I’m thrilled to announce…

My Second Annual Artful Life Art Retreat in Mexico! November 16-22, 2014

About The Retreat:

Six days of blissful self-nurturing, creative exploration, and renewal for body, mind, and soul, all in a peaceful, abundant tropical setting. The perfect art, creativity, self-care, and movement retreat for women!

Artful Living Retreats with Bronwyn are unique retreats for soulful women, combining art and creativity with meditation, dance and movement, deep self-inquiry, rest, and celebration. The retreat is an opportunity to experience profound self-care in a truly nurturing environment.

In the creativity portion of the retreat, we will explore exciting art journaling techniques while we dive deep into self-exploration and unearth the creative gifts that are already there in our lives. You’ll go home with a completed art journal which will not only be an object of beauty, but a guide to bringing more creativity, spirit, and joy into your life over the next year.

In our mindfulness and movement explorations, we’ll indulge in daily morning meditations int he garden, and play with the joyful and uplifting practice of women’s sacred (and sensual) dance. No dance or meditation experience is necessary – we’ll simply start where we are.

What Retreat Participants Have Said:

“The whole experience was five-star deluxe… I’m so happy I was part of this beautiful retreat!”~Nicola Ghersen, Santa Barbara, California, July 2013 Artful Living Retreat Participant.

“Bronwyn brings light, love and beauty with her presence and her workshop. Her insights, support, experience and wisdom have enriched me in just the one week I was blessed to spend with her in Mexico. This was not my first experience in women’s retreats and I hold it up as an example of what is possible at their highest level. I was inspired and given practical tools to grow in my creativity, body, heart, and spiritual life. This will not be my last retreat with her and I look forward to an ongoing journey with her!”  ~Laura Flanders Roush, Monterey, California, March 2014 Artful Living in Mexico Retreat Participant

“This fabulous week… was a perfect balance of soul work, creativity, and movement with beautiful like-minded women and in a warm, sunny, inspiring place. I am so grateful that I was able to join you and am heading home truly inspired.” ~Heather Marie Moon, Lansing, Michigan, March 2014 Artful Living in Mexico Retreat Participant

“When it was all over we’d each had a good taste of what it was like to feel nourished, whole, and happy. We’d danced, played, created, meditated, ate, and dreamed. We’d set specific commitments/intentions for do-able actions for our physical, mental, spiritual well-being. The retreat was long enough that I was able to go deeper into my meditation practice and also able to finish a couple of art projects. In the end, a reminder that often self-care for me, means giving that precious gift of time to me.  Thanks for sharing the magic, Bronwyn!”
~Maxine Matilpi, Denman Island, BC,  Canada, July 2013 Artful Living Retreat Participant.

What you will experience on a typical retreat day…

A typical retreat day will begin with gentle meditation time in the garden, and setting our intentions for the day. Next, delicious breakfast poolside!

Then we’ll nurture our bodies with a yoga class or dance class. All movement classes are gentle and accessible to women of every age, shape, size, and fitness level – our goal is to have fun, come home to our bodies, and enjoy the sensual pleasure of movement.

A second session in the morning will nurture our creativity with art journaling. We’ll explore fun mixed media and watercolour techniques, and begin to put our feelings, goals, and dreams onto the page in exciting and inspiring ways.

After a leisurely lunch, take some time to yourself to rest, swim, nap, explore, or get in some extra art studio time – whatever you’d like.

Our afternoon sessions will focus on exploring my Nine Keys to an Artful Life and creating a plan for bringing them into our lives. Over the course of four sessions, each of us will create a personal self-care plan, recorded in a beautiful mixed-media book to take home.

You’ll be on your own for dinner, a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the many delightful sights, sounds, tastes, smells that this beautiful seaside resort has to offer. Most likely we’ll enjoy many dinners together as a group!

You don’t need any experience with art, yoga, dance, or meditation to participate in this retreat. All you need is a desire to relax, breathe, indulge, create, and transform.

About Bronwyn:

Hello Beautiful! I’m Bronwyn. {It’s Welsh,  if you’re wondering. It means White Raven. The original Branwen was a fairy tale heroine who survived all kinds of trials and tribulations, and was known for her beauty and strength.} I’m an artist,  writer,  dancer,  and teacher. I live on a tiny island in the Salish Sea.

I have made my living as an artist for nearly twenty-five years. I have explored many media,  and my main work now is with ceramics,  painting,  and illustration. I have exhibited widely, and my work can be found in collections in North America, the UK and the Middle East. You can learn more about my ceramics here. I also love art journaling, to keep my creative spark ignited on a daily basis!

I am a dancer and choreographer and have explored many areas of creative movement over the years. As the founder and Artistic  Director of The Melissae Dance Company, I produced an annual series of dance theatre pieces retelling ancient sacred women’s stories. As a teacher, I brought hundreds of women home to their bodies and their sensuality through the love of dance. I love working with women who believe they “can’t dance!” These days, I use women’s sacred dance and gentle yoga as tools to help other women access and enhance their creativity.

At the center of my creative life are circles of women. My soul’s work happens here. I’ve been facilitating women’s circles for nearly thirty years,  and leading women’s retreats for nearly twenty. Over and over again,  I have witnessed the life-changing power of groups of women coming together with purpose. Leading and mentoring women is my honour and one of my greatest joys.

I hope you can join me this year in Mexico!

About Hacienda Mosaico:

Hacienda Mosaico is a small,  private artist’s retreat in a safe, quiet neighborhood of old Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  The Hacienda, guest cottage, and art studios are set in their own private, lush, expansive walled garden. The entire property is adorned with mosaic statues, fountains and other unique artistic touches. Secluded garden rooms with hammocks and couches make perfect spots for outdoor napping or journaling. Breakfast and lunch are served poolside from the outdoor kitchen.
I first visited Hacienda Mosaico in 2005 and fell in love with the property, with the special energy of the place, and of course with the creative force behind the Hacienda, our hostess Sam (Sandra) Leonard.  Sam has created a true artist’s paradise. This is no ordinary resort or B and B. It is magical sanctuary for the artistic soul.

 Registration Details:

Cost for the retreat is $1650 USD.  This includes all instruction, most art materials, 24/7 studio access, six nights lodging at Hacienda Mosaico, an artful goodie bag on arrival, breakfast and lunch daily Monday through Friday, a welcome cocktail reception Sunday and departure brunch on Saturday. Airfare is not included. A 50% deposit is required to reserve your space, with the balance due by October 1, 2014. To register, please contact Sam (Sandra) Leonard at info@haciendamosaico.com.

If you have any questions about the retreat, please feel free to email me at artful.blog@gmail.com

To sum up:

• Private tropical garden and art studio  setting – a haven of lush beauty and creative abundance.
• Art journaling, collage, and painting, with 24/7 art studio access.
• The company of other wise and soulful women on the same path.
• Delicious abundant meals served poolside by our private chef.
• Gentle yoga.
• Dance for every body.
• Early morning meditation in the garden.
• Fun, play, girl-talk, laughter.
• Time, tools and support to create an ongoing self-care plan to bring back into your busy life.
• Optional one-on-one mentoring on your self-care and creativity goals.
• Free time for rest, exploration, swimming, visiting art studios, heading to the beach, lounging in and around the pool, journaling on the sunny patios or shady garden nooks, napping in the hammock or whatever your heart desires…

You don’t need any experience with art, yoga, dance, or meditation to participate in this retreat. All you need is a desire to relax, breathe, indulge, create, and transform.

What you will receive…

• 5 days and 6 nights of relaxation and renewal at gorgeous Hacienda Mosaico.
• Personal one-on-one attention and care – this exclusive retreat is limited to 12 women.
• Meals prepared by the Hacienda’s personal chef: Sunday evening welcome reception, five full breakfasts & five lunches served poolside in a tropical setting, and a Saturday departure brunch.
• 24/7 art studio access.
• Four days of daily modules in meditation, self-care, art journaling, mixed media techniques, dance, mindfulness, and exploration of the Nine Keys with Bronwyn!
• One day free for play, rest, and exploring Puerto Vallarta.
• An artful goodie bag on arrival!
• A solid and  self-care plan to take home with you – a personalized map for artful living to carry you through the rest of the year!