Join us for The Land is Our Teacher, a Plein Air Painting Retreat with painter and retreat leader, Leslie Baum. In the 1880s Van Gogh, Seurat, and others in their circle painted together “en plein air” along the Seine river. During these social and shared outings, they developed radical new approaches to painting and learned from each other. This summer, follow in the footsteps of those bold and convivial artists and travel to Red Clover Ranch to paint. With its spring-fed valley tucked between ridge-tops, Red Clover’s land is blessed with beautiful atmospherics and an expansive sky, and provides painters with endless inspiration. “I should know,” Leslie Baum says. “I have been coming for years and the valley’s hold on me only deepens.”
In this spirit-renewing retreat, paint along a mowed path in a wildflower prairie. Paint with your toes in the spring-fed creek. Paint by dusk light on the ridge-top apple orchard. Paint in the hush of the woods and in the shade of willows. Immerse yourself in the land’s many moods, sights, and sounds.
Each day’s plein air excursions are generously guided by Leslie: “I will provide painting prompts, designed to foster play, experimentation, and deeper engagement with the land. Enjoy both guided and independent painting time. Like those French artists along the Seine, benefit from a rich social and artistic growth opportunity. All levels welcome! I am here for everyone, absolute beginners, folks with years of experience, and everyone in between.”
Your time at Red Clover includes daily coffee and tea service, morning gentle yoga, farm-to-table meals, comfortable lodging, and access to all the amenities Red Clover has to offer.
Payment Plans available and dietary restrictions accommodated. Join us for the beloved retreat.
Retreat Reviews:
”I highly recommend doing any retreat at Red Clover Ranch- it is a little slice of paradise. Just the right amount of "roughing it" with comfortable and clean accommodations, beautiful details and amazing healthy food. Annie is a genius. And Leslie's watercolor teaching was top notch- I rapidly accelerated from where I'd left off all those years ago in college. Run don't walk! So fun!”- Carrie
“Red Clover Ranch is a wonderful place to experience, this was my second time attending a retreat. The accommodations are lovely, the sauna is delightful, the environment all around is calm and relaxing. The food is fantastic- somehow it's always exactly what I want to eat! Magic! Leslie facilitates a warm and welcoming environment for experimentation. She freely shares her tips and tricks and her favorite materials- I feel like I was able to try so many new things and I left with a stack of prompts, ideas, and a toolkit of new materials to explore. I was a little nervous going in by myself, not knowing anybody, lacking confidence in my creativity. I left relaxed, with new friends, skills, and excited to keep experimenting with watercolors. I would highly recommend this retreat to beginners and professionals alike, ours was a mixed group and everyone seemed to get something out of their time with Leslie's guidance.” - Robin
“A reflective, inspiring, peaceful, retreat with the most amazing organic food, prepared with so much love and care. The whole experience was just what I needed! Leslie is a dream instructor that opens your mind and heart to creating the most surprising things. And Red Clover ranch is a magical place ! I hope to return soon!”
Listen to our podcast episode with Leslie about her thoughts on making, why she’s drawn to plein air, and her Elemental Watercolor Retreat from last season.