January 7 - 17, 2026
Art Viva : MEXICO 2026
with Doug Swinton
10 Days of Artistic Immersion in Vibrant Mexico
Join us for this year’s inspiring Mexican retreat—a 10-day journey into creativity, culture, and connection. Set against the backdrop of Mexico’s rich colors and textures, this immersive workshop combines studio time, outdoor painting, and cultural exploration.
What’s Included:
• 6 Full Days of Painting – Enjoy guided instruction and open studio sessions. Alternate between studio painting and plein air beach sessions to capture the natural beauty of the region.
• Figure & Portrait Sessions – This year, we’re excited to include 2 days working with a live model dressed in authentic Mexican attire. Focus on gesture drawing, figure painting, and a full portrait session.
• Photography Workshop – A half-day photography lesson to help you document your experience and sharpen your creative eye.
• Gallery Tours – Discover local art and connect with Mexican artistic traditions through curated gallery visits.
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just beginning your journey, this retreat offers the perfect balance of inspiration, skill-building, and cultural engagement
Inbetween all this fun there is a free play day. Its your day off to tour the area. Take a bird watching tour on a boat through a mangrove forest. See the crocodile pond. Take photos from the historic San Blas Fort. Visit the San Blas fish market. Margaritas by the beach
Workshop Instructor: DOUG SWINTON
“How do you describe my art? That's like trying to hit a moving target. Just when I think it's going one direction ever elusive leopard slips away and changes its spots. Slathering thick viscid paint on a freshly unwrapped canvas is sensual and venereal. For me it's always been more about the doing than the end product. It's like being at a live concert. The energy that comes from the doing is a highly powerful thing. I also get board very easy so I tend to flit from subject to subject. As J R Tolkien said, “not all that wander are lost”. No matter what the subject, it's always the same, the most amount of information with the least amount of brushstrokes“
I am often surprised at how my life has unfolded. At no point do I recall making the decision to become an artist, yet as I reflect on it, the drive to create is central to my character. My grade school math books were embellished with countless doodles and drawings. My mom was a painter. Most days after school I'd find her in our kitchen – her makeshift studio – rendering images of Chianti in stemmed wine glasses, perennial flowers from her garden, and wicker baskets filled with the harvest of bright vegetables that my dad grew.
Contact info for Doug:
www.dougswinton.com
email: swinton@telus.net
Tel. 1.403.258.3500
The spectacular prairie and mountain landscapes of Calgary where I have lived my entire life, have provided endless inspiration. I have developed a fondness for the level of concentration required to paint well. It challenges me unlike anything else. The press of viscid paint from its tube - quinacridone rose… manganese blue – satisfies. The anticipation of first brush marks on blank canvas exhilarates. When a painting turns out just right, I still feel like my ten-year old self, racing into the kitchen to share my accomplishment, “Hey Mom, look what I made!” Hoping to make it on to the world class “refrigerator” gallery
My paintings are now housed in private and public collections around the world. I am fortunate now to earn a living from my art. I teach my craft to amateur and professional artists alike, and operate an art supply store in Calgary. Yet, art is and always has been more than a job. In many ways, I feel like I'm still discovering what it means to be an artist, filled with the same wonder and delight I experienced as a child. The early twentieth century American painter Robert Henri described my sentiment best when he wrote, “I am interested in art as a means of living a life; not as a means of making a living.”
DOUG’S WORK
Tentative Itinerary
PLEASE NOTE: This itinerary might change due to travel restrictions and other unforeseen circumstances
Wednesday
Arriving to Puerto Vallarta Airport
Taking taxi to your hotel,
Meeting at the hotel Lobby at 5:30
for Art Gallery walk and dinner
Thursday
8am - 9am Breakfast 3 hour scenic drive North to Los Cocos, Nayarit, where Casa Buena is located.
Stop at La Penita Art Market and Lunch on the Beach
Settling in, setting up your work space
Dinner
Friday
7am - 9am Breakfast
9:30am - 4pm workshop
Dinner
Art discussions or movie in the Casa
Saturday
7am - 9am Breakfast
9:30am - 4pm workshop
Dinner
Art discussions or movie in the Casa
Dinner at Casa Manana
Sunday
Early start at 7:00, light breakfast,
7:30 - 10am organized tour to the Jungle
Photography lesson in San Blas,
Lunch at the beach
return to you studio for photo editing lesson
Dinner
Monday
7am - 9am Breakfast
DAY OFF
Tuesday
7am - 9am Breakfast
9:30am - 4pm workshop
Happy hour, siesta
Dinner
Wednesday
7am - 9am Breakfast
9:30am - 4pm workshop
Happy hour, siesta
Dinner
Thursday 7am - 9am Breakfast
9:30am-4pm workshop:
Happy hour, siesta, free time
Dinner
Art Show and Tell
Friday
7am - 9am Breakfast
9:30am - 4pm workshop
Dinner
Art Show and Tell/Critic
Saturday
8am - 9am Breakfast
Transport to PV Airport
Art supplies for the workshop
Becoming a good painter doesn’t require a lot of talent just lots of practice and good equipment. If you want to cheap out on paint, brushes and other essentials because this is just a hobby and you’re not going to spend the money on the goods it takes to paint, I suggest you try macramé for a hobby. Cheap supplies will prevent you from achieving any sort of success and you will be frustrated. In the end will have wasted your money anyway. Sorry if that sounds harsh but over
the 25 years I have been teaching it’s the truth.
Xx Oo
for each retreat
A. for a workshop participant: $3,950.00 CAD
Including Instructions, some art supplies, 10 days 9 nights accommodation, transportation from and to Puerto Vallarta, all breakfasts, lunches and dinners, entertainment and a field trip to the Jungle.
B. for a non painting partner or a friend: $3200.00 CAD
including 10 days 9 nights accommodation, transportation from and to Puerto Vallarta, all breakfasts, lunches and dinners, entertainment and a field trip to the Jungle. We can arrange other activities, like fishing, whale watching, bird watching, etc upon request for an extra fee.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS FEE
Airplane ticket to PV and back, your stay at hotel on the day of your arrival, taxi to the hotel and meals in PV, all alcohol beverages, personal shopping, medical expenses, tipping of staff.
CANCELLATION POLICY
A. If your workshop is cancelled due to Instructor's unavailability, you will be notified immediately and you will receive a full refund.
B. If you can't attend your retreat and notify us 45 days prior to the retreat, you are welcome to transfer 100% of your full payment to another Casa Buena Art Retreat within 2 years of the date of cancellation. You can transfer your payment to another person or any other options that Casa Buena has to offer.
C. If you can't attend your retreat and notify us 30 days prior to the retreat, you are welcome to transfer 70% of your full payment to another Casa Buena Art Retreat within 2 years of the date of cancellation.
D. If you can't attend your retreat and notify us 14 days or less prior to the retreat, Casa Buena Art Retreat will not issue any refunds or transfers to other session. Your only choice is to transfer your payment to another person.
PLEASE NOTE: Administration fee of $100 apply to options B,C and D.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
A. Pay in full upon registration
B. Make a deposit of $750.00 CAD and pay balance 45 days before the retreat.
PAYMENT METHOD
A. Etransfer your fee to janerom@shaw.ca
B. Send your check (Money draft or certified check if outside of Canada) made payable to Jane Romanishko (contact Jane for her mailing address)
C. Pay via Paypal (please contact Jane for Pay Pal Invoice)
NOTE: There will be 5% extra transaction fee added for using PayPal.
