ubud, bali
paint your wanderlust
October 1st to 8th, 2026
October 12th to 19th, 2026
Welcome to Bali...
It’s been six years since I last held a retreat in Bali, and I’m so excited to be returning to this deeply special island, a place rich in spirit, beauty, color, and creative energy.
Bali has a way of gently softening us. The culture, the people, the architecture, the landscape, and the daily rituals invite us to slow down, breathe more deeply, and listen, to ourselves, and to what wants to emerge creatively.
After a long search for the right place, I’m thrilled to host these retreats in a peaceful, boutique hideaway nestled among rice fields just minutes from the heart of Ubud, a setting chosen with great care for its beauty, comfort, and nurturing atmosphere.
Email us at info@tracyverdugo.com to be added to the waitlist.
Why Paint Your Wanderlust?
I’ve always been a wanderluster.
Travel, unfamiliar places, new cultures, and the act of exploring the world have deeply shaped who I am, both as an artist and as a human. But wanderlust, for me, has never been only about getting on a plane.
It’s also about local exploration, discovering places close to home we’ve never truly seen OR seeing new places through the eyes of a local.
And it’s also about inner travel, wandering through our personal realms of curiosity, emotion, memory, and creativity.
I’ve always loved how wanderlust gently echoes wonder. At the heart of everything I teach is the wonder of creativity itself, the curiosity to ask "what if?", and the courage to follow where that leads.
This retreat is an invitation to explore:
- the world around you
- the creativity within you
- and the wonder that’s been quietly waiting to be rediscovered
Our venue
Your creative sanctuary in the rice paddies
Our retreat home is a tranquil sanctuary, close to town, yet feeling a world away.
Surrounded by lush gardens and emerald rice fields, this boutique retreat venue invites creativity to unfold naturally, without effort or urgency. It’s a place designed for slowing down, tuning in, and creating from a deeper place.
You’ll be welcomed into:
- Spacious, beautifully designed rooms with private outdoor spaces
- Several serene swimming pools woven into the landscape
- A gorgeous open-air restaurant serving fresh, nourishing meals
- Gentle walking paths through the surrounding rice paddies
- A dedicated, air-conditioned art studio for our painting sessions
- A covered poolside pavilion for relaxed sketching and creative play
It’s the kind of place where inspiration meets you before you even pick up a brush.
While a small number of other guests may be staying in private villas on the property, our group has a dedicated painting space and ample shared areas, ensuring a relaxed, uncrowded, and inspiring experience.
This is not an over-scheduled art bootcamp.
It’s a thoughtfully held experience, with structure where it’s helpful, and enough spaciousness to allow for magic to unfold.
Some of the most meaningful moments on my retreats over the years have been the unplanned ones: quiet conversations, creative breakthroughs, shared laughter, moments of deep rest, and unexpected inspiration.
This retreat is intentionally designed to allow space for those moments to arise.
Painting Together in Bali
Our painting sessions are inspired by the colors, textures, and rhythms of Bali.
Working in my signature mixed-media style, sessions move from exercise to exercise in a playful, non-linear way. Expect sketching, paint, acrylic inks, collage, expressive mark-making, layering, and intuitive decision-making... Always with an emphasis on process over perfection.
Rather than focusing on finished outcomes, we’ll focus on:
- process over product
- curiosity over control
- intuition over expectation
No pressure. No perfection.
Just curiosity, colour, connection, and creative flow.
Whether you’re new to painting or have years of experience, my teaching meets you where you are, encouraging confidence, freedom, and authentic self-expression.
Room Types
Each retreat is limited to just 15 participants, allowing for a deeply personal and supportive experience.
All rooms are private, single-occupancy.
Room Options
- Lanai Room (6 per retreat) - $4,100 AUD (approx. $2,750 USD)
- An intimate, thoughtfully designed room with warm Balinese details and a private lanai or terrace overlooking gardens or greenery.
- D’Ume Suite (9 per retreat) - $4,250 AUD (approx. $2,850 USD)
- A more spacious suite with a generous layout, seating area, and a private terrace offering serene views of the surrounding landscape.
Prices are listed in Australian dollars (AUD). USD conversions are provided as a guide only and may vary depending on exchange rates and your payment provider.
The Lanai room (above) and the D'Ume suite (below).
are you ready to join me?
This retreat is for you if you:
- Feel called to slow down and reconnect with your creativity
- Love learning in a warm, supportive, non-judgemental environment
- Want time for both art, rest, pampering and exploration
- Are open to exploration creatively, emotionally, and geographically
- Don’t need to be “good” at art, just willing to show up
Beginners and experienced artists are equally welcome.
If Bali has been calling you, this may be your moment to listen.
Places are limited to just 15 participants per retreat so get in quick!
Retreat One | October 1st to 8th, 2026
Retreat Two | October 12th to 19th, 2026
Your teacher - Tracy Verdugo
If Tracy Verdugo was given the opportunity to coin a term for a new art movement based around what she teaches she might call it “Curiosity and Wonderism” or maybe “Loosen-upism” or “Endless possibilitism”.
When she is not hanging out with her family in their artsy adobe home in a small village on the shores of Jervis Bay, Australia, or throwing paint around in her little purple studio in their backyard, you may find her painting beside thermal pools on an Italian island with an eager group of students, or sitting in a circle on a beach somewhere, listening intently as women share their stories of creative longing.
Tracy is an inspiration instigator, prolific painter, bestselling author and lover of the written word, smitten traveller and soaker up of all that is beauty-full. She teaches her Paint Mojo and other creative workshops all over this amazing planet and reminds her students of the wonder that already resides within them. Her works are vibrant and filled with joy, inspired both by global travels and the simple beauty of the focused moment.
Since 2000 Tracy has held 18 successful solo exhibitions and her works are held in collections both in Australia and internationally. Mostly though, she is mama bear to two gorgeous, zest-filled daughters, Santana and Cece, Ita to two delightful granddaughters Nora and Meya, and co-adventurer in life with her amor of 40 years, the talented and brilliant Marco.