Travel Sketching Retreats
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Become an Artist Reporter in Monsaraz, Portugal
Dates: March 12-17, 2026
Location: Monsaraz, Portugal
Join us in the hilltop village of Monsaraz, Portugal, for a unique, immersive workshop where drawing meets storytelling. Over the course of six days, you will learn how to become an artist reporter—someone who documents the world not just with words, but with expressive, on-location drawings and visual narratives. -
The Art of Travel Sketching in Southern France
Dates: March 21- 28, 2026
Location: Atelier Clos Mirabel, Jurançon, France
All levels welcome
Language: English (with French translation available)
Non drawing partners are welcomeJoin us for a week-long workshop on creating a perfect travel sketchbook, or what the French call “carnet de voyage”. We will learn all of the main aspects of telling a visual story of a place from drawing sweeping landscapes and rendering architecture, to sketching traditional Pyrenees villages and capturing unique flavors of a local market.
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Santa Fe Sketchbook: Exploring the Spirit & Stories of the American Southwest
Dates: April 20-24, 2026
Location: MISA West (Santa Fe)Join me on this unique retreat hosted by MISA West. Five days of travel sketching through the heart of the American Southwest. We’ll dive into the spirit of this region – its warm adobe structures, vibrant plazas, weathered mission ruins, and quirky ghost towns. We will learn how to sketch traditional Santa Fe architecture, the breathtaking mountain landscapes and then wander through villages, drawing nostalgic roadside Americana in its colorful charm.
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Urban Sketching in Guanajuato, Mexico
Dates: December 7-21 and December 14-21, 2025
Location: Guanajuato, MexicoJoin us in Pueblo Mágico (Magic Town) of Guanajuato for a week long sketching retreat. We will be hosted by the owner of Alma del Sol and a fellow Mexican artist Hugo Anaya. The colorful town is the Unesco World Heritage Site surrounded by mountains. It boasts rich history, beautiful architecture, unique culture, and mild climate.
Student Testimonials
“As a beginner I had a lot of apprehensions going to this workshop with mostly experienced sketchers and such a world-class teacher. Not only did I learn so much, and get excited about continuing this urban sketching journey but I overcame my fears through Rita’s gentle encouragement, excellent teaching and the other sketchers camaraderie.”
— Michele, Tijeras, New Mexico
“Rita Sabler presented techniques in a different way than I’ve learned before, and everything clicked for me.”
— Guanajuato Workshops Attendee
“Rita’s passion for capturing places and the people shines through in her approach to reportage urban sketching and her generosity as a teacher. Classes were well organized and suitable for beginners and those with experience. Daily class topics were sequenced to build skills so we could tackle increasingly complicated scenes over the week. I had a lot of fun and came away with new skills and a good sense of where to focus on my own to keep improving. If you’re hesitating — Don’t!”
— Maureen, Portland, OR
“Rita is an excellent instructor - very knowledgeable, organized, supportive and fun. She generously shares techniques and tips. She's a great role model for sketching anywhere, anytime, too! I learned so much from Rita and highly recommend her.“
Tamara W.
“Rita was an excellent teacher! Her enthusiasm for urban sketching was contagious, as she patiently met each participant at the skill level where they were at. After the week-long course, I am no longer scared to tackle difficult urban scenes, particularly panoramic city views. The lessons learned from the week will continue to propel my urban sketching skills forward!”
— Kat, Guanajuato Workshops participant
“Rita Sabler ‘s manner of instruction is always so clear, non-judgmental and supportive. I value the way she reviews the basics – line, value, thumbnails, etc – all of the elements of a strong composition. It's like first getting all of the ingredients together before making a delicious cake!”
Susan, Portland OR