Travel Sketching Retreats
-
People and the Sea: A Reportage Sketching Workshop
Dates: March 16-19, 2026
Location: Setubal, PortugalOver four days, participants of all skill levels will explore the working fishing port, the lively market, and the people whose daily rhythms are shaped by the sea, learning to observe keenly and draw with purpose. By the end of the workshop you’ll be able to craft stronger compositions, work confidently with quick character sketches, use watercolor to convey light and atmosphere, and weave sketches and field notes into cohesive visual reportage.
-
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.
-
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.
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