Persistent Bloom: Creative Retreats
Need Guidance Back to
your most creative self?
Persistent Bloom Retreats combine time in nature with lessons for nurturing your creativity
Together, We will tackle the limits and beliefs that are keeping you from doing your best work.
I'll provide the structure, encouragement, and accountability to help you work through creative blocks, upskill techniques, streamline processes, and most importantly - rediscover your unique creative self.
Persistent Bloom Retreats are intimate, guided experiences happening wherever is most conducive for your artistic rejuvenation
Whether that is a cozy weekend at home, out in nature, or in any space that allows you to pause and focus.
I want you to imagine yourself with a personalized lesson plan, time and space blocked out, ready to create with your favorite materials at hand.
Do you dream of a picnic on the grass at a local park?
A weekend away in the woods at your favorite campsite or trailhead?
At a cozy vacation rental in a gorgeous location?
Or intentional homebody afternoons with your favorite hot tea, no tasks or chores on your plate, just time to make.
A Persistent Bloom retreat will allow you to cultivate real creative growth from anywhere that inspires you
want to try out the experience first?
Experience my teaching style at your own pace.
Follow along with detailed journaling prompts, materials lists, and nine choose-your-own-adventure quests in this 29-page PDF.
“Working with Mel was a great experience! They asked super thoughtful questions to prepare for my retreat, provided useful activities relevant to the challenges I'm facing, and offered excellent advice & reference materials. Highly recommend, especially if you need some extra structure to jump start your practice and get you un-stuck!”
- Courtney F.
“Mel's Persistent Bloom retreat reminded me why I make the art that I make! Mel created well thought-out activities that pushed me to dive deeper into questions and thoughts I was having. I was able to document what I did during the day and I now have a visual reminder of my retreat that I can always look back on and that can inform my art practice going forward! Thank you for creating an opportunity for me to take a break from other life things and delve deeper into creative thinking, it was a much needed day!”
- Tauby M.
Why work with me?
I HAVE BEEN TEACHING ART FOR OVER A DECADE but I have also struggled at times to keep making.
My adventure back to making art started on the trail, and I want to share the ways that nature has helped me combat the negative experiences that were limiting my view of what I “should” be making.
I’ve got a wide range of expertise you’ll have access to during our time together. From traditional drawing and painting techniques to color theory, design principles, content creation, writing, productivity software, and more.
Along the way, I've built an intimate understanding of the highs and lows of persisting in an artistic practice.
I am now condensing all those experiences into transformative, creative retreats customized just for you. As a firm believer in writing your unique path as a creative human, I want to help you do that work
I can’t wait to see you bloom.
What are the STeps?
First, you and I will meet virtually to discuss your goals and talk.
We will chat in-depth about your responses to the intake form on a Zoom call. Then I’ll get to know a little more about your travel and time preferences.
Then I will build you a custom retreat
Your plan will be aligned with your location with timed activities starting right after you setup camp, check in to your stay, or clear off your desk and calendar for some much-needed studio time.
If you’re someone who wants an action-packed weekend, I’ll help you discover nearby hikes and attractions to see. With each, I’ll give you prompts and assignments to consider or complete at each spot.
If you’re more laid back, each day can have longer, slow-burn assignments that require more thinking, contemplation, and working diligently.
When you return from the retreat I’ll help you integrate what you learned into everyday life.
We will meet once more via Zoom where I’ll provide helpful feedback, resources, and tips to keep going. We will look more deeply at time management, distractions, and habits that you can integrate into your workflow. Whichever way you want to learn and experience the retreat is completely valid and 100% up to you!
Ok, but what does it cost?
single-day retreats start at just $200
multi-day retreats, with additional contact hours and feedback sessions, range from $350 to $500
I always consider affordability and class solidarity in my pricing model. Solidarity Scholarships are available for folks interested in retreats from marginalized identities. To find out more, Fill out the Scholarship Inquiry form here.
FAQs
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Currently, Yes. All of the aspects of the retreat that involve contact time with me will happen through a scheduled call via Zoom
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NO! I am not, in any way a mental health professional. Simply an art educator with a unique process.
The goal of these retreats is to carve out time for your creativity and unique art.
Working with a licensed clinical therapist is so valuable and incredibly important if you are struggling with any mental health condition.
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Nope! I would love to design a retreat for you that happens in the comfort of your own home. Consider it a staycation!
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No. In order to keep retreat costs low, all travel is optional and the cost is up to each individual. I am happy to provide guidance for low-cost nature-focused options when we create your plan.
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This is up to you! It will take me about 1 week from our initial session to plan your schedule. You can schedule out sessions over the course of several weeks and schedule each follow up to work with your goals.
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Of course. I'll give you a refund if you are unhappy with our first meeting and we don’t agree on an idea for an initial retreat plan.
I work super hard to make these customized retreats an enjoyable and enriching experience but know my teaching style is unique and might not work for everyone.
retreat themes
the following are general themes that may shift depending on your individualized needs
Tame the Creative Chaos
Are brilliant ideas getting buried in clutter?
Do you jump from project to project without finishing? If disorganization constantly disrupts your artistic productivity, this 3-session retreat will bring structured simple systems for the table designed just for you.
Together, we'll work on those scattered creative bits and bobs into an organized, actionable workflow. Need better file management, a method for scheduling art time, or some accountability to get over some big hurdles? I'll help you create new organizational strategies to streamline your process.
By the end, you'll have a clear routine to channel your ideas into more mindful and focused time. No more abandoned projects - just a clear path for your creative voice to thrive.
Technique Boosting Intensive
Conquer Your technical Roadblocks
Do you wish you were better at a particular technique or software?
We all have technical skill gaps holding us back from creating the work we want to make. I’ve got 12 years of arts education expertise to support your practice.
In this retreat, you'll receive structured guidance and personalized lessons directly related to your specific skill struggles. Anything from learning more about color, studying different approaches to drawing, or diving deep into a particular medium — like oil or watercolor. We can even spend time learning different menus and shortcuts for that productivity software that overwhelms you or get better at working with Procreate.
Re-Kindle Your Artist Voice
Did art school or toxic mentors extinguish your artistic passion?
This virtual retreat is a calming and nurturing experience to unlearn harmful lessons and rekindle your love for making. Through sketchbook exercises, compassionate feedback on experimentation, and unorthodox prompts, you'll rediscover the magic of making art on your terms.
This retreat is designed specifically for folks that have committed bad advice to memory. Or folks that truly felt let down by art school, burned out in the “art world”, or feel they don’t have a reason to make.
Your passion doesn’t need to quietly hide in the shadows. Let’s work together and figure out what you want to make in a visual language that makes the most sense for you and your unique personality. Together I’ll teach you my systems and processes for unlearning and charting new paths.
