We’re pleased to welcome you to our brand-new painting workshop and retreat on the beautiful island of Madeira. In this workshop, put on by Raquel and Kimball Geisler (the instructor), you will have the chance to see up close the incredible diversity the island has to offer — a great opportunity for relaxation, learning, exploration, and sharing with fellow painters as we travel around all parts of the island. Complete with hotel, meals, and instruction, workshop participants can paint and explore the island.
Traveler’s Insurance
Students and their partners are expected to have traveler’s insurance to cover the retreat, in the unlikely scenario where the workshop must be canceled or postponed due to circumstances outside of our control. These circumstances could include, but are not limited to: the workshop instructor being unable to attend (e.g. illness or family emergency), a weather event/emergency, pandemic, travel bans, political issues, safety issues, etc. If the workshop is postponed, Plein Air Madeira will contact all attendees to discuss the schedule of the new workshop. If this doesn’t work for the attendee, it will be up to the attendee’s travel insurance to cover the cost of the workshop and all travel expenses.
Travel insurance will also be important in the event that students need to cancel due to their own circumstances. We try to find replacements for cancelled spots in the class, but when this isn’t possible the insurance should be used to cover any losses. Please review the refund policy below for details.
Pricing
Pricing for the workshop retreat is based on the following lodging categories: Single Occupancy Room $6,200, Shared Student Room $5,500, and Non-Painter Partner $3,900. Included in the price of all categories: transportation to and from the airport, lodging for seven nights, hotel breakfast, a “lunch box” for painting days (available to partners as well), hotel restaurant dinners each night (except two nights where we eat together at a restaurant), transportation to and from painting locations, restaurants, and “Excursion Day” destinations.
Not included in the price: art supplies, extra snacks/meals throughout the day, extra drinks and alcohol at restaurants, and food or restaurants not outlined in the plan/itinerary.
- Single Occupancy Room — one student in a hotel room.
- Shared Student Room — two students in a hotel room.
- Non-Painter Partner — a partner, spouse, significant other, or friend of a student, who stays in the same room as the attending student.
Non-Painter Partners
Partners may attend as much or as little of the regular events of the week as they desire. Their travel is included in the price of their ticket. Travel outside of the normal itinerary (locations where students will be painting) will not be covered by the cost of the retreat. Partners may not participate in drawing or painting at the workshop should they choose to travel to the locations with the class, and will not receive critique or art instruction from the instructor during the week.
Payment and Refund Policy
Important — please read carefully.
Upon initial checkout at PleinAirMadeira.com, students choose to pay the full tuition, or pay $1,000 as a deposit followed by two more installments (detailed under “Payment Due Dates”). The deposit option is only available prior to December 20, 2026.
- $6,200 for Single Room
- $5,500 for Shared Room
- $3,900 for Non-Painter Partner
- $1,000 up front (secures spot in class).
- The rest of the Workshop fees are due 30 days after Deposit Payment.
- Non-Painter Partner costs due March 22, 2027. Late fees of $50 per week apply after this date.
- For students booking prior to December 26, 2026, cancellations within the first 30 days after signup are 100% refundable, after which $500 is non-refundable.
- After December 20, 2026, $2,500 is non-refundable.
- After March 22, 2027, the full ticket price is non-refundable.
- Students ARE REQUIRED to purchase travel insurance that covers the cost of the workshop should they need to cancel for any reason.
If you need to cancel your booking, we will try our best to find a student to replace your spot. If we can fill your spot, we will reimburse most, if not all, of your tuition (depending on any costs we incur). If we are unable to reimburse you, your travel insurance is meant to cover this.
Schedule
A plan for each day of the workshop has been created and is outlined below. The locations have been given considerable thought, and Kimball has visited and evaluated each of them. Preference is given based on geographic position on the island, the existence of basic facilities (restrooms), and lighting at certain times of day. If weather becomes an issue, locations for certain days might be moved, or even canceled if necessary. Kimball and Raquel will monitor the weather closely throughout the week.
Attendance
Students are not required to attend the activities outlined above. If students opt not to participate in activities or meals, no refunds will be given.
Hybrid Day
For two days during the week, students have the opportunity to take a break from painting to see other aspects of the island. On the first “Hybrid” day, the bus leaves in the morning and heads toward a painting spot where Kimball spends the day painting and teaching. The bus makes one or two stops along the way as possible drop-off locations, including the town center of Funchal, if students want to sightsee at their leisure. In the late afternoon, the bus returns to each stop and picks up students to return to the hotel before dinner. Students may participate in as much or as little of the day’s activities as they please.
Excursion Day
On this day, the bus drives us to a pre-planned excursion where the day’s schedule is laid out and all major activities are paid for. As with the Hybrid Day, students may participate in as much or as little of the activities as they please.
Painting Locations
Each day has a predetermined location selected by Plein Air Madeira that highlights the diverse beauty the island has to offer. All locations have restrooms available within walking distance. Exact locations are determined close to the dates of the workshop and are subject to changes that are likely to occur due to the unpredictable weather on the island. Plein Air Madeira will do their very best to make the most of the “weather windows” as they arise. Accommodations will be made to paint indoors at the hotel should the need arise. Plein Air Madeira is not responsible for disruptions to the normal flow of the class due to weather. Students may opt out of attending any of the days, with the understanding that no refunds will be given.
Conduct
Students are expected to be mindful and respectful of their classmates, as well as all other people they interact with on the retreat.
Punctuality
It is essential that students be mindful of the schedule, especially as it relates to the bus. Being late for departures — whether leaving the hotel, restaurants, excursions, or paint-outs — results in lost time for everyone in the class. Kimball and the bus driver will be consistent with reminders about this. Students may be asked to sit activities out if there is a pattern of tardiness.
Communication During the Workshop
We will communicate through an app called WhatsApp during the workshop. This requires students to have mobile data enabled on their phones. Students are required to arrange with their phone providers to have consistent access to mobile data.
Supplies
Students are responsible for bringing their own plein air supplies for the workshop. These include an easel/pochade box, tripod, canvases, paints, brushes, brush washer, paper towels, garbage bags, palette knives, etc. There are some small art stores in Funchal that carry basic essentials if necessary. Easels (pochade boxes) and tripods should be sturdy enough to handle wind.
Space is limited on the bus, so please limit supplies to fit within a “regular size” hiking backpack, or something comparable. Umbrellas and chairs should also fit within this backpack. If you wish to bring a chair (recommended), only small foldable “backpacking-style” chairs should be used — larger “Coleman-style” camp chairs are too large for the bus storage.
Students are responsible for bringing all necessary clothing and supplies for a variety of weather. Wind and rain are probable during the workshop, as well as heavy sunshine and heat. Layers are highly recommended, as well as sunscreen.
Health and Safety
Madeira is generally a very safe place, but students are expected to be mindful of basic risks and their own personal health situations for the duration of the workshop. Students should bring any and all necessary medications and emergency first-aid supplies. Weather and terrain must be considered at all times, as the island can pose risks. Some locations have unprotected cliffs; students must maintain a safe distance from the edges (minimum 20 feet). Terrain can also be uneven in different places.
In the event of an emergency, there will not be any professionals on-site equipped or qualified to administer first aid or medical assistance. Plein Air Madeira has no responsibility to treat injury or any other medical emergency; local authorities and medical officials will be called. Students are required to have any and all necessary insurance for any emergency, legal, and financial liabilities.
Local Laws
Students are responsible for knowing and following local laws of conduct.
Photography
Students who attend the workshop agree to be photographed. Images may be used on social media and for promotional purposes for Plein Air Madeira, as well as for the artists participating in the workshop.