Brenda J. Clark Retreat 2026

Absorb yourself in the painting ambience. Benefit by working in a group of painters with various stages of experience. Discussion and demonstration will encompass color palette, thematic associations of being in France in late August, AND bringing a painting to completion. You will be painting on location and still have time to appreciate the beauty of the region’s villages and perspectives of individual painting locations. Studio space at the retreat location will be used to meet and explore more painting and engage in inspiring discussion amongst fellow artists.

Brenda will mentor each member of the group. She will tap her higher education and gallery teaching experience to provide each participant with tailored insights, while also painting alongside of everyone to provide pace and visual reflection for fulfilling each day’s objectives.

Specific locations for daily painting will be anywhere from 5 minutes to one hour away. All painting and sight-seeing travel will be organized by Perigord Retreats. Each day’s agenda will be announced prior to the retreat arrival date. There will be time for sight seeing and relaxation each day. 

This retreat will be a lifetime memory full of French imagery, new creative influences, and new inspiration for expanding your experience as an artist.

Painting Goals:

Capturing new vistas daily en plein air.
Developing your painting expression.
Exploring various color palettes.
Envisioning underlying design within a scene and composing it.
Beginning and ending a painting.
Seeing beyond the detail.
Feeling the scene.
Thinking thematically.
Producing studies and expanded paintings.
Group discussions and studio time to explore ideas and reflect on work produced.
Exposure the historic Perigord and Quercy landscapes and ancient villages.
French culture, cuisine and fine wine.
Bio

Brenda J. Clark is a full-time artist and owner of the Brenda J. Clark Gallery (est. 2003).

Clark is recognized for her bold individual feel for a scene that will challenge you. Her brilliant colors exist not to copy an appearance, but to reveal a meaning. Subtle undertones and rich textures make you pause and study. Paintings are acrylic on paper, wood and canvas in all sizes. Her paintings begin and end on-location (outside) 99% of the time. She has always been a plain-air painter.

Previously, Clark taught within the Department of Art at Michigan State University from 1989 -1999. She received a Bachelor of Arts in 1984 from Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri, and a Master of Fine Arts in 1989 from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. She resides in Leland, Michigan,