Join artist Sarah Dyer on a creative journey during a sketchbook retreat amid the stunning landscapes of PUGLia, nestled in the southern heart of Italy.
RETREAT DATES 2025
May 17th - 24th 2025
8 days & 7 nights - Saturday to Saturday
Having hosted a sold out retreat in 2024, I am very happy to offer another mixed media sketchbook retreat next May 2025. I have handpicked the venue and the excursions to give you the most memorable experience.
Spring in Puglia is absolutely beautiful, the weather is warm and pleasant making it a great place to explore without the heat of the Summer. The sea is still warm enough to swim in, for anyone visiting the pristine sands of the local beaches.
Carved into a gentle hill, Masseria Specula is a historical farmhouse, surrounded by 20 hectares of exclusive private land, offering a tranquil retreat just 1km away from the enchanting shores of the Ionian Sea. The venue contributes positively towards humanity and the environment, by running an eco-friendly venue where they can invest in clean energy, tree planting & land conservation. The venue has a sea-view dining room, a dedicated workshop space, various private gardens and the beach just a 15 min walk away.
I hope to see you there!
Sarah
Sarah Dyer’s gentle approach to teaching will be the driving force behind your progress.
You’ll get to know 8 other amazing creatives from diverse artistic backgrounds and enjoy the experiences, and workshops together. This aspect of community will encourage you and be an important part of how you develop your practice over the week.
At the art retreat you will learn how to:
Explore negative space in your sketchbook and learn how this can affect how you view your drawings
Choose a limited colour palette to work on location on our day trip to Nardo
Capture the essence of drawing people which we will put into practice in our pasta making workshop
Make unique textured collage papers and learn how they can be used as part of your practice.
Use a timer and simple exercises to stop the fear of the empty page
Explore compositions outside our sketchbooks using zines and concertina books
Capture a sense of place
Layering materials and mark-making
Gaining confidence with your own visual voice
WHATS INCLUDED:
Sketchbook classes, demonstrations, individual tuition and support from Sarah Dyer
7 nights accommodation at Masseria Specula
Exclusive usage of the venue and grounds, retreat rooms, gardens, terraces, etc.
Rooms have AC/heat, and Wifi
All meals whilst at the venue. 7x breakfast, 5 x lunch 7x dinners. (The meals are vegetarian and are lovingly prepared by local chefs Rosanna, Franca and the team with fresh ingredients. This is part of their strong commitment to the sustainability of their venue)
Wine with dinner
1 pasta making class
A full day trip to Nardo (1/2 an hour from the venue. Private transportation to all excursions will be provided)
A half day trip to the Flamingo Lake and local town
Bikes are provided by the venue for the beach
Complimentary water, coffee, tea and snacks all day
Local taxes, as well as state and province taxes are included in the price of this trip
Private WhatsApp group to share details of our upcoming plans where you can ask questions and connect with your fellow travellers
1 scheduled courtesy transfer from the airport and 1 scheduled courtesy transfer to the airport at assigned times
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:
Airfare
Travel insurance - This is required for covering medical expenses, travel interruptions, and personal cancellation to cover anything that might require cancellation or a change in travel arrangements
Complementary airport transfers. (Transfers are available at set times only. Please enquire for details so you can plan your flights)
Lunch during the Nardo trip
Art materials (I will provide a list nearer the time)
Tips for staff (not required but a kind gesture if you desire to do so)
Other expenses you may incur on your own
stay in masseria specula, an eco-friendly Restored farmhouse surrounded by nature
stay in masseria specula, an eco-friendly Restored farmhouse surrounded by nature
MASSERIA SPECULA
Indoor dining room / retreat area (35m2)
Outdoor shaded dining area (60m2)
Outdoor first floor sea-view retreat terrace (35m2)
Outdoor ground floor sea-view shaded retreat area (55m2)
3 communal relaxation gardens
Beach at 1km from the venue, reachable on foot (15min walk)
Private outdoor parking
OUR ITINERARY
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Arrive at the venue in the afternoon, transport will be arranged from either Brindisi (50 minutes transport time) or Bari (2 hour transport time) airports.
We recommend allowing more time for international travel and arriving in Italy a day before the retreat starts so that you may adapt to the new time zone ahead of the retreat.
On arrival at the Masseria you will be shown to your room, with time to settle in. They’ll be welcome drinks and a tour of the venue and it’s spaces. For guests who’d like to, there will be the option of an early evening stroll to the beach, approximately 15 minutes on foot.
Then enjoy a welcome dinner with local wine whilst meeting your group.
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This first day we will get to know your ambitions for the week. I’ll set out how the week will run, and most importantly, understand your goals and aspirations for the retreat during quick 1:1 tutorials. Follow along with my demonstrations on mark-making and explore materials with some playful warmup exercises.
After lunch we will explore our surroundings through visual note taking in the form of concertinas, thumbnails and panels. We can share these zines and our first day’s experience over dinner later.
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In the morning you'll learn more about composition and negative space and how to create a balanced sketch. We will look at how panels in your sketchbook can create narrative and a sense of time passing, following on from some of yesterday’s themes.
After lunch we will look at making collage papers and how to introduce that into your own work. We will learn how to choose a colour palette for a specific location and pack a limited but useful set of materials for our day trip to Nardò.
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After our breakfast, we will be taking a coach to Nardò. The journey time is approx 30 minutes. Nardò is a small Baroque town with a historic centre. Tourism has passed it by and the main square is the sitting room of local families. The Old Town is particularly rich with palaces, churches, chapels and other architectural details shaped accordingly to the principles of Lecce's Baroque style.
We will practise drawing on location, looking for aspects that inspire us, enjoying lunch there, and taking photos to work from later.
After a busy and inspiring day, we will get back in time for a lovely dinner at the Masseria.
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After breakfast we will walk to the The Dunes of Torre Colimena and the Nature Reserve of Saline dei Monaci. The walk will take approximately 45 minutes at a gentle pace. Spend some time birdwatching, drawing the flamingos or the sighting tower that gives the name to the entire location: Torre Colimena. There will be time for a coffee or ice cream at the local village and an opportunity to draw the buildings, locals, boats and scenery there before catching a local taxi back for a delicious lunch.
In the afternoon we will be using sketches and photos from the trips so far to spend time creating an 8 page zine, narrative panels or sequential imagery. Focusing on what was particularly important to you to reflect your visual voice I’m around for 1:1 help.
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The morning will be spent practising drawing people. We can take turns as models or draw from any photos we have taken on the trip. We can also challenge ourselves to the ’40 faces’ exercise to really hone our people drawing skills.
In the afternoon we will have a very special pasta making lesson from a local Nonna. Half the group will draw, while the other half make pasta, and then we will swap!
We will enjoy the pasta we made for dinner that evening.
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On our final day, you will have time to finish any projects, drawings or sketchbook pages in the retreat space. Or take some time to swim and draw at the local beach.
I will be conducting 1:1 tutorials throughout the day so everyone feels like they have clear creative goals for when they are back at home.
As the day ends we will prepare for a celebration of the week’s work! Showcase your work proudly with the support of your peers, celebrating not just art but the bonds made over the retreat.
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Enjoy your final breakfast with me and your group, swap any last contact details, say your farewells, and get ready for your transfer to Brindisi or Bari Airports. Check-out is at 10:00AM
RETREAT PRICES
Room 1: double room, single occupancy, en-suite, semi private garden €3650
Room 2: double room, single occupancy, en-suite €3650
Room 3: double room, single occupancy, en-suite €3650
Room 4: (Hosts)
Room 5: large twin room, shared bathroom, roof terrace €2950 per person
Room 6: large twin room, shared bathroom, roof terrace €2950 per person
Room 7: large twin room, shared bathroom, semi private garden €2950 per person
The rooms on the first floor have roof terraces, whilst some on the ground floor have garden spaces outside. If you have mobility issues, please let us know so we can allocate the correct space to suit your needs.
Non refundable deposit of 5% on booking.
Then:
50% installment due by 1st September
Balance due by 31st January
It is advisable to book the plane after the final confirmation that the retreat will happen,
To see images of the rooms please visit www.masseriaspecula.com
ADDRESS:
Strada Comunale 59, Contrada Specchiarica, Manduria (TA), 74024, Italy
info@masseriaspecula.com
FAQs
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International roundtrip airfare, activities not included in the itinerary, materials list, expenses during free time, food and beverages not included in the itinerary. COVID-19 test, if applicable.
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Travel insurance for the retreat is not provided and each participant is required to have their own individual travel insurance.
The insurance must cover the whole duration of the retreat and we recommend that the insurance coverage package include personal accident, death, medical expenses, repatriation, emergency evacuation, personal liability, loss of luggage, personal effects and flight cancellation coverage. The insurance must cover COVID-19 medical costs and full hospitalization, doctors’ visits, prescriptions and air ambulance transit. If the retreat is cancelled, it is the responsibility of the participant to verify insurance policy details to ensure coverage and reimbursement if needed.
Participants shall provide proof of insurance at least 7 days prior to the start of the retreat. Failure to procure such insurance may lead to the cancellation of the participant’s booking without a refund.
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No. Sarah will be able to cater each day to teach whatever level you are at.
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Travel insurance is required to attend this trip and will cover cancellations or interruptions, including the trip being cancelled by myself. If this happens, your insurance should cover all expenses you have paid. If not, I will be glad to reimburse what is not covered.
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A small supplies list will sent to you near the time. Sarah will also provide a free sketchbook, larger paper for zine making, and many other materials to experiment with.
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It is advisable to book the flights once all 9 guests have been confirmed.
For our arrival to Italy on Saturday, May 17th, we will schedule a courtesy transfer around 3 PM to the venue. There will be one transfer that day for the group for each airport. The drive to the venue is one hour from Brindisi and two hours from Bari.
For our departure from Italy on Saturday, May 24th again there will be the option of one transfer from Brindisi and one from Bari. Again, if you need a different transfer time, please schedule that ahead as there will be only one transfer scheduled for our group that day.
I understand that there are multiple flights coming to and from the airport and you may not find something close to these recommended times. If you are not able to book a flight for arrival at that time, you are responsible for finding a taxi or other transportation when you get there, or you can contact our venue ahead of time to schedule a car to get you. Rates may be more favourable that way.
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Yes the retreat can be booked in 3 instalments.
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Toiletries, linens, towels and beach towels, provided. AC & Heating. WiFi ia available for each room. Please note we do not have TVs at the venue.
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The venue provides a vegetarian (or vegan) menu only. This is in line with their sustainability practice. We cannot guarantee that any food, meals and/or drinks served are allergen-free. Masseria Specula will have no responsibility for any consequences related to allergies/intolerances. Please contact us in advance of registering if you have any dietary questions or allergies.
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The retreat has steps and some uneven ground. The beach is 1km away (15 minutes walk) and accessible by bike or on foot or we can arrange a lift in a car.
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You may cancel before the end of September 2024 and receive a full refund minus £100 non-refundable deposit and any other banking costs.
After you have completed your registration you will be sent an invoice to complete your 1st deposit payment. Payment can be made by bank transfer. After that, there will be 2 more payments to be made in November 2024, and February 2025. These will be non-refundable should you need to cancel. Additional costs may apply where special accommodations are made available to participants.
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If the retreat does not meet the minimum number of attendees by the end of September 2024 then the retreat will be cancelled and all initial payments fully refunded.
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Of course. If the retreat offers some included or optional activities that you don’t want to participate in, you can opt out and do your own thing instead. If you choose to skip a certain activity or excursion, please note that included activities will not be reimbursed. Please let your me and fellow art retreat participants know that you will not be showing up to specific activities beforehand.
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The Masseria Specula is located in Puglia, southern Italy. The venue is surrounded by countryside and offers beautiful sea views. It is in a rural and untouched area of Puglia, please be aware there are no local shops. The nearest village is a 45 minute walk. All meals, snacks and drinks are provided by the venue, so it is a lovely opportunity to completely switch off from the outside world and immerse yourself in a drawing week!
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A maximum of 9 students ensures an intimate, cosy, and relaxed atmosphere. This allows for plenty of one-on-one attention, fostering a supportive and personal experience for all participants
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May is arguably one of the best times of year to visit Puglia, a stunning coastal region in the most southeastern corner of Italy. Occupying the so-called "boot of Italy's heel", this region lies on both the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea coasts and has beautiful inland hills and farmlands. In May, because of its excellent and comfortable weather, it is ideal for anyone who wants to get out and about. It's not too warm (yet) and it's quite dry.
