Wildacres Fine Art Retreat

Little Switzerland, NC

Join us for a week-long, immersive creative retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This almost all-inclusive experience covers all costs of instruction, lodging, daily meals, and optional morning yoga.

What’s Included

September 14-20, 2026

Lodging & Meals: Double-occupancy rooms with hotel-style amenities and three daily meals in the dining hall (the kitchen staff readily accommodates dietary restrictions).
Instruction & Studio Space: Hands-on instruction in drawing, painting, and printmaking.
Mindful Movement: Optional low-impact yoga and mindful movement sessions to start the day.
Evening Events & Recreation: Access to nearby mountain hiking trails, plus an end-of-week live performance by Don Pedi’s Dulcimer Group in the lounge.
Supplies: Some printmaking tools, such as silkscreens, brayers, and pouchoir tools will be provided for use. A recommended supply list for stencil material, printmaking papers, as well as painting and drawing media to bring are listed on this page. An optional three-hour design workshop will be scheduled at Shane McDonald Studios in mid- to late-August to help enrollees prepare their printmaking designs for the retreat.

Tuition & Registration Schedule

Early Registration (by July 31): $775 total

$350 Deposit due by July 31 online
$425 Balance due August 30, 2026.

Regular Registration (Aug 1 – Aug 30): $825 total

$400 Deposit due upon registration.
$425 Balance due August 30, 2026. Deposits can be paid online via credit card at checkout, or selected for offline payment (Venmo, Zelle, Cash, or Check).

The remaining balance of $425 due August 30 will be invoiced to your e-mail via Square. You can also pay the balance in-person to Shane McDonald via Zelle, Venmo, check or cash.

Message Shane Wildacres website

Retreat Schedule

Monday, Sept. 14

4:00 p.m.

Check in

6:30 p.m.

Dinner at dining hall Welcome presentation after dinner

Tuesday, Sept. 15

7:00 a.m.

Yoga (about an hour)

8:00 a.m.

Breakfast in dining hall

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

CLASS Plein air painting along roads in lower valley

12:30 p.m.

Lunch in dining hall

1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

CLASS Printmaking workshop

6:00 p.m.

Dinner in dining hall Presentation, “What is Possible,” after dinner (optional)

Wednesday, Sept. 16

7:00 a.m.

Yoga (about an hour)

8:00 a.m.

Breakfast in dining hall

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

CLASS Plein air painting along roads in lower valley

12:30 p.m.

Lunch in dining hall

1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

CLASS Printmaking workshop

6:00 p.m.

Dinner in dining hall

7:00 p.m.

Free time during golden hour (sunset at 7:45 p.m.)

Thursday, Sept. 17

7:00 a.m.

Yoga (about an hour)

8:00 a.m.

Breakfast in dining hall

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

CLASS Portrait/Figure drawing and painting

12:30 p.m.

Lunch in dining hall

1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

CLASS Printmaking workshop

6:00 p.m.

Dinner in dining hall

7:00 p.m.

Free time during golden hour (sunset at 7:45 p.m.)

Friday, Sept. 18

7:00 a.m.

Yoga (about an hour)

8:00 a.m.

Breakfast in dining hall

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

CLASS Portrait/Figure drawing and painting

12:30 p.m.

Lunch in dining hall

1:30 p.m.

Tentative Trip to Penland School of Crafts

6:00 p.m.

Dinner in dining hall Game night

Saturday, Sept. 19

7:00 a.m.

Yoga (about an hour)

8:00 a.m.

Breakfast in dining hall

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

CLASS Portrait/Figure drawing and painting

12:30 p.m.

Lunch in dining hall

1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

OPEN STUDIOS Guided finishing of projects

6:00 p.m.

Dinner in dining hall

7:00 p.m.

Fellowship with live music Closing Discussions / Show-and-tell / Friendly Critiques

Sunday, Sept. 20

8:00 a.m.

Breakfast in dining hall and goodbyes

Shane McDonald demonstrates plein air painting with oils

Art Materials

Start with the materials you own. If you are new to plein air painting and portrait painting, the list below will specify the items you'll need to bring with you.

Oil Painting Supplies

For plein air, figure and portrait painting

Floor easels will be provided for the figure/portrait painting.

Foundation pigment oil colors: (titanium white, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, cerulean blue, viridian green, sap green)
Brushes (various sizes of long-handled, synthetic or bristle)
Canvas or panels sized 8" x 10" to 16" x 20" (primed for oil painting)
Mediums (linseed oil or other painting medium, turpentine or odorless mineral spirits)
Palette knives
Paper towels, rags for cleaning
Plein-air easel such as a French Field Easel or a Pochade Box. Painting e

Beginners should follow this illustrated supply list for the basics.

Drawing Supplies

For figure and portrait drawing

Floor easels will be provided.

Vine charcoal small pack of soft or medium hardness
Compressed charcoal sticks small pack of various hardnesses
Kneaded eraser
18" x 24" newsprint pad (50 sheets for multiple quick gesture drawings)
18" x 24" white bond drawing pad (usually in pads of 25 sheets)
drawing board or thin plywood cut to size of paper
two large binder clips (for attaching paper to plywood drawing board)
20" x 26" Wallet Portfolio (for holding your drawings)

Printmaking Supplies

Linocut Printing

We're still determining whether or not presses will be available for speeding-up the printing process with a relief printing press

Pixiss 4-5 Pieces Rubber Carving Linoleum Blocks 4"x6" Kit with Tools

Stencil Printing

The Silkscreen or pouchoir printing project will involve two colors. An optional workshop will be scheduled to prepare for the retreat in mid- to late-August.

Dura-lar mylar pad 11" x 14"