Join us in the rolling hills of the Driftless for a weekend of reconnecting with nature and exploring the delicate but simple craft of cut-paper floral illustration.
We’ve taken our inspiration for this getaway from Mrs. Mary Delaney (1700-1788), a self-taught “paper-mosaick“ maker who didn’t discover her passion for collaged botanical illustration until she was 72 years old (!). Her vivid and detailed tissue paper collages were praised by botanists of the day, and nearly 1000 of them are housed in the British Museum as part of the permanent collection. Despite such an honor, her tools were simple and her enjoyment in her work clear and apparent, and we will partake in these together.
We’ve designed this retreat to be equal parts relaxing and instructive and it requires no prior art-making experience. If Mary could, we can.
We are Rebekka Federle-McCabe and Esther Garcia, and we will guide you step-by-step as we pick wildflowers and foliage to illustrate in Mary’s style. We have designed the instructive part of our weekend to accommodate any level of art-making confidence. You’ll learn color mixing and matching, composition, and scissor skills in a relaxed environment with generous instructors. There will be plenty of room for play, gorgeous meals and wandering goats. Together we’ll work toward the goal of creating a beautiful keepsake of the weekend for you to take home.
Come alone, or come with a friend; this is a magical place and we promise you won't forget the visit soon.
Rebekka Federle is an internationally-shown artist who is as much known for her clever and ultra-detailed collage works as for her sass and good humor, and we'll have the good luck to enjoy both her company and her skill as an instructor. She adores teaching and has previously taught collage at the Peters Valley School of Craft, and is currently gaining her MFA at the University of Chicago.
Award-winning tattoo artist Esther Garcia is Chicago’s premier color queen and unmatched botanical enthusiast. You’ll get the opportunity to tap into her years of experience creating colors that mimics nature, her terrific compositional abilities, and her general generous loveliness. Ask her about her cats.
Expert-led, judgement-free lessons about botanical illustration, composing your artworks, practical color theory, and collage techniques
Charming rooms in private or shared cabins
Chef Dani Lind prepares beautiful and delicious meals from mostly local ingredients - a highlight of any visit to the ranch
Enjoy a walk through the fields and trails, remarkably mosquito free!
Sauna in the bunkhouse will be open each day for 2 hours, to ease your tired muscles
Relax after your arrival with a complimentary cocktail or mocktail
Cocktails, beer, and wine available each night for purchase- BYO wine may be enjoyed anywhere outside the barn
Check in 3pm or later - Banjo the dog will be sure to welcome you!
Make yourself at home in your cabin and wander the property, say hello to the goats and maybe enjoy the sauna…
Enjoy a complimentary welcome drink and get to know your fellow retreaters before we sit down to share a stunning dinner.
After a delicious locally sourced breakfast, we will head out on a morning walk to nearby wildflower fields to admire the glory of summer in Wisconsin's Driftless region. We'll discuss what makes a good specimen to work with, and choose our first plants to make collages of.
We'll break for a homemade lunch, and then get to work preparing our papers in all the colors and types we will require. We'll have templates for the timid, and flexible step by step instruction for everyone, plus discussions about collage techniques, practial color theory, and composition for botanical illustration.
Run off to the swimming hole if you need to refresh - remember to pack a swim suit and a towel!
Candelight dinner and lively conversation round out our first full day!
Using the materials we collected and prepared the day before, we will begin our collages from sketches, photos, and live specimens. We'll build up our designs in careful layers, to produce detailed and vivid collages that retain the beauty of our plant specimens, to be enjoyed for many years to come.
We'll enjoy another gorgeous lunch by Dani, the creative force in Red Clover Ranch's kitchen, and work on our collages for the rest of the day. Focused hand work like this requires stretch breaks and little walks and refreshments, so we'll be working and resting as needed throughout the day.
We'll enjoy our last dinner together, and maybe a bonfire and cocktails while we enjoy the sparkling stars with new friends. Sweet dreams in our cozy cabins before taking leave tomorrow.
Finishing touches on our collages over morning coffee or tea, and a last walk around the property before packing up. After a final beautiful and nourishing breakfast, we'll say our goodbyes - but Banjo dog is nowhere to be found, he doesn't do goodbyes.
