Pennsylvania

Watercolor Workshop in the Poconos

Program No. 16912RJ
Learn our instructor's unique teaching style and insightful approach while she inspires your creativity and improves your watercolor skills beside the beautiful Delaware River.

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At a Glance

Amid a thriving arts community brushing the banks of the Delaware River and the serenity of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, your surroundings help you turn professional instruction into watercolor mastery on this exceptional artistic adventure. Study the principles of watercolor painting through the interaction of water, color, paper and brush; investigate watercolor tradition with exposure to the work of the masters of the medium; and, from this, develop your own personal style.
Activity Level
Easy Going
Minimal walking.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Enjoy the tutelage of an accomplished, professional artist with national awards in her body of work.
  • Complete multiple paintings during the week which will then be displayed during our art show.
  • The majestic Delaware Water Gap is the inspirational setting to help you express your perception of beautiful landscapes.

General Notes

The Retreat Difference: This unique, often basic and no-frills experience at a Road Scholar Retreat includes opportunities for early morning exercise, interaction with the local community for insight into local life, an authentic farm-to-table or locally sourced meal and a live performance or event. Please refer to the supply list for recommendations of what to bring. Reference material will be used for some paintings, which Shawnee will provide. Do not hesitate to call with any questions prior to purchasing additional items on the list. The watercolor paper is of the utmost importance, but some of the other items can be substituted. Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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Toni Chaplin
Toni has lived most of her life in Northern New Jersey, currently in Sparta. Since her first sale at the age of fourteen, she has been fulfilling her dream of being a professional artist. Her paintings can be found in both public and private collections, and she has studied with wonderful artists like Arleta Pech, John Salminen and more. Her primary mediums are watercolor and acrylic and finds inspiration in the beauty of nature. She teaches at Sussex County Community College and other locations.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Toni Chaplin
Toni Chaplin View biography
Toni has lived most of her life in Northern New Jersey, currently in Sparta. Since her first sale at the age of fourteen, she has been fulfilling her dream of being a professional artist. Her paintings can be found in both public and private collections, and she has studied with wonderful artists like Arleta Pech, John Salminen and more. Her primary mediums are watercolor and acrylic and finds inspiration in the beauty of nature. She teaches at Sussex County Community College and other locations.
Profile Image of Midge McClosky
Midge McClosky View biography
Midge McClosky is the cultural program director for the Shawnee Institute, executive director of the Shawnee Playhouse, and the artistic director of the Worthington Players. Before moving to Shawnee, Midge worked as a professional actress, singer, and dancer performing musical theatre in 49 of the 50 states. Her extensive credits cross over into film, television, commercials, voiceovers and live industrials. She and Chris, her husband of more than two decades, have two grown sons.
Profile Image of Elizabeth Hulswit-Green
Elizabeth Hulswit-Green View biography
Elizabeth Hulswit-Green, a resident of the Poconos for over 20 years, enjoys watercolor, acrylic, and pastel painting of landscapes, wildlife, and still life compositions. As a member of Pocono Arts Council and Pocono Watercolor Association, Elizabeth's artwork has been displayed at Northampton Community College, Artspace Gallery, Pocono Record, the offices of State Senators, restaurants, medical arts buildings, and professional offices throughout the area. As a former K-12 art teacher, Liz has been involved in teaching art to children and adults for over 10 years.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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6 days
5 nights
13 meals
5 B 3 L 5 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Reception, Welcome Dinner, Orientation, Class
Shawnee on Delaware
D
Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort

Activity note: Inn check-in from 4:30 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Afternoon: After you check in at the front desk and get settled into your room, join your fellow Road Scholars in the hospitality room to socialize until the Welcome Dinner begins. This is a Road Scholar Retreats program. Our programming at Retreat locations includes opportunities for light exercise, interaction with members of the local community, a farm-to-table meal, and evening entertainment. We will offer each day an invigorating stretch session. Our hands-on watercolor workshops will be directed by a professional artist with national awards in her body of work. We will have designated workspaces for the entire program and will lock the room at night for safety and security. We will complete multiple paintings on the subject matter assigned by our instructor and display our work during a closing art show. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: 7:00 p.m. at the Inn.

Evening: Orientation: 7:45 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will meet our watercolor instructor, learn about her experiences as an artist and teacher, review the materials list and learn a handful of tips and tricks to help you blossom and grow this week. Bring all your supplies to this class. The studio will be open afterwards if you would like to paint on your own. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
2
Watercolor Landscape Instruction, Local History
Shawnee on Delaware
B,L,D
Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort

Activity note: Stretch session available mid-day. Extended periods of sitting while painting.

Breakfast: In the Inn’s River Room Buffet.

Morning: We will begin instruction and painting with landscapes — natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests, especially where the main subject is a wide view — with elements arranged into a coherent composition. Sky is almost always included in the view, and weather is often an element of the composition.

Lunch: At the Inn.

Afternoon: Our watercolor workshop will continue with opportunities for individual instruction and critiques on our landscapes project.

Dinner: At the Inn.

Evening: We’ll gather for a historical presentation in Shawnee's own museum. This lecture features a fascinating introduction to the rich history of our area presented by a local Historian. The studio will be open and available for those who want to work independently to complete and dry projects.

DAY
3
Watercolor Wildlife Instruction, Development, Concert
Shawnee on Delaware
B,L,D
Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort

Activity note: Stretch session available mid-day. Extended periods of sitting while painting.

Breakfast: At the Inn.

Morning: We explore watercolor wildlife. By its nature, watercolor is willful and notoriously difficult to master. It blooms like a flower on paper, like a plant growing beyond the confines of the medium. So, to render wildlife in watercolor is quite a challenge.

Lunch: At the Inn.

Afternoon: For our next class, we will have discussions and consultations with our instructor who will provide individual instruction and critique focusing on our current wildlife project. We will have some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Dinner: Brick Oven Pizza at the ShawneeCraft Brewery.

Evening: The Shawnee Institute concert series, open to the public, presents a variety of performing groups throughout the year. In tonight’s concert, we’ll hear local musicians. This is a great opportunity for community engagement with the audience member and performers.

DAY
4
Watercolor Instruction, Free Time, Animal Presentation
Shawnee on Delaware
B,D
Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort

Activity note: Extended periods of sitting while painting.

Breakfast: At the Inn.

Morning: Our focus today will be on the timeless beauty of still life painting. By painting flowers, fruit, and other still life subject matter with watercolors, we will receive comprehensive art instruction for identifying and executing the shapes we find in these painting compositions.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Afternoon: Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration. The studio will be open should you like to use your free time to continue to work on your paintings.

Dinner: At the Inn.

Evening: Join us for a LIVE animal presentation from The Wilderz at Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center! Gain insight to animal senses and the physical adaptations that allow them to survive. The Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center was founded in 1983 and incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1988. Licensed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the PWRC serves Monroe, Lehigh, Northampton, Wayne, Pike and Luzerne Counties. The facility takes in more than 2,400 animals annually including fawns, owls, hawks, falcons, eagles, squirrels, rabbits, songbirds, foxes raccoons, and bears.

DAY
5
Final Classes, Art Show
Shawnee on Delaware
B,L,D
Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort

Activity note: Stretch session available mid-day. Extended periods of sitting while painting.

Breakfast: At the Inn.

Morning: We will continue to paint to our heart’s content with instruction from our expert. She may start an additional painting or devote this time to working on the previous work of the week. All the while, we will have discussions and consultations with our instructor who will provide individual instruction and critique focusing on our individual projects.

Lunch: At the Inn.

Afternoon: We will spend the afternoon making final adjustments in preparation for this evening’s art show, ultimately setting up the displays and putting away our supplies.

Dinner: At the Inn. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: Our pieces will be displayed in the hotel for viewing by Road Scholars and any interested members of the public. The art show will provide opportunities to display the techniques we have learned. We will take our pieces home after the art show.

DAY
6
Program Concludes
Shawnee on Delaware
B

Activity note: Inn check-out 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: At the Inn. This concludes our program. There are no formal activities this morning, but we are invited to partake in the many activities offered through the recreation department and Spa at the Shawnee Resort. While many activities are free, there are some that do require reservations and/or payment.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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