Welcome to Oatlands Art Retreat 2025!
This year’s program brings together artists, thinkers and kindred spirits to share in the joy of learning and being present in a truly special place.
Whether you are returning or joining us for the first time, we are looking forward to meeting you and sharing this experience together.
We hope this retreat offers a moment to step away from the everyday, reconnect with your creative practice, and spend time with others who are equally curious, open, and inspired by the landscape and rich history of Oatlands.
The Oatlands Art Retreat has been thoughtfully designed to support individual practice during the day, while evenings invite connection over shared meals and guest talks, exploring themes from art and architecture to local history.
We provide two venues - the Old Courthouse and the Gay Street Hall - for you to work in, equipped with studio essentials such as easels, solvents, and cleaning materials. Each day, a morning tea and packed lunch will be provided, giving you the option to enjoy a picnic.
At the centre of this year’s retreat is a two-day masterclass with acclaimed artist and educator Megan Walch. Participants will spend time learning and creating in our venues, while also drawing in the field, observing, experimenting, and painting en plein air under Megan’s guidance.
What's included:
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Welcome drinks and canapés on your arrival on Friday
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Two-course dinners: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
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Two lunches during the retreat on Saturday and Sunday
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Morning tea on Saturday and Sunday
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Two evening speakers
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Wine & Cheese platter and a unique salon session with Warwick Oakman at Arkwright & Carpenter Antiques
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Two day Drawing and Painting Plein Air Masterclass with Megan Walch
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Access to the Old Courthouse and Gay Street Hall
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Art materials: portable easels, non-toxic solvents and brush cleaner, charcoal, graphite pencils and paper, standard canvas for your final work
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Farewell brunch on Monday
What's not included:
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Breakfast and beverages
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Transportation costs
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Accommodation - click here for links to our local accommodation partners
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Please bring your paintbrushes and sketching book/journal
Retreat Pricing: The Early Bird Special is $988 (until 31 September), with a full price of $1.222 thereafter!
To secure your place, please complete the Registration Form. Spaces are limited, and we encourage early registration!
Itinerary
Day One | Friday 28 November
Arrival in Oatlands at 3pm to check in to your accommodation (for those travelling to Oatlands independently, arrive before 4pm).
From 4:30pm, Retreat participants are invited to join us at The Kentish for welcome drinks and canapés.
Historian Alan Townsend will open Oatlands Art Retreat and begin with an Acknowledgment of a country.
At 6:30pm, we are delighted to present our opening speaker Dr David Ashley Kerr, Head of Art at Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG).
Day Two - Drawing Masterclass with Megan Walch | Saturday 29 November
At 9:00am, gather for an Old Courthouse orientation.
9.30 - 10.30: Introduction with Megan Walch - Biography and Arts Practice.
10.30 - 12.30: Drawing Warm-ups & sight-reading exercises
Between 12:30-1:30pm, a packed lunch will be available for collection from The Kentish.
1.30pm - 4.30pm: Drawing in the field: selecting a site or scene for Sunday’s plein air study.
At 5pm, gather at The Kentish for a special "behind the scenes" salon session with Warwick Oakman at Arkwright & Carpenter Antiques.
At 7pm, dinner is served at The Kentish Hotel.
Day Three - Painting Plein Air Masterclass with Megan Walch | Sunday 30 November
At 10am - 1pm, Studio session at Guy Street Hall - colour theory & palette preparation.
A colour theory session focuses on mixing tertiary colours using the triangle, exploring greyscale and black mixing, tinting the gesso ground, and starting to prepare a colour palette for the afternoon’s Plein air study, followed by a wet-in-wet painting demonstration.
Between 12:30-1:30pm, a packed lunch will be available for collection from The Kentish.
At 2pm - 4.30pm, Sunday afternoon Plein air session
At 6.30pm, dinner is served at The Kentish. After dinner, our evening speaker will be artist and educator Dr Brigita Ozolins.
Day Four | Monday 1 December
For the early risers, the peaceful landscape awaits - offering to conclude your creative journey before we gather together one final time.
At 10:30am, join us in The Kentish garden for a Farewell Brunch and the opportunity to celebrate the beautiful work created by our participants.
1pm, Departure. 🦢
Drawing and Painting Plein Air Masterclass
With Megan Walch
Dr. Meg Walch is an established Tasmanian artist and arts educator with three decades of professional experience teaching and exhibiting in Australia and overseas. Her artwork and research interests have evolved through residencies in Europe, USA, and Asia. Meg has a studio-based Doctorate from the University of Tasmania’s School of Creative Arts and Media. Her work is held in public and private collections in Australia and overseas. Her studio is an old boat building shed in Hobart, Tasmania.
Learn more about Megan's work and biography at her website.
Questions?
Contact us any time at info@oatlandsartretreat.com or use the link below to send an instant message.
