Storytelling Through Sketches: Discovering the Beauty of Croatia
with Rita Sabler
Join renowned urban sketcher and educator Rita Sabler for immersive sketching workshops in the picturesque Croatia. Nestled along the stunning Adriatic coast our home base of Mlini offers breathtaking views, fragrant pines, and charming coastal architecture, perfect for capturing in your sketchbook.
In the workshops, we'll explore the essential components that contribute to a captivating travel sketchbook. You'll receive personalized guidance from the instructor, honing your sketching skills while exploring the local culture and landscapes. Enjoy a blend of practical techniques and artistic inspiration while documenting your journey.
Rita Sabler is an award winning artist, visual journalist, author, and educator based in Portland, Oregon, USA. She has taught Drawing, Urban Sketching and Visual Journalism courses at the Parsons School of Design, Pacific Northwest College of Art, and Portland State University as well as given numerous workshops and lectures on drawing and visual storytelling all around the world.
In the span of her decade-long career as an educator and visual storyteller Sabler has inspired diverse audiences to cultivate a lifelong passion for urban sketching and reportage illustration. Her work has been featured in solo and group local and international shows.
Sabler’s approach to teaching is rooted in individual attention to a particular student’s needs and goals. Her students routinely praise her for clear, supportive and non-judgemental way of distilling complex drawing techniques, giving them confidence and inspiration to nurture their individual styles. Her way of working with students of all skill levels brings great joy and pride from being able to capture the world in a sketchbook, and cultivate strong connections to the place and its people.
From 2019-2023 Rita Sabler served as the Education Director on the board of the global Urban Sketchers organization. In addition to teaching drawing Rita Sabler currently works as a freelance visual journalist for the Oregon Public Broadcasting.
About Rita and the tour
If you have never been here, then prepared to be wowed by the Dalmatian Coast.
Whether you prefer landscape, seascapes, architecture, boats of all sizes and shapes, flowers, sunsets, sunrises, churches, or steps, you will always have an exciting subject. One can’t help but be seduced by the colours, relaxed pace, and Croatian culture.
Workshops are designed to be interesting, engaging and appropriate for any level of drawing ability for students of all ages.
Every day will feature presentations, demos, exercises, and individual and group feedback.
Be ready to work, be challenged, be inspired and have a lot of fun.
All mediums and levels of expertise welcome!
Here is an example itinerary of how you can expect your 8 days to go (this schedule is always subject to change) :
DAY 1
Your arrival day.
An airport shuttle will be organized for your arrival.
Our group, if they have not arrived earlier, will arrive throughout the day.
We will all gather together at 7pm for a meet and greet dinner.
DAY 2-7
A buffet breakfast will be available daily, before travelling to different areas around southern Dalmatia. On the tour you will see vistas rich in vineyards, quiet coves, small beaches, flourishing olive tress and quaint architecture. This part of Croatia is unique in its beauty, encouraging one to take pleasure in painting and sketching.
Your painting tour includes scenic areas such as Mlini, Cavtat, Ljuta, Lokrum, Čilipi and at your leisure, Dubrovnik. Our day will begin at 8am with breakfast and then the day is set in motion by your instructor… each instructor will vary slightly but mornings and afternoons will be for painting, with a box lunch on location, in between.
At the end of the day we will return to the our hotel. You will have some time to yourself before the evening meal at 7pm and are encouraged after dinner to spend time exploring the area or enjoying wine with your fellow artists, relaxing before your next day of painting.
All box lunches are included + 4 dinners.
Day 8
Your departure day.
Breakfast will be available and an shuttle can be organized for you to the airport, at your cost.
