July 24-30th,2026
Creating from Nature
Exploring creative media using foraged materials and inspirations
with Isobel Coney and Hannah Viano
Do you wish to bring the natural world deeper into your creative work? To play with the colors, patterns, and textures of a new place?
This retreat is for people who want to spend time surrounded by the breathtaking Northern Norwegian landscape and take those inspirations directly into making art, adding new techniques to your creative repertoire using natural materials.
then this retreat is for you.
Join Isobel Coney & Hannah Viano for an extra special creative retreat in northern Norway.
Come and explore a world of natural materials in Northern Norway. Isobel Coney and Hannah Viano have designed a retreat that will include guided walks in the island’s high meadows and rocky coastlines. Along the way we will pause to sketch and collect natural materials for workshops facilitated in the beautiful barn back at Singla. Workshops will include natural ink making, handmade paper making, indigo dyeing, weaving, and needle felting using locally sourced sheep’s wool. There will be plenty of time for you to experiment with these techniques adding in your own ideas as well as relaxing, connecting, sharing meals together, and perhaps taking a hot sauna or icy dip.
Permission to Learn
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Permission to Notice
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Permission to Connect
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Permission to Explore
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Permission to Learn • Permission to Notice • Permission to Connect • Permission to Explore •
The Location
The island
Arnøya is roughly a 25km x 25km square with a couple tiny villages and 300 total residents. For the first part of the retreat we will roam and camp in the mountainous interior of the island. We will stroll, hike, and openly wander through tree-free alpine meadows dotted with icy lakes and navigate around steep slopes that fall towards the long fjords along the coast.
There are two tiny grocery/post offices on the island and that is all. Sheep sleep in the road and reindeer roam the mountains and mudflats. The weather is dynamic with rainstorms blowing through often and daylight lasting for 24 hours all through the summer months.
The place
Called Singla by locals, your home after the expedition, is a historic homestead that is in the process of being re-imagined as a base for arts, research and adventure.
First developed in the 1850s it consists of a handful of buildings from generations of fiskerbonde or the fisherman-farmers life, including an old boathouse, barn, cottage, and small working lighthouse, complete with all of the tools and treasures of years gone by.
Accommodations
The first floor of the big blue fjøs (barn) will be our space for creating when we finish our expedition. The small farmhouse cottage has snug double occupancy rooms and a kitchen and living room for eating group meals and relaxing by the cozy woodstove.
The house provides very rustic accommodations along the lines of a backcountry hut, trading modern conveniences for the rich stories and charm of the spaces. We do have running water for cooking and washing, but encourage sea dips paired with sauna for bathing. The bathroom contains an incinerating toilet.
The kitchen is small but mighty and we look forward to sharing Scandinavian traditions like fika (afternoon coffee with fresh baked treats) and foraged wild favorites from fjell and fjord.
Our Days
Will include guided creative activities in the barn studio as well as walks to explore the islands' high meadows and rocky coastline with stops for writing or sketching with occasional prompts or suggestions, and collecting of materials for use in our making practice.
We might also forage for berries or mushrooms, practice yoga in the grass, or have a beach fire feast.
There will also be plenty of free time worked into the schedule to relax, read a book, nap, follow your own interests in the studio or take a salty swim.
Breakfasts and dinners will be family style, offering plenty of time to connect with the other members of our group.
*Any group excursions are optional, but do require an ability to comfortably hike several miles with steep inclines and descents.
what’s included:
6 nights double occupancy accommodation in our historic little farmhouse
All meals for the days of the retreat
On-island transportation
All class materials & instruction
cost: $1925
includes a $500 Deposit to book your spot
Registration for this retreat will open at 9 am PST on November 1st.
A Few Important Notes:
The house and buildings are unfortunately not ADA accessible and involve steep, narrow, stairways to the sleeping quarters. and lots of uneven terrain around the property.
The living areas are very close quarters and we will be sharing food, space, and activities in an intimate, supportive group environment (6 students plus hosts).
We make family style food in a small kitchen are not always able to accommodate all dietary needs. If you are considering this retreat and require accommodations please contact us in ADVANCE to discuss details and see if this retreat is a good fit for you.
We encourage folks who are comfortable living simply and looking for this type of collaborative experience to register.
Cancellation Policy
Deposits are non-refundable, and the remaining balance is due on April 1. Because of the nature and location of this retreat, we have a strict cancellation policy, please consider purchasing your own travel insurance if needed. For cancellations made after fees are paid in full, we may be able to offer you a partial refund (75%) if someone from our waitlist is able to take your place. If we are not able to fill your place we will only be able to refund 25% of your fees. Cancellations made less than 14 days before the start date will not be eligible for a refund. We will email a reminder in March and a link for paying the balance.
Your Teachers
“You created such a special place and gave us permission to look.”