August 27-31, 2026

You are invited to a watercolor and ink workshop in charming and historic Oaxaca, Mexico featuring 5 art classes taught by California watercolor artist, Gary Geraths. This vacation package is equal parts cultural experience and art workshop. Together our small group of 10-15 participants will discover the food, architecture, culture and traditions of the Zapotec, Mixtec, Aztec and Spanish cultures in this part of Mexico. We are looking forward to making art in good company. Average temperatures for that week in August are highs of 78°F (26°C) and overnight lows of 60°F (15°C)--perfect for a lovely sketching holiday! 

Meet Gary Geraths

Gary is a professor of art at Otis College in California. He teaches Drawing, Background Design, Vehicle Design, Portrait & Costume Drawing & Painting, Landscape & Environmental Drawing, Storyboarding, and Figure Drawing & Painting to name a few. He was the Courtroom Sketch Artist at the O.J. Simpson Criminal Trial. He is the author of Five Minute Sketching Animals & Pets and Drawing Animals. Gary has also traveled, sketched and painted throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa. This workshop will feature art classes using watercolor and ink.

Oaxaca, Mexico

With the backdrop of three mountain chains, charming Oaxaca is resplendent with its colourful casas and colonial architecture. The region has been inhabited since 11,000 BCE and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Zapotecs and Mixtecs were the first emerging cultures. They were later ruled by the Aztecs starting around 1486 until the Spanish conquest. Even today, Zapotec and Mixtec are the second and third largest language groups after Spanish. But we will find that everyone in the service industry speaks English as well.

When to Arrive?

Tuesday August 25, 2026

Hola and welcome to our Oaxaca Artist Retreat! Your arrival date is your decision but we suggest you arrive on Tuesday Aug 25, 2026 so that you have time to settle in and possibly to adjust to a new time zone or the vagaries of travel which, as we know, could include a missed or delayed flight. Better to be relaxed at the start of your vacation workshop.

Warm Up Sketch + Welcome Reception

Wednesday August 26, 2026

Workshop participants who arrive early are invited to meet in the hotel lobby at 2:00 for a warm up sketch (optional). Gary will not be teaching at this time. This is just your chance to dust off your paint palette and warm up.

Afterwards, all workshop participants and companions are invited to a wine and cheese welcome reception at 6pm in the hotel.

Below is our proposed itinerary.

Day 1--An Historical Walking Tour+ Workshop #1

Thursday August 27, 2026

In the morning we will enjoy an historical walking tour that will immerse us in the history and culture of the region and help us become more familiar with this charming town.

After lunch we will enjoy Workshop #1 with our wonderful watercolor instructor, Gary Geraths.

Optional: An evening Drink + Draw in the hotel courtyard where we can finish up our sketches from earlier in the day.

Day 2--Workshop #2 + a Museum Visit

Friday August 28, 2026

In the morning we will take a short walk together to the location of watercolor Workshop #2. 

Day 3--Excursion to Zona Arqueológica de Mitla + Workshop #3

Saturday August 29, 2026

Today we will enjoy an all-day guided excursion to the Zona Arqueológica de Mitla. Mitla began as a fortified village and evolved into a prominent religious center, with its construction as a ceremonial hub starting around 850 CE.  The structures are a blend of Zapotec and Mixtec architectural influences.

The site's name means "place of the dead" or "underworld" with Mitla serving as a gateway between the living and the dead. What sets Mitla apart is its elaborate and intricate mosaic fretwork and geometric designs. These unique patterns, known as grecas, are meticulously crafted from thousands of small, finely cut and polished stone pieces fitted together without mortar.

After exploring the site with our guide, Gary will teach Workshop #3.

Optional: Evening Drink + Draw in the hotel courtyard.

Day 4--Workshop #4 + a Museum

Sunday Aug 30, 2026

In the morning we will walk together to the location of Workshop #4, in one of the charming parks or cobbled streets in Oaxaca.

Day 5--Excursion to Monte Albán + Workshop #5 

Monday Aug 31, 2026

After the tour, surrounded by all this beauty, Gary will teach Workshop #5. 

In the evening we will celebrate a fabulous week of art and culture and new friends with a Farewell Dinner (included).  

Departure

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

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 Gary's Watercolor Workshop Supply List.  

FAQs

Q: What will my spouse/travelling buddy do while I'm in my art class?

A: Your art class is your time and your spouse/buddy can take this time to explore the town fully, to shop, hike, take pix or visit venues that you will not have time for. You will meet up again at lunch and will enjoy the cultural activities in the afternoon together (except Days 3 and 5 when nonSketcher Companion ticket holders will come with us for the full day on our excursions).

Click HERE for more FAQs.

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
• Ground transportation to the sites mentioned

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

Ticket Prices in USD

Save money by taking advantage of the Early Bird discount!

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

VIP Members get an additional $100 off their ticket price!

The Studio 56 VIP Rewards Program is a new loyalty incentive for VIP Participants who have previously taken part in a Studio 56 Vacation Workshop. Click HERE to learn more.

How to Register for this Workshop

To reserve your spot in this workshop, a $500USD nonrefundable deposit is required for Workshop Participants and a $300USD nonrefundable deposit is required for nonPainter Companions 150 days prior to the start of the workshop. The remaining balance is due 120 days prior to the start of the workshop, that is, on April 29, 2026.

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

PLEASE READ OUR  REFUND POLICY.

Greenlighting a workshop

Workshops are greenlighted when the minimum number of tickets (10) has been sold. All ticket holders will be notified by email when this happens. Please do not book non-refundable flights or accommodation until we have given the go-ahead for the workshop.

Bring a Friend Participant and Get a $50 Rebate!

Here's how it works.  You and your sketching buddy register for a vacation workshop with your deposits. Then alert us with an email. You will each be refunded $50 after the start of the workshop. This rebate can only be applied to 2 Workshop participant tickets if the workshop has sold out with 15 participants.

Accommodation

The official hotel of this painting holiday is a luxury hotel located in the historic center of Oaxaca, Mexico, housed in a 19th-century mansion recognized as a patrimony of humanity by UNESCO. It is situated only two blocks from the main square (Zócalo) and the cathedral, and five blocks from the Santo Domingo Cultural Center. The hotel is known for its colonial architecture, featuring a characteristic courtyard with a fountain, original wooden doors, and archways.

The group room rate is $3300MEX/night including breakfast for Superior king size or Superior two double beds (extra person $500MEX /night). Their cancellation policy: if the guest cancels more than 30 days in advance they will be refunded 90% of their deposit. The balance (# of nights minus deposit) must be paid 30 days before arrival.

How to Make a Hotel Reservation

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

After you have secured your spot in this workshop with your deposit, information about the hotel with instructions for how to book a room will be sent to you..

Participants can stay in this hotel or book into another nearby 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 trip cancellation 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. Medical insurance is also strongly recommended because things happen when you travel and you will often be asked to pay up front for medical assistance but can get reimbursed if you have medical insurance.

Pedestrian Friendly?

Oaxaca is largely flat and generally considered highly walkable. However, pedestrians may face some challenges due to sidewalk conditions and hazards such as crumbling pavement and uneven surfaces. Participants are expected to be able to walk for 20 minutes and manage stairs.

Travel Tips

Please check HERE for Studio 56 Travel Tips.

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, Colombia, Cuba, England, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea (resident for 4 years), Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, and the USA (35 states). Brenda will be on hand to assist the instructor, to lead the cultural activities 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, a $500USD nonrefundable deposit is required for Workshop Participants and a $300USD nonrefundable deposit is required for nonPainter Companions. To reserve your spot clicking the BOOK NOW button below.