The Masterclass: Creative Wellness Retreat, The Lake House on Canandaigua

On April 21, The Lake House on Canandaigua invites artists of all levels to let their creativity bloom with The Masterclass: Creative Wellness Retreat. Guided by expert instructors, students will embark on a path of self-discovery through mindful gentle yoga, sound immersion, meditation, drawing, painting, and sculpture while immersing the mind and body in the essence of the hotel’s tranquil grounds. The retreat will be led by expert yoga and wellness instructor, Suzanne Haynes, award-winning artist and educator Paul Frazer, and integrative therapist Jen Saul-Agnitti. The Creative Wellness Retreat is the first of a series of Masterclasses to take place at The Lake House.

The Masterclass will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Naples Room at The Lake House on Canandaigua. Tickets are $349. All supplies are included. Tickets can be purchased here. 

Students will sketch and draw from life while learning various techniques and exploring different mediums as they capture the beauty and grace of the human form. The full-day itinerary includes:

8 – 9:15 a.m. – Gentle Yoga and Meditative Sound Immersion

Awareness of our own body in space is essential to understanding the human figure. Through a gentle practice of Yoga, students will explore the lines their own body creates on the mat, and through subtle movement gain an understanding of how the body moves, ultimately making connections between the awareness of the body on the mat and the lessons to come of line and the figure on paper. Guided meditation with sound immersion will draw focus on the body-mind connection, activating a creative response in preparation for art-making. 

10 – 11 a.m. – Expressive Line

In this fine arts masterclass, students will learn about the expressive potential of Line. Through direct instruction, students will explore the many possible variables involved with drawing a line and how it can be manipulated for creative purposes. Through a series of instructor-led exercises, students will learn how to draw a line using their whole body with the potential of communicating different emotions through their mark-making. Understanding how line articulation and expression can work to enhance form and value in imagery is emphasized with the intent of creating drawings that are emotionally resonant and visually impactful. This workshop will offer students an opportunity to develop skills necessary for analyzing the visual world and accurately representing an image through drawing processes. Harnessing the descriptive and emotional power of line can offer the developing artist a vital skill in the evolution of their own personal, creative style. 

12 – 2 p.m. – Drawing the Figure (From the Inside Out, an Introduction)

Students will be introduced to Figure Drawing, where they will learn about materials and processes related to illustrating the human figure. Working with a live model, students will be guided through a series of exercises, studying the underlying anatomy of the figure. Emphasis will be on learning about gesture, form, value, negative shapes, and proportion. Students will learn techniques for analyzing visual information presented in the human body that are necessary for accurate representation with line and value. Understanding how the skeletal and muscular structure defines the figure in any given pose is the focus of this introductory workshop. 

3 – 3:20 p.m. – Pinch Pot Meditation 

A guided Pinch Pot Meditation with sound immersion will unite the concepts of line, form, depth, and surface as we explore the lushness of the clay in our hands before moving to the easels for the final session of exploring the human form.

3:30 – 6 p.m. – Drawing From Life, Figure Drawing

Drawing from life with a draped/nude model, students will be guided through a series of exercises in preparation for a longer figure and study session. Students will receive instruction regarding composition, value, and proportion as they are allowed to challenge their skills with a half hour study as well as a final, one-hour pose. Students will have their choice of media between conte crayon or graphite pencils, or they may bring their own.

To learn more about tickets visit https://lakehousecanandaigua.com/events/creative-wellness-retreat/.

About The Lake House on Canandaigua

Designed by Post Company (formerly known as Studio Tack) in collaboration with design collective and The Brooklyn Home Company, The Lake House on Canandaigua welcomes all generations to the Finger Lakes region, invigorating year-round interest in Canandaigua Lake and its community. As a family owned and operated hotel with world-class design, locally inspired dining and premier event spaces, the hotel is the ideal destination for family gatherings and important events. With 124 guest rooms and suites, there is a timber frame event barn, a pool and year-round hot tub, the Willowbrook Spa and a boardwalk perfect for admiring the panoramic views of Canandaigua Lake. Upon the hotel’s opening in late 2020, The Lake House on Canandaigua has won multiple prestigious travel awards including the No. 1 Resort Hotel in New York State in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, Travel + Leisure’s It List 2021 and Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List 2021, both editors’ choice awards acknowledging the best new hotels and resorts opened within the past year. The Lake House is also a TripAdvisor 2021 Travelers’ Choice Award winner, ranking in the top ten percent of hotels worldwide. For more information, visit: lakehousecanandaigua.com.