Join us for an all-inclusive 4 day / 3 night creative retreat hosted by Fluid Artists Simon Bull and Billie Gaura. Set lakeside on Deer Lake in the stunning Pacific Northwest, this experience blends art, nature, and deep rest. You’ll stay in a waterfront cabin and spend your days in workshops and gatherings where you’ll be taught, pampered, well fed, and gently encouraged to truly relax.
Surrounded by the quiet beauty of Deer Lake, this retreat is designed to spark creativity, deepen your technique, and foster meaningful connection with a community of fellow artists. Over several immersive days, we’ll explore unique acrylic pouring methods, color theory, and exciting new ways to express yourself through fluid art.
As the sun sets, evenings unfold with shared meals, laughter, and fireside conversations about art, life, and everything in between. It’s a few magical days of creating, connecting, and coming home inspired.
Friday August 27th
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12:00 noon
VIP Ground Transportation to Deer Lake
Transportation will be provided via our VIP shuttle, with pickup at Spokane International Airport (GEG). The designated pickup location is past baggage claim, through the doors marked “Shuttle Loop.” Please plan your arrival accordingly, or return to the designated pickup location if you arrive in Spokane prior to Friday.
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12:30 PM
VIP Shuttle Pickup at Davenport Tower
Our VIP shuttle will make a scheduled pickup at The Davenport Tower in downtown Spokane. Please be ready at the designated hotel pickup area by 12:30 PM for transportation to Deer Lake.
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1:00 PM
Welcome and Unwind
Kick off your retreat experience with a warm welcome. This is your time to arrive, unwind, and connect with fellow artists in a laid-back lakeside setting. Find a sunny spot, and let the calm of the water set the tone for the creative days ahead.
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2:00 PM
Lakeside Lunch
Relax with your retreat family and enjoy a beautifully prepared meal crafted by our incredible Executive Chef, with the lake as your backdrop.
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5:00 PM
Happy Hour
After you get settled into your room, come have a beverage or two with Simon and your fellow artists. We'll have both alcohol and alcohol-free options available.
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6:30 PM
Dinner
As evening settles in, enjoy a Chef-curated dinner prepared by our Executive Chef.
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7:30 PM
Fireside Connection
Our fireside chats take place under the open sky, gathered around the dock fire pits with the water in sight. This is an unstructured, easy time for conversation, reflection, and genuine connection—where the best moments often happen naturally.
Saturday August 28th
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7:15 AM
Yoga
An easy, all-levels morning flow focused on gentle movement, deep breathing, and easing into your day feeling open, relaxed, and centered.
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8:00 AM
Breakfast
Start the day with a relaxed, nourishing breakfast designed to ease you into the morning. Thoughtfully composed offerings paired with great coffee and an unhurried atmosphere.
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9:00 AM until 12 noon
Studio Session #1 :: Painting with Paper Towels
This session explores one of Simon’s most deceptively powerful tools… the humble paper towel. You’ll learn how absorption, pressure, and movement can dramatically alter paint behavior, create organic transitions, and reveal hidden layers beneath the surface. Simon breaks down why this technique works from both a practical and visual standpoint, showing how intentional restraint can produce some of the most compelling textures and compositions in fluid art. Expect surprises, subtle control, and a whole new appreciation for simplicity.
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12:00 PM
Lunch
A casually elegant lunch designed for refueling and reconnecting… carefully chosen ingredients, well-executed dishes, and time to reset before the afternoon.
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2:00 pm Until 5 pm
Studio Session #2 :: Painting Straight from the Bottle Using Nozzles
In this hands-on session, Simon demonstrates how to paint directly from the bottle using a variety of nozzles to achieve precision, rhythm, and flow. You’ll explore line quality, pattern development, and controlled movement while maintaining the spontaneity that makes fluid art so captivating. This approach allows for confident mark-making and layered complexity, giving you tools to create structure without losing energy or expression.
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5:00 PM
Happy Hour
Unwind and connect during happy hour with thoughtfully selected drinks and small bites in a casual, welcoming setting.
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6:30 PM
Dinner
Gather for dinner and enjoy a meal designed to nourish, connect, and reflect on the day’s creative journey.
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7:30 PM
Fireside Connection
As the day winds down, gather around the fire on the dock for an evening of warmth, laughter, and real connection. With the lake at your feet and the fire glowing, this is a space to relax, share stories, and simply be together.
Sunday August 29th
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7:15am
Yoga
An easy, all-levels morning flow focused on gentle movement, deep breathing, and easing into your day feeling open, relaxed, and centered.
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8:00 AM
Breakfast
A carefully prepared breakfast featuring warm and light options to fuel creativity and conversation before the day unfolds.
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9:00 AM until 12 noon
Studio Session #3 :: Transforming Paint Pouring into Realism
This session bridges the gap between abstract fluid pouring and recognizable imagery. Simon guides you through techniques that allow forms, depth, and realism to emerge from fluid foundations. You’ll learn how to guide paint rather than fight it, using contrast, color placement, and intentional movement to transform pours into landscapes, figures, or symbolic imagery. It’s where intuition meets intention and abstract becomes something unmistakably alive.
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12:00 PM
Lunch
Take a pause and enjoy a relaxed lunch experience featuring comforting flavors and seasonal touches, crafted to recharge without distraction.
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2:00 pm Until 5 pm
Studio Session #4 :: Spinning with a Pottery Wheel and Color Theory
Using a pottery wheel as a dynamic painting tool, this session explores centrifugal force, balance, and color interaction. Simon dives into color theory in motion… how hues blend, separate, and speak to one another when spun at varying speeds. You’ll learn how color choices affect mood, depth, and visual harmony, and how to harness motion to create striking, symmetrical compositions that feel both energetic and refined.
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4:30 PM
Happy Hour
Sip, snack, and settle in with an easygoing happy hour that invites connection and a little celebration.
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7:00 PM
Farewell Dinner
Evening dining at its best… a farewell dinner meant to be felt as much as tasted, honoring connection, creativity, and the final night we share.
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8:30 PM
Final Fireside Connection
As the day winds down on our final night together, we gather around the fire on the dock for an evening of warmth, laughter, and connection. With the lake at your feet and the fire glowing, this is a space to relax, share stories, and reflect—our quiet au revoir until next year.
Monday August 30th
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7:15 AM
Yoga
An easy, all-levels morning flow focused on gentle movement, deep breathing, and easing into your day feeling open, relaxed, and centered.
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8:00 Am
Breakfast
We hope you head home feeling relaxed and ready to take on the rest of your week. Be sure to bring your suitcases and belongings with you as we'll be wishing one another farewell at the end of the final session. Please note that you will be getting on the VIP Shuttle with your boxed lunch in hand as one final nutritious hug from Chef.
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9:00 AM
5th and Final Studio Session :: Q & A with Simon
As the retreat comes to a close, we’ll gather one final time for an intimate send-off and open conversation with Simon Bull. This is a space to pause, reflect, and engage, ask any questions you didn’t get to, share what shifted for you, or simply be present in the last moments of this shared creative experience. Whether you’re seeking clarity around technique, insight into Simon’s path as an artist, or a few parting thoughts to take home, this session is an open door. Bring your coffee, your curiosity, and an open heart as we close the weekend together with connection and intention.
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10:00 aM
VIP Ground Transportation to Spokane International Airport
Enjoy stress-free transportation via our VIP shuttle, designed to make arriving and departing effortless so you can focus fully on the experience. They'll pick everyone up @ 10 am. You should make sure your flight leaves anytime after 1:00 PM.
