Daily painting, classes & demonstrations with artist Michelle Shain.
Artists will learn how to select subject matter, design a page, choose a color palette, paint with gouache and watercolor, experiment with hand-lettering and journaling, and create artwork! Recommended art supply list will be sent out June, 2025
Michelle will be on hand at all times to guide students. Art classes and demonstrations will take place in the Rec Hall and on the 30’ Rec Hall porch overlooking Schroon Lake. Maximum # of students = 14.
Registration is open!
Typical Day
We will learn and create together, while also having time to enjoy the beauty of the Adirondack mountains.
8:00 am: Optional Morning Hike, Yoga
9:30 am: Breakfast
10:00 am: Art Class, Demo
10:45 am: Painting with Michelle
1:00 pm: Lunch
2:30 pm: Art Class, Demo, Workshop
3:15 pm: Painting with Michelle
5:00 pm: Art Edit
7:00 pm: Dinner
Amenities
Delicious Chef-Prepared Meals Included
5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches and 6 Dinners with unlimited wine
Canteen open all day: water, coffee, tea, juice, and snacks
Dietary restrictions can be accommodated
Additional Activities
Campfire Night - BBQ Dinner/Bonfire/S’mores
Half-Day Kayak Trip down Schroon River - weather permitting
Craft & Movie Night - bring your needles : )
Free Time - tennis, pickleball, hiking, go for a swim, kayak, walk into town or just enjoy the serenity of Terra Alta Cottages
Exclusive use of 14-acre wooded property, private beach and Rec Hall
Private Facebook group with Michelle Shain and attendees starting June 2025 to meet others, share art information and get excited about the retreat!
Accommodations
All cottages have 3 bedrooms, 1 full bathroom, living room, separate kitchen, screened-in porch and high-speed internet.
5 Nights
Enjoy your own lakeview cottage $2,400
Share with a friend/or make a new one $2,000
Wooded View (less $400)
Partners/families of guests are welcome, dogs too; but all meals and activities are for artists only. Maximum # of people per cottage is 6. Pet fee: $75.
Fully-staffed venue. Terra Alta hosts and maintenance available at all times
Michelle Shain
About the Artist
Paintbrush is in hand whenever I am on the road, on a boat, train or plane. I'll sketch in a café, on a park bench, mountaintop or at a picnic. I am Michelle Shain. My background and education in graphic design helps me use lettering, striking composition and playful scale juxtaposition to tell painted stories.
Professionally, I have illustrated and published several children’s books and often use illustration to help design brands, brochures, signage and infographics. I am very involved in my hometown community and have changed the landscape of our Main Street with numerous hand-painted murals and a park signage system. My work for the local theater includes illustrated posters, seasonal brochures and complete graphics and imaging for their annual galas. "Live Painting” events, as well as house, dog and wedding portraits are also in my toolbox.
As a teacher, I have taught classes at The Art Guild in watercolor and journaling. In addition my “Pack Your Bags” virtual art series takes students around the world while painting.
Please visit www.m44art.com to see samples of my work and a complete client list.
Artists’ Retreat with Michelle Shain
September 2025
