Friday Art & Faith Talks…
Let’s talk about the creative side of our retreats today…
Hi ladies! Another week has flown by and we are back together to talk more in depth about our retreats today. I’m enjoying these “Friday Talks” even though they’re not in person… maybe they should be though? I was thinking about doing a Zoom call with anyone who has questions that I might not be answering… or wants to hear more about our 2025 Art & Faith Creative Retreats because you’re thinking of joining us somewhere in the world next year! Would that be fun?
Btw, I have a new YouTube video for you to check out down below, all about journals!
As we talk about the subject of creativity today, I want to mention that I am VERY excited about what we have in store for everyone next year! I’ve been praying and planning next years retreats for a while now, and the Lord is opening up some new and exciting places… and opportunities for you to join us and for you to learn new creative skills! So stay tuned, because next week I’ll be revealing WHO is joining me in Bellagio next year and what we’ve got planned!
What does the creative part of our retreats look like?
This is a question we’ve gotten over the years since we started in 2012, so I want to talk about that today. We’ve had different teachers join us from all different creative backgrounds. Some have been experts in jewelry, some were artists in the mixed-media world, one teacher was a textile artist, some were beautiful watercolor/acrylic/oil painting artists, and some have been owners of faith-based creative businesses. It’s been amazing to see all the different areas in which we’ve explored creativity at our retreats!
Every retreat I’ve hosted has been open to every skill of creativity.
This is what I want you to know… every level of skill is welcome.
The classes at our retreats are not fine art classes. Well, maybe some day they will be… but my heart for the art classes is for you to see how FUN it is to be creative and connect our creativity to our Creator! I want our retreats to be welcome to everyone, including every skill level. In the classes I teach, they are more about creativity than fine art skills. I usually teach Bible Journaling, Art & Travel Journaling and simple tips to improve your painting skills. I’m a self-taught artist and want everyone who comes to my retreats to feel comfortable creating at whatever level they’re at. That’s not to say you won’t learn new skills and new creative practices, because you definitely will. You’ll walk away from our retreats with creativity flowing out of our time together, and I know that will bring you great joy for years to come!
At some retreats I ask another teacher to join me, and it’s usually a teacher that has other creative skills than I do, who can teach us all and we get to learn fun new things! (I love learning new skills too!) So just as I mentioned earlier, this is a fun way to improve your creative skills and have fun doing it! I mean… how fun is it to be creative in places like Lake Como, Italy all while you’re enjoying beautiful scenery, gorgeous Villas, time in God’s Word and surrounded with new friends who love Jesus too! It’s the BEST!
I want to add that our retreats are NOT in a classroom 24/7. (not even near that) Our retreats are in beautiful places and we want to see that, right?! So there is a great balance between being creative, exploring where we are, free time to relax and time in God’s Word.
So many women have said our retreats are such a unique way to travel and are life changing!
I’m so excited about the teachers this year AND next, with Becky Strahle joining me for the 2nd year in a row, and NEXT YEAR I have the sweetest artist that I can’t WAIT to share it with you NEXT WEEK! You may already follow her on social media, but she has said YES to joining me next year in Bellagio and we’ve got some EXCITING news to share with you next Thursday!!
So don’t forget to check back her next week and on IG, because we will both be announcing next years retreat details AND have a GREAT Giveaway!!
Thank you for coming back today for our “Friday Talks” and here’s the YouTube Video I just posted ALL about journals!
Have a GREAT weekend everyone!
Hugs to all,
Laura McCollough
Here’s a helpful video all about Journals and what you can use in each of them!
Links to all the Journals/Sketchbooks I could still find online:
Dylusions Art Journals: They still make them!
Large: https://amzn.to/3UotI2X
Small: https://amzn.to/3UHM0NR
Square: https://amzn.to/3QrOkGp
Toned Gray Sketchbook: https://amzn.to/4a1TRuf
Toned Beige Sketchbook: https://amzn.to/3UsmVVU
This one is slightly bigger than the one in my video, but same brand
Mod la Vie Toned Spiral Bound Sketchbook: https://amzn.to/4dlTU74
Moleskin Watercolor Journal: https://amzn.to/4a0s1hT
Moleskin Sketchbook Journal: https://amzn.to/3y2LnWn
Here’s the Moleskin Sketchbook in Bright Red! https://amzn.to/3JG7XH3
I’m all about red this year for some reason! lol
Caran d’Ache Neocolors II: https://amzn.to/4aXKyN3
*Make sure you get the Neocolors II b/c Neocolor 1 is NOT water soluble.
Talans Art Creations Sketchbooks in Pink: https://amzn.to/3UohuY7
Talans Art Creations Sketchbook (small) in yellow: https://amzn.to/3UG4BKo
Handmade Traveler’s Notebooks: My own design, made in Italy with Italian leather:
https://www.artandfaithcreative.com/shop/p/travelers-notebooks
Traveler’s Notebook Inserts:
My favorite TN Inserts on Etsy: Cadenza Notebooks: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CadenetaNotebooks?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1415285054&from_page=listing§ion_id=20911487
Watercolor Inserts: https://amzn.to/3Wlf537
TN Inserts in my shop: https://www.artandfaithcreative.com/shop
Bible Journals:
My favorite interleaved Bible: https://amzn.to/44oepM8
This is the one I left in Italy
The NT Travel Bible: https://amzn.to/3w7no84
ESV Soft Cover Bible: https://amzn.to/44GR34R
*Note: The one in the video is out of print, so this is the closest I found online.
Spiral Bound ESV Journaling Bible: https://amzn.to/4boonj9
I did not talk about this one, it’s a pre-order Bible, but a very neat idea having it be like a workbook style journal!
The free PDF on Bible Journaling is at the bottom of the website, if you sign up for the newsletter.
*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, so I will get a small commission if you buy a product via the link.