Inspiration from Nature in the Algarve - Residency and Retreat

Course date is Sun Oct 2^nd - Sat Oct 8^th 2022

Elements Replenish, Nurture, Rewild and Reconnect

This is a perfect week for working artists, graduates from Emily Ball’s online Paint fit courses or for artists from week 1 to continue from.

A residency gives artists the opportunity to live and work outside of their usual environments, providing them with time to reflect, research and produce work. Emily will lead the week, encouraging everyone to immerse themselves in their own internal dialogue with themselves and their subjects. There will be no teaching given, yet the emphasis will be on support and exchange with a rare chance to witness the artists Emily Ball and host/artist Rosalind Hodges, in their own rhythm and creative processes as they work. Everything is on view here, work practise, reflection, wellbeing, rest, fun, collaboration and exchange.

We will coexist, choosing to work in isolation or alongside each other. It’s an inspiring landscape to work within; you will have time to explore the sea, cliffs and beaches at sun rise, or sublimely sink into the alluring star filled sky each night. There is nothing to think about this week apart from you and your work, its full immersion, fully catered and facilitated enabling you to find what inspires you and go deeper, balance, connect, draw, paint, write, share ideas, experiment, re-evaluate, play, discover and explore.At the end of each day there will be a set time to meet with Emily, to share what we have experienced in the day. With ample time to discuss our work/processes, within this supportive collective.

The villa and location offer a beautiful, rugged landscape and access to unspoilt beaches, calm space and comfort. Students on the course have outside spaces to work in and can allow themselves to become immersed in the experience; as local home cooked food, guided walks, materials are all generously provided and organised daily. Giving you the luxury of just concentrating on developing your own creative flow. Additionally, a pro masseur is available poa, to ease you into a place of relaxation and personal nurture too. The nearest airport is Faro

Details about the structure of the course

Students arrive on Sunday October 2nd between 3-7pm. The residency starts on Monday 3rd and ends on Friday October 7th, Students leave on Saturday October 8th @ or before10am.

On the first morning, after breakfast, there will be the option of guided walks to explore the local area, Rosalind Hodges, our host and fellow artist, will lead the walks in the surrounding landscape, to give the students the opportunity to choose a location that inspires them; taking materials to work with and perhaps a picnic lunch so that each person can make the most of the day and the place. At 5.30pm Emily will be available to support the end of day review process and encourage each artists development. Further information is available including lists of what to bring.

To get the most from this course, I recommend a capacity to be able to walk and carry a day pack 2km and an ability to walk on narrow, uneven, hilly coastal earth paths. If this is not possible then the gardens and landscape that surrounds the house do provide ample inspiration. We strongly recommend that you have international (sim) roaming internet connection for mapping so that you can explore and return safely to the villa..