Cultivating Creativity
Paris, France
Lose yourself in art, history, and the magic of Paris
When: Paris 2026, April 22-27th
Where: Our hotel is located in the beautiful Latin Quarter
Highlights: Kick-off the trip atop the Eiffel Tower, 3 Artist-Led Workshops such as Oil Pastel and Watercolor, Private Tour of Monet’s Gardens, Visits through the Louvre and L'Orangerie, Art History Walking Tours of Norte Dame, Saint-Chapelle, and other Parisian Highlights, Croissant Making Class at a world-famous Bakery, and more!
Why: To embrace our inner child’s curiosity and explore this cultural center with moments of intense awe, joy, and communal excitement through hands-on exploration and more!
Investment: 3,700 with a deposit of 500 USD, the rest paid in monthly installments until the trip commences
limited to 13 spaces
Explore a Cultural Center:
Our 2026 Cultivating Creativity retreat takes place in the location of every artists’ dream: Paris. Paris has always been a magnet for dreamers, rule-breakers, and creative revolutionaries. For centuries, it’s been the ultimate playground for artists, writers, and free spirits who dared to push boundaries. Beyond the canvas, Paris has also been a literary and philosophical powerhouse, inspiring greats like Hemingway, Sartre, and Gertrude Stein. Our stay in the Latin Quarter will be nothing short of ideal— its intoxicating blend of history, culture, and creative energy will fill our cups each day. Paris isn’t just a city—it’s a living, breathing muse. We will be packing up our inner childlike curiosities and exploring this ever-inspiring city together as a community!
Our Stay near the City Center
We believe…
Everyone Is Creative
Creativity Is Vital For Our Health
Community is vital for Creativity
Our Cultivating Creativity retreats are designed to break down barriers around artistic gatekeeping, showing that creativity extends far beyond traditional forms like painting, writing, or music. It's a powerful tool for self-expression, mental health, and neuroplasticity, helping to reduce stress and enhance emotional well-being. Engaging in artistic activities—whether drawing, dancing, or writing —stimulates the brain, fostering new neural connections and improving cognitive function. The retreat also offers a supportive community, where the freedom to explore without fear of judgment fosters a sense of belonging and shared discovery. Together, we inspire and empower one another to step outside our comfort zones and embrace the transformative power of creativity.
Workshops and Tours:
exclusive 2.5-hour croissant-making workshop at one of the city's most renowned bakeries. Under the guidance of expert bakers, you’ll learn the secrets behind perfectly laminated dough, master the delicate layering of butter, and shape classic croissants, pain au chocolat, and pain aux raisins like a true artisan
introduction to oil pastels workshop at Monet’s Gardens: this session will guide you through blending techniques, layering, and mark-making to create dynamic, light-filled compositions
introduction to watercolor and mixed media plein air around the city of Paris: you’ll explore fundamental watercolor techniques such as washes, layering, and wet-on-wet blending, all while sketching directly from life.
private group tour of Monet’s Garden’s and Studio: just a short 50-minute drive from Paris. we’ll explore Monet’s beautifully preserved home, where he lived and painted for over 40 years, alongside the beautiful gardens that inspire his lifelong work
Paris as a Container for Curiosity:
Paris is the ideal place for artistic immersion and beauty. This retreat will be the perfect balance of exploration, observation, and hands-on learning! We will be wandering the streets filled with floral markets, museums and color… while also stopping to observe, sketch, and take it all in.
To kick off the retreat on a high note, we'll begin with a glass of champagne at the top of the Eiffel Tower, witnessing the panoramic views of Paris while getting to know one another. One of the highlighted features of our artistic exploration is a private tour of Monet’s Gardens at Giverny. Here we get to experience the same serene paths that inspired some of the world’s most beloved works of art… which we will later see first-hand when visiting L'Orangerie to visit with the most iconic version of Monet’s water lily series. During this tour, we’ll be leading you through an introductory workshop to oil pastels, where you can play and sketch in this historic and picturesque location.
Wandering through the streets of Paris, there is and endless creative romance between the cafes, flower markets, and bookstores— we’ll have no problem enjoying guided art history and architecture walks as we move from location to location each day!
The Notre Dame Cathedral is a living testament to the power of art and architecture, with its stunning stained-glass windows depicting stories in rich hues of blue, red, and gold. Not far from there, the delicate arches of Saint-Chapelle reveal a breathtaking display of stained glass, pulling you in to the world of classical Gothic architecture.
A visit to the Louvre Museum is a must for anyone exploring Paris’s art scene, and it’s on the top of our list! Spending the day, we’ll explore iconic works like Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and the inspiring Winged Victory of Samothrace— each piece offering its own story for us to identify and relate to.
Your Hosts
Professionals Artists Sam Rueter and Bri Wenke:
Bri and Sam have been teaching and instilling art curriculum for over a decade within a variety of mediums. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, our sessions of oil pastels and watercolor sketch workshops will guide you through blending techniques, layering, and mark-making to create dynamic, light-filled compositions.
What’s Included:
Immersion in the endless beauty of Paris and its offerings will provide endless artistic inspiration and work to fill our creative well. Please be sure you feel comfortable walking several miles a day through the city at a comfortable pace, with proper sneakers or comfortable footwear. We will be adventuring through the city on foot most of the time!
6 Days, 5 nights at our luxury hotel
Daily Breakfast
Attendee Swag Bag and Workbook
2 Workshops led by Professional Working Artists:
Introduction to Oil Pastel Workshop at Monet’s infamous Gardens
Introduction to Watercolor and Pen Mixed Media Workshop
Entrance to the Louvre Museum
Entrance to L'Orangerie to witness Monet’s Water Lily Room
Guided private group tour of Monet’s Garden’s outside of Paris, with shuttle included
Croissant Making class at a world-renowned baking school
All materials needed for art workshops: oil pastels, paper, pens, paint, sketchpads, etc.
Transportation of Metro Tickets
Eiffel Tower Tour Welcome Night
Guided Walking Tours to All Locations
Guided Art History Tours by your Hosts!
Ready to invest in yourself? Apply now:
Spaces expected to go quickly! Total Cost: $3700 USD $3950 USD for private room (only 2 available!)
a $500 dollar deposit is required to secure your space! after that, a payment plan will be issued until 90 days out from the trip
