PAINT-STRETCH-PLAY: An Artistic Adventure
with Sonya Sklaroff and Ricki Grater
Costa Rica Yoga Spa
January 11-16, 2020

Start your 2020 with Sonya Sklaroff and Ricki Grater painting landscapes in one of the most beautiful natural settings in the world - on a mountain overlooking the majestic rainforest and magical​ beaches of Nosara, Costa Rica! Whether you're a serious artist or you’ve never painted before, join us at Costa Rica Yoga Spa to nurture your body, nourish your soul, and dive deeply into your creative process. 

We’ll begin each morning with gentle stretching to awaken our senses and get our creativity flowing. We'll spend the day learning and practicing the art of landscape plein-air painting with internationally acclaimed painter, Sonya Sklaroff. Each painting session will take place in a different stunning location - on a picturesque beach, atop a mountain summit, by a jungle river or waterfall, and will include a master demonstration, instruction and one-on-one guidance. Sonya will focus on teaching us traditional plein air landscape painting techniques while helping us develop a more personal form of expression.​

If you’d like to include other adventures in your days, you can choose from a host of activities from surfing lessons to horseback riding to zip lining and more. You can also choose to spend time relaxing on a pristine​ beach or by our lovely​ pool, or indulging in a spa or wellness session.

​Yoga, stretching and mindfulness exercises will be offered throughout the day to help us drop more deeply into our bodies and tap into our creative core. Some days we'll close with optional meditation, silent nature walk (though the jungle will be loud!) or maybe even dancing.

The retreat is yours to customize exactly how you want. You can immerse yourself in painting morning, afternoon and night, or you can mix paint, stretch and play!

​Come start your year being inspired from the inside and out! Paint, stretch, play with us in our own jungle wonderland.

APPLY HERE
​Sunset Series, oil on panel, 24x18 inches, ©Sonya Sklaroff
Painting on location
Sonya Sklaroff, oil on canvas, 28"X22"
©Sonya Sklaroff

The retreat experience will include:

  • Five nights accommodations at Costa Rica Yoga Spa. All rooms have spectacular views
  • Organic breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day (vegan, vegetarian and non-vegetarian options)
  • One night out to celebratory dinner at one of the best local restaurants (transportation and meal included)
  • Eight 3-hour landscape plein air oil painting workshops with Sonya Sklaroff that include master demonstrations, instruction, and one-on-one guidance​
  • Daily stretching, meditation and mindfulness explorations with Ricki Grater.
  • Guided hike to mountain summit with 360-degree views and possibly other guided nature inspiration hikes (time permitting)
  • Tour of on-site permaculture garden (where we'll be getting lots of our food each meal)
  • Daily shuttle transportation to beaches.
  • End of retreat mocktail/cocktail "gallery" reception
  • Gracious and generous hosting from Costa Rica Yoga Spa on-site managers.

 What is not included:

  • Airfare to/from Costa Rica (nearest airport Liberia Int'l Airport)
  • Transportation between airport and Costa Rica Yoga Spa​ (we can assist in booking)​
  • Art Materials*
  • Off-site activities such as surfing lessons, horseback riding, stand up paddling, zip lining, visit to a monkey rehabilitation center, private tennis lessons, and more! You will have opportunity to choose activities evening before and all prices will be posted
  • Spa and Healing Arts services; including massage, sound healing, private stress management, yoga and life/career consultations with Ricki
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Gratuity for staff *We recommend 10%*
  • Traveler's Insurance (highly recommended).

*Upon registration you will be sent a recommended list of art supplies to purchase and bring. While Sonya will be using exclusively oil paints for all plein air painting demonstrations, you can choose to paint with oil, acrylic or watercolor.  A recommended list will be provided for each.​

Pricing:

Quad Room·                                       $1600
Triple Shared Suite·                           $2050
Double Shared Suite·                        $2300
Single Suite (By special request)    $2800

** Early Bird Special: $300 off any room package if booked by September 1, 2019 with 50% non refundable deposit.

$500 deposit due at time of booking to secure your spot. The remaining total balance due 90 days before retreat (10/13/19​) All payments are nonrefundable unless we can fill your spot.

APPLY HERE

Your Instructor: Sonya Sklaroff

Sonya has been a professional artist in New York City for 27 years and a professor at Parsons School of Design for the past 20 years. Her paintings have been exhibited in galleries and museums in the US, France, and Switzerland, and are represented in public and private collections around the world. She received her BFA in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design and holds an MFA in painting from Parsons School of Design.

Sonya is thrilled to be leading this creative group of artists at the Costa Rica Yoga Spa to teach the fundamentals of plein air oil painting and to help each participant find their artistic voice and personal form of expression.

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​Your Instructor: Ricki Grater

Ricki holds as her life's dedication a desire to inspire health, consciousness and creative living. She is a licensed psychotherapist LCSW, a certified yoga therapist and yoga teacher, and a certified dance-movement therapist of over 20 years. Ricki has a thriving mind-body psychotherapy practice in Brooklyn, NY, where she sees individuals asking the "who am I" questions and seeking help navigating life’s challenges and mysteries. Both Hatha and Kundalini Yoga certified, Ricki integrates many diverse body-mind-spirit teachings and technologies to customize private yoga and yoga therapy sessions in addition to traditional talk therapy and movement therapy. Ricki’s nonjudgmental presence, playful spirit, and deep belief in the creative process provide a safe space for personal inquiry, expression and growth.

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