Step into the forest, follow your curiosity, play wildly, and co-create a painting with nature
Led by artist and facilitator Nicole Gouws, this immersive workshop combines painting with natural pigments and materials, somatic grounding, nature-based inquiry, and playful experimentation.
What You’ll Experience
• Nature walk & sensory grounding
• Intuitive image journaling & creative intention setting
• Hands-on demos: watercolour techniques, pigment mixing, layering, mark-making
• Time to paint a whole piece using found natural materials and layered expression
• Space to rest, reflect, and share in community
Your Painting Journey
• Arrive & Welcome – Tea, gentle movement & somatic reflection.
• Explore & Gather – Connect with nature and collect inspiring materials.
• Learn & Experiment – Practice techniques like pigment mixing, floral hammer printing, layering, and composition.
• Create Freely – Begin your painting with intuitive washes, building form, and playful expression.
• Lunch – Healthy lunch break.
• Wrap-Up, Reflect & Close – Add finishing touches to your piece. Title it, sign it, share with the group, and take some pictures
What’s Included
• All art materials (natural pigments, brushes, paper, tools)
• Printed reflection sheet
• Access to the peaceful grounds of Can Patel
• Healthy brunch, drinks and nibbles
• Guided facilitation by Nicole
Bring your team together — tailor a workshop they'll love!
Full-day or half-day immersive — you decide!
Includes workshops, materials, drinks, nibbles and brunch (if full-day).
FACILITATOR
Nicole Gouws
NATURE PAINTING & SOMATIC MOVEMENT
Nicole is an artist, designer, and facilitator who has led creative workshops for over a decade. Her Nature Painting workshop blends colour theory, somatic awareness, and nature connection, offering a spacious, playful return to creativity for beginners and experienced artists alike.
LOCATION
A sanctuary of wild beauty, at the end of a forest track
Our workshops and retreats unfold at a beautifully restored 18th-century masia, just a 15-minute walk from the charming village of Canyamars and 45 minutes from Barcelona. Tucked away in a lush forest at the edge of the rolling hills of El Montnegre i El Corridor Natural Park, this hidden and unpretentious haven feels a world apart.
Rooted in the principles of permaculture and guided by the rhythms of nature, the retreat invites you into the evolving heart of an off-grid farm and regenerative living lab. It’s a sanctuary of thriving biodiversity—perfect for igniting creativity, forging meaningful connections, and rediscovering inner calm. The rainwater plunge pool offers a refreshing retreat, ideal for unwinding and recharging in nature.
The surrounding area of Canyamars in Dosrius is a gem, celebrated for its rich biodiversity, historic landmarks, scenic hiking and cycling trails, and traditional Catalan farmhouses.
Testimonials from Nature Painting
“ At first, I struggled with the urge to control the process or create a “good painting,” but the atmosphere was so relaxed that Nicole was able to guide me gently and help me explore painting in a way I had never done before. It was a real surprise for me — I ended up painting in a way I never imagined I could. ”
Tati
“ Does life get any better sitting under a mulberry tree painting with nature?! Once you let go of your expectations of creating a Picasso piece, you enter into this state of play. I felt Nicole had a wealth of knowledge, while gently pushing us to try new techniques, yet allowing us to simply be and flow with the paint. ”
