September 23-27, 2026
Sacred Circles:
Watercolor, Acrylic Inks & Soul Renewal Retreat
with guest artist Krista Brock
What would it be like to nurture your creative soul in a beautiful lakefront setting -nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina- for a spacious stretch of days? This retreat will give you permission to do just that, while connecting with other curious creatives and learning from an artist who is passionate about sharing her gifts with you. We invite you to join us in this serene lakefront sanctuary where we will come together for four days to create, reflect, and play — allowing color, texture, and intuition guide the way.
”This retreat is especially for anyone who has felt disconnected from their creativity, perfectionist tendencies, or the constant pull to “do it all.” After a major life shift, simplifying my creative practice with watercolor and acrylic inks became a path back to myself — noticing the small wonders, slowing down, and honoring curiosity. This retreat offers that same gift: space to return to your own creative heart, to explore, play, reflect, and reconnect with your inner voice.” ~ Krista
LATE SEPTEMBER AT SANTEETLAH IS WONDERFUL FOR SWIMMING, BOAT OUTINGS AND LAKE TIME IN GENERAL!
AT BEAUTIFUL LAKE SANTEETLAH
meet
YOUR RETREAT ARTIST
“I’m a self-taught artist who first discovered her passion for painting and mixed media collage nearly 20 years ago while raising my two little ones. What began as a way to keep my creativity alive while staying home quickly bloomed into a thriving art practice. I sold my work internationally and led countless workshops, art camps, and community classes—sharing the magic of expressive art with people of all ages.
But by 2016, after years of giving my all, I burned out. Life transitions, caregiving, and the pressure to keep producing led to a long creative block. In 2019, I returned to the classroom as a World History teacher, where I found new inspiration in weaving creativity into education. My classroom became a space for stories, imagination, and artistic expression—proof that history and art are deeply intertwined. That chapter was cut short in March 2020 when the world shifted.
Soon after, I survived a rare and serious stroke caused by COVID—a Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis—followed by seizures. In its wake, I lost my ability to create. But something else quietly deepened: my connection to nature, to spirit, and to the unseen magic around me. These parts of me never left—they gently whispered, guided me to stay present, and reminded me to be tender with myself. In time, those whispers inspired my return to art.
Over the months and years that followed, something began to stir. I started walking outside again, noticing light filtering through leaves, the rhythm of breath, the softness of water and color. These small moments slowly brought me back. I began painting again—not like before, but from a more intuitive place. Watercolor became my medicine. It helped me listen. It helped me remember.
Now, five years later, I’m creating again with a renewed sense of purpose. I lead intuitive watercolor and mixed media workshops that blend art, mindfulness, and connection to nature. My practice combines expressive mark-making, vintage ephemera, layers of story, and moments of stillness. Women and animal muses often appear in my work—symbols of resilience, rebirth, and guidance.
I believe in the healing power of creativity, in the unseen magic that surrounds us, and in the beauty that comes from letting go. Whether I’m teaching a class, writing my story, or painting in my studio, I try to stay open to wonder and trust the process.
When I’m not creating, you’ll find me spending time with my husband of 24 years, visiting our grown children, snuggling our two cats and pup, or wandering outdoors—my favorite kind of medicine.
I hope my art and offerings remind you that it's never too late to begin again—and that your creative voice, no matter how quiet, is always waiting to be heard.”
~ Krista
Krista’s invitation to you
“Each day we will begin with a gentle grounding practice, a soft invitation to settle into your body, quiet your mind, and open your creative voice. From there, we’ll let our imagination take the lead. Together, we’ll explore intuitive watercolor & acrylic inks, journaling, and daily creations like affirmation cards, discovering how your own intentions and reflections can emerge through color and mark-making. We’ll also explore intuitive portraits, playful experiments on paper or wood, and other guided exercises that allow your creativity to decide where, what, and how to paint. Sticks, feathers, and found objects will become tools for discovery, helping you engage fully with process and play, while still leaving room for quiet reflection.
Our signature portal and nest paintings — circular, layered works — will emerge alongside your collection of affirmation cards, journals, and other intuitive pieces, each reflecting personal growth, protection, and transformation. Every art-making session is designed to honor curiosity over perfection, intuition over expectation, and the beauty of process as much as product.” ~ Krista
YOUR LAKEFRONT SETTING:
“During our time together, we’ll gather for slow, mindful walks in nature—what I call wonder walks. These unhurried, meditative wanderings invite us to notice the shapes of clouds, the texture of bark, shifting shadows, and the shimmer of light on water. We’ll pause often—sometimes in silence, sometimes with a guided reflection or visualization—entering the art of noticing and remembering that beauty and insight live in ordinary moments. These gentle grounding practices quiet the mind and open the creative channel.
These walks are also where inspiration is gathered. You may collect a fallen leaf, feather, or flower, or pause to sketch, write, or paint what’s calling to you—the pattern of a tree, the color of the water, the way morning light moves across the ground.”~ Krista
RETREAT HIGHLIGHTS
Tools and practices to sustain daily creativity and personal renewal
A refreshed sense of wonder, connection, and possibility
The chance to connect with other women, share stories, and perhaps form lasting friendships!
Individual attention and feedback from Krista
A collection of meaningful, intuitive artworks, including your signature portal or nest piece
Free time for personal exploration and relaxation at the lake
Evening gatherings to connect with one another
A special closing circle to share your experiences
What’s Included
Four nights accommodation at a lakefront home on beautiful Lake Santeetlah
Nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina, and located right on the lake!. An easy 2 hours drive from vibrant downtown Asheville. Your accommodations will be at one of three lakefront homes on the same lake cove (all within walking distance to each other).
Daily creative practices with Krista
We will begin each day with a gentle grounding practice - led by Krista- a soft invitation to settle into your body, quiet your mind, and open your creative voice.
Daily mixed media art-making with Krista
During each full retreat day, we’ll explore intuitive watercolor and acrylic inks, journaling, and daily creations like affirmation cards, discovering how your own intentions and reflections can emerge through color and mark-making. We’ll also explore intuitive portraits, playful experiments on paper or wood, and other guided exercises that allow your creativity to decide where, what, and how to paint.
By the end of four days, you’ll leave with a rich collection of meaningful, intuitive artwork, including your portal and nest paintings, affirmation cards, intuitive portraits, journals, and other creations guided by your process, along with prompts, practices, and rituals to sustain creative and personal renewal. You’ll also have the chance to connect with other women, share stories, and perhaps form lasting friendships along the way.
A wide array of beautiful, varied art supplies at your disposal throughout the retreat.
Krista will be bringing much of what you will need for all of your creativity! In advance of the retreat, Krista will also provide you with a minimal list of basic (economical) supplies to bring along.
Daily gathering circles
Each day, we will gather in creative community by forming a circle to hold our intention of honoring one another’s creative spirit and creating a safe container within which everyone feels free to share and be seen wherever we are on our creative journey.
Inspiration from Nature
80% of the lake’s shoreline is undeveloped, giving us plentiful, lush beauty + tranquility, vast horizons, deep hues of blue & green and big, open sky. In this setting, you will have no shortage of natural beauty to draw ideas and inspiration from for your color palettes, forms and subjects. We invite you to allow the unspoiled natural surroundings to fuel your choices & imagination throughout the retreat.
Community and Connection
Throughout the retreat, we will enjoy creative time together, via art-making, meals, lake outings on the boat, happy hour and downtime together on the screened porches. You will also have the opportunity for nature walks or your own private time as you choose, when you need a little downtime.
Soaking in the Beauty of the Lake
You’ll have time for swimming, boating or just relaxing as you watch the sunlight dapple across the lake as you sip your morning coffee. Pontoon cruises to enjoy the lake’s beauty will be offered on Thursday, Friday & Saturday.
Delicious & Nourishing Food
All of your meals, beverages and nourishing snacks are included with this retreat! On the first night, there will be a special chef-prepared spread of heavy h’ors d’oeuvres and a happy hour to welcome you! On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, you’ll enjoy fresh continental breakfasts in addition to fully catered lunches and chef-prepared dinners. On Sunday a catered breakfast will be provided for the last morning of the retreat.
LAKE SANTEETLAH IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LAKES IN THE U.S. ACCORDING TO TRAVEL & LEISURE & OUTSIDE MAGAZINE
How do I know if this retreat is a good fit for me?
You see art-making as a tool for self-nourishment, creative expression and joy.
You long for connection with other like-hearted souls, in a collaborative, non-judgmental atmosphere.
You find the idea of creating art, while immersed in a beautiful natural setting, inspiring.
You don’t mind- or you even relish- the idea of putting down the to-do list and dropping into a stretch of days filled will wonder, presence, creativity and connection.
You may have gone through a period of time where you felt disconnected from your creativity. Possibly due to perfectionist tendencies, or the constant pull to “do it all.” After a major life shift, simplifying my creative practice with watercolor and acrylic inks became a path back to myself — noticing the small wonders, slowing down, and honoring curiosity. This retreat offers that same gift: space to return to your own creative heart, to explore, play, reflect, and reconnect with your inner voice.
You value the creative process itself, and would enjoy being invited and inspired to tap into your own creative voice.
You’d love to learn from -and with- Krista - through her creative mediums and practices that she will share.
You look forward to a balance of time for art-making, time for connection, and down time to enjoy the beauty of the lake and the serenity of its surroundings.
FOLLOW/ LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR RETREAT ARTIST KRISTA BROCK HERE
Welcome! I’m Kristen Edge, owner of ArtPlay Creativity Studio + Gallery and your host for each retreat.
In May of 2025, we began a beautiful new chapter of hosting women’s art retreats at Lake Santeetlah, quietly nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina. It has been a joyful experience to welcome and host women from across the country - and beyond- who feel drawn to nurturing their creative spirit while connecting with other like-hearted souls. A few times per year, we gather in a gorgeous lakefront setting, surrounded by miles of preserved national forest shoreline to remember our inborn creativity and learn from artists who are passionate about sharing their gifts..
We hosted three retreats in 2025: Playful Blooms with Cathy Nichols, Watercolor + Wonder with Katie White and ColorFlow with Kimberly Deene. Each retreat has held its own special magic that gets created anew with the unique constellation of women who gather here. I hope you’ll join us on the journey in 2026!
I am so excited to host Krista Brock as a retreat artist this year and for her to share her creative magic with you!
FAQ’s
Do I need artistic background or experience to attend this retreat? This is a common question we receive, and the answer is NO, you do not need to be an artist or be experienced with art-making to attend this retreat. Our retreats are designed to be beginner-friendly and supportive of wherever you may be on your creative journey.
What if I am an experienced artist, will I still benefit? Yes, absolutely! Our retreats are designed to be accessible to beginners however, each retreat will have materials, perspectives, creative processes and techniques that are unique to the teaching artist. These will be beneficial as new tools and “artistic lenses” that will support you wherever you are in your creative journey.
Will there be down time? Yes! Each day will have built-in Flex Time for you to enjoy the lake, relaxing on the decks or screened porch, connecting with others, swimming or taking nature walks.
What is the cancellation policy? Due to the amount of preparation & expense that goes into creating each retreat we are not able to provide refunds. In the event that you are not able to attend, you may transfer your spot to someone who is interested - given advance notice- however please note that it would be your responsibility to find your replacement. As a courtesy, if we have people on a wait list we are happy to announce your available spot for you.
What are my payment/ reservation options? You may pay in full - and save an additional $100 at checkout- or reserve your spot via 3 (non-refundable) installments. Both of those options are available to you in each reservation listing.
Are food sensitivities accounted for in menu planning? Yes. Accommodations in our menu planning depend on the number of people in the group that have specific sensitivities or limitations. The most common menu accommodations thus far have been: gluten-free and vegetarian options. Happy to hear from you If you have questions in advance of- of after- registering. Please reach out here!
How do I get to the retreat location? While transportation is not included, your host- Kristen Edge- is happy to work with you if you need to arrange for shuttle transport from the Asheville Airport to Lake Santeetlah. For general navigation and location you can use area code: 28771 to estimate your drive time. Lake Santeetlah is a two hour drive from Asheville NC. Please reach out to your host, Kristen Edge here if you have questions about arrival logistics.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? Your host, Kristen, is happy to reply to you personally or set up a time for a phone call.
Wednesday:
3-5 pm Arrival/ unpack, relax
5:30 pm Happy Hour+ Heavy Hor’s d’oeuvres
6:30 pm Welcome Circle - setting the intention for our time together
Thursday:
8:30 am continental breakfast + fresh croissants
9am gentle movement such as qi gong or nature walk - to open our creative channels
9:45am morning art workshop with Krista
12:30 pm: catered lunch, followed by free time: relaxing on the lake, optional pontoon boat outing, group walk or personal down time
2:30pm: afternoon art workshop with Krista
6:00pm: chef-prepared dinner
7:00pm: gathering in circle/ oracle card drawing / group sharing of the dayFriday :
8:30 am continental breakfast + fresh baked french bread & cheeses
9am gentle movement such as qi gong or nature walk - to open our creative channels
9:45am morning art workshop with Krista
12:30 pm: catered lunch, followed by free time: relaxing on the lake, optional pontoon boat outing, group walk or personal down time
2:30pm: afternoon art workshop with Krista
6:00pm: chef-prepared dinner
7:00pm: gathering in circle/ oracle card drawing / group sharing of the daySaturday :
8:30 am continental breakfast + frittata
9am gentle movement such as qi gong or nature walk - to open our creative channels
9:45am morning art-making with Krista
12:30 pm: catered lunch, followed by free time: relaxing on the lake, optional pontoon boat outing, group walk or personal down time
2:30pm: afternoon art-,making with Krista
6:00pm: chef-prepared dinner
7:00pm: gathering in circle/ oracle card drawing / group sharing of the daySunday :
8:30 am chef-prepared breakfast
9:30am closing circle, sharing of creations
11:00 am: farewell, exchange of contacts (always optional) & departure
SAMPLE ITINERARY
SACRED CIRCLES 4 DAY RETREAT ~ SEPT. 23-27, 2026
BOOK NOW FOR EARLY BIRD PRICING!
$400 savings through March 15, 2026
RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW TO LOCK IN THE LOWEST PRICES
There are 11 in spots in total available for this retreat
$2350-2950
$1950 - $2550
Room types and availability for this retreat:
SINGLE OCCUPANCY MASTER SUITE/ LAKEFRONT- 1 spot (private)
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY ROOM/ LAKEVIEW - 6 spots (shared)
SINGLE OCCUPANCY ROOM/ LAKEFRONT - 4 spots (private room/ shared bath)
Note: Both double occupancy rooms at this retreat are spacious and include an en suite bathroom that you would share with one person. People have booked the double occupancy spots independently in the past AND these rooms are also ideal for pairs (sisters, friends, mom/ daughter, etc.). The master suite also works well for pairs that do not mind sharing a king bed. Master suites can be booked independently or as a shared room between 2 participants with an additional participant fee. See listings for details.
COVE HOUSE IS WHERE ALL OF THE MEALS, RETREAT ACTIVITIES AND ART-MAKING SESSIONS WILL TAKE PLACE
MORNING MIST COTTAGE & HANNA HOUSE ARE BOTH LOCATED VERY NEARBY ~ WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO COVE HOUSE
KIND WORDS FROM PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS :
