February 5 - February 14, 2025
Expressive Paintings Through Design, Colour and Tone
with Oksana Zhelisko
Immerse yourself in the local culture and create a visual art story on your canvases.
Workshop description:
Whether you are a seasoned or aspiring acrylic or oil artist, this retreat is designed to elevate your observational skills and visual problem solving.
The primary focus will be on design/composition, colour, values and mark makings in order to achieve a strong result in your paintings.
We will start our morning sessions with a few short exercises to help understand and simplify these concepts, followed by a creation of a small representational painting based on what we have learnt.
We will be working in the studio from our own reference pictures that we capture during the day, as well as elements of simple En Plein Air sessions (painting from direct observation)
Oksana will be doing demonstrations on site each day with a detailed explanation of the process, also giving a great deal of one-on-one instruction.
You will also learn:
- How to successfully use compositional search (from one reference picture creating various design variations)
- How to see only the most important things in the image and let go of many unnecessary details
- How to pick a harmonious limited palette
- How to successfully use tonal and colour contrast
BONUS: Oksana will present one live portrait demonstration (portrait painting with a live model)
SECOND BONUS: Those registered for the retreat; you are in a draw to win an original painting by Oksana Zhelisko created during the retreat.
Born in Ukraine, award winning artist Oksana Zhelisko, one of Edmonton’s strongest contemporary artists of the feminine portrait, puts women first. The classically trained visual artist creates beautiful feminine portraits in oil that differ in emotions, moods and atmosphere. Passion, love, curiosity, exhaustion, sadness and elegance are all highlighted. Each painting engages on a meaningful level.
In addition, 7 years ago, Oksana adapted and became obsessed with the magic of En Plein Air Painting. It’s the visual trip through colour and shape that gets Oksana excited. A destination with amazing scenery, traveled at the painter’s pace … allowing her to capture the stunning views not just with the camera, but with the paint and canvas.
“I prefer working in Alla-prima style (wet-on-wet) of painting and I use this style as much as possible. Even when I work on bigger paintings, I make sure to block in tonal and colour balances in my first session. I work intuitively, bold and free from the start at the same time staying true to the emotional response of the initial idea. As I continue working on a painting, I slow down and add more calculated decisions and get certain areas tighter and more detailed”
Oksana offers a variety of oil and acrylic classes and leads a mentorship programme. Oksana brings her training, skill, and passion to her painting, and she is versatile in expressive styles. She is adept at many genres, including portraiture, still life, and landscape.
Workshop Instructor:
OKSANA ZHELISKO
Contact info for Oksana:
www.zheliskoart.com
Email:zheliskoart@gmail.com youtube.com/@zheliskoart
‘Setting’ 11" x 14" oil on canvas
OKSANA’S WORK
‘Gozando‘ 12''x16'' oil on canvas
‘Emerging Crase ’ 16" x 16" oil on canvas
‘A Warm Touch’ 6" x 8" oil
‘ Novia’ 11" x 14" oil on canvas
‘ Inocencia’ 8" x 8" oil on canvas
‘Fishing’ 6" x 8" oil on canvas
‘Mark Makers’ 12" x 12" oil on canvas
Tentative Itinerary
PLEASE NOTE: This itinerary might change due to travel restrictions and other unforeseen circumstances
Wednesday
Arriving to Puerto Vallarta Airport
Taking taxi to your hotel,
Meeting at the hotel Lobby at 5:30
for Art Gallery walk and dinner
Thursday
8am - 9am Breakfast
3 hour scenic drive North to Los Cocos, Nayarit, where Casa Buena is located.
Stop at La Penita Art Market
Lunch at Casa Buena
Settling in
Happy hour
Dinner
Friday
7am - 9am Breakfast
9:30am - 4pm workshop
Dinner
Art discussions or movie in the Casa
Saturday
7am - 9am Breakfast
9:30am - 4pm workshop
Dinner
Art discussions or movie in the Casa
Dinner at Casa Manana
Sunday
7am - 9am Breakfast
9:30am - 4pm workshop
Dinner
Art discussions or movie in the Casa
Monday
Early start at 7:00, light breakfast,
7:30 - 10am organized tour to the Jungle
Plein Air painting at Las Islitas
Lunch at the beach
Tuesday
DAY OFF
7am - 9am Breakfast
Exploring and shopping at San Blas
Returning to CB for Lunch
relax for the rest of the day or return to you studio to paint
Happy hour
Dinner
Wednesday
7am - 9am Breakfast
9:30am - 4pm workshop
Happy hour, siesta
Dinner
Thursday
7am - 9am Breakfast
9:30am-4pm workshop:
Happy hour, siesta, free time
Dinner
Art Show and Tell
Friday
7am - 9am Breakfast
Transport to PV Airport
Art supplies for the workshop
Click here to see supply list
A. for a workshop participant: $3500.00 CAD
including Instructions, some art supplies, 9 days 8 nights accommodation, transportation from and to Puerto Vallarta, all breakfasts, lunches and dinners, entertainment and a field trip to the Jungle.
B. for a non painting partner of a friend: $2750.00 CAD
including 9 days 8 nights accommodation, transportation from and to Puerto Vallarta, all breakfasts, lunches and dinners, entertainment and a field trip to the Jungle. We can arrange other activities, like fishing, whale watching, bird watching, etc. upon request for an extra fee.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS FEE
Airplane ticket to PV and back, your stay at hotel on the day of your arrival, taxi to the hotel and your meals in PV, all alcohol beverages, personal shopping, medical expenses, tipping of staff
CANCELLATION POLICY
A. If your workshop is cancelled due to Instructor's unavailability, you will be notified immediately and you will receive a full refund.
B. If you can't attend your retreat and notify us 45 days prior to the retreat, you are welcome to transfer 100% of your full payment to another Casa Buena Art Retreat within 2 years of the date of cancellation. You can transfer your payment to another person or any other options that Casa Buena has to offer.
C. If you can't attend your retreat and notify us 30 days prior to the retreat, you are welcome to transfer 70% of your full payment to another Casa Buena Art Retreat within 2 years of the date of cancellation.
D. If you can't attend your retreat and notify us 14 days or less prior to the retreat, Casa Buena Art Retreat will not issue any refunds or transfers to other session. Your only choice is to transfer your payment to another person.
PLEASE NOTE: Administration fee of $100 apply to options B,C and D.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
A. Pay in full upon registration
B. Make a deposit of $500.00 CAD and pay balance 45 days before the retreat.
PAYMENT METHOD
A. Etransfer your 500 CAD deposit fee to janerom@shaw.ca
B. Send your check (Money draft or certified check if outside of Canada) made payable to Jane Romanishko (contact Jane for her mailing address)
C. Pay via Paypal (please contact Jane for Pay Pal Invoice)
NOTE: There will be 5% extra transaction fee added for using PayPal.
