Join us for a creative all-inclusive 4 day/3 night retreat hosted by Fluid Artist Jessica Winter Strom and Billie Gaura. The workshops take place lakeside on Deer Lake in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. You'll stay in a waterfront cabin and you'll attend workshops and gatherings where we will teach you, pamper you, feed you and encourage some genuine relaxation while you expand your fluid art skills.
The setting is nestled along the east shore of Deer Lake, Washington, surrounded by stunning natural landscapes. Enjoy the view as we cultivate new friendships and make memories to last a lifetime.
In the evenings, we'll share meals and giggles as we sit by the fire and talk all things art and life.
The setting is nestled along the east shore of Deer Lake, Washington, surrounded by stunning natural landscapes. Enjoy the view as we cultivate new friendships and make memories to last a lifetime.
In the evenings, we'll share meals and giggles as we sit by the fire and talk all things art and life.
Location
Deer Lake, Washington
Date & Time
Friday, October 2nd -
Monday, October 5th
Monday, October 5th
Friday
12:00 noon
VIP Ground Transportation to Deer Lake
Transportation will be provided via our VIP shuttle with pickup at Spokane International Airport (GEG) on the Southwest Airlines curb. Please plan your arrival accordingly, or return to the designated pickup location if you arrive in Spokane prior to Friday.
1:00 PM
Welcome and Unwind
Kick off your retreat experience with a warm welcome and a relaxed dockside lunch. This is your moment to arrive, exhale, and connect with fellow artists in an easygoing lakeside setting. Grab a plate, claim a sunny spot, and let the rhythm of the water set the tone for the creative days ahead.
As you settle in, you’ll spend a time with Jessica, paired with a soothing chair massage designed to help you come to center, fully lean in, and open yourself to the experience of the weekend.
As you settle in, you’ll spend a time with Jessica, paired with a soothing chair massage designed to help you come to center, fully lean in, and open yourself to the experience of the weekend.
2:00 PM
Lakeside Lunch
Relax with your retreat family and enjoy a beautifully prepared meal crafted by our incredible Executive Chef, with the lake as your backdrop.
5:00 PM
Happy Hour
After you get settled into your room, come have a beverage or two with Nicole and your fellow artists. We'll have both alcohol and alcohol-free options available.
6:00 PM
Dinner
As evening settles in, enjoy a Chef-curated dinner prepared by our Executive Chef.
7:30 PM
Fireside Connection
Our fireside chats take place under the open sky, gathered around the dock fire pits with the water in sight. This is an unstructured, easy time for conversation, reflection, and genuine connection—where the best moments often happen naturally.
Saturday
8:00 AM
Gourmet Breakfast
Start the day with a relaxed, nourishing breakfast designed to ease you into the morning. Thoughtfully composed offerings paired with great coffee and an unhurried atmosphere.
9:00 AM until 12 noon
Studio Session One :: Watercolor Fundamentals
Watercolor Fundamentals is about learning to work with something that doesn’t want to be controlled. In this session, you’ll explore the relationship between water and pigment, build color from a simple set of primaries, and discover how consistency—from tea to butter - affects every mark you make. As you create a full color wheel and value scale, you’ll start to see how watercolor behaves in real time… and how to respond to it with intention instead of force.
1:00 pm
Lakeside Lunch
A casually elegant lunch designed for refueling and reconnecting… carefully chosen ingredients, well-executed dishes, and time to reset before the afternoon.
2:00 pm Until 5 pm
Studio Session Two :: Layers, Depth + Texture
Layers, Depth + Texture is about learning how to build without forcing the outcome. You’ll move color through gradient washes, experiment with wet-on-wet versus wet-on-dry, and layer from light to dark to create depth that can’t be rushed. Along the way, you’ll introduce texture—especially blooms, along with lifting and splatter—to add movement and unpredictability that makes the work feel alive. This is where painting shifts from a single attempt to a process you can trust.
5:00 PM
Happy Hour
Unwind and connect during happy hour with thoughtfully selected drinks and small bites in a casual, welcoming setting.
6:00 PM
Dinner
Gather for dinner and enjoy a meal designed to nourish, connect, and reflect on the day’s creative journey.
7:30 PM
Fireside Connection
As the day winds down, gather around the fire on the dock for an evening of warmth, laughter, and real connection. With the lake at your feet and the fire glowing, this is a space to relax, share stories, and simply be together.
Sunday
8:00 AM
Breakfast
A carefully prepared breakfast featuring warm and light options to fuel creativity and conversation before the day unfolds
9:00 AM until 12 noon
Studio Session Three :: Expressive Abstracts
This session is about creating rhythm instead of trying to make everything match. You’ll work with lines and patterns as your structure, then shift color, value, and texture just enough to create movement across the page. You’ll also leave areas of the paper untouched, using negative space to create contrast, breathing room, and visual interest. Using gradient washes, wet-on-wet vs wet-on-dry, and natural effects like blooms, the piece builds through repetition with small changes that keep it alive. This is where things stop feeling random… and start feeling intentional.
1:00 pm
Lunch
Take a pause and enjoy a relaxed lunch experience featuring comforting flavors and seasonal touches, crafted to recharge without distraction.
2:00 pm Until 5 pm
Studio Session Four :: Light, Land + Water
This session brings together a clean, grounded landscape. In this session, you’ll paint the view of Deer Lake from the studio, including mountains, water, and sky, using gradient washes, wet-on-wet for soft atmosphere, and wet-on-dry for more defined edges. The focus is on capturing light and depth through value rather than detail, allowing the scene to emerge without overworking it. You’ll use restraint, a limited palette, and intentional negative space to suggest the landscape in a way that feels balanced and complete.
5:00 PM
Happy Hour
Sip, snack, and settle in with an easygoing happy hour that invites connection and a little celebration.
6:00 PM
Farewell Dinner
Evening dining at its best… a farewell dinner meant to be felt as much as tasted, honoring connection, creativity, and the final night we share.
7:30 PM
Final Fireside Connection
As the day winds down on our final night together, we gather around the fire on the dock for an evening of warmth, laughter, and connection. With the lake at your feet and the fire glowing, this is a space to relax, share stories, and reflect—our quiet au revoir until next year.
Monday
8:00 AM
Breakfast
We hope you head home feeling relaxed and ready to take on the rest of your week. Be sure to bring your suitcases and belongings with you as we'll be wishing one another farewell at the end of the final session. Please note that you will be getting on the VIP Shuttle with your boxed lunch in hand as one final nutritious hug from Chef.
9:00 AM
Closing Reflections with Jessica
Jessica will lead us through a conversational wrap-up of the weekend, focused on what actually landed for you. We’ll talk through key moments, revisit anything that didn’t fully click, and create space for questions that bring clarity to the process. This is a chance to connect the dots between what you experienced and how you’ll move forward, so you leave with a clear sense of direction and confidence in your work.
10:00 aM
VIP Ground Transportation to Spokane International Airport
Enjoy stress-free transportation via our VIP shuttle, designed to make arriving and departing effortless so you can focus fully on the experience. They'll pick everyone up @ 10 am. Please make sure your flight leaves anytime after 1:00 PM.
Deer Lake, Washington
Deer Lake, Washington
46893 East Deer Lake Way, Loon Lake, WA, USA
46893 East Deer Lake Way, Loon Lake, WA, USA
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