The Art of Seeing

The Art of Seeing –  Quick Links

Overview  /  Schedule  /  Accommodations-Cost  /  About Us  /  Getting There  /  Register

The art of seeing is the quintessential element of being an artist. We begin to awaken the artist and creator in all of us when we begin to observe reality from a new and fresh point of view. All great artists and thinkers, including painters, sculptors, writers, actors, musicians, philosophers, architects and anyone interested in seeing art in their lives, see the world from a different point of view. Creating the ability to observe in a new way and practicing it through various drawing assignments enables the participant to engage in seeing for the first time, all over again. It is a magical journey that holds gifts along the way that not only awakens the artist within, but also helps one to see those areas in your life that you might be blind to.

When Columbus landed on the shores of the new land, the native Indians could not see his ships with the large sails. Not because they were blind but, because they had never seen anything like that before and had no knowledge of those types of ships and so, it was not visible to them. Also, the Inuit people, when first shown a newspaper with portrait photographs, could not see the photographed faces. They only saw a series of colored dots in an abstract pattern.

With that being said, the question I ask in this workshop is, “What is it that you are not seeing just because you do not have the knowledge and experience of it yet?” We begin to uncover what has been right in front of you the whole time. We start to see the world through new eyes and create the ability to record that on paper in an easy and lighted hearted way. We engaging in specific drawing exercises to help you to see reality in an abstract way that simplifies and pairs down reality, making the drawing process much easier to record.

We explore form in space, objects and their relationship to each other in a given space, value (light and dark), perspective drawings (in a new and fresh way), drawing with the “mind’s eye” and portraitures. In addition, we work on the science of color and begin to apply that to water color paintings with various subject matter.

We will also work out of the studio in our journals, exploring quick and effective drawings and paintings applying everything we’ve learned throughout the course.

The class is for seasoned artists as well as beginners who have no experience at all! If you’ve ever been attracted to art and drawing, this class is perfect for you. In fact, most of the students in my workshops have never drawn before.

Check out some of the amazing results from previous workshops from students with NO drawing experience – before and during the workshop! (Take a look at the bottom of this page)

Come and join me in this amazing tropical paradise where you’ll have an opportunity to retreat from your life and place your focus on seeing through the artist’s eye. You’ll be in a beautiful environment exploring the artist within you, creating amazing artwork.  Together we’ll engage in inspiring conversations, we’ll share delicious Costa Rican cuisine, we’ll float in the warm playful waves of the Pacific. We’ll listen to the chatter of the monkeys, experience and capture amazing sunsets, relax on the beach together, share stories and support each other in the possibilities in your art.

Accommodations and Cost – The cost for this retreat is between $2,450 – $2,695, depending on choice of accommodations,  per participant in double occupancy. Click here for all the details

Schedule – Arrival/departure time and general information of the offerings of this retreat are available by clicking …here

About Us – Learn a bit about John’s background and experiences and some information about the hosts of this retreat by clicking…here

Getting There – Information that will assist you in booking your airline tickets and arrival/departure times is available…here

Register and Questions – If you are ready to register or you have questions, click…here

Comments from participants in John’s 2018 workshop in Tuscany

John, thank you for sharing your love of art, distilling your skills into teachable components, and your words of wisdom.  You quickly enabled me to set aside my past visual perceptions and translate 3D into its respective lines, spaces, and shadows so that the true image can emerge on my art tablet. Without ANY prior art training, I felt comfortable and encouraged to actively engage with the forms and shapes I was seeing and enjoy its often neglected details as they actually exist. This will help me in life as well as in my nursing career. You awakened a love for a new way of seeing that compels me to draw every day. Thank you. Janice 

A deep gratitude to John for this amazing Alchemy workshop and for his Art of making us SEE so much more of ‘reality’ & ourselves !!!For the wisdom of his humour and the slow flame & cool fire of his LOVE & TRUST, patiently operating a group transmutation, each one of us turning into our next level of being human, in JOY & LOVE !!! The whole group bonded in love and laughter. This week was a gift, a blessing and a deep subtle transformation and integration.

Thank you from my heart for the expansion of inner & outer sight & consciousness. Molka

John really was the best teacher I can remember.He gave us all the support we needed, I never felt time pass. I enjoyed every one in the group, I felt like I had known them for ever! I arrived home safely a little sad because I missed the hole group.Hasta luego,Love, Cristina

JOHN IS AN AMAZING TEACHER , ONE OF A KIND UNIQUE.  EVERY DAY HE WOULD LOVINGLY CHALLENGE US TO JUMP OFF THE CLIFF AND DISCOVER OURSELVES. AND WE MOST CERTAINLY DID. HE ALSO INSPIRED US  TO TRUST AND LOVE OURSELVES INTO BEING ARTISTS IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.  MEANING THAT HOW WE THINK , FEEL AND BE IS ART.  TO LIVE OUR LIFE AS ART. WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF PRESENCE, VALUES,  AND VIRTUE.   KNOWING JOHN FOR MANY YEARS, WHO HE IS AND HOW HE LIVES, IS COMPLETELY COHERENT WITH WHAT HE TEACHES.   I TRULY HONOR AND RESPECT HIS SINCERITY.  

WE ALL WANT MORE ART CLASSES WITH NINO !  BRAVISSIMO !  Roberta

Wow, what a retreat! The Art of Seeing retreat/workshop was a transformational experience for me! I was challenged to go beyond my perceptions of what I (an individual who happens to have a temporary visual impairment since birth) felt I was capable of. John is a humble, gracious, caring individual who really strives to assist each participant expand their own potential. He has a fantastic sense of humor as well! I feel honored and humbled to have participated and new possibilities come to me. John’s lessons, guidance, and support…Incredibly awesome! I felt John’s intention of knowing each participant could/would breakthrough their limiting barriers by trusting the process he exquisitely guided us through.  DAVID

This is what participants from the last workshop created before any instructions

After working with John, these were some of the results