Jerry McLaughlin & Gabriela Sánchez

Expanded Art: Beyond the Canvas

20 April to 30 April 2026

Are you ready for growth and change in your work? Are you ready to see you and your work differently? In this workshop we will combine painting, printmaking, and mixed media techniques along with the introduction of local materials to create 3-dimensional pieces that challenge perception and interaction with the environment.

Join us for an artistic experience that will change your perspective and technique, in a setting enriched by the culture and beauty of Crete.

Program Highlights

  • Six days immersed in the inspiring Aegean landscape, featuring seaside views, pastoral scenes, and historic sites.

    Daily studio instruction for six days.

    Private access to independent studio space.

    Special excursions to:

    • Byzantine Museum & Vineyards of Agia Triada Monastery.
    • The Venetian Old Town of Chania for markets and museums.
    • Stunning beaches on the southern coast (with an optional guided trek down a Cretan Gorge).
    • Mediterranean swims and walks through olive groves.
    • Delicious meals featuring Cretan morning pastries and farm-to-fork tavernas.

    A free day to explore or simply relax by the pool.

Schedule:

Day,Program Outline
0,Participant Arrivals, Welcome Dinner & Program-Intro.
1,AM: Field Studies at Roman Polyrrhenia. PM: Studio Work
2,AM: Field Studies at Historic Village of Topolia. PM: Studio Work
3,Excursion day: Sunrise Yoga & Swim at Seitan Limani; Agia Triada Monastery Museum & Vineyard; Field Studies in Xania’s Old Town.
4,AM: Field Studies at Nopigia cliffs. PM: Studio Work
5,AM: Field Studies at Agios Thomas Meadow. PM: Studio Work
6,Excursion day: Omalos Plateau, Samaria Gorge, Southern Cliffs & Coastline.
7,Free Day: Independent Exploration, Activity or Relaxation at Villa Koukouvayia
8,AM: Field Studies at Sfinari Beach and Western Windmills. PM: Studio Work
9,AM: Final Studio Work. PM: Presentations & Celebration Dinner with Sharing of Works
10,AM: Good-byes & Participant Departures; Airport Transport PM: Program Wrap up with Staff

 

Day 1 (Fri, Nov. 8): Arrival day. Welcome gathering in the evening with introductions, a light botanas dinner with margaritas or agua fresca.

Day 2 (Sat, Nov. 9):
9:00 a.m. Breakfast included
10:00 am DEMO & Class Time (Monoprints with Gabriela)
12:00 p.m. Midday meal (comida) included
1:00 -4:00 p.m.  DEMO & Class Time Jodi – (Color mixing with encaustic paint)

Evening free time, followed by a group dinner or on your own

Day 3 (Sun, Nov. 10):
9:00 a.m. – Breakfast included
10:00 am DEMO & Class Time Jodi – Metallic surfaces (Rust)
12:00 p.m. Midday meal (comida) included
1:00 -4:00 p.m.  DEMO & Class Time   Gabriela – (Monoprints mixed media)
Evening free time, followed by a group dinner or on your own

Day 4 (Mon, Nov. 11):
9:00 a.m. -Breakfast included
10:00 am DEMO & Class Time Jodi – (Metallic Surfaces Bronze, copper and Gold with Patina)
12:00 p.m. Midday meal (comida) included
1:00 -4:00 p.m.  DEMO (Encaustics )Gabriela followed by  Work Time
Evening free time, followed by a group dinner or on your own

Day 5 (Tues, Nov. 12):
9:00 a.m. – Breakfast included
10:00 a.m. WORK-TIME
12:00 p.m. Midday meal (comida) included
1:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m.WORK-TIME 
3:00 p.m. Clean-up studio

Day 6 (Wed, Nov. 13):
9:00 a.m. Breakfast included
10:00 -3:00 pm Visit the Aurora
Return to San Miguel
4:00 p.m. visit local art galleries
6:00p.m. Dinner as a group (optional, not included)

Day 7 (Thurs, Nov. 14):
9:00 a.m. Breakfast
10:00 a.m. Setup ArtShow
12:00 p.m. Lunch on your own
4:00-6:00 p.m. Art Show open to the public
Farewell Celebration
7:30 Dinner as a group (optional not included)

Day 8 (Fri, Nov. 15):

Final breakfast before departing to the airport

Pricing

 

Pricing: $4,500(usd) per person, limited to 12 participants

Accompanying Non-Participant $2800 (usd)

Exclusions: Airfare to and from your destination.

Unless otherwise noted below, all prices:

Include airport transfers, program activities & transportation, meals & beverages/  (Pretty much everything except flights to program location. 😊)

Assume room-level & occupancy choices below (with upgrade & discount options as described.)

If Non-Participant option offered, that price excludes only program-facilitated activities.

Participant Requirements:

This retreat is appropriate for both representational and abstract artists, from moderate to advanced and at any part of their journey, including those artists returning to practice after a significant hiatus.

Equipment Required:

All non-personal encaustic gear will be provided

Airport Details: Arrival at Leon International Airport, Guanajuato (Code: BJX) or Querétaro on November 8th, 2024 and arrive by 2:00 p.m. Central Time.

Shuttle: The journey to Casa de la Noche is approximately 90 minutes and is included but you need to notify us of your flight  plans to arrange transportation. 

Venue Highlight: Casa de la Noche, a historic building lovingly transformed by Barbara Poole, a patron of the arts, is a short walk from the central Jardin in San Miguel de Allende.

Cancellation: Any individual cancellation must be made in writing and will be effective upon receipt. If you cancel within 90 days of a trip or workshop, there will be no refund of any kind.

Options if you cancel before the 90-day period:

If there is a waiting list, we will connect you with the first person on it so you can offer your class spot. If this person agrees, they will need to pay you directly for your spot. Once this transaction is complete and both parties are satisfied, we will transfer your spot to them. If there is no waiting list, you will forfeit your deposit or the full fee if you have already paid in full for the workshop.

The second option is to transfer your fees to another retreat with us within the next 12 months, subject to a $100 administrative fee.

If neither of these options works for you, there will be no refund. There are no exceptions to this policy. Deposits and arrangements are made well in advance of the trip.

Expenses incurred by participants in preparation for the trip (e.g., non-refundable airline tickets) are not the responsibility of Jodi or Gabriela. Participants are strongly advised to obtain medical/trip cancellation insurance.

Jodi Reeb

Meet your artistic guides:

Jerry McLaughlin

Jerry McLaughlin lives and paints in the high desert landscape of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Dedicated entirely to pure abstraction, his paintings are characterized by their subtle, restrained palette and their palpable physicality. Dozens of layers of beeswax, pigment, and ash give rise to their complex yet harmonious surfaces. His works incite our desire to physically touch them. Always navigating the interplay between beauty and darkness, McLaughlin weaves his love of poetry into his process, using insights drawn from language to enrich his work. The poetry of Federico Garcia Lorca, Edna St Vincent Millay, and Constantine Cavafy has been particularly important. Moods and sensitivities are roughly translated into palette, shape, and surface.

Recognized as an expert in cold wax medium, he has taught extensively across the US and abroad. In 2017, he co-authored Cold Wax Medium: Techniques, Concepts & Conversations, the first ever comprehensive book on cold wax medium. The book won a 2018 International Independent Publisher Gold Medal and a 2018 International Book Award. His works appear in private collections in the US and internationally, including the Ballinglen Museum of Art (Ireland), the Encaustic Art Museum (New Mexico), and the Texas A&M permanent collection. He is represented by Avivson Gallery in London and HG Contemporary in New York.

 

www.jerrymclaughlinart.com

 

Born in Mexico City in 1972) is a visual artist with a degree in Textile Design and a master’s degree in Visual Communication.

She dedicates her full time to her art and has incorporated her academic background into her work.

Sánchez Apodaca has established a successful career through exhibitions, both individual and collective, and her personal search for a poetic expression combined with technical proficiency in materials.

Between 2002 and 2024, Gabriela has produced numerous artistic works with a common theme, her exploration of the line as a form of representation.

Today, Gabriela balances her time between producing artwork and teaching workshops in different techniques.

For more information, available artwork and workshops please contact Gabriela at

www.gabrielasanchezarte.com

Gabriela Sánchez

Limited spots available! Let's EXPAND, and create art that resonates!