Basically it’s a diary of your experiences, but with a few drawings and other visual elements to enrich it. A travel journal is more than just a diary though, it’s a record of the in-the-moment impressions which occur so vividly when we travel. Think you can’t draw or paint? This is a lie that was told to you, probably while in school at some point. ALL of us are born creative beings but the world seems keen to tell us otherwise. In my workshops we breakdown these barriers to our in-born creativity. With a number of exercises you too can learn to make one of a kind travelogues of the world as you meet it. Whether you are traveling abroad, or simply noticing the beauty in your own back yard.

You’ve always wanted to visit Ireland but don’t want an average tour. You want something special and different than the norm. Something brimming with the art, culture, folklore and music on offer in Ireland, especially in the southwest of the country. You don’t want a big group, and you don’t want to have to pack your suitcase every day and move to a new place - BUT you want to see ALL things quintessentially Irish - castles, cemeteries, quaint market towns, ancient stones circles, cozy pubs, traditional music. You’d like to dive deep into a hidden corner of Ireland and really get to know it with the help of some charming locals.

You can send me an email at abeefrnd@gmail.com and I will send you my mailing address to send a non-refundable deposit of $350 USD  (or payment in full if you prefer) via check.  I can accept PayPal or Venmo but will add a service fee of 3%. I can also now accept credit card payment also with the additional 3% fee. If you would like to pay via credit, I can send you an invoice. Final payment for the trip will be due a few months ahead of our journey. Please note that while your deposit to hold your place is in USD$, the total cost of the trip will be calculated in Euro.

A deposit of $350 is non-refundable.  Once you pay in full, the balance is refundable up until April 1.

Your registration covers:

Art instruction in the process of travel journaling, breakfasts and lunches (dinners can be purchased at the Mills Inn where we lodge.) Transportation to and from Cork City as well as to all of our daily destinations. On top of all of that, we have a cast of brilliant artists, musicians, storytellers, folklorists and the like who will be joining us each day.

Travel expenses (airfare, transportation to Taos,  Personal art supplies (a suggested packing list will be sent in advance).

A detailed packing list will be provided but you will need a sketchbook, small watercolor kit and drawing supplies, a bag or satchel in which to comfortably carry your supplies, comfortable clothing and footwear.

Welcome to the club!!! Our days are structured so as to strike a balance between a lovely sense of community we build with each other as a group throughout the week and the very real need for reflection and time alone in which to integrate this wonderful week. In this course, you can opt to have dinner on your own or with a small group. Also, if you want time alone during the day, this is your week! Just let us know. We make space for space. On top of that, the Mills Inn, our home for the time of our retreat, is in an area of exquisite natural beauty with walking trails and an ancient waterway to sit by if you’d like some quiet.

The week is comprised of five, very full days!  We meet for breakfast usually between the hours of 8 and 9 (There is coffee and tea in your room if you need it!).  Then we convene to travel to the day’s destination which could be any of the many classic Irish destinations (ancient stone circles, castles, rugged coastlines, quaint market towns….)  Lunch is delivered to our group along the way. In the evenings we unwind at the Mills Inn or other local pubs, working on our sketchbooks, enjoying Irish music sessions or wandering beautiful Baile Bhúirne.

We eat VERY well during this trip! Breakfasts at the Mills are delicious and included in your fee. A local caterer creates daily lunch treats for us to enjoy whether we are sketching a coastline castle or an ancient stone circle. You can choose a light bite or a larger meal back at the Mills for dinner, but often we are so full from breakfasts and lunches that folks opt out! (This is why dinners are not included in your fee.) Both the Mills Inn and the caterer are fully adept at navigating any food sensitivities. Just let us know and we will get you sorted!

Tour participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements into Cork City but we are happy to make some broad travel suggestions if needed.  You can fly into Ireland via Dublin or Shannon and both have reliable public transport to Cork City. You might also opt to fly into Cork City airport where our team will collect you on the day of arrival. If you arrive a day or two early into Cork City, we recommend staying at the Imperial Hotel there. Baile Bhúirne (“ballyvourney”) is about 45 min- 1 hour outside of the city.

Ireland is known for its capacity for changeable weather!! Some days you might find “all four seasons in the one day”. It can be quite rainy one moment and sunny the next (hence the rainbows!) so you’ll need to be prepared with a rain jacket and warm layers for when the wind blows. We keep our eye on the forecast for each of our days and tweak the programming if we can to make the most of fine weather.

“Beginners” are truly my favorite kinds of students to work with as, for one thing, it takes a lot of courage to be an adult beginner in a new thing, especially in art!  You definitely do NOT need to be an artist to join this workshop.  You just need to be a curious human being who wants to collect and document the beauty around you.  The most inspiring place to start is in a beautiful place such as Ireland!  Trust me, you CAN learn the basics in one week.  The rest is really about practice.

Absolutely!!  I have been an artist my whole life and eventually went to art school and developed my series of workshops.  I still learn new things everyday!  When fellow working artists join my classes I often learn as much from them as they hopefully do from me. You can use the workshop time to gather beauty, try some fresh exercises and meet new friends.  Every artist needs the occasional getaway to fill the well of creativity.  Over the years I have had many professionals along for the workshops and everyone’s horizons are broadened along the way. 

We do pack a lot in on this trip so that you come away feeling like you’ve really “been to Ireland”. But don’t worry! We will also spend some time wandering a few lovely market towns where you might find just the right souvenir to take home with you.

Moving hotels takes time and energy, both of which I would rather spend slowing down, making new friends, making art. The Mills Inn is ideally situated to be no more than an hour or so to all kinds of quintessential Irish sites such as castles, stone circles, the rugged coast, quaint market towns and fishing villages. Co. Cork is also a hotbed for art and traditional music. We will meet local artists, storytellers and musicians along the way creating a depth of experience like no other tour.

If you are arriving right into your week with us, and especially if you are coming from the States, we recommend you buffer your time with an extra day (or 3!) This will give you time to get used to the time change, crossing the streets with cars coming from the opposite direction, and of course, the potential of travel hang-ups.