Paint Wisdom Mexico

WEEK-LONG PAINTING INTENSIVE FOR WOMEN ARTISTS EAGER TO DEEPEN THEIR PRACTICE IN INSPIRING OAXACA, MEXICO!

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN YOUR ART

EMBARK ON A TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY WITH PAINT WISDOM MEXICO, A SANCTUARY FOR WOMEN ARTISTS FIERCELY DEVOTED TO THEIR CREATIVE PRACTICE.

Immerse yourself in a week of creative exploration, where you'll stoke your artistic fire, nourish your body, and delve deep into your painting practice, held by an inspiring environment and the warm camaraderie of fellow creatives. Leave with a body of work that makes your cells sizzle, a deeper connection to your creative practice, a well nourished Artist Soul, and a yearning to keep painting!

While similar intensives are more like an “art vacation,” Paint Wisdom Intensives welcome artists who are serious about their creative practice and have confidence to create a body of work independently.

WHY ATTEND A PAINT WISDOM INTENSIVE?

Attending Paint Wisdom Mexico offers a unique opportunity to transform your artistic practice and dive deeper into your creative journey. Here’s are some reasons why you should join us:

Strengthen Your Artistic Voice: Gain clarity and confidence in your unique visual language, style, and voice.
Explore New Perspectives: Discover fresh ideas and approaches by changing your location and integrate them vibrantly into your art.
Build a Body of Work: Focus intensely on creating a cohesive body of work that vibrates with meaning and depth.
Take Creative Risks: Step out of your comfort zone and embrace experimentation in a supportive environment.
Overcome Creative Blocks: Get unstuck, back in the groove if you’ve lost it, and learn to embrace and navigate fear.
Transform Your Practice: Shed old creative skins and engage in the messy, blessed work of becoming the artist your soul is calling you to be.
Feel Seen & Understood: Build meaningful relationships and share experiences with other dedicated women artists who understand and inspire your creative journey.

At Paint Wisdom Mexico you will receive an over-abundance of studio time, individualized mentorship, and an inspiring environment to create in. Through thoughtful feedback, soulful discussions with like-minded women, and guided meditations, you'll feel both supported and challenged creatively.

TESTIMONIALS FROM ARTISTS LIKE YOU

I would recommend the Paint Wisdom Intensive — no hesitation. Absolutely. It’s a week of small group mentoring and holding open a clearer and more expansive connection to your artist’s soul. — Anne Gaffney., Wisconsin, USA

Paint Wisdom is hard to put into words. "Wonderful, great, uplifting, and supportive" don’t quite capture it. Paint Wisdom is all those things and much more—something deep inside that's hard to express but full of joy. — Diana C., Texas, USA

Thank you Connie. I always feel I grow as an artist when I attend one of your intensives. I loved it! The connections you make with the other artists stay with you. And as always, the reflection opportunity on our final day was so insightful. Looking at the body of work I created during the retreat was invaluable. I saw themes and connections between pieces that I hadn't realized were there. — Maureen Kelly, Alaska USA

PAINT, EAT, SLEEP, REPEAT!

What TO EXPECT At Paint Wisdom Mexico

INDIVIDUALIZED MENTORING

Two Months Before Departure: Mentoring begins with a self-guided online mini-workshop to kickstart your creative process. This session will help you dream into your body of work, select materials, initiate any necessary research or sketching, and provide valuable guidance on packing and preparing for your Intensive.

During Paint Wisdom: You can anticipate individualized one-on-one and group mentoring designed to support and challenge you. These sessions aim to help you breathe life into your body of work, enhance your skills, and create art with deeper meaning.

As Your Mentor: My expertise lies in meeting each artist where they are and nurturing their growth and expansion into the artist they aspire to be. My goal is for you to depart with a body of work brimming with freshness, vitality, and uniquely your own.

I warmly recommend Connie's intensives because they are pure magic! Every time I participate in one, I walk away feeling deeply nourished. Connie is an alchemist who will help you expand your relationship to your own visual language and show you how to extract it's treasures like never before! Every time I work with her, she blows my mind! She is the teacher you need to help you tap into your true, raw and genuine self expression. With her guidance and her mentoring, you will get connected to your artist soul in the most fulfilling way possible. — Mylène Piché., Quebec, Canada

An OVER-ABUNDANCE OF STUDIO TIME

Your studio is conveniently located just outside your room with 24-hour access. Each day begins with a guided painting session before breakfast. After breakfast, the morning is dedicated to workshops, painting, and mentoring sessions.

In the afternoon, enjoy open studio time and inspiring visits to local artist studios, galleries, and museums. I'll also spend quality one-on-one time with you to discuss your work.

Each day concludes with opportunities to discuss and reflect on your body of work. Afterward, you can head to dinner, indulge in a massage, take a leisurely stroll around town, or simply enjoy more studio time.

COMMUNITY OF KINDREDS

At Paint Wisdom, you'll be immersed in a community of artists who share your dedication to painting and your eagerness to delve deeper. Our inspiring discussions will focus on art, creativity, expanding our body of work, and navigating the highs and lows of the artist's journey.

I'll be working on my own body of work alongside you, so expect plenty of late-night painting sessions and intimate glimpses into my own creative process as well.

Painting alongside like-minded artists in community is a gift of time and creativity you give to yourself. With Connie's supportive wisdom and enthusiasm, you'll pursue your own work, which becomes interwoven by emotion, color, and design as your story, vision, and artistic voice unfold. Connie serves as a mentor, offering advice when needed and knowing just when to push you further along your journey. — Sharla Hicks, California, USA

VISITS TO GALLERIES, MUSEUMS, & ARTIST STUDIOS

To replenish our creative juices and to learn about current ideas and approaches to Oaxaca painting, we'll be visiting the private studios of local painters and printmakers, plus checking out the latest exhibitions at the Oaxaca City museums and galleries. In Paint Wisdom you will meet contemporary artists and gallerists and learn what inspires and drives Oaxacan artists of today.

SINGLE OCCUPANCY SUITE & YOUR OWN Studio Space

We will be staying and painting in a charming private estate just blocks from the vibrant city square, the Zócalo.

You'll be within walking distance of everything—fabulous restaurants, inspiring galleries, and delightful shops.

Each room is cozy with a single bed and a private bathroom. Best of all, the communal studio is right outside your door—you can roll out of bed and start painting in your PJs!

THE MOST AMAZING BREAKFASTS, LUNCHES & DESSERTS!

One of the best things about being at Paint Wisdom is that you don't have to worry about cooking!

Expect to leave the Intensive with a few extra pounds and feeling totally nourished. My beloved cook will prepare all our breakfasts and lunches, including some amazing desserts!

Dinners are open for you to savor the incredible restaurants Oaxaca has to offer—I have recommendations galore! (Dinners not included.)

NOURISH YOUR ARTIST SOUL

IS PAINT WISDOM RIGHT FOR YOU?

PAINT WISDOM IS PERFECT FOR...

Artists in search of mentorship that fosters authenticity, honesty, and vulnerability in their art. At Paint Wisdom, you'll receive INDIVIDUALIZED guidance and mentorship to develop a body of work that not only enhances your artistic practice but also nurtures a deeper relationship with yourself as an artist. Your creations will reflect, explore, and draw inspiration from themes that hold personal significance to you.
Artists yearning for dedicated time to delve deeply into their creative process, and the space to allow their work to unfold naturally at its own cadence and rhythm.
Artists comfortable with independently crafting a body of work, familiar with generating their own ideas, setting creative goals, and selecting materials. However, they yearn for the magical experience of creating in community in a picturesque setting and dream of having support.
Artists who fiercely love painting and are committed to continuous growth and evolution in their artistic journey.
Artists who embrace experimentation, taking risks, and seek-out the awe and wonder found in their creative process.
Artists who find value in guided visualizations and contemplative journaling, using these tools to deepen their connection with their work and nurture their imaginative spirit.
Artists who believe there is more to making art than just creating pretty pictures —they prefer to linger in the deeper currents of their creativity.

PAINT WISDOM IS NOT WELL SUITED FOR...

Artists at the beginner level. Participants should have a minimum of 3 years of experience in art-making and feel adept at working independently.
Artists seeking an art vacation filled with site-seeing and numerous tourist activities. Paint Wisdom is a painting intensive held in an inspiring environment, where all our time and energy is focused on creating a body of work. We’re going to PAINT-EAT-SLEEP-REPEAT!
Artists seeking technical or step-by-step instruction or aiming to emulate Connie's artistic style.
Artists who solely turn to art as a means of coping with life's challenges or processing emotions. While Paint Wisdom is inherently healing, it is not intended as a therapeutic space for addressing trauma or deep emotional issues.
Artists who pursue art primarily as a hobby or leisure activity. Paint Wisdom delves deeply into the context and significance of our art within our creative journey. Those without an established creative practice may find the retreats overwhelming.
Artists who shy away from engaging in meaningful discussions on art or participating in guided visualizations.

REGISTRATION OPENING SOON!

PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW CAREFULLY BEFORE REGISTERING.
YOUR DEPOSIT ACTS AS AGREEMENT TO THE TERMS & POLICIES LISTED BELOW.

BASIC DETAILS

STARTS: Monday, November 17, 2025 at 5 PM with tapas, orientation, and setting up our studios. (Please try to arrive the day before to settle in and acclimate yourself. An extra night lodging before Paint Wisdom is available for a small fee of $95 USD.)

ENDS: Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 5:00 PM.

CHECK-OUT: Sunday, November 23, 2025 by 10 AM. Breakfast is NOT provided on this day.

PLACE: A private estate located a few blocks south of the zocalo -- the main cultural center of Oaxaca City. Each artist receives their own private suite with a full size bed, private bathroom, and easy access to a communal studio space and communal kitchen.

ONLINE MINI-WORKSHOP: Receive access to an online mini-workshop starting Monday, August 11, 2024 to help you kickstart your creative process by dreaming into your body of work, selecting materials, initiating any necessary research or sketching, and valuable guidance on packing and preparing for your Intensive.

COST: $4498

SPACE IS LIMITED TO 8 ARTISTS.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE, CANCELLATIONS, & REFUNDS

Registration for PAINT is $4498 USD.

A Deposit of $2000 will save your spot.

The remaining balance of $2498 is due by or on Thursday, July 31, 2025. We will reach out to you two weeks before July 31st with your final invoice. If you are not paid in full by Friday, August 1, 2025 we reserve the right to offer your space to my waiting list and/or the public, and to retain your deposit.

Because registration is highly limited to 8 painters and significant planning goes into this event all deposits and payments are non-refundable and non-transferable.

➡️ All cancellations must be done in writing by emailing Connie at Support@ConnieSolera.com.

If you need to cancel we will offer your space to our waitlist and the public. If your space is purchased we will refund your registration payment(s) minus a $250 cancellation fee. We can NOT guarantee that your space will sell. You also have the option to sell your space at a discounted price. If you choose to do so, you will be responsible to organize payment with the buyer.

➡️ In the event of unforeseen circumstances such as acts of God, pandemics, natural disasters, war, border closures, or other situations beyond our controls, we reserve the right to retain your fees and reschedule or make any necessary changes to the event.

➡️ If you need to cancel your trip or cannot attend due to COVID-19, flu, RSV, or any other illness, or if you must leave the event because of developing symptoms or testing positive, Connie Solera cannot provide a refund for any amounts paid.

We strongly encourage you to purchase travel insurance that includes coverage for COVID-19 and other illnesses to safeguard against this possible risk. Travel insurance can offer peace of mind by protecting your investment and ensuring you are covered in case of unexpected health-related issues.

WHAT IS INCLUDED & NOT INCLUDED IN REGISTRATION

INCLUDED IN PAINT WISDOM MEXICO

Access to an online mini-workshop starting Monday, August 11, 2025 to help you kickstart your creative process by dreaming into your body of work, selecting materials, initiating any necessary research or sketching, and valuable guidance on packing and preparing for your Intensive.
6 nights single occupancy lodging at a private estate with 24 hour studio access right outside your bedroom (Monday, November 17 - Sunday, November 23, 2025).
5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, & welcome tapas.
At least one visit to private studios of contemporary Oaxacan painters or printmakers.
Guided visits to local museums and galleries to view the current exhibitions.
Workshop instruction, support, and tons of one-on-one and group mentoring from Connie Solera.
An intimate glimpse into Connie Solera's painting process as she builds a body of work.
Pre-trip notes and guidelines.
A collectible Paint Wisdom apron
Advice on travel plans before or after the trip if desired.
Loads of fun surprises and hand-picked Oaxacan goodies from Connie.
Friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.
A body of work that will make your cells sizzle.

NOT INCLUDED IN PAINT WISDOM MEXICO

Airfare.
Travel and taxi to and from airport.
Taxi fares.
Dinners.
Supplies.
Tips for the cook.
Alcohol at any of the lunches eaten out.

SUPPLIES

SUPPLIES ARE NOT INCLUDED. YOU MUST PROVIDE YOUR OWN SUBSTRATES & ART SUPPLIES.

For Paint Wisdom Mexico you will be deciding on the theme, concepts, and/or intentions behind the body of work you wish to work on — including the supplies you wish to use.

We will discuss supplies and your body of work more thoroughly in the online mini-workshop I have prepared for you. You will receive access to this online mini-workshop on Monday, August 11th,

Basically you will want to bring materials and substrates that you are excited to work with and explore.

The only requirement is to have a designated sketchbook for our morning painting practice. I highly suggest one of the Canon Mixed Media hardcover sketchbooks (THIS ONE or THIS ONE). But any mixed media sketchbook will do.

CONFIRMATION & COMMUNICATION

Within 24 hours of making your deposit you will receive a welcome email. This is your registration confirmation and contains helpful info to help you start planning your trip to Oaxaca. Please keep this email in a safe place. It is recommended that you print it out.
IMPORTANT: All retreat information will be emailed to the email address you used to register with. If you require the materials to be sent to an alternate email address, please email Support@ConnieSolera.com and let us know right away.

COVID-19 POLICY | TRAVEL INSURANCE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED

Travel Insurance with"cancel for any reason" coverage is strongly suggested for attending Paint Wisdom Mexico to cover any complications that may occur due to COVID. Such as, for example, if you personally need to cancel because you contracted COVID yourself or are showing symptoms. Do your research before purchasing, but we personally recommend World Nomads or Trawick International and it is best to purchase travel insurance sooner than later to receive full coverage.
You will be required to sign a release form before attending.

LODGING & MEALS

Lodging is single occupancy.
Each room comes with a full size bed, a private bathroom, 24 hour access to the studio space right outside your bedroom, rooftop patio with amazing view, and a communal mini-refrigerator, microwave and stove, filtered water, dishes, coffee pot, and electric tea kettle.
Also included in the Paint Wisdom Mexico registration is five breakfasts and five lunches. But because Oaxacan cuisine is so wonderful, dinners are not prearranged to give you freedom to choose where and what to eat. Connie will point you to her favorite restaurants and her assistant can help you make reservations if needed.
Everything is an easy walk from Casa Agave (where you'll be lodging and enjoying studio time). Taxi's are abundant and affordable if you prefer not to walk and Connie's assistant can call you a cab.
Most people pair up or go to dinner in groups, so don't worry about dining alone. Travel costs are not included.
We try are best to accommodate diet restrictions and food sensitivities. Please let us know in the release form if you have specific restrictions or sensitivities.

TRAVEL TIPS

You DO need a passport that doesn't expire for six months from your date of entry to Mexico.
You will fly into the Oaxaca de Juarex, Oaxaca airport.
Airport code is: OAX.
In the US, United Airlines has a direct flight from Houston to Oaxaca and American Airlines has a direct flight from Dallas to Oaxaca.
Otherwise, you will likely change planes in Mexico City from your city of origin.
From the Oaxaca airport you'll take a taxi (collectivo) to Casa Agave. Detailed instructions and the address will be provided during the Mentorship Zoom call.
Taxi fare is 300 pesos (approximately $15 USD) per person and there is just one taxi counter inside the airport. Easy and stress free!

A LITTLE ABOUT OAXACA

Oaxaca is pronounced Wa-Ha-Ka, and is both a city and a state (like New York, NY) in Southern Mexico.

Oaxaca, Mexico is a land of magic, mythos, and Art. You’ll find traditional weavers, sculptors, potters, dancers, musicians, storytellers and curanderas (indigenous healers) mixing it up with modern painters, photographers, writers, and poets.

Oaxaca is a Unesco world heritage site, with no less than 21 cathedrals within the historic center, towering limestone walls, and secret gardens behind every adobe walls and doorway.

Oaxaca is known as “the land of the seven moles“. My favorite mole of them all happens to be “guacomole” — Oaxaca has the best!

From Oaxaca's powerful murals to the traditional crafts you can cradle in your hand, to a rich, robust contemporary art scene — painting is the pulse of Oaxaca — and I guarantee she will breathe new life into your creativity.

GUIDED PAINTING PRACTICE | MENTORING | WORKSHOPS | OPEN STUDIO | VISION

At Paint Wisdom Mexico I, Connie, will be providing a daily guided painting practice, workshops, and mentoring. Below is a brief description of what you can expect.

GUIDED PAINTING PRACTICE

My absolute favorite time of the day in the studio is early in the morning when the world is just waking up. I use this time to set intentions for my studio practice and to check-in with my Artist Soul. At Paint Wisdom I will be sharing my very intimate morning practice with you from 7 AM to 8 AM. Roll out of bed, grab your sketchbook, and our guided practice will consist of either prompts, guided meditations, breathing exercises and stretching, soft music, and/or writing.

WORKSHOPS

My workshops for Paint Wisdom will consist of juicy discussions, creative exercises, and small group projects intended to expand the way you view your creative practice, support your body of work, deepen your intuitive decision making, and simply have fun!

ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING

At Paint Wisdom you can expect loads of daily one-on-one mentoring where I will meet with you individually and review your work by providing gentle constructive feedback, a different perspective, and inquiry to help you think deeper about the meaning, voice , and reception of your work. I will support you and challenge you to take risks, be more bold in expressing yourself honestly in your work.

GROUP MENTORING

One of my favorite forms of mentoring is group mentoring where including various points-of-views and insights adds to the richness of our process as artists. At Paint Wisdom we are guided by a set of communal guidelines that ensures each artist, no matter where they are in their development and journey, is held and met with kindness, curiosity, and an environment that respects diverse backgrounds, beliefs, political views, and faiths.

OPEN STUDIO

Open studio will be a designated time to work in the studio uninterrupted. I, Connie, will be there to provide any support, feedback, or assistance you may need — but this is a time for you to really sink into your process wholeheartedly.

VISION

Our final Paint Wisdom Vision is held on Saturday, November 22nd where each artist will have 20 minutes to share their body of work and receive valuable insight and feedback on it from Connie and the artists in PAINT.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PAINT WISDOM INTENSIVES

WHY I CREATED PAINT WISDOM MEXICO

Between January 2017 and January 2024, I hosted 17 retreats in the vibrant heart of Oaxaca, Mexico—welcoming over 150 fearless women artists to embrace their creativity and revel in adventure. Together, we painted with abandon, wandered the colorful streets, explored nearby villages, and stood in awe of Oaxaca’s ancient archaeological sites. Each retreat felt like a dream come true, a pinch-me moment of gratitude and joy.

But here’s a little secret I’ve mostly kept under wraps, sharing only in whispers with my husband, my bestie, and a handful of close friends: it’s what happens after the last goodbye hug, after the easels are packed up and the bustling energy of the retreat fades.

That’s when I dive into what I call "The Portal".

What's amazing to me, and hard to put into words, is that Oaxaca will reveal herself in ways that don't happen when I'm wearing a tourist hat and glasses. She'll do subtle things that will surprise and delight me and shake up my Artist Soul in the wildest of ways.

You see, this is why I love Oaxaca — this is why I can't stay away.

This is also why in 2024 I decided to strip the sightseeing from my retreats and distill the experience into a Paint Wisdom Intensive. I want more artists to experience the magic that comes from going deep — and to really go deep Oaxaca will do her own thing, but we need time and space to sink in and let it happen naturally.

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Are you a woman artist, committed to your creative practice, but yearning in your bones for a portal to step into?

Do you desperately need a precious pocket of time where you can leave the responsibilities and day-to-day routines behind and lose yourself in a fresh new body of work?

Are you wishing you had the support of a caring, experience mentor and the camaraderie of creative community to feed your spirit?

Yeah...I feel you sister.

I'll make sure your body is nourished with incredible meals, and I have a private suite ready for you to rest and dream in. I can't wait to support you fully as you paint like your heart is on fire because I get it...it's time.

It's seriously time.