This retreat is full... but there are still a few spaces left in the Refine & Define Your Creative Voice Retreat in Mulranny, Co Mayo, Ireland.
Join us in the land of poets, dreamers... and legends for a week of wax and wonder in the Emerald Isle.

...as we embark on an adventure with two of the encaustic world's leading artists and instructors.
Get ready for creative transformation...
Encaustic Explorations Workshop with
Lora Murphy:

Painting in the Land of Heart's Desire
with Lora Murphy:
Inspired by the exquisite work of Harry Clark, Ireland’s most beloved stained glass Artist and Jim Fitzpatrick, Painter and illustrator, best known for his elaborately detailed Celtic work, we will draw on the spirit of Art Noveau to create amazing and complex figurative works in this brand new class.
Whether you are an experienced painter or this is your first foray into encaustic and figure, you will love this class.We are going to spend three days in our light filled workshop at the Burren College of Art, collaging, painting and creating.



We begin with building luscious backgrounds using unique ephemera from antique bookshops, old book covers, maps and letters plus scrapbook and tissue paper prints of your own work or inspiration and monoprints of gorgeous local botanicals and celtic knots
You will learn the beauty of transparent glazes and rich opaque swathes of colour that make your artwork sing! Stamping, found objects, collaging and painting, we will add 3 D elements and encaustic paint to build a story of ancient Ireland!
We will continue mark making, carving and scratching into the surface with tools and knives creating wonderful dimension and texture. After that we move on to colour, creating luminous beeswax and paint layers. Scraping back previous layers allows the beauty of the underpainting to peek through. Fusing with a torch allows a play of wax and colours that results in gorgeous swathes and swirls that would be impossible to create any other way.
Encaustic Explorations Workshop with
Alicia Tormey:

Breaking New Ground
with Alicia Tormey:
Get ready for a new approach to your art making. This workshop is designed to open you up to fresh ideas and elevate your encaustic painting process.
We'll work with encaustic and mixed media to discover new ways to express your creative voice.
Using shellac, encaustic, mixed media and creative mark making techniques... we will experiment and push the boundaries of our materials to discover alternative ways to work with encaustic and create unique works of art


In addition to playful experimentation...
we will also dive into the more technical aspects of encaustic as we cover ways to make repairs to your work, methods to improve composition and tips for working with color.
We will have several days together in the studio providing us with plenty of time for individual guidance.
INCLUDED IN YOUR TUITION:
-
Workshop Fees
-
Class Materials
-
8 Nights Accommodation
(double occupancy w/ ensuite bath) -
Daily Meals
-
Group Excursions
-
Ground
Transportation


Campus Cafe

On Site Accomodations

The Lodge

Spaces To Gather

Spaces To Learn

Places To Discover
Retreat Schedule
August 19 - 27, 2023
Tentative Schedule subject to change
Day 1:
August 19th
Arrival Day / Welcome Dinner
We will greet you at the Galway Coach Station at 4 PM and deliver you to the Burren College of Art campus. You will have some time to get settled in before we all gather at the on-site castle for a little bubbly and welcome dinner
Day 4:
August 22nd
Workshops /
Session "A" concludes
Workshop Studio Day
Group Dinner
Special Evening Entertainment
Day 7:
August 25th
Workshops /
Session "B" continues
Workshop / studio day
Group Dinner
Evening Entertainment
Day 2:
August 20th
Workshops /
Session "A" Begins
Students will gather in the studio with their assigned instructor, either Lora or Alicia, for the start of Session “A”.
Workshops are conducted from 9:30am to 4pm with a mid-day break for lunch in the campus cafe.
Group dinner followed by a quiet evening to reflect
Day 5:
August 23nd
Day Trip / Excursion
We'll spend the day gathering inspiration on a group excursion to regional sites and historical ruins.
Group Dinner back at the Burren followed by a
Quiet evening to relax
Day 8:
August 26th
Workshops /
Session "B" Concludes
Workshop / studio day
We will celebrate our final evening together with a BBQ Dinner on the patio,
Live local musicians and a
Student Gallery Show & Tell
Day 3:
August 21st
Workshops /
Session "A" continues
Workshop Day
Group Dinner Excursion to Ballyvaughan village
Day 6:
August 24th
Workshops /
Session "B" Begins
Students will gather in the studio with their alternate instructor, either Lora or Alicia, for the start of Session “B” workshops
Group Dinner
Evening Entertainment
Day 9:
August 27th
Departure Day
Farewell Breakfast
Ground transport to Galway leaving Burren College of art at 11 AM

Meet your instructors:
Lora Murphy & Alicia Tormey

Lora Murphy was born in Ireland and educated in the US, Italy and Ireland. Trained as an oil painter, she now works primarily in Encaustic and Mixed Media. Lora teaches Contemporary Portraiture in Encaustic workshops throughout the world.
"I would characterize my work as representational but drawing on the complexity of feelings emotions and memories evoked by my celtic heritage."
Alicia Tormey is an internationally recognized encaustic artist best known for her unique approach to encaustic painting and her shellac burn techniques. She has been conducting classes and encaustic workshops since 2006 and currently maintains a studio in Sun Valley, Idaho.
"My work is fluid and organic. Inspired by nature, my work bridges the boundaries between abstraction and representational imagery."


Encaustic Explorations
REGISTRATION
2 Spots Left
Tuition for this retreat is $5600 USD and includes:
-
8 nights accommodation:
Shared rooms with ensuite bath
-
All meals are provided for you while at the retreat location including: Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
-
All expenses associated with your workshop: including six days of instruction, all workshop materials and supplies directly related to your classes.
-
Guided Excursion Tour to nearby historical sites.
-
Ground transportation to and from the Burren campus and the Galway train station.
*Airfare and additional expenses not included with your tuition.
Please Note:
Total tuition for this retreat is $5600.
A nonrefundable deposit of $600 is required at time of registration.
In addition to the deposit your first tuition installment of $2500 is also due now. The remaining balance of $2500 is due on or before May 15, 2023.
Upon submitting payment you agree to our Cancellation and Terms policy>>.
Check out the Frequently Asked Questions page
Encaustic Explorations
Artist Retreats
Cancellation Policy & Terms Of Agreement
Your non-refundable deposit of $600.00 is due at registration to guarantee your enrollment in this retreat if a space is available. Participants will receive a 100% refund of all payments collected to date including any non-refundables if a workshop is cancelled by the hosts: Alicia Tormey Studios, INC. and/or Essence Of Mulranny Studios. Alicia Tormey Studios, INC.& Essence Of Mulranny Studios are not liable for any additional expenses incurred, including, but not limited to; airfare, transportation, accommodations, etc., if the retreat is cancelled for any reason. Student Cancellations: Students will be refunded all tuition payments less the $600 nonrefundable deposit and a $49 admin fee if a cancellation is submitted in writing on or before May 15, 2023. Cancellations that occur after this date are nonrefundable and non transferable. A 50% refund of total payments collected, less the non-refundable deposit, may be issued if your space can be filled by an alternate student. Refunds are issued 30 days after full payment has been processed from the alternate student. NO-SHOWS are 100% NON-REFUNDABLE and NON-TRANSFERABLE. Total tuition for this retreat is $5600. A $600 nonrefundable deposit is due at registration. A second installment of $2500 is due by February 15, 2023 with the remaining balance of $2500 due on or before May 15, 2023. 100% of any remaining tuition balance is due no later than May 15, 2023. Failure to pay your tuition fees by the due dates specified may result in a forfeiture of your enrollment. Upon submitting payment, you hold Alicia Tormey Studios, INC. & Essence Of Mulranny Studios free from any liability in the event of loss or accidental injury.