Pennsylvania
Nature's Canvas: Intermediate Watercolor Workshop in the Laurel Highlands
Program No. 25008RJ
Break out your watercolors for this immersive five-day plein air workshop in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands and enjoy a field trip to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Kentuck Knob.
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DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Nov 2 - Nov 6, 2025
Starting at
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This date is available to book as a private experience for your group!
5 days
4 nights
12 meals
4B 4L 4D
1
Check-in, Welcome Dinner, Orientation & Introduction
Mount Pleasant, PA
2
Understanding Landscape Painting, Plein Air Experience
Mount Pleasant, PA
3
Kentuck Knob Plein Air Experience
Mount Pleasant, PA
4
Latrobe Art Center, Gallery Showing
Mount Pleasant, PA
5
Breakfast, Final Critiques, Program Concludes
Mount Pleasant, PA
At a Glance
Immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty of woods and mountains and let your creativity soar! In the heart of Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, enjoy expert instruction in plein air (outdoor) painting to enhance your intermediate skill level. Each day offers a new experience as you engage your senses and respond to the immediate environment, discovering how the play of light and shadow and shifting weather affect how you interpret your subject. This five-day workshop will present artists with a variety of subjects — including Frank Lloyd Wright’s Kentuck Knob — balance the development of technical skills with the creative aspects of painting, helping artists with intermediate experience become stronger creators.
Activity Level
Easy Going
There is minimal walking and standing on this program.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Enjoy workshops and lectures presented by local plein air artists as well as the opportunity for individual instruction and constructive critiques.
- Explore regional arts centers and sites, like Frank Lloyd Wright’s Kentuck Knob, the Latrobe Art Center and the Westmoreland Museum of American Art to experience other artists’ work and participate in onsite discussions and workshops. Walk along scenic nature trails through lush outdoor landscapes and have the opportunity to take part in activities like yoga classes.
General Notes
Participants will be asked to bring their own painting supplies including paint, brushes, paper and sketch books. Easels will be provided.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Jared Cullum
Jared Cullum is an award-winning author-cartoonist and plein air painter living in Pittsburgh, PA. He has written and illustrated story and concept art for young adult and children’s stories for Jim Henson Productions, IDW, Insight Editions, and others, specializing in a hand-painted watercolor style. Jared regularly posts lessons and demonstrations on the YouTube channel “Jared Loves to Draw,” and is an avid outdoor painter and teacher of plein air and figure watercolor painting.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Amy Craig
View biography
Amy Craig is a member of Laurelville's Guest Services/Program department. Amy has worked in a variety of jobs and fields, including customer service, owning her own photography business, and health care. She has a great love of travel, adventure, and new experiences. Amy has been married to her husband Scott for over two decades and has two daughters. In her free time, she enjoys photography, paddle boarding, finding new restaurants and fun activities, singing on her church's worship team, and relaxing by a fire.
Jared Cullum
View biography
Jared Cullum is an award-winning author-cartoonist and plein air painter living in Pittsburgh, PA. He has written and illustrated story and concept art for young adult and children’s stories for Jim Henson Productions, IDW, Insight Editions, and others, specializing in a hand-painted watercolor style. Jared regularly posts lessons and demonstrations on the YouTube channel “Jared Loves to Draw,” and is an avid outdoor painter and teacher of plein air and figure watercolor painting.
Suggested Reading List
(2 books)
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.
Nature's Canvas: Intermediate Watercolor Workshop in the Laurel Highlands
Program Number: 25008
Frank Lloyd Wright's House on Kentuck Knob
This is the first thorough guide to the design and history of "Kentuck," a splendid mountain house in southwestern Pennsylvania designed in 1953-1954 by Frank Lloyd Wright. Inspired by Fallingwater, the famous house only seven miles away that Wright designed above the waterfalls of Bear Run, local businessman I. N. Hagan and his wife, Bernardine, commissioned the 86-year-old Wright to design this home. Kentuck, constructed on an isolated knoll, or knob, is now owned by Lord Palumbo of London and is open for public tours. This vivid account tells the story of how the house came to be, detailing the many complexities faced by the Hagans—from the delights and difficulties in dealing with Wright to the problems with topography and architectual plans. In fulfilling Wright's vision, the Hagans and their contractor managed to construct a building of great beauty, dignity, and serenity. More than fifty photographs, drawings, and diagrams accompany a detailed descriptive text to illustrate how the peculiarities of the plan, based on the equilateral triangle, resulted in a house that generates countless vistas, indoors and out, and spatial effects of great charm and intimacy. Frank Lloyd Wright's House on Kentuck Knob brings to life an unusual work of residential architecture. It is the perfect introduction to Kentuck, and for those who have visited there, a lovely reminder of this luminous but modest house.
Kodi (Book 1)
Jared Cullum brings a fresh watercolor style that's brimming over with personality. His characters come alive in their world. The gorgeous story of two friends separated by everything in the world -- except love. Readers and animal-lovers of every age will want to relive this journey over and over again.
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.
Duration
5 days
4 nights
What's Included
12 meals (
4B, 4L, 4D
)
8 expert-led lectures
2 expert-led field trips
8 hands-on experiences
An experienced Group Leader
4 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Welcome Dinner, Orientation & Introduction
Location:
Mount Pleasant, PA
Meals:
D
Stay:
Laurelville Retreat Center
Activity Note
Check-in from 5:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
5:00 p.m.: Join us at the Road Scholar table in the Dining Hall lobby to meet with program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive after 7:00 p.m., please locate your Site Coordinator and let them know you have arrived.
Dinner:
In the Dining Hall.
Evening:
Orientation: 7:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Our instructor for this workshop will present a brief talk about himself, and present a demonstration including the individual steps in the process, from initial sketching to completed piece, including a review of the materials list and a handful of tips and tricks to help us get started and grow this week. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. We will have meals in the dining room and at local restaurants. Periods in the schedule designated as “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/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. After our introduction, participants will have time to continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Understanding Landscape Painting, Plein Air Experience
Location:
Mount Pleasant, PA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Laurelville Retreat Center
Activity Note
Walking around campus.
Breakfast:
In the Dining Hall.
Morning:
We will begin instruction and painting with landscapes by walking the grounds and photographing areas of interest for painting later. We’ll begin our project with an understanding of the natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests.
Lunch:
In the Dining Hall.
Afternoon:
Plein air painting brings in a lesson in paying attention to the moment we are in, so the afternoon watercolor workshop will continue with painting on the lovely grounds of Laurelville Retreat Center with our instructor.
Dinner:
In the Dining Hall.
Evening:
After dinner, we will return to the classroom for an opportunity for individual instruction and critiques on our landscape projects. Our instructor will guide each artist in understanding the watercolor medium and advise how to create a process for their skill level, pace, medium and subject matter.
Day
3
Kentuck Knob Plein Air Experience
Location:
Mount Pleasant, PA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Laurelville Retreat Center
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 27 miles, over 1/2 hour riding time to Kentuck Knob. Four stone steps from courtyard to front door of Kentuck Knob house, with ramp for those needing it; some areas are not wheelchair accessible.
Breakfast:
In the Dining Hall.
Morning:
After breakfast, we will pick up our supplies and head over to Kentuck Knob, a house designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. With our instructor, we will explore the house and its unique style prior to our painting plein air experience.
Lunch:
Box lunch at Kentuck Knob.
Afternoon:
At Kentuck Knob, we’ll continue to paint with our instructor, who will share tips on how to simplify the watercolor process by breaking down the essential elements that lend success to plein air artwork.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Socialize with fellow participants, catch up on your reading, or take part in additional instruction/critique with the instructor.
Day
4
Latrobe Art Center, Gallery Showing
Location:
Mount Pleasant, PA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Laurelville Retreat Center
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 15 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time to art center.
Breakfast:
In the Dining Hall.
Morning:
After breakfast, we will pick up our supplies and head over to the Latrobe Art Center whose mission is to create a welcoming environment that encourages and fosters creativity and artistic development of every individual. The Latrobe Art Center was founded in 2002 by Mrs. Nancy Rogers Crozier (sister of Mister Fred Rogers) and Mrs. Elisabeth Hazlett, and provides educational programs, workshops, community gatherings, and artwork. We will visit the current exhibit of plein air art by regional artists and enjoy a brief workshop on site with our instructor.
Lunch:
At Latrobe Art Center.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will head back to Laurelville and go back outside to continue plein air painting. Our instructor will continue to walk the grounds and work with each participant individually.
Dinner:
In the Dining Hall. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
We will have a chance to display our works in an on-site gallery show. This will be an opportunity to demonstrate our newly earned plein air skills and share our work with fellow participants. Prepare for check-out and departure tomorrow.
Day
5
Breakfast, Final Critiques, Program Concludes
Location:
Mount Pleasant, PA
Meals:
B,L
Activity Note
Check-out by 12:00 Noon.
Breakfast:
In the Dining Hall.
Morning:
The last day of the workshop, we will return to the classroom for an opportunity for a final review and critique individual instruction and critiques on our landscape projects.
Lunch:
In the Dining Hall. This concludes our program.
Afternoon:
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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MEALS
12 Meals
4 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
4 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Nov 02, 2025 - Nov 06, 2025
- Nov 02, 2025 - Nov 06, 2025
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