Quebec City Artist Retreat 2025

July 31-August 4, 2025

Please note the $200 Early Bird Deposit discount expires Mar 3, 2025.

Explore the cobbled streets of old Quebec City, Canada and learn new skills with a sketching workshop taught by urban sketcher, Stephanie Bower! During this workshop we will take 5 art classes and explore one of the oldest cities in North America. This workshop vacation is equal parts art class and cultural experience.

Meet Stephanie Bower

Stephanie Bower is an architectural illustrator, teacher, author and avid travelling urban sketcher. In this workshop over the course of the week we will be learning watercolor techniques, how to capture buildings and landscapes and how to set up a sketch in perspective en plein air in charming Quebec City. Sketchers of all levels are welcome. Learn more about Stephanie here: www.drawingperspectives.com and follow her on Instagram @stephanieabower and Facebook @stephanieabower.seattle.

About Quebec City

Founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608, this city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will enjoy a taste of French food and cultre. At the end of July the average daytime high temperature is 78°F (25°C) and the average night-time low temperature is 61°F (16°C)--perfect weather for our art vacation! You can expect to sketch towers, fountains, charming streets, and more!

Warm up Sketch + Welcome Reception

Wednesday July 30, 2025

Welcome to Quebec City! Workshop participants who arrive early are invited to meet in the hotel lobby at 3:00 for a warm up sketch (optional). Stephanie will not be teaching. This is just your opportunity to dust the cobwebs off your sketchbook :).

All tour participants and nonPainting Companions are invited to a welcome reception at 6pm.

Below is our proposed itinerary.

Day 1 An Historical Walking Tour + Workshop #1

Thursday July 31, 2025

After breakfast, we will enjoy an historical walking tour with a guide in period costume who will lead us through 400 years of exciting history as we wander the birthplace of French civilization in North America. Participants are invited to make quick sketches throughout the tour if you wish but our art class does not begin until the afternoon.

After lunch Stephanie will teach Workshop #1 a short walk from the hotel.

Day 2 Workshop #2 + a Museum Visit

Friday August 1, 2025

In the morning we will explore some of the cobbled streets near our hotel as we walk to the location of Workshop #2.

After lunch we will enjoy visiting the Musee des Beaux Arts. Here we will wander with our sketchbooks (if you wish) inside the museum, on the grounds and on our walk back.

Day 3 Workshop #3 + Afternoon Tea

Saturday August 2, 2025

Today we will make our way to our sketching location just a short walk from the hotel where Stephanie will teach Workshop #3.

Today for lunch participants and companions we will enjoy Afternoon Tea (included) in a nearby auberge that was once occupied by British merchants when Quebec City was one of North America’s biggest and busiest ports. Of course we will take time to sketch our tea things that is, if we can resist the temptation to nibble right away.

Day 4 Workshop #4 + An Art Gallery Crawl

Sunday August 3, 2025

Today we will walk a short distance to our sketching location where Stephanie will teach Workshop #4 in the morning.

After lunch we will enjoy a Walking Tour of some of the many charming little contemporary art galleries in the old town.

Day 5 Workshop #5 + an Afternoon Boat Tour

Monday August 4, 2025

Today we will explore a new area in old Quebec City where Stephanie will teach Workshop #5.

In the afternoon we will see the city at water level--from the viewpoint of the explorers--during a boat cruise of the St. Lawrence River. We will cruise down the St. Lawrence to Montmorency Falls and back enjoying the best views of the city. Participants are invited to sketch the view as we go if you wish.

In the evening we will celebrate a wonderful week with a farewell dinner (included).

Departure

Tuesday August 5, 2025

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

The workshop supply list can be downloaded from HERE.

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
All art classes
Admission to attractions listed above
Farewell dinner

Tour Excludes

Flights to/from
Hotel
airport pick-up and drop-off
Meals (except those listed above)
Painting supplies
Porterage/luggage handling
Travel insurance
Expenses of a personal nature
Items not explicitly specified in the inclusion list

Early Bird Ticket (Discounted $200)

This Early Bird Discounted offer expires March 3, 2025.

$1950. USD $1750.USD Workshop Participant

$1350.USD NonWorkshop Participant (such as partner or travelling buddy)

NonWorkshop Participant 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 nonWorkshop Participants. The remaining balance is due 120 days before the start of the workshop (April 2, 2025).

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) have been sold. All ticket holders will be notified by email when that happens. Please do not book non-refundable flights or accommodations until after we have greenlighted the workshop.

Accommodations

The Artist and the Tour Manager will be staying at a charming 3-star 53-room hotel in the centre of old Quebec City.

Accommodaton for this workshop will be booked "convention style" because hotels in Quebec City do not offer group rates during high season. However, rooms booked via their hotel website will get an automatic 10% discount. The room rate starts at $227 CANADIAN DOLLARS/night plus tax including breakfast.

Please click HERE to use this currency converter to figure out what the rate is in your currency.

Their cancellation policy: Cancellation is permitted up to 24 hours prior arrival. Beyond this deadline, one night plus taxes will be charged on your credit card.

You are not obligated to stay in this hotel. You can stay in any nearby hotel or Airbnb if you wish however, the group will meet in this hotel lobby every morning to start our day together.

How to Make A Hotel Reservation

Before making a hotel reservation, please click the 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 more information about the hotel with instructions for how to book a room.

Pedestrian Friendly?

For military purposes, old Quebec City was founded on top of a plateau that overlooks the St. Lawrence River and has an upper town and lower town accessed on foot by stairs and a funiculair. There are some cobbled streets and uneven streets in Lower Town that may be troublesome for people with reduced mobility.

Do I need to speak French to enjoy my vacation?

No it's not necessary. Most people in the service industries in Quebec City speak English.

Travel + Medical Insurance

Travel insurance is also highly recommended as it covers you in the event you must cancel your trip and it covers emergency medical services which may be significantly more expensive than expected when travelling in a foreign country. Please check with your insurance provider. Click HERE for a list of US insurance providers. Some credit card companies may also offer travel insurance if you paid for your trip with that card.

Travel Tips

Please check HERE for Studio 56 Travel Tips.

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 Canada 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 (lived there 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 (00)1-519-572-1757.

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 rebated $50USD after the start of the workshop if the workshop sells out with 15 participants.

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 has sold out with 15 full participants.

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.