Booking ends April 30th
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Booking ends April 30th ~
Just Imagine…
…stepping into five uninterrupted days of creativity, learning, and artistic exploration. At The Summer Atelier, happening from Monday, August 10th 2026 to Sunday, August 16th 2026, you will immerse yourself in an environment designed to spark inspiration, deepen your skills, and reconnect you with the joy of making art. This retreat brings together artists of all levels in a space where experimentation is encouraged and growth feels natural. But it’s also about building a sense of community and enjoying the social energy that emerges when creative people come together!
It will take place in Wartin, a beautiful little town in the Uckermark, just an hour outside of Berlin.
A Week Dedicated to Art
The heart of the retreat is about finding your personal voice in plein-air and figurative drawing and painting, guided by Adam Paquette, an accomplished painter, concept artist and illustrator known for his contemporary works and his contributions to Magic: The Gathering. With Adam, you will explore how to observe the world more closely, capture light and atmosphere, and build expressive paintings directly from nature. His experience and gentle, insightful teaching style make this a rare opportunity to expand your artistic practice and define your own visual language.
You’ll learn specific painting techniques but you can also work on your own ideas and the development of personal pieces with the support of our instructor.
Alongside the main focus, you will also have the chance to join mini-workshops - for example on figure drawing and mixed-media illustration. These sessions, led by members of the Drink and Draw Berlin artist team, offer fresh perspectives, practical tools, and playful approaches that complement the experience. You will move between structured guidance and personal exploration, giving your creativity room to stretch in multiple directions.
Our instructor
Adam Paquette is a veteran full time artist, whose heart lies in creating expressive paintings with a variety of traditional media.
Before dedicating his time mostly to personal work and fine art he got commercially very well known for his work for Magic: the Gathering. He has illustrated over 300 Magic cards and helped shape the vision of the game by working on several concept art pushes over the years. He has always put one hundred percent of his effort into acquiring work that reflects his own outlook on the world, and as a result, he has been extremely proud of all the work he has done with his clients.
In recent years he has focused a lot on his traditional work, developing and honing his strong artistic voice with oil paints and various other traditional media. Pursuing both, figurative drawing and painting as well as landscapes he is also a great teacher, having given various multi-day workshops on the matter. He grew up in Sydney and began moving around at about nineteen—first along Australia’s east coast while pursuing various jobs in gaming companies and design studios, and later to other countries once he was able to freelance and work remotely. Throughout his twenties, he moved frequently, never settling anywhere for more than a year or two. In 2016 he then fell in love with Berlin and has lived there ever since. His clients include: Wizards of the Coast, ImagineFX Magazine, Red Bull and many more.
The Retreat Experience
Your arrival is scheduled for the afternoon of August 10th 2026, giving you time to settle in, meet the group, and ease into the artistic mindset. The next day, the first of 5 full workshop days begins after breakfast. The retreat officially concludes on August 16th, after a relaxed breakfast and final goodbyes.
Both accommodation and meals are included in the retreat package.
Our food program focuses on high-quality products and a thoughtful fusion of regional and global flavors. There will be a breakfast buffet, for lunch you will be preparing fresh, cold meals like sandwiches and wraps for yourselves, with all ingredients provided and dinner is a daily changing warm dish. We’ll cook vegetarian/ vegan - let us know if you have any dietary requirements so we can adapt your menu and also feel free to bring specific foods you don’t want to miss.
You’ll stay in a local guesthouse in the countryside of the small town Wartin in the beautiful Uckermarck.
There are different room options available. The package price includes staying in a cozy shared room with other fellow artists joining the retreat. Single or double rooms can be requested for an extra fee. Let us know if you have any special requests regarding the accommodation, for example a singles room or if you want to be in a room with a specific person.
For those who decide to arrive via train, a shuttle service going back and forth to Prenzlau Main Station is included.
The shuttle will waiting to pick you up on August 10th 2026 at 15:00h and 16:00h
We will drop you off on August 16th 2026 at 11:00h and 12:00h.
What will you learn?
The retreat will offer a variety of structured workshop elements, lectures, demos, practical exercises as well of plenty of time and room to decide your on focal point of subject matter and technique. The following topics will be prioritized and specifically tackled by Adams teaching program:
- Principles of composition, perspective & design
- Landscape painting and how to mix observation with creative choices
- Construction vs. Observation
- Oil painting materials, techniques and workflows
- Different approaches from sketch to finish
- Activation of personal voice and how to build a body of work with personality
- Personal feedback and goal setting
- Form & Colour
- Edge control, simplification and controlling focus
Why Join The Summer Atelier?
This retreat is an invitation to step away from routine and into a space where creativity feels vibrant and accessible. It is a chance to learn from experienced artists, to try new tools and techniques, and to connect with others who share your passion for art. Most importantly, it is an opportunity to rediscover the joy of making - freely, openly, and surrounded by nature.
The Summer Atelier is more than a workshop. It is a celebration of creativity, community, and artistic curiosity.
We can’t wait to welcome you into this inspiring summer retreat!
For All Skill Levels
Whether you are just beginning your artistic journey or have been creating for many years, The Summer Atelier welcomes you. The program is designed to meet you where you are while offering new techniques, fresh inspiration, and a supportive community that encourages growth without pressure.
What you get:
Five workshop days in painting plein-air, figurative with Adam Paquette
small group sizes and plenty of time for individual feedback
Mini workshops by the d+d crew
time in nature to focus on art and yourself
a lot of the basic necessary materials
Accommodation in a cozy guesthouse
a healthy vegan/ vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner
Shuttle Service to Prenzlau train station
Learn about the terms and conditions here