Art retreat | Wales 2025
Croeso!*
Absolutely lovely that you’re coming along to Wales! I’m really looking forward to meeting you and getting started together.
Along with other creative people, you’ll immerse yourself in nature, enjoy plenty of peace and quiet, and let your creativity flow.
* ‘Welcome’ in Welsh
Information about the retreat
All the details about this retreat, like how to get to the location, rooms, etc., can be found in the brochure.
Questions? Just send an email to hello@marloesdevries.com
What to take with you for the retreat:
- Sketchbook
- Notebook + pen
- Pencil
- Paintbrushes: small, medium, large
- Watercolours or gouache in a box or tin
- Coloured pencils, pastels and brush pens
- Small sealable container (for water while painting)
- Clip (to keep sketchbook pages in place)
- Little cushion or small
Art tools tips
It really depends on where you live in the world, because every country has different brands. For example, I like to use sketchbooks readily available in the Netherlands, but there are different brands in the UK and US. Just go with what seems good to you, or ask for advice in an art supply shop.
Online shops to order:
US: Dick Blick
UK: Jackson’s Art
Spain: Arte Miranda
EU: Splendith / Gerstaecker / Jackson’s Art
Sketchbook
The size of your sketchbook doesn’t matter, as long as it can handle paint.
My favourites: Seawhite of Brighton, Talens sketchbooks and Pith. I use these mostly because they’re readily available in the EU. There are great alternatives in the UK and US too. For example, Stillman & Birn is a pricey but very good quality sketchbook. Just make sure the paper is not too thin (at least 140grs/94lbs) and I recommend not getting a sketchbook with a wire.
A clip (like this) is handy for keeping your sketchbook pages in place when drawing outdoors.
Notebook + pen
Over the past few years, I’ve found journalling in the style of Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages incredibly beneficial. If you’re not familiar with it yet, I’d love to introduce you to the practice.
Bring along a nice notebook and a pen that writes smoothly.
Pencil
Just a very simple pencil you can get anywhere. I prefer using 2B, or even 12B lately 🙂
Watercolours or gouache
Paint in a tin is really handy, as it’s easy to take with you when we go painting outdoors.
My favourites: Winsor & Newton-aquarel, but this gouache set by Holbein is my most used paint kit.
Brushes
Bring at least three different brush sizes: small, medium, and large (suitable for watercolour and gouache).
Recommended sizes: 2 or 3 (small), 5 or 6 (medium), and at least a size 16 (large).
Pencils, crayons and brush pens
There’s no need to buy lots of new materials—just bring whatever you already have at home.
The way I work is to start with light colours using paint or brush pens, then add darker details mainly with crayons and pencils.
And here’s a tip from me: you can also add light details at the end using crayon. It’s easy to layer over everything!
My favourites: Neocolor II crayons, Tombow brush pens, Talens Ecoline markers, and Luminance pencils. Again, I pick these because they’re readily available in the EU. You can absolutely take whatever brand you have!