Day 1 – Arrive

Arrive at King’s Grant Country Retreat. Settle in and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Meet & greet at dinner at St. Isidore’s Restaurant.

Day 2 – Full Day of Sketching

After breakfast at St. Isidore’s restaurant, we’ll meet at The Mill Conference Centre, our base for the retreat.

We’ll start by working in our sketchbooks. The first session (9am to 12pm) covers tips for composition and design. Learn to quickly capture the essence of a scene in sketches before painting. Then we’ll head outside for our first value study.

Lunch is at St. Isidore’s Restaurant at 12.

The second session (1.30pm to 4.30pm) is an individual sketching session. You can explore the farm to sketch and take photos. Tracy will be at The Mill for questions from 3.30pm.

From 4.30pm, enjoy free time until dinner.

Dinner together at St. Isidore’s Restaurant.

Day 3 – Full Day of Painting

Breakfast at St. Isidore’s Restaurant.

Bring your art supplies and plein air painting kit today. The third session (9am to 12pm) covers tools, colour mixing, and brushwork, including a demo. Then we’ll head outside to start painting.

Lunch is at St. Isidore’s Restaurant at 12.

The fourth session (1.30pm to 4.30pm) is an individual painting session. Finish the painting you started or begin a new one. Working small, you’ll have time to complete multiple studies. Tracy will be back at The Mill for questions from 3.30pm.

From 4.30pm, enjoy free time until dinner.

Dinner together at St. Isidore’s Restaurant.

Optional night painting session.

Day 4 – Full Day of Painting

Breakfast at St. Isidore’s Restaurant.

The fifth session runs from 9am to 12pm. It begins with a chat at The Mill. Then, it shifts to a solo painting session outside. Tracy will be available for questions.

Lunch is at St. Isidore’s Restaurant at 12.

The sixth session (1.30pm to 4.30pm) is an individual painting session. Meet back at The Mill at 3.30pm for questions, sharing work, and discussing your experiences.

From 4.30pm, enjoy free time until dinner.

Final dinner together at St. Isidore’s Restaurant.

Day 5 – Depart King’s Grant

Final breakfast.

Check-out by 10am.

Early Birds (book and pay your deposit by 31st December 2025)

Single participant: R9,600

Sharing participant: R8,400

Day participant: R4,800 (for Ixopo locals, lunch and tea/coffee facilities at The Mill are included)

Regular Packages (from 1st January 2026)

Single Participant – R10,500

Sharing Participant – R9,300

Day Participant – R5,200 (for Ixopo locals, lunch and tea/coffee facilities at The Mill are included)

Sharing Companion – R5,000 (no early bird discount)

What’s Included

• 3-days of tuition with Tracy
• 4-nights accommodation
• Hearty breakfasts, light lunches and two-course dinners as per the programme
• Soft drinks at lunch and dinner
• Tea and coffee facilities in The Mill Lounge during the day

Cancellation Policy and Payments

Please familiarise yourself with the cancellation policy and payment dates before booking.

• Final Payment Due Date: Your final payment for the retreat is due six weeks prior to the retreat start date (27th July, 2026).
• Refunds (up to two months prior): For cancellations made up to two months prior to the workshop (6th July, 2026), a refund will be issued, less a R500 administration fee.
• No Refunds (after two months prior): Unfortunately, due to the nature of retreat planning and commitments, no refunds will be available for cancellations made after 6th July, 2026.

We understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise. We strongly recommend participants consider purchasing travel insurance to cover any potential losses due to unforeseen cancellations. This policy is in accordance with standard practices for such events in South Africa and adheres to consumer protection guidelines.

Hi, I’m Tracy Algar, a South African landscape painter who enjoys working en plein air (outdoors). I live and work in Adendorp, in the Karoo. 

See Tracy’s paintings here.

My teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that landscape art is a practice of observation and connection. It is a process that starts with the artist’s personal experience of the outdoors and culminates in a visual expression that brings joy to both the creator and the viewer. I will guide students to see beyond mere representation and into the essence of a scene.

Key Pillars of My Teaching

1. The “Slow Art” of Observation: I teach students to see and design their composition before they even pick up a brush. This is my core principle. By simplifying the landscape into fundamental shapes and values, students will learn to understand the structure of a scene and create a strong intentional composition. This focus on “seeing” teaches patience and mindfulness, which are valuable skills beyond the canvas.
2. Fostering a Deeper Connection: My goal is for students to gain a deeper connection with nature and with themselves. By encouraging them to spend time outdoors, I’m not just teaching a technical skill; I’m facilitating an experience. I believe that the practice of painting outdoors can be a meditative act that builds self-awareness and appreciation for the natural world.
3. Building Confidence and Preparation: I want my students to have the confidence to paint outdoors and to be prepared for the experience. This practical element is crucial to my philosophy. I’ll teach them the logistics of plein air painting, from choosing the right gear to understanding how light changes throughout the day. This preparation will empower them to face the challenges of painting outdoors with a sense of calm and capability.

My teaching isn’t just about creating a beautiful painting; it’s about helping students develop as artists and as people. It’s a holistic approach that connects technical skill with personal growth and a reverence for the landscape.

This is my art supply list, and the list that I give my class and workshop students as suggested art supplies. Do use what you have and are comfortable using in terms of equipment and materials.

Portable Easel

Canvas or Board

For this retreat, we will be making small studies en plein air. Don’t bring big canvases please. Small boards must be gessoed in advance if you are bringing boards. You can use a canvas pad, or smaller canvas boards, or paper if you are choosing a different medium than oil.

Oil Painting Colours

Please note: I use mostly Zellen Zelcol oil paint. You are welcome to bring what you prefer and what you already have. These are the colours that I recommend for the retreat.

White
Titanium white 

Yellows
Arylamide lemon (or Cadmium lemon)
Arylamide yellow (or Cadmium yellow medium)
Yellow ochre

Reds
Burnt sienna
Alizarin crimson

Blues
Ultramarine blue
Phthalo blue

Brushes:

I like Dynasty Series 1350 synthetic bristle brushes. I buy mostly flats and a few filberts in size 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12.

Mediums:

PowaFix’s Genuine Turpentine for tinting the canvas, thinning my paint for sketching, and cleaning brushes and palette.

Zellen’s Cold Wax Medium to speed up drying time, provide a matt finish and allow very visible brushwork when combined with a bristle brush.

Other supplies:

A couple of rags or a roll of paper towel.

A palette knife for mixing paint and occasional paint application.

A sealed container for brush washing (a jar with a screw lid works).

A palette.

Plastic bag for rubbish.

Sunscreen

A hat.

Insect repellent.

A drinking water bottle for when you’re out painting

A Sketchbook.

4B pencil

A head torch for the night painting session

If you need more advice about what to bring, you are most welcome to contact me via WhatsApp on +27 (0) 84 584 3757 or email me at hello@tracyalgar.com