Annual Taos Women’s Art Retreat:
creativity, personal growth, and community
with Susan Stover and Lisa Pressman
November 2-8, 2025
Join me and Lisa Pressman in Taos, NM for an immersive art making experience
Treat yourself to Taos, New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment. It’s a rugged and gorgeous country with big skies, sunrises and sunsets that you won’t believe. Rich in history, authentic in architecture, The Mabel Dodge Luhan House has been a center of Taos arts and education for nearly 100 years. Join us and experience the rustic and relaxing ambience that makes the Mabel Dodge Luhan house an artistic salon of the Southwest. This historic home has inspired creatives such as Georgia O'Keefe, Ansel Adams, D.H. Lawrence and more. Named after Mabel Dodge, a patron of the arts who married Native American Tony Luhan in the early 1920’s, this home exudes creativity, spirituality and intimacy.
While the interior of this quaint adobe is warm and cozy, it pales in comparison to the beauty just outdoors. Located on the edge of the Taos Pueblo, you can walk the labyrinth next to the studio or sit in the library or next to a fire to sketch or journal.
This is a place to be inspired, connect with the beauty of the landscape, and make new friends If ever there was a place to simply be, this is it.
"We've taught here for several years and we always can't wait to go back. The place is magically inspirational and every time we come away with new rich experiences. We'd love to have you join us!" ~ Lisa and Sue
The Studio:
Lisa and Sue will guide you in the use of non-traditional approaches to making while you receive inspiration from the light, textures, and colors of Taos, New Mexico. Using mixed media and earth materials, gathered on site, participants will expand personal visual language and mark-making skills. Experience new ways of seeing, while enjoying a fresh engagement with intuition, freedom, and interaction with the unique sense of this place – Taos, the high desert and the Mabel Dodge Luhan House and grounds.This workshop is not media specific. You are free to work in any media.
Options are:
water-based or oil painting
drawing
stitching or fiber
book-making
collage
object making
etc.
What is included:
Welcome reception on Nov. 2 before dinner
6 nights at the historic Mabel Dodge Luhan House in a private room with bath
Delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily (dietary restrictions accommodated) with one night out on your own
Field trip to Ghost Ranch and the Georgia O'Keefe house
Free time to explore museums and galleries in Taos
4 full days of studio time and 24 hour access to the studio for the duration of the retreat
Evening presentations and get togethers
Demonstrations, prompts and individual attention while meeting each participant where they are
A variety of R&F Pigment Sticks provided
2 pre-trip meet and greet and informational Zoom meetings
Material and Technique Demos
Group Feedback Sessions
One on One Consultations
Community, Conversation, and Good Food
Mabel Dodge is known for its healthy, delicious food created by a top local chef. When possible, garden-raised or local produce is used. To keep you energized throughout the day, coffee, tea, water and fresh baked cookies are available.
Sample dinner menu: (with vegetarian and vegan options available)
Grilled chicken cutlets in tomatillo-chipolte sauce
Herbed rice
Whole wheat tortillas
Squash stew (summer squash, onions, corn, green chile and queso fresco)
Sonoran salad (a green salad with jicama, poblano chiles, avocado and pecans)
Mexican chocolate Cake
And a Lot of Fun!
Total Price for the Retreat with Lodging, Meals, Instruction, and Field trip is $3995 USD
Payment is through Venmo or check.
EMAIL ME for registration.
"Everything about the Taos workshop is wonderful: the food, the location, the teachers, and the participants. You will spend your days talking, laughing, creating, and taking in the beautiful surroundings. Everyone is supportive and kind. The workshop will leave you feeling inspired, grateful for new friendships, and very happy." ~ Susan A.
"Lisa and Sue’s Taos workshop/retreat was truly a wonderful experience. Mabel Dodge Luhan house is a charming, comfortable, and a visually lovely place to spend the week. Did I also mention that the food (breakfast, lunch, dinner) was also fabulous? I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work at my own pace in the nurturing and supportive environment they provide. Taos itself is a kind of magical place…the landscape inspires in ways that are hard to express in words." ~ Donnna H.
"Sue and Lisa provided exercises and prompts as starting points, which I found to be inspiring. The group critiques and Lisa and Sue’s guidance were invaluable.. The field trip to canyon Ranch and Georgia O’Keefe’s was an experience I will not soon forget.. All in all I felt very fortunate to be able to be part of this amazing experience and would do it again in a heartbeat." ~ Beth H.