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California

The Magic of Watercolor & Meditation for Relaxation & Joy

Program No. 23721RJ

Enjoy opportunities for sketching and painting at a tranquil California retreat in a beautiful redwood environment. Meditations each day bring inner joy, focus and relaxation.

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Program

At a Glance

Duration

6 days

Program Begins

Soquel, CA

Program Concludes

Soquel, CA

Group Type

Small Group

Meals

15 ( 5B, 5L, 5D )

Activity Level

Pack your creativity and escape to the Land of Medicine Buddha, a serene mountain retreat in California’s redwood forest. Suitable for beginners, this course is designed to help you learn to paint in watercolor in a relaxed atmosphere. Step-by-step demonstrations will include: thumbnail sketching, color wheel, color mixing, creating a dynamic value range and techniques such as various washes, wet into wet, glazing, creating textures, dry brush and more. Experience watercolor magic by applying techniques to flowers, skies, landscapes, skies, mandalas etc. Meditations each day bring inner joy, focus and relaxation. Be inspired, have fun and create lovely watercolors!

Best of all, you'll...

Learn watercolor techniques with step-by-step watercolor demonstrations include color mixing, creating washes, wet-into-wet, glazing and dry brush to create and an array of subjects, such as beautiful skies, landscapes and flowers.
Study meditation techniques, with mindfulness meditations and visualization, for deep inner peace and relaxation.
Learn to create watercolor mandalas and thumbnail sketches to develop compositions and values.

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General Notes

The Retreat Difference: This unique, often basic and no-frills experience at a Road Scholar Retreat includes opportunities for early morning exercise, interaction with the local community for insight into local life, an authentic farm-to-table or locally sourced meal, and a live performance or event. Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.

Ingrid Mednis

Ingrid Mednis has taught numerous classes in herbology and frequently leads nature walks. She has been a docent at the University of California, Santa Cruz organic farm project for about 20 years and has worked in Henry Cowell State Park.

Please Note:

This expert may not be available for every date of the program

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Chuck Walbridge

Chuck Walbridge has been studying Buddhism under Tibetan masters since 1975. He has received teachings from more than 45 Tibetan lineage holders and has completed several retreats. He has taught Buddhist meditation and philosophy for 20 years and has been a favorite instructor in the Road Scholar program for the last 10 years.

Neal Hellman

Neal Hellman is a nationally acclaimed performer and teacher of the mountain dulcimer who has been active in performing, teaching and recording acoustic music for the past 25 years throughout the U.S., Europe and New Zealand. He is the author of many books on the Appalachian dulcimer, and received an award for his score for the children’s video, “Princess Furball.” As the founder, director and one of the primary artists of the Gourd Music record label, Neal has produced over 35 albums of folk music.

Breige Gormley Walbridge

Breige Gormley Walbridge has taught Qi Gong classes since 1995 and has a background in Tibetan Buddhism and experience in meditation. She received her certification with the London School of Aromatherapy and has taught aromatherapy classes and workshops using essential oils for home and professional use since 1993. She is also an artist whose paintings appear in international collections. Breige has taught classes in Qi Gong, meditation, aromatherapy and painting for Road Scholar participants at Land of Medicine Buddha since 1998.

Breige Walbridge

Breige Gormley Walbridge has been the Road Scholar program coordinator and group leader at Land of Medicine Buddha since 1999. During this time, she has organized and hosted approximately 200 programs. Breige is known for her warmth, hospitality and organizational skills.

Venerable Yangchen

Venerable Yangchen is a Tibetan Buddhist nun, who has studied with many Tibetan Buddhist masters. Currently, she leads weekly meditations, facilitates a cancer support group for women, and teaches introductory classes on Buddhist concepts and meditation in the Road Scholar retreats at Land of Medicine Buddha. Venerable Yangchen also leads some meditations at Ocean of Compassion center in San Jose.

Michele Faia

Michele Faia lives, teaches, and has an Art Studio in California. She attended Cabrillo College and San Jose State University, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art with an emphasis in Art History. She began her career as a community college art history instructor and also taught Western Art History survey courses, American Art, Art Appreciation, and Film as Art. She now teaches watercolor mandalas. Michele is the author of two books on art: “Art in My Heart” and “Awakened By The Flowers.”

Richard Prinz

Richard Prinz completed a degree in psychology at UC Berkeley while experiencing the social unrest of the late 1960s. After living in India and Nepal, he met Tibetan Buddhist Lamas in 1974, which led to an interest in their psychology. Returning to California, Richard got involved in building a Tibetan Buddhist retreat center, Vajrapani Institute. While he was director, a visit from the Dalai Lama inspired Richard to go to graduate school, leading to a career in counseling and therapy.

Activity Level

Easy Going

Short walking distances between accommodation, meeting rooms and dining room. Hilly terrain, uneven ground in places, some stairs or a steep hill & ramps to the dining room and meeting room.

Small Group (13 to 24)

Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Suggested Reading List

View Full List (5 Books)

You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?

We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!

Call 800-454-5768

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Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

Assurance Plan

Road Scholar's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.

Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.
Assurance Plan

Road Scholar's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.
Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.
Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.