Learn To Paint From Anywhere, Online Art & Acrylic Painting Classes
August 17, 2026The Soul Of San Miguel De Allende
Everyday Life
Sometimes the greatest thing you can give your creativity isn't another technique.
It's space.
Space away from the laundry, the appointments, the emails, the grocery lists, and all of the little responsibilities that quietly fill our days.
Because something rather wonderful can happen when you step away from everyday life and give yourself permission to simply be an artist.
That is one of the reasons I love teaching destination art retreats.
And there may be few places more inspiring to do that than San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
A City That Makes You Want To Create
Imagine waking up in a historic Mexican city filled with bougainvillea spilling over old stone walls.
You wander along cobblestone streets past carved wooden doors, colorful buildings, hidden courtyards and little cafés.
Around the next corner you discover a church dome, an artisan shop, a beautiful garden or a scene that makes you stop and think:
"I want to paint that."
San Miguel de Allende seems to have creativity woven into it.
It has attracted artists, writers and creative travelers for generations, and when you are there, it's easy to understand why.
But my Soul of San Miguel de Allende Artist Retreat isn't simply about visiting a beautiful place.
It's about what can happen to you while you're there.
You Don't Have to Earn the Right to Call Yourself an Artist
One of the things I've discovered through years of teaching is how often adults become intimidated by creativity.
We think we need to be accomplished before we deserve to call ourselves artists.
We compare our paintings.
We worry about making mistakes.
We tell ourselves we're "not creative enough."
I want to turn that idea upside down.
An art retreat should give you permission to explore.
To experiment.
To look more closely.
To try something you haven't tried before.
To make mistakes and discover that sometimes the mistake becomes the most interesting part of the painting.
Whether you're an experienced painter or someone who is still finding her creative voice, you belong in the room.
What If You Gave Yourself One Week?
This is the question I'd like you to consider:
What might happen if you gave yourself an entire week for your creativity?
Not two hours squeezed into your schedule.
Not a Saturday afternoon when everything else is finished.
A week.
A week surrounded by color, art, history, conversation and other creative people.
A week to paint.
A week to explore.
A week to learn.
A week to laugh.
A week to see what happens when creativity moves much closer to the top of your priority list.
That is what a destination art retreat can offer.
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More Than Painting
Of course, we will paint.
But I believe the richest creative experiences happen when we combine learning with living.
We'll explore San Miguel.
We'll notice its architecture, colors, people, markets, textures and wonderful visual surprises.
We'll gather inspiration and bring those experiences back into the studio.
We'll share meals and conversations.
We'll learn from one another.
And somewhere along the way, you may discover that you've stopped thinking so much about whether you're "doing it right."
You're simply creating.
That is often where the magic begins.
