Upcoming Retreats:
Portland, OR Spring 2026
March 15-23, 2026
Harrisburg, PA 2026
July 8-15, 2026
Portland Fall
Sept 13 - 18, 2026
Gubbio, Italy
Sept 28-Oct 27 2026
All registration is online ONLY!
Quicklinks:
Lisa Bebi, since a small child, has loved two things: looking through snapshots in her family album and painting as expression. For over three decades, the San Diego native has married these two things together, and her work has received international awards and recognition for its content, style, and color. Lisa received her BA in fine arts from SDSU, where she developed as a colorist, straddling representation with abstraction. Daughter of a journalist, Lisa always finds ways to tell the untold story she sees in snapshots. “I love the authenticity of the snapshot. It’s a single moment in time but by painting it I can extend that moment, revel in it and bring to life characters and scenarios that I fancy. Working this way gives me enormous pleasure.” She extracts the “behind, the behind” using innovative techniques and finesse. Over the course of her life she has received awards, accolades, and endorsements. She has been a longtime contributor to many international mixed-media magazines and several books; has taught in artist residencies locally and internationally; is a Golden Paints educator; and is often a local juror.
Stephanie Burton is a lifelong artist and accomplished teacher who believes art is not simply something you make, it’s something you become. With decades of experience in ceramics and mixed media, she brings refined skill, confidence, and a deep devotion to process. Her teaching is thoughtfully structured yet generous, inviting students to slow down, build skills naturally, and fully inhabit the creative process.
Known for her warm, intuitive teaching style, Stephanie creates an atmosphere where beginners feel courageous and seasoned artists feel reawakened. She leads with generosity and clarity, guiding students to trust their hands, deepen their artistic voice, and leave proud of what they’ve created.
Her teaching spans schools, studios, and international settings, including 15 years at Georgie’s, five years with Art & Soul, collaborative teaching in El Salvador, and more than a decade from her home studio in Vancouver, Washington. The joy and energy she brings to teaching is unmistakable, felt in her own work and reflected in the growth and confidence of her students!
Website: www.stephanieburtonstudios.com
Instagram: @stephanieburtonstudios
Facebook: @stephanieburtonstudios
Clarissa Callesen is an international artist and instructor working in sculpture and installation art. Her chosen medium is discarded materials, found objects and textiles. Her work and teaching are inspired by her choice of non-traditional materials. In choosing this medium, it is her objective to explore the margins to find beauty and value in that which our society has discarded. Clarissa has exhibited her art throughout the US, including the Museum of Northwest Art and solo exhibitions in Seattle, WA, Bellingham, WA, and Boise, ID. She was an artist in residence at Playa Artist Program in Summer Lake, OR, Brush Creek Foundation in Saratoga, WY, and Surel’s Place in Boise, ID, and North Street Collective in Willits, CA. Her work has appeared in the books “Soulful Stitch”, “Threads of Treasure”, “Who’s your Dada?” and “Art without Waste”. Clarissa has been sharing her passion for creativity for 15 years teaching both nationally, internationally, and online with her signature class Creating with Courage drawing hundreds of students. Her teaching style is down to earth and fun; embracing spontaneity and cherishing “mistakes” while challenging students to look at creativity in new and innovative ways. If you would like to get to know her better this is a wonderful interview.
http://www.clarissacallesen.com/
Rochelle has always loved art – it has been a way to express herself and her style. Her road to creating jewelry began 12 years ago where she attended a chandelier class in Cortona, Italy. From that point on she fell in love with the art of soldering and jewelry making. It truly has been the best journey of her life meeting so many wonderful people, learning new things, and opening many doors to new opportunities.
Pamela Sue Johnson is a self-taught mixed-media artist known for her expressive, layered work and her engaging teaching style. With a passion for helping others access their own creativity, Pamela designs and leads creative experiences that inspire, empower, and encourage joyful self-expression.
Pamela has been a core instructor with the Art & Soul community since 2022 and has taught at events throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond for the last decade. She has also worked as a guest teaching artist in local schools and has served as an artist-in-residence in Southern Nevada, near the desert landscapes of her childhood.
Pamela is the creator of Art Zine, a publication dedicated to creative inspiration and the intuitive artist’s journey. Based in a rural forest community near Vancouver, Washington, she now spends part of the winter season snowbirding in the deserts of Nevada.
Learn more about Pamela here:
Website: https://www.pamelasuejohnson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pamelasuejohnson11/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamelasuejohnson/
Dina’s colorful, expressive style is anchored by her design hallmark, the creative use of white space. Her personal, organic design aesthetic strikes a balance between “artsy” and “classic”.
Dina is a mixed-media artist and teacher. She loves everything about art: creating it, thinking about it, looking at it, and teaching it. She has been scrapbooking since 1995, stamping since 1996, and art journaling since 2004. She believes in writing yourself down, expressing yourself, and making your mark on the world. As a Ranger Signature Designer, Dina designs a line of mixed-media art supplies that includes acrylic paints, mediums, brushes, rubber stamps, stencils, and more.