The Merging of Mediums
Encaustic and printmaking are age old mediums that offer endless possibilities. Learn how exploring the techniques and methods of both can expand and influence your creative practice, your approach, your palette and visual language. This retreat plunges in to explore combining essential encaustic and printmaking techniques to create wax collograph monotypes using soy and honey based non-toxic inks on a variety of translucent papers. We will break the rules of both mediums. For encaustic, fusing is optional. You will learn embossing a variety of textiles and heated mark making tools to create heavily textured encaustic collagraphs to ink and print. Artists will explore the use of wax in building a collagraph printing plate, using non-toxic Akua Inks to print with. At the end of the week, you will choose a small print you would like to mount using encaustic and learn to layer over the print image using encaustic paint. We will also delve into using oil sticks and pan pastels to accentuate the raised texture and features of your composition.
Skill Level
This class truly brings both encaustic painting and printmaking together fully and is an all level course. Some exposure to either encaustic painting or printmaking is helpful. You will either learn a lot about printmaking or encaustic or both! Whatever your level, you are guaranteed to learn a lot and have a lot of fun creating in a beautiful place.
Materials
Please see the link on Blick Art Supply and Amazon specifically for the retreat.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions about the class or materials.
Accommodations
For lunch each class day, we will convene to the outdoor courtyard and enjoy home cooked lunches authentic to the flavors of central Mexico and prepared onsite by Hugo and his amazing Alma del Sol Inn staff.
Hugo Anaya runs Alma del Sol, as well as Hotel de Color, www.facebook.com/callejoncalvario9/.
Both are centrally located in the old downtown area near the Jardin. For our retreat, Hugo has reserved 9 rooms that can accommodate 1 or 2 people each. These accommodations are $50-$100 per night/room, including breakfast and are available on a first come basis.
Contact Hugo directly at info@almadelsol.com to make your arrangements.
As another option, Hugo recommends Hotel Casa del Agua, www.hotelcasadelagua.com.mx/index-en.html.
When I first visited Guanajuato, I stayed at Hotel Posada Santa Fe which is a block from Alma del Sol. You are also free to make your own arrangements for lodging.
All additional accommodations are a short walk from Alma del Sol.
Travel
All participants are responsible for their own travel to and from Guanajuato. You will likely fly in to Leon (BJX). Upon booking your travel and lodging, contact Hugo Anaya directly with your flight number and arrival time so that he can arrange your ground transportation from the airport to Guanajuato.
Tuition
Total fee Includes:
-Individualized instruction from Elise along with press assistance from Hugo
-One on one and group discussion about your work
-Open press time
-Bonus monotype techniques with Hugo
-Welcome Dinner
-24 hour access to fully equipped studio on the rooftop of Alma del Sol Inn
-Home cooked authentic class breakfasts and lunches in the courtyard in the Alma del Sol dining room
-Daily in-class coffee & tea
-Daily Happy Hour on the rooftop after class
-Closing critique
A DEPOSIT OF $500 HOLDS YOUR SPOT IN THE RETREAT
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED:
For workshop and materials required questions
For lodging, transportation questions and any dietary restrictions.
Cancellation Policy
REGISTRATION CLOSES DECEMBER 3, 2025
Fees FULLY REFUNDED 90 or more days before December 3, 2025
Fees 50% REFUNDED 30 days before December 3 2025
Fees are NON-REFUNDABLE after retreat registration closes December 10, 2025 unless space can be filled from the waiting list.
Retreat Schedule*
January 3-9, 2025
*Plan your travel to arrive in Guanajuato on or before January 3 by 5PM.
Sunday, January 3, 7:00 pm
Welcome Cocktail Hour and Dinner
Monday, January 4
Demonstrations & Class Time
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Tuesday, January 5
Demonstrations & Class Time
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Wednesday, January 6
Demonstrations & Class Time
*Featuring bonus techniques with Hugo
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Thursday, January 7
DAY OFF
Optional day trip to San Miguel de Allende or exploring Guanajuato
Friday January 8
Encaustic Demonstration & Class Time
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday January 9
Class Time, Informal Critique, Clean UP
TESTIMONIALS
I was living in Honolulu at the time and wanted to take Elise's workshops for two years. I was finally able to coordinate my schedule and take a three day workshop in November 2018. I loved every minute of time with Elise as well as learning new encaustic techniques. It was my first time with encaustic collagraph .. I loved it so much I signed up for her Mexico workshop in January 2019. I also will be signing up for more classes in the summer of 2019. Elise is very easy to work with and has a wonderful studio workspace. She is a very talented instructor and artist, I feel fortunate to be able to learn from her.
- Sandy Simonian, Palm Springs, CA