show of the seven works they each created based on the creative exercises Jan guided them on during their time with her.  

We were so fortunate this year to have Leona Herzog instruct Botanical Watercolour Illustration for our watermedia lovers.  She brought in trays of delicate live botanicals for her group to work with.  They were the sherlocks of this year's camp, using magnifying glasses and observing details one ordinarily never takes the time to notice in going about our daily lives.  This is what artcamp is all about - slowing down, observing and expressing yourself creatively. 

For 2025 Drawing instruction, we welcomed the return of talented artist Ben Davis.  Ben arranged a live model for his group to draw from during the first few days of drawing at art camp. Due to this visits by the rest of the camp participants were restricted to later in the week once the live modelling was finished.  Regrettably, I did not get a visit in with the Drawing class Thursday/Friday to take photos!

Here are some photos of our 2025 Artists' Retreat:

 (photo credit TJ Southam)

 (photo credit: TJ Southam)