Immersion in Spreewald

28 August - 1 September, 2017
Join us in our Wildpainting course in Spreewald Biosphere Reserve!
100 kilometres south-east of Berlin is a landscape unmatched anywhere in Central Europe – the Spreewald. As a result of Glaciers throughout the last Ice Age, around 20,000 years ago, the river Spree was split here into a finely articulated network of waterways. A large inland delta arose. Today the waterways run through a flood plain formed by hundreds of years of human activity and yet remain largely in a near-natural state. This unique cultural landscape was designated a biosphere reserve in 1990 and received the recognition of UNESCO in March 1991.
Application closed.
Wildpainting sets off in strong colours with the purpose to free the mind. Wildpainting aims to paint on appealing locations that entice the senses, one way or the other.

Practical

Painting course

Participants are welcome to arrive at our accommodations in Spreewald on Sunday afternoon August 27. We will start painting on Monday morning (the 28th). The course will be taught by Jan van Boeckel. Jan is an experienced Dutch artist and art teacher. He has become specialized in facilitating wildpainting courses, focusing on drawing and painting closer to nature in a colourful way, and thereby using all of your senses. All participants will receive intensive personal tutorials as well, each on their own level. Therefor this course is suited for any enthusiast painter, beginners and advanced level alike. The fifth and last day of course teachings will be Friday, September 1. We will end that day after lunch. Each day, we try to paint for about four to five hours, with regular breaks for tea and coffee. During the week that the course takes place, we will make excursions into Spreewald Biosphere Reserve and the villages in the region.
For this course, there will be a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 15 participants.

Course fee

The course fee is €500 in total, this includes warm lunches and five nights of accommodation. Lodging in Spreewald, art materials and excursions with a local guide are included in the course fee as well.
It can be wise to be early with your bookings of flights, trains and accommodation, in order to get a good rate, though we advise participants to not make any bookings (travel, accommodations, etc.) until they have received notice that the course will definitively take place.

Lodging

Lodging in Spreewald-Gästehaus is included in the course fee. We will stay in two guesthouses:  one is for 4 persons with 4 beds in 2 rooms and the other  rooms 8 beds. All rooms are shared rooms. Bedlinen and towels are provided.
If preferred, one can also opt to stay overnight at other accommodations in the area (in that case the course fee will be €375, which excludes lodging). In the area there are several hotels, B&Bs, and there is a camping. It is recommended to make reservations well in advance, as Spreewald is a popular holiday destination in summer.
 
Location
Our atelier will be in Spreewald-Gästehaus, in the scenic village Lehde in the middle of Spreewald.

Food

Warm lunches are provided during the days the course takes place. These will be prepared by Ceciel, who's cooking and presence have become a highlight of wildpainting courses. We aim to provide high quality meals that are reflective of the local region and culture. If you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, please inform us in advance. Breakfast and evening meals are not provided.


More information and application
Jan van Boeckel
Phone: +31 (0)6 30 28 31 15
E-mail: polarstarcentre@yahoo.com
 
Our local guide is Daniel Kowal (landscape ecologist, certified nature-guide)
Wildpainting courses take place at different locations.
Get an impression of previous wildpainting courses.

Wildpainting is also a group on Facebook!

Location
Our atelier will be in Spreewald-Gästehaus, in the scenic village Lehde in the middle of Spreewald
Host
Spreewald-Gästehaus
An der Giglitza 2         
03222 Lübbenau/Lehde
Germany
Phone: +493542 871956
E-mail: info@spreewald-gaestehaus.de
 
 
How to get there
 
The main connections by train
Berlin-Lübbenau
Leipzig-Calau-Lübbenau
Dresden-Senftenberg-Lübbenau
 
By car
Take the highway A13 Berlin - Dresden (exit: Lübbenau) or take it easy on one of the many land roads :)

Comments by former participants

Somehow I feel less controlled and more playful when I paint in stronger colours, I can let go. And I allow my ‘personal handwriting’ to grow, and the pictures develop to be much more expressive. I feel that I have finally found my own ‘language’ in how to paint.
                                                                               Susan
Good tutorials, the theoretical and practical exercises go hand in hand. Good to have breaks, to reflect on the progress and to learn from each other. Good company! A quiet environment, relaxing. A good combination, with the yoga and the food! 
                                                                                   Lisa
Painting course of five days in Spreewald, Germany
€ 500
which includes:​
- lodging for 5 nights in shared room
- art materials
- 5 warm lunches, coffee and snacks
- excursions
- vernissage party
 
not included:
- breakfast and dinner
- travel to Spreewald​