July 22-26, 2024

Meet Koosje Koene

Koosje began teaching online in 2013. Since then, she has taught tens of thousands of people all over the world how to create a daily drawing habit and live a more creative life. She is the creator of Draw Tip Tuesday, a weekly YouTube series of over 300 drawing videos, and the co-founder of Sketchbook Skool, a global art-making community. Koosje has written and illustrated Life is better when you draw (it), published in 2022. Koosje (whose name is pronounced KOSH-a KOO-neh) always has a sketchbook in hand. Learn more at KoosjeKoene.com. 

Warm Up Sketch + Welcome Reception

Sunday July 21, 2024

Workshop participants who arrive early are invited to meet in the hotel lobby at 2:00 for a warm up sketch (optional). Koosje will not be teaching. This is just your chance to do a warm up painting before the first art class. All workshop participants and nonSketcher Companions are invited to a welcome reception at 6pm. Below is our proposed itinerary. 

Day 1--Historical Walking Tour + an Iconic Tavern

Monday July 22, 2024

In the morning we will walk to the location of Workshop #1, "Let's Loosen Up Our Line!" 

First, Koosje will give you some fun exercises which help you loosening up and letting go of perfection. Then, we'll all spend time filling a page in our travel sketchbook, capturing some or a lot of our surroundings and our first impressions of Edinburgh.

At the end of each workshop this week, we'll do a throwdown, talk about our learnings, and get inspired by each other

In the afternon we will participate in a 90-minute guided walking tour of Edinburgh’s Old Town and South Bridge vaults where we will learn about the extraordinary events that shaped this great city.

Day 2--Edinburgh Castle + the Royal Mile

Tuesday July 23, 2024

Today we will spend the day at Edinburgh Castle where we will tour the castle, have lunch and enjoy Workshop #2, "Color first then line".

The Castle is impressive. Let's not get overwhelmed though - no need for that. We'll slap down a big, bold, colorful shape first, and that will give us a whole lot to hold onto, when we draw in line on top. It's a fun and surprising approach to drawing buildings.

 

Day 3--Holyrood Palace and Abbey + High Tea

Wednesday July 24, 2024

Today we will spend the day on the grounds of Holyroodhouse where we will tour the castle and have high tea at noon (included).

Workshop #3, "Knitting our lines". Again, we're looking at impressive architecture. Let's draw it in a very meditative way. We start at a center point on the page, and then line by line, bit by bit, we'll  knit everything together in a spiralling way from the center point out.

Day 4--St. Giles Cathedral

Thursday July 25, 2024

In the morning we will wander to the location of Workshop #4, "Framing the day" near St. Giles Cathedral. Today,  to tell your story, Koosje shows you a fun way to fill a page by drawing a bunch of panels/frames first, and then filling those with different subject matter big and small.

This afternoon participants will enjoy free time to sketch, shop or relax.

Day 5--John Knox House + the Writer's Museum

Friday July 26, 2024

Today we will visit John Knox House, the location of Workshop #5. We've been finding creative ways to capture your experience of a place in our previous workshops. Can you let go, loosen up your line, play with your colors and materials, and bring it all together? In our last throwdown, we'll discuss our biggest learnings of this week.

In the afternoon we will visit the Writer's Museum, dedicated to the works of Robert Burns, Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.

In the evening we will enjoy our Farewell Dinner (included).

 

 

Departure

Saturday July 27, 2024

It's time to say goodbye but you will never forget the friends you made or the skills you learned during this great week! Or extend your stay for a long relaxing holiday!  

PLEASE NOTE: THE ORDER OF EVENTS AND SUBJECTS PROPOSED IN THIS ITINERARY MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

  

Recommended Workshop Supply List

Click HERE to view Koosje's Workshop Supply List.

 

Hahnemühle is the official sponsor of this workshop and has generously provided us with free sketchbooks for all participants!

FAQs

Click HERE for answers to frequently asked questions.

For more information about this vacation package contact Brenda Murray Studio56Boutique@gmail.com.

Tour Includes

• A welcome reception and Farewell dinner
• All art classes
• Admission to the museums and sites mentioned
• high tea

Tour Excludes

• Flights to/from the area
• Hotel
• airport pick-up and drop-off
• Meals (except those listed above)
• Painting supplies
• City taxes payable by guest at check out
• Tips and gratuities
• Porterage/luggage handling
• Travel insurance
• Expenses of a personal nature
• Items not explicitly specified in the inclusion list

Early Bird Prices in USD

Book now before February 23, 2024 and save $200USD!

$2099.USD $1899.USD Workshop Participant

$1399.USD NonSketcher Companion Participant (such as partner or travelling buddy)

NonSketcher Companion tickets include the same attractions and meals as the Workshop Participants with the exception of the art classes.

To reserve your spot in this workshop, a $500USD nonrefundable deposit is required for Workshop Participants and a $300USD nonrefundable deposit is required for nonSketcher Companions 150 days prior to the start of the workshop. The remaining balance is due 120 days prior to the start of the workshop.

To make a deposit, please scroll to the bottom and click BOOK NOW.

PLEASE READ OUR  REFUND POLICY.

Bring a Friend and Get a Discount

Here's how it works. You and your sketching buddy register for the workshop with your deposits. Then send us an email and tell us you are registering with a sketching buddy. You will each be sent a discount code for $50 that you can apply when you pay the balance of your tickets.

The small print: This discount code cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount code and it can only be applied to 2 Workshop participant tickets if the workshop sells out with 15 participants.

Accommodation

This workshop is organized "convention style" meaning there is no official hotel of this workshop. However, the hotel that the Instructor and the Tour Manager are staying in is centrally located with free cancellation up to 48 hours prior to arrival and will likely have rooms available. 

Information about the official hotel of this workshop will be sent to all participants after they have made their deposit.

How to Make a Hotel Reservation

Before you make any hotel reservations, click the red BOOK NOW button below to ensure you have a spot in this workshop.

After you have secured your spot in this workshop, you will be sent information about the hotel with instructions for how to book a room. This hotel has free cancellation up to 2 weeks prior to arrival. Participants can stay in this hotel or book into another hotel or Airbnb if they prefer. 

Travel + Medical Insurance

Last minute cancellations for any reason are nonrefundable therefore protect your investment in this vacation by purchasing travel insurance. Click HERE for a list of US travel insurance providers. Some credit card companies may also offer travel insurance if you paid for your trip using that credit card.

Pedestrian Friendly?

While Edinburgh is called a very walkable city, it is hilly. There are areas where walking uphill and down is unavoidable therefore participants in this workshop must be fully mobile and able to walk for 20 minutes and manage stairs. This town is really not pedestrian friendly if you are relying on a walker or have mobility issues. If you are not able to walk 20 minutes and manage stairs, we recommend you consider a different Studio 56 workshop that is less physically demanding.  

 

 

Covid-19 Vaccinations

The instructor and tour manager are fully vaccinated against covid-19. This tour will be following all locally recommended protocols. Please check the covid protocols required for Scotland by clicking HERE and check back close to the date of departure as the protocols may change. 

Your Tour Manager

Participants will be accompanied by Studio 56 owner, Brenda Murray. Brenda is a Canadian artist and arts advocate, the founder of Urban Sketchers Waterloo Region and a former Urban Sketchers Board member. A seasoned traveler, Brenda has traveled to Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea (resident for 4 years), Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, UK, and the USA (35 states). Brenda will be on hand to assist the instructor and to ensure that everything runs smoothly. She has completed the St. John's Ambulance Emergency First Aid - CPR C - AED training. Learn more about Brenda HERE. 

For More Information

Email Studio56Boutique@gmail.com or call Brenda Murray at 519-572-1757.

How to Register for this Workshop

To guarantee your spot in this exciting vacation workshop, participants must pay a deposit by clicking the BOOK NOW button below.