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Forest Impressions: A Mindful Oil Painting Retreat

Location icon
500 College Street Northeast, Olympia, WA, USA
Users icon
Up to 12 in group
Date
July 18, 2026

Retreat Highlights

  • This retreat offers a gentle, contemplative art experience designed to complement St. Placid Priory’s forested setting and tradition of quiet reflection. Following an optional forest bathing walk on the Priory grounds, participants will transition into a three-hour guided forest paint-along in oils led by regional landscape artist Nancy Romanovsky.

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

A Forest paint at St. Placid Priory







With Nancy Romanovsky
A Contemplative Forest Retreat
Spend a day immersed in nature, creativity, and quiet reflection. This retreat combines an optional guided forest therapy walk in the morning with a three-hour oil painting session in the afternoon by regional landscape artist Nancy Romanovsky.
Participants are gently guided to translate their sensory experience of the forest into a simple, expressive landscape painting. Instruction is mindful and step-by-step, emphasizing presence, observation, atmosphere, and simplified forms rather than technical skill.
The pace is intentionally slow and unhurried, allowing space for silence, focus, and personal reflection. No prior art experience is required, and there is no critique or evaluation. Participants are encouraged to work at their own rhythm, take breaks as needed, and remain present to both the natural setting and the creative process.
All oil painting supplies are available for an additional $10.
You may want to visit Nancy virtual gallery
https://www.nancyromanovsky.com/

Schedule

1 PM - 4 PM Three-hour guided forest paint-along in oils led by regional landscape artist Nancy Romanovsky
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Location icon St. Placid Priory, 500 College Street Northeast, Olympia, WA, USA

Directions

Traveling north from Portland, on I-5:
Take Exit 109
Turn left onto Martin Way at end of exit
Stay in the far right lane
Turn right at second light onto
College Street NE
Turn right at St. Placid sign
(second possible right turn)

Traveling south from Seattle, on I-5:
Take Exit 109
Turn right onto Martin Way at end of exit
Stay in the far right lane
Turn right at the light onto
College Street NE
Turn right at St. Placid sign
(second possible right turn)

Accommodation

Program Price
Program with all material

Venue & Amenities

Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon Bicycles For Rent
The Priory Spirituality Center is an ecumenical Christian ministry that encourages those of all faiths to discern the voice of God in their lives and in the world. A ministry of St. Placid Priory we reflect Benedictine values: peace, hospitality, community, learning and prayerful discernment.

We offer a peaceful and contemplative setting for personal reflection. We encourage and challenge people to know the presence of God in their lives through classes, workshops, retreats and individual spir

Meals

On-your-own breakfast: Center Kitchen. Eggs, milk, bread, cereal, fruit provided. Your own food welcome, may be cooked in Kitchen. Lunch/Dinner served, main dish+salad bar. Sun coffee hour after Mass

What's Included

  • Three-hour guided forest paint -along in oils
  • Led by regional landscape artist Nancy Romanovsky
  • Meditative painting session
  • Expressive landscape painting
  • Mindful observation of simplified forms, and atmosphere
  • Experience accessible to participants of all skill levels
  • Material available for an additional $10.

What's Not Included

  • Meals not included

Customer Reviews

4.86 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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Time with God
I really enjoyed my stay here. It was very peaceful. Its so hard to have any quiet time to be with God and a getaway here is ideal for me. I was able to read and write in a quiet study room as well. I know I will be back. I want more time with God away from the noise and distractions of society and this makes it possible. Thank you so much and see you soon. God bless,

5.0
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great place
I love this place and tender care that people put in maintaining it. I also feel the presence of the Higher Power in this place.

5.0
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The solitary retreat I needed
The sisters and staff were gently welcoming. I read, wrote, walked the grounds, dined with the sisters, attended services, contemplated. It was a perfect setting and time and my soul is the better for it.

5.0
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Hybrid: Continuing Contemplative Rest
This monthly contemplative experience is an excellent way to help me live out my Benedictine intention to live in the world in a calm and helpful way. There are many things that tend to distract me from intentional living and the work we do together in contemplative rest helps me live peacefully outside those distractions. I find I am much more focused on what's important when I have rested together with those present on the first Saturdays.

5.0
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Perfect Pause
My experience was one of feeling completely unplugged and at the same time completely present for a whole different pace. Kind reception, great nap, deep reading, quiet walks, meals in silence, and participating in the Psalms topped off by a bit of retail (fiber art purchases). It was pretty much perfect. Betty G

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