Postcards from Austria

August 31, 2024 By Patricia Saxton

First, a note: Something is amiss with my blog. Recent posts that I’ve shared with you have (for the most part, I believe) arrived in your email inbox without the accompanying pictures (also with fonts changing, which you may not notice, but I definitely do!). Finding the solution has been harder than expected and is most frustrating – so my apologies for the less interesting visuals you might be seeing. Your patience is appreciated! For the fully pictured as-intended version, please visit the blog itself. 😉

Art Retreat Extraordinaire

Mission complete – the 2024 Art Retreat in Austria was beautiful! Art was made. Exquisite food was consumed. Spectacular views were breathed in at every turn. Friendships were discovered and deepened and memories were carved. Magic walked among us.

There was painting from life and painting from pictures – and certainly no shortage of inspiration. We were wowed at the gorgeous mountain lake known as Lünersee (and for some, a blissful relief when finishing the lengthy drive up zig-zaggy Alpine roads going ever higher!). We reveled in the sheer immensity of the Alps during our foraging-for-herbs expedition, and were awed by the nighttime James Turrell SkySpace art installation. We were regularly treated to flower-filled window boxes in charming towns and the sweet chime of church bells on the hour. And we all left a piece of our hearts in this magnificently picturesque country.

I am deeply grateful to our Chalet-M hosts Franz and Laurie for our top-notch accommodations and spoiling us with incredible, drool-worthy meals, for making us feel cared for in every way, and for our seamless teamwork in creating an amazing experience that will long be cherished.

And to my “retreaters” – what a great group! I couldn’t have asked for a better, more cohesive collection of souls on our maiden Austrian Art Retreat. Living, laughing, painting and exploring together, it felt like the best kind of family.

‘Til the next time… Es war eine wunderbare Zeit!

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