Oct 6–8, 2026Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort · Jiminy Peak, MA
Paradise Artist Retreat

Paradise Artist Retreat Schedule

Paradise Artist Retreat

Full Event Schedule

Tuesday, October 6

Stage
Seminar Room
9 AM – 10 AM
Check-in / Meet & Greet
Details

Come on in with your ID and we will get you all set up and check in. Meet other artists including mentors as they roll in if this is your first Paradise Artist Retreat we will introduce you to somebody who could show you the ropes!

You’ll learnMeeting new people, sharpening early morning networking skills.
MaterialsTicket. Brain.
PrepCheck out the artist list in advance and get familuer with your fellow art retreaters!
10 AM – 11 AM
Opening Panel: Why Are We Here?
Details

We will have an expert panel chatting with what it took for them to get from wherever it is that they were to wherever it is that they are.

You’ll learnGet insights from different success and failure stories
11 AM – 12 PM
Headlining Demo — Liz Cook
Headliner + Seminar simultaneous
11 AM – 12 PM
Beyond the Brush
Add-on · $225Deposit
Details

We are going to travel back to when we were kids finger painting in art class. Long before we were expected to create masterpieces on the skin 100% of the time. Back when we could explore our medium without worrying about the outcome. My goal is to help artists enjoy the process of learning without the stress and anxiety. This seminar is about finding your unique voice as an artist. While I will offer a live demonstration in reductive oil painting, the process itself is left open to experimentation and play, which encourages exploration and individual style. Why do you make the marks you make? When you remove fear and hesitation from the equation, what do you create? I will hone in on a few skills to assist each artist in finding their way, but overall I encourage all attendees to approach the medium with an open mind, ready to carve out a process that works best for them. My goal is to guide each artist into finding a process and individual style that they can carry across all mediums.

You’ll learnMy goal for this seminar is to encourage each artist to explore their own creative voice through mark-making.
MaterialsIf the artist wants to paint along, they will need to bring an easel, gloves and paper towel. Colt will bring extra supplies.
3 PM – 3:30 PM
Break
30 min break
Take a Break!
Stage
Seminar Room
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Painting from Imagination - From Abstract to Representational
I’ll take you through the arc of my painting career that led me to this method. I’ll show you how it is implemented and discuss why it can make us more versatile as painters, how it can improve our compositions, and how it can improve the experience of painting.
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Seminar — Liz Cook
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Dinner Break
1 hour meal break
Go grab some food, or hit your condo/hotel room kitchenette.
7 PM – 8 PM
Closing Panel: Seeing Visions
It's more important than ever for artists to ensure they have a unique vision. Something to say something to see something to present something different than what they can get from the wide variety of sources. How do artists stay relevant? Let's brainstorm.
Stage
9 AM – 10 AM
Check-in / Meet & Greet
Details

Come on in with your ID and we will get you all set up and check in. Meet other artists including mentors as they roll in if this is your first Paradise Artist Retreat we will introduce you to somebody who could show you the ropes!

You’ll learnMeeting new people, sharpening early morning networking skills.
MaterialsTicket. Brain.
PrepCheck out the artist list in advance and get familuer with your fellow art retreaters!
Stage
10 AM – 11 AM
Opening Panel: Why Are We Here?
Details

We will have an expert panel chatting with what it took for them to get from wherever it is that they were to wherever it is that they are.

You’ll learnGet insights from different success and failure stories
Stage
11 AM – 12 PM
Headlining Demo — Liz Cook
Headliner + Seminar simultaneous
Seminar Room
11 AM – 12 PM
Beyond the Brush
Add-on · $225Deposit
Details

We are going to travel back to when we were kids finger painting in art class. Long before we were expected to create masterpieces on the skin 100% of the time. Back when we could explore our medium without worrying about the outcome. My goal is to help artists enjoy the process of learning without the stress and anxiety. This seminar is about finding your unique voice as an artist. While I will offer a live demonstration in reductive oil painting, the process itself is left open to experimentation and play, which encourages exploration and individual style. Why do you make the marks you make? When you remove fear and hesitation from the equation, what do you create? I will hone in on a few skills to assist each artist in finding their way, but overall I encourage all attendees to approach the medium with an open mind, ready to carve out a process that works best for them. My goal is to guide each artist into finding a process and individual style that they can carry across all mediums.

You’ll learnMy goal for this seminar is to encourage each artist to explore their own creative voice through mark-making.
MaterialsIf the artist wants to paint along, they will need to bring an easel, gloves and paper towel. Colt will bring extra supplies.
3 PM – 3:30 PM
Break
30 min break
Take a Break!
Stage
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Painting from Imagination - From Abstract to Representational
I’ll take you through the arc of my painting career that led me to this method. I’ll show you how it is implemented and discuss why it can make us more versatile as painters, how it can improve our compositions, and how it can improve the experience of painting.
Seminar Room
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Seminar — Liz Cook
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Dinner Break
1 hour meal break
Go grab some food, or hit your condo/hotel room kitchenette.
7 PM – 8 PM
Closing Panel: Seeing Visions
It's more important than ever for artists to ensure they have a unique vision. Something to say something to see something to present something different than what they can get from the wide variety of sources. How do artists stay relevant? Let's brainstorm.

Wednesday, October 7

10 AM – 11 AM
Panel: Marketing in an AI World
It's getting crazy, so let's talk about the crazy train, and ways to steer it. Is it really use it or be used by it?
Stage
Seminar Room
11 AM – 1 PM
@Jen_Art - Details TBA
Headliner + Seminar simultaneous
TBA
11 AM – 1 PM
Seminar — Ande Chambers
1 PM – 3 PM
Painting From Imagination: From Abstract to Representational
Add-on · $250Purchase
Details

In the beginning, observation is everything. Eventually, a reliance on observation can become a hindrance that holds us back as representational artists. During this seminar I will show you how to create a composition with a powerful sense of focus by only painting with pure abstraction. Then we will translate that abstract composition into a representational painting—from pure imagination.

You’ll learnLearn to trust yourself as an artist; start from nothing and build an effective composition; break out of reference jail; and play while you paint.
MaterialsPainting knife (Holbein MX no 1 or 1066S-303), filbert natural bristle brushes (sizes 2/4/6/8), Gamsol solvent, Gamblin Galkyd Lite Gel medium, artist-grade oil paint (Winsor Newton or Gamblin), a few toned panels (8x10–11x14), paper towels, palette, easel, gloves.
PrepTone your panels in advance so they are fully dry (umber tones recommended).
About David CheifetzDavid Andrew Nishita Cheifetz (b.1981) is an internationally acclaimed, collected artist. A former architect turned oil painter, blending classical training with experimentation across contemporary realism, imaginative realism, and abstraction. Represented by Gallery 1261, Denver. In 2025 he began his tattoo journey as an apprentice of Colt Brown (Empire Inks). Lives in Olympia, WA.
3 PM – 3:30 PM
Break
30 min break
Take a Break!
Stage
Seminar Room
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Basic Acrylic Painting
Get the hang of acrylics with this basic course to get you used (or more used) to the medium.
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Seminar TBA
Markus
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Dinner Break
1 hour meal break
Stage
Seminar Room
7 PM – 8 PM
Closing Panel: RIT Virtual Panel?
Evening seminar slot
Beam in with Guy?
9 PM – 10 PM
Creative Alchemy - Hal Sawyer
Add-on · $75Purchase
Details

I often combine organic and inorganic elements, blending form and function to create three-dimensional art that is both captivating and unsettling — expressing the beauty and mystery of renewal and death.

You’ll learnHow to source materials, how to combine elements, and how to reimagine the world around us.
MaterialsAll materials provided for an on-site project; bring favorite items you'd like to include.
PrepShop local thrift stores for cool objects/components; practice seeing things as what they could become.
About the presenterHal Sawyer is a tattoo and fine artist based in Fayetteville, NC, transforming discarded objects into new work using organic and inorganic elements.
10 AM – 11 AM
Panel: Marketing in an AI World
It's getting crazy, so let's talk about the crazy train, and ways to steer it. Is it really use it or be used by it?
Stage
11 AM – 1 PM
@Jen_Art - Details TBA
Headliner + Seminar simultaneous
TBA
Seminar Room
11 AM – 1 PM
Seminar — Ande Chambers
Seminar Room
1 PM – 3 PM
Painting From Imagination: From Abstract to Representational
Add-on · $250Purchase
Details

In the beginning, observation is everything. Eventually, a reliance on observation can become a hindrance that holds us back as representational artists. During this seminar I will show you how to create a composition with a powerful sense of focus by only painting with pure abstraction. Then we will translate that abstract composition into a representational painting—from pure imagination.

You’ll learnLearn to trust yourself as an artist; start from nothing and build an effective composition; break out of reference jail; and play while you paint.
MaterialsPainting knife (Holbein MX no 1 or 1066S-303), filbert natural bristle brushes (sizes 2/4/6/8), Gamsol solvent, Gamblin Galkyd Lite Gel medium, artist-grade oil paint (Winsor Newton or Gamblin), a few toned panels (8x10–11x14), paper towels, palette, easel, gloves.
PrepTone your panels in advance so they are fully dry (umber tones recommended).
About David CheifetzDavid Andrew Nishita Cheifetz (b.1981) is an internationally acclaimed, collected artist. A former architect turned oil painter, blending classical training with experimentation across contemporary realism, imaginative realism, and abstraction. Represented by Gallery 1261, Denver. In 2025 he began his tattoo journey as an apprentice of Colt Brown (Empire Inks). Lives in Olympia, WA.
3 PM – 3:30 PM
Break
30 min break
Take a Break!
Stage
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Basic Acrylic Painting
Get the hang of acrylics with this basic course to get you used (or more used) to the medium.
Seminar Room
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Seminar TBA
Markus
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Dinner Break
1 hour meal break
Stage
7 PM – 8 PM
Closing Panel: RIT Virtual Panel?
Evening seminar slot
Beam in with Guy?
Stage
9 PM – 10 PM
Creative Alchemy - Hal Sawyer
Add-on · $75Purchase
Details

I often combine organic and inorganic elements, blending form and function to create three-dimensional art that is both captivating and unsettling — expressing the beauty and mystery of renewal and death.

You’ll learnHow to source materials, how to combine elements, and how to reimagine the world around us.
MaterialsAll materials provided for an on-site project; bring favorite items you'd like to include.
PrepShop local thrift stores for cool objects/components; practice seeing things as what they could become.
About the presenterHal Sawyer is a tattoo and fine artist based in Fayetteville, NC, transforming discarded objects into new work using organic and inorganic elements.

Thursday, October 8

Stage
Seminar Room
10 AM – 11 AM
Bringing it Home
Panel discusses how to take the lessons learned at the Paradise Artist Retreat and bring them home. Attendees and panelists come and go back to a wide variesty of studios and situations, lets make sure you get the most out of the Retreat!
11 AM – 12 PM
Making Digital Art Human
Headliner + Seminar simultaneous
TBA
1 PM – 3 PM
Jen_art Seminar
TBA
3 PM – 3:30 PM
Break
30 min break
Stage
Seminar Room
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Digital Painting Masterclass
Add-on · $99
Details

Go through the process of creating a digital painting from imagination with the help of a seasoned illustrator. A detailed walkthrough of my own workflow, then a chance to try it yourself with feedback on your work.

You’ll learnExpand your knowledge of digital painting in a way that applies to all digital painting software.
MaterialsLaptop with drawing tablet, or iPad.
PrepCome with a sketch ready to be made into a painting, in your painting program of choice.
About Peter MohrbacherPeter Mohrbacher is an indie artist who has made a living from his fans' support for over ten years. He has worked in video games, film, and Magic: The Gathering, and is best known for his fantasy fine art (Angelarium).
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Dinner
1 hour meal break
7 PM – 8 PM
Closing Panel
Stage
10 AM – 11 AM
Bringing it Home
Panel discusses how to take the lessons learned at the Paradise Artist Retreat and bring them home. Attendees and panelists come and go back to a wide variesty of studios and situations, lets make sure you get the most out of the Retreat!
Stage
11 AM – 12 PM
Making Digital Art Human
Headliner + Seminar simultaneous
TBA
Seminar Room
1 PM – 3 PM
Jen_art Seminar
TBA
3 PM – 3:30 PM
Break
30 min break
Seminar Room
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Digital Painting Masterclass
Add-on · $99
Details

Go through the process of creating a digital painting from imagination with the help of a seasoned illustrator. A detailed walkthrough of my own workflow, then a chance to try it yourself with feedback on your work.

You’ll learnExpand your knowledge of digital painting in a way that applies to all digital painting software.
MaterialsLaptop with drawing tablet, or iPad.
PrepCome with a sketch ready to be made into a painting, in your painting program of choice.
About Peter MohrbacherPeter Mohrbacher is an indie artist who has made a living from his fans' support for over ten years. He has worked in video games, film, and Magic: The Gathering, and is best known for his fantasy fine art (Angelarium).
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Dinner
1 hour meal break
7 PM – 8 PM
Closing Panel