©
with
JODY GRAHAM
& Anna Kwiecinska
15 - 22 JULY 2026
BOOKINGS NOW OPEN
8 days/ 7 nights
15th - Day 1 arrival day - starts 3 pm
7 nights in Candi Dasa - choose your option
22nd - Departure day - no program
all accommodation included
AN INVITATION TO REDISCOVER YOUR CREATIVITY with JODY GRAHAM
Jody Graham's exhibitions are always awaited with great anticipation - now you have a first-time ever opportunity to work alongside her in our blissfully peaceful setting in a stunning seaside nook in Bali.
" I am thrilled to offer a week-long art retreat in Bali, designed to inspire your creative spirit and help you tap into your unique artistic voice. Each day, you’ll create a finished artwork using expressive techniques that I’ll demonstrate and guide you through, drawing inspiration from the beauty, rhythm, and energy of Bali itself ."
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting out, this retreat is an invitation to explore, express, and rediscover your creative voice in a fully supported, magical setting, where all you have to bring is your intention - we'll do the rest!
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WHAT'S THE RETREAT LIKE?
A luxurious week where all you need do is turn up each day at 9 am, after breakfast (and perhaps an early-morning dip? ... the snorkeling is fabulous), having taken the short walk in our pretty village to Villa Nilaya.
Lets' begin with some calm and focusing breathwork and a gentle introduction to gathering us together each morning.
This is led by Anna, who has been introducing participants over the last 3 years of retreats to the A.W.E. technique of 'microdosing mindfulness' ... it's fully integrated into the week, which has as its theme, the chakra flute of 7 colours.
Your painting studio is an airy sea-facing space beneath the soaring grass roof of Villa Nilaya.
Most materials are provided, and you will be provided with a small list when you enrol.
Our program includes a Welcome Dinner after a delicious session of gentle de-planing yoga, followed by an indulgent hour of extended shavasana (relaxation) as you experience the sensory pleasures of a healing, sound bath journey by Eva Kroes.
On the three peaceful evenings when there is no after-painting program, you can discover the seaside dining venues in our village of Mendira near Candi Dasa
You can choose where you stay from one of three accommodations - from cute Balinese bungalows (AMARTA ) to luxe-plus resort suites at the Candi Beach Hotel, Both venues have dining facilities if you fancy a night at home. Your retreat cost INCLUDES accommodation with breakfast in the retreat price. There is nothing else to pay, except for dinners on the 'free nights' (3 dinners are included).
WE RECOMMEND AMARTA BUNGALOWS as they provide a helpful environment, 8 minutes' walk from the villa and are right on a white sandy beach that is perfect for safe swimming. They're situated close to several good local restaurants (warungs), and have a good sea-side restaurant of their own. As value for money goes, this is a great choice, but if you're after something more luxurious, please consider CANDI BEACH RESORT HOTEl.
Jody and I warmly invite you to join our group in 2026 for this exceptional art experience By the Sea in beautiful East Bali.
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MEET JODY GRAHAM
"Drawing is at the core of my multidisciplinary art. I relentlessly explore new techniques and investigate contemporary drawing practice. To do this I build on and then moves beyond conventional drawing processes in search of new methods and tools that connect drawing with the fundamental need to make symbolic marks."
Jody is a multidisciplinary artist with a solid solo exhibition hstory since 2011 - READ MORE
Creative Living Retreats by Anna Kwiecinska
With a background as an art historian and art gallery owner, my collaboration with artists continues to be a fascinating career which evolved into specialist art retreats designed to combine seriously good art tuition with authentic cultural experiences.
The practice of meditation has under-pinned Creative Living Retreats, as a source of focus for creative inspiration.
In 202o Anna was part of a pilot study group led by two reseachers in the bay Area of San Francisco, into the practice of 'microdosing mindfulness' .Dr David Amster a pain management specialist and Jake Eagle, life coach and counsellor, - both meditators - have since published their findings as "The Power of A.W.E', and it is this wisdom that we draw on in recent retreats.
I began this retreat program in 2011 and other than during the pandemic, retreats have happened every year. Over a decade, many retreatants have returned for our thoughtfully curated weeks of supported creativity, and I genuinely look forward to welcoming you to experience the depth of wellbeing that Creative Living Retreats have become known for, More info
What You'll Do
Each day, you’ll create a finished artwork using expressive techniques that Jody will demonstrate and guide you through, drawing inspiration from the beauty, rhythm, and energy of Bali itself.
We’ll begin the retreat by crafting our own handmade drawing tools, setting the tone for the week and embracing the idea that letting go of perfection can lead to powerful, authentic art. I’ll share a series of innovative techniques I’ve developed to help you reconnect with your innate creativity and shift from creating in your head to creating from your heart.
Throughout the week, you’ll explore a rich variety of themes and materials:
· Balinese Birdlife – Learn how to draw expressive, dynamic interpretations of Bali’s vibrant bird species using ink and mixed media.
· Water – As both subject and medium, we’ll immerse our work in and around water, honouring its symbolic and spiritual significance in Balinese culture, where water is revered as a sacred purifier and a vital force in ritual and daily life.
· Colour + Still Life – Explore the emotional power of colour through a bold, intuitive still life session.
· Balinese Dance + The Figure – A live drawing day dedicated to capturing the rhythm and spirit of traditional Balinese dancers, blending figurative drawing with abstract mark-making inspired by movement and sound.
By the end of the retreat, you’ll leave with a vibrant collection of completed mixed media artworks, on both canvas and paper, in sizes that are easy to pack and take home, as well as a deeper connection to your creative self and a renewed, fearless approach to drawing and painting. You’ll gain practical skills in drawing and painting, mark-making, working with mixed materials, and composing meaningful, personal artwork—all while soaking in the natural beauty of Bali, enjoying nourishing food, and participating in grounding events and ceremonies to keep you feeling present and inspired throughout the week.
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting out, this retreat is an invitation to explore, express, and rediscover your creative voice in a magical setting.
Your STUDIO TIME consists of:
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11 x 3-hr sessions at Villa Nilaya for painting - a total of 27 hours
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an artist's talk on the arrival day (DAY 1)
MASTERCLASS and DEMONSTRATIONS
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Jody will demonstrate throughout the retreat and you'll see her work evolve side-by-side with your own
Who Will This Retreat Suit?
If you love design, appreciate cultural diversity, are curious about new techniques and materials, then whether you are a ceramicist or painter already , or not, Christine's teaching will inspire you to approach these projects with confidence.
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I draw with gloves I invented while listening to recorded bird noises. I do this, so my drawing movements respond to the calls I am hearing. My aim is to capture the energy I feel, see and hear connected to Australian birdlife.
What does your Retreat include? Practically everything except your airfare !
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Tutoring with Jody Graham - 11 art sessions of 3 hrs each
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most art materials - a list will be shared with you
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airport collection
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7 nights at your choice of accommodation and breakfast in Candi Dasa (retreat Hub is Villa Nilaya)
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A stylish night out on the town with fine dining and cocktails
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Short morning practice with sound and meditation with Anna
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A 60-minute deliciously restorative Balinese massage or reflexology treat with our expert masseuses using Sensatia's pure sweet almond oil infused with restorative Balinese essential oils
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Balinese Full Moon ceremony - we'll prepare and participate in this auspicious event
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Exhibition night with Balinese megibung feast and entertainment
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Gourmet Balinese lunches prepared at Villa Nilaya each retreat day
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3 dinners - Welcome Dinner, farewell dinner and Candi Dasa night out dinne
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retreat bag with arty gifts
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organised and curated, hosted and fully supported by Anna Kwiecinska
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What's not included?
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flights
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taxi transfer from retreat
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all personal expenses incurred at hotel (laundry etc)
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4 dinners
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any trips, tours or transports not included in the description of 'inclusions'
MEET ANNA
With a background as an art historian and gallerist, Anna's collaboration with artists and writers continues to be a fascinating career which evolved into specialist art retreats designed to combine seriously good tuition with authentic cultural experiences.
Over the last 15years, hundreds of people over dozens of retreats have experienced the depth of wellbeing that being creative can foster. Creative Living Retreats are a source of focus for creative inspiration, with our intuitive teachers guiding you to Live Creatively.
This retreat answers a long-held desire to work with Jody Graham, whose work I've admired for years! I'm thrilled to share this week with Jody, with you, and with the bird life, beautiful Balinese people who work with is, and the bugs that never cease to cause me to draw breath ... all this and more abounds in beautiful Villa Nilaya by the sea. See you there!
ACCOMMODATION
This retreat takes place in two venues. Your accomodation in both venues is inclued in the retreat cost below.
IN SANUR (first three nights)- we will all stay at GRANDMAS PLUS SANUR, a super clean, comfortable and well-serviced hotel only a few minutes from the airport. All rooms are the same, and have everything one needs for a comfortable stay. A spa on the premises offers excellent massages. With this option, we are all together for transport and logistics travelling to and from between the hotel and the ceramics studio.
IN CANDI DASA (five nights) we offer you two hotels to choose from - both with beachfront locations and both about 8-10 minutes' walk from the retreat venue of Villa Nilaya, a spacious, fully-staffed private villa with large swimming pool, beachfront swimming access, painting studio, and lovely gardens. We are located in the quiet village of Mendira.
The accommodation iis shown here OR click on the images below to go to the hotel websites.
The retreat prices include SINGLE OCCUPANCY in ALL ACCOMMODATIONS and all of the items listed in 'Inclusions'.
COSTS
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