WORKSHOPS

Morocco — a Visual Feast

After a five year hiatus, Tatjana Krizmanic is pleased to offer another in a series of her travel seminars. This time Tatjana teams up with Peggy Markel, who shares over 15 years of international travel and program experience to create this extraordinary and unique artistic, cultural and gastronomic tour of Morocco. We will join Peggy's "Feast for the Senses" program. This 'seminar on the road' will take us on a journey that "immerses fellow adventurers into the very soul of Moroccan culture, strengthening relationships and creating friendships with art", and, people and tradition as well as with one self. The workshop includes more than simply painting and drawing instruction, offering a full immersion into the life and culture of Morocco.

With our portable easels, we will tour stunning and pristine pastoral Morocco, delighting in local farms and markets, enchanting seaside towns, bustling urban marketplaces of the old medinas and luxurious palaces nestled in dreamy palm groves. Our journey will take us from passionate Marrakech to a Berber retreat in the High Atlas mountains; from there we descend to the charming town of Essouira on the Atlantic Ocean and finally we return to rest and savor our home located in the gardens and date palm groves just outside of Marrakech. (sample itinerary)

Along the way we will meet local artists, chefs, gardeners, craftsmen and musicians who will share with us their passion for this extraordinary country. Our meals will be prepared by local chefs whose regional food specialties will imbue our experience with sensibilities essential for inspired painting. For those interested in culinary arts, there will be a chance to join Peggy's cooking classes, carefully designed to introduce the most authentic of Moroccan dishes presented by extraordinary chefs. Visiting spice markets, artisan studios, tea shops and hammams, touring the countryside on camels and mules… How could this tapestry of color, craft and sensory richness not provide us with material for our work?

Tatjana Krizmanic is known for her bright, spirited renderings of everyday scenes around the world-from Colorado to Tuscany, from India to Brazil. Andalousa music. The smell of mint tea. Fresh market spices. These are the elements of a Tatjana Krizmanic painting. People gathering in the evening cafes. Joyful friendships. A bustling street market, with the spire of a minaret rising above. Simple observations become expressions of life¡s richness and delight.

In this workshop Tatjana will share her unique style of observation and optimistic expression not only through instruction in painting and drawing techniques, but as an artistic ethos. When we put the tools of our craft aside, what will remain with us after this workshop is a joyful way of seeing and appreciating our world. Using pastels, watercolors, gouache and graphite we will observe, capture and make personal the ordinary everyday moments in this, one of the most romantic countries on the planet - Morocco!.

"What else do we have these five senses for, if not to appreciate the color, beauty and humanity of the world in which we live? I trust that these ten days of our journey in Morocco will be an eye-opening experience bringing joy and appreciation for every one of us to take home and extend to others."

Our program director and guide, Peggy Markel, shares over 15 years of international travel experience to create this extraordinary and unique artistic, cultural and gastronomic tour of Morocco. Peggy has designed and directed tours since 1991 and her love of travel, food and extraordinary cultures have developed into a livelihood as a 'cultural translator,' opening doors to experiencing and understanding traditions at their source. This program will immerse fellow adventurers into the very soul of Moroccan culture, strengthening relationships and creating friendships with art, land, people and tradition as well as with one self.

When: Fall 2008
Exact dates to be announced.
Where: Morocco
Minimum: 4 people
Maximum: 10 people
Price: $4995 single, $4695 double (price includes accommodations, three meals per day, all art instruction, tours, tastings, and ground transportation during the program. Airfare and materials not included).
For More Information: 1-800-988-2851

Minimum requirement is 4 students, maximum of 10. List of materials will be furnished upon registration. 50% deposit required at registration.

Space is extremely limited, please register early.

A portion of the proceeds goes to the Berber Girls' School of Dar Taliba and the Global Diversity Foundation's "Re-Greening of Medina" program