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4-Day Visionary Art Seminar Retreat
June 12, 2025 - June 15, 2025
4-Day Visionary Art Seminar Retreat
Thursday, June 12 – Sunday, June 15
REGISTER
Join us at Peace Temple for this unique opportunity to learn painting with one of the leading modern visionary art artists, Olga Klimova. This 4-day retreat is perfect both for experienced artists as well as beginners. All art supplies are provided.
Recharge in the Central American sauna, swim in the pond, enjoy nature walks and take in the sun, while our chef prepares a delicious selection of healthy meals to complement your rejuvenating experience at Peace Temple.
Workshops description
The students will learn to start their paintings in quick and fun ways with acrylics while getting complex organic and very detailed natural patterns which helps boost creativity and vision. Different methods of application of the first layer of white acrylic paint over black background will be introduced during this workshop. Painting with different media, pouring paint mixed with water and working with gravity, decalcomania techniques using acetate and soft plastic, subtraction method, using different types of brushes for different effects, using spray bottle, water resistant spray – all the techniques and media will be shown, making painting a playful, meditative and (an) enjoyable experience.
The second layer is applied in the form of acrylic glaze over the first layer of whites after it dries. The next layer is painting in building up the whites over a color glaze. Switching back and forth between the layers of semi-transparent whites and color glazes we start seeing the desired effect of this mixed technique of painting as well as pulling shapes and meaning out of emerging patterns.
The students can start painting a portrait (from a reference photo that they can bring with them to the seminar) on top of their backgrounds if they wish to learn how to paint a realistic face while leaving some of the transparencies visible. They will be introduced to working with oils and learn to mix realistic skin tones. Those who wish to keep their work abstract may continue working with glazes and transparencies and see what shapes the painting uncovers on its own.
About painting with light technique
Painting with Light workshop incorporates modified elements of the painting technique known as Mischetechnik or mix technique, which is a term of using various methods of layering paint, including the use of different substances. It is particularly suited for visionary painting because instead of shading the darks as in traditional painting, this technique uses a different method of painting the lights over a color background. The light coming through many layers of transparent color glazes and white layers in between them creates an effect of a painted object being multidimensional and lit from the inside.
The technique was reinvented by Austrian artist Ernst Fuchs, one of the living elders of the visionary art movement. His impact upon the contemporary visionary art scene cannot be understated. The quality and reception of his work as well as the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism has inspired many people worldwide. Modern visionary masters like Robert Venosa, Martina Hoffmann, Amanda Sage and Laurence Caruana were all trained with him.
Retreat schedule
Thursday
- 3:00pm – 7:00pm – Landing/Arrival
- 7:15 pm – Dinner
- 9:00 pm – Opening Fire circle / Introductions
- 11:00 pm – Rest
Friday
- 8:00 – 9:00 am – Meditation for boosting creativity
- 10:00 – 11:00 am – Breakfast
- 11:00 am – 1:00 pm – Lecture/Presentation on Mische/Mixed Technique
- 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Studio Time: Demo of the making the background (first layer); first glaze application, start building up the whites
- 3:00 – 4:00 pm – Lunch
- 4:00 – 7:00 pm – Studio time: second layer (second glaze), adding the design to the background, learning about transparencies, building up the shapes
- 7:00 pm – Dinner
- 9:00 pm – Sound Bath / Fire circle
- 11:00 pm – Rest
Saturday
- 8:00 – 9 am – Short morning yoga (stretching) / Meditation
- 10:00 – 11:00 am – Breakfast
- 11:00 am – 1:00 pm – Lecture/Presentation on Mische/Mixed Technique for late arrival students, the rest will continue working on their pieces.
- 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Studio Time: Demo on mixing the skin tones and painting the face, while keeping the transparencies, introduction to oils
- 3:00 – 4:00 pm – Lunch
- 4:00 – 7:00 pm – Studio time: continue with the glazes and whites in between while practicing skin tones and learning about color and optical grays
- 7:00 pm – Dinner
- 9:00 pm – Central American Sauna
- 11:00 pm – Rest
Sunday
- 8:00 – 9:00 am – Gentle yoga/meditation
- 9:00 – 10:00 am – Breakfast
- 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – Studio time
- 3:00 – 4:00 pm – Lunch / Closing circle and sharing
- 4:00 pm – Departure
Facilitators
Olga Klimova – Visionary Artist
Olga Klimova is a self-taught visionary artist whose creative process serves as a catalyst for personal transformation and social change. She translates her meditative insight into a visual narrative, exploring both light and dark sides of life, existentialism, dualism and unity, juxtaposed with fragile beauty. She often shows close links between internal and external worlds, bringing attention to the necessity to explore both. Olga utilizes complex layered techniques in showing multi-dimensional structures of mind and matter.
Today, Olga travels North America with her installations, exhibits her art internationally, teaches in Europe and USA while maintaining her home base in New York, USA. In 2015 she became one of the instructors of the Vienna Academy of Visionary Art.
Vladimir Kuperman – Host and the creator of Peace Temple. Vladimir is a leader of Peace Temple, a spiritual retreat center in the beautiful Catskill Mountains, devoted to creating and holding peaceful and inspiring community events, where creativity, spiritual growth, sustainability, respect for nature, and respect for each other are practiced. Besides hosting the retreat, Vladimir leads sound baths, nature hikes and facilitates Central American Sauna.
To register
You may send the complete payment, or a 50% deposit (the remainder is due one week before the retreat start date) and fill out the form below with the screenshot of your payment.
Early bird cost for the retreat is $450 and includes all meals and camping (bring all your camping gear). Cost goes up $550 if you register after March 1st.
- Add $75 for a three-night stay in our cozy dorm with a full-size bed (bring your own bedding). If sharing the bed with another participant, the second person pays $25 in addition to the retreat cost. When registering, provide the name of the person you are sharing your accommodation with to help us track available spaces.
- Add $375 for a three-night stay in our private cabin with a queen-size bed (bedding provided). If sharing, the second person pays $75 in addition to the retreat cost. Cabins are available for a maximum occupancy of two people (please inquire for availability). When registering, please provide the name of the person you are sharing your accommodation with to help us track available spaces. Please note that cabins do not have private bathrooms; bathroom facilities are shared among guests.
Venmo or Zelle full payment OR a 50% deposit to 917 968 3214 to book your spot.
Please use the Friends and Family (keep purchases option turned off) option when making the payment, as avoiding the transaction fees helps us to keep the retreat cost lower for you.
VENMO: https://account.venmo.com/u/Vladimir-Kuperman
You must write in the note part of the payment your full first and last name and email, and clearly specify what this payment is for.
This retreat is not yet sold out.
Refund policy
Peace Temple reserves the right to cancel a retreat at any time. If Peace Temple cancels a retreat, you will receive a full refund. Some retreats may have special cancellation policies; please see individual retreat descriptions.
Unless otherwise stated within program descriptions:
Full refunds are available up to thirty (30) days before your program or stay.
Nonrefundable credit toward a future Peace Temple retreat is available up to fourteen (14) days before your retreat, or you may choose to receive a 50% refund at this time. Credit may be applied to any Peace Temple retreat in 2024-2025.
No credit or refund is available if you cancel within seven (7) days of the retreat; if you do not show up; or if you leave an event early for any reason. No refund will be available if you attend a program and are dissatisfied with its presentation or content.
Fill out the form to complete registration
We will review your registration and get back to you with a confirmation.
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Retreats provide time and peace away from your day to day routines. Going on a retreat helps to re-energize your body and soul, while providing you space to think creatively and time to reflect. If you truly want to be productive and effective in your daily life , then setting aside time to detox your body, being in nature, consider your life’s purpose and your personal values, vision and mission is vital.
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Please write to peacetempleretreats@gmail.com to inquire for details.