Sanctuary
Workshop
Each January, artists Lynne Millar and Claire Tollstrup lead Sanctuary, an immersive small group workshop (in the most beautiful location we can find!) focused on oil painting, floral design, creative connection, and restoration. Our intention is to create the ultimate creative pause — a space where you can slow down and fill your artistic well. Each day includes foundational oil painting instruction—designed for both committed beginners and experienced painters—with thoughtful exercises, live demonstrations, and personalized feedback, as well as a hands-on floral design session led by our favorite Marianne Bates.In 2027, we’ll be returning to San Miguel de Allende…
San Miguel de Allende, January 24-29
Join artists Claire Tollstrup and Lynne Millar, alongside floral designer Marianne Bates, for an immersive 5-day art retreat in San Miguel de Allende — recently named the #1 city in the world by Travel + Leisure's 2026 World's Best Awards.We’ve reserved boutique hotel Casa Delphine for our homebase as we create, explore, and soak in one of the world's most beautiful cities.Now in our third year hosting a workshop here, we're making this group smaller — just 5 shared rooms available — and adding a day to the retreat. Both changes mean more time to slow down, more time to immerse yourselves in San Miguel, and more time for one-on-one mentorship with Claire, Lynne, and Marianne.Our days will be spent oil painting, plein-air sketching, learning principles of flower design, and soaking in this walkable jewel-box of a city, based from Casa Delphine — a boutique hotel set within San Miguel's zona histórico, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Price
$3550 (shared room)What's Included
Boutique hotel accommodation for 5 nights at Casa DelphineBreakfast each morningAll workshop classes and activities - daily oil painting classes, floral design segment, one-on-one feedback, city and market toursGroup dinners on the first and last evenings
Not Included
Airfare & transportation — Casa Delphine's staff can help you book a car to and from the airport (we recommend splitting the cost with fellow attendees), or arrange bus transportLunches and dinners outside of the two included group dinnersArt supplies — a full supply list will be sent to participants ahead of time
Add-Ons
Casa Delphine can arrange signature spa treatments in your room
San Miguel de Allende was just named the #1 city in the world — for the third year running — in Travel + Leisure's 2026 World's Best Awards, voted on by more than 207,000 readers. It's a rare distinction: this cobblestoned colonial city in Mexico's highlands has now topped the list five times, prized by travelers for its architecture, arts scene, and food.Travel & Leisure: Best of 2026Travel & Leisure: A Tour of San Miguel de Allende, the World's Best CityTravel & Leisure: How San Miguel Became Mexico's Most Enchanting DestinationSan Miguel is also a major foodie destination, with a dining scene that regularly draws its own praise from national and international press.
Casa Delphine, our home base for the week, is an intimate five-suite hotel tucked into the historic center, a short walk from La Parroquia. It's been recognized by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the best hotels in Mexico, and has been featured in Forbes, The Telegraph UK, Luxury Travel Magazine, and Caribbean Journal. We’ve come to love its warm, attentive staff, thoughtfully designed rooms, and perfect location and are so grateful to be returning.Meet Your Instructors
Claire Tollstrup & Lynne Millar :: Claire and Lynne bring a combined 30+ years of oil painting experience to this workshop. They've taught numerous classes and workshops both together and independently, and are seasoned travelers when it comes to painting on the road — they love nothing more than soaking in a new culture and landscape and exploring it through oil paint. Their painting styles complement one another beautifully, and together they offer participants a variety of teaching approaches and perspectives. Find Lynne’s work on instagram @artbylynnemillar, and Claire @clairetollstrup.art.Marianne Bates :: Marianne is a highly sought-after floral designer based in Southern California (find her work on instagram @PoseyPop). Her fine art florals have been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings and Style Me Pretty, and she brings that same eye for color, texture, and composition to her workshops. Her floral session and beautiful tablescapes offer a fresh, sensory dimension to the retreat — pairing beautifully with the painting classes as another way to explore San Miguel's abundant natural beauty. 2027 Workshop - January, Casa Delphine, San Miguel de Allende (spaces opening in August)2026 Workshop - January, Korakia Pensione, Palm Springs2025 Workshop - January, Casa Delphine, San Miguel de Allende2024 Workshop - January, Casa Delphine, San Miguel de Allende
