an artist retreat
Land & sea
A spring retreat for florists who dream in tides, tones, and starlight.
A five-day creative exhale where florists, artists, and wanderers tuck themselves into wind laced hills to remember why they make art in the first place.
A retreat where floral technique meets replenishment, where rest reopens the creative channels, and where nature is not just scenery—it is collaborator, muse, and friendly accomplice.
Land & Sea
more about this workshop
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Sea Ranch in Upper Coastal California
On an 80-acre property within a mid-century style home
When??
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Five days and four nights
Included in your retreat experience:
• Lodging in a spacious mid-century home
Six bedrooms with a mix of single and double options, large common areas, a design library, outdoor shower and bath, a pond with a canoe, and acres of private land to wander.• Daily floral instruction
Hands-on teaching each morning covering centerpieces, bouquets, installations with natural materials, tabletop styling, and the fundamentals of photographing your own work.• Studio access
A large on-site barn serves as your creative workspace all week—open for free play, personal projects, or continued exploration after morning lessons.• All floral materials
Seasonal, local, sustainably sourced flowers and natural textures inspired by the coastal landscape and the richness of spring. Entirely foam-free; installations created in partnership with the land itself.• Photography
A dedicated photographer capturing the retreat throughout the week, with two focused sessions for individual portfolio images. Guests are encouraged to bring their own digital or film cameras.• Meals and drinks
Four warm, nourishing dinners cooked by a food-passionate florist friend. Ingredients, snacks, and drinks (including alcohol) provided for your breakfasts and lunches—no extra grocery runs needed unless you want something special.• Creative freedom each afternoon
Time to rest, wander, design more, paint, take photos, canoe on the pond, explore trailheads, or simply sit on the deck and let the landscape rearrange your thoughts.• Community
Shared dinners, good conversations, starlit evenings, and a group of people who are also choosing to begin their year with intention, beauty, and generous rest. -
Because artistry deepens when you give yourself space to look, breathe, and respond to the world around you.
This retreat is built on the belief that nature is our greatest teacher, and that working in rhythm with the coastline, the weather, and the season brings out a truer, more instinctive form of creativity.
“This retreat was born from the coastline itself—the fog, the grasses, the wildness. I wanted to come back here and teach florists what it feels like to create in rhythm with the land.” -Karis
Meet your Hosts
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Karis
FLORIST & PHOTO ENTHUSIAST
Flowers were an instant love of mine over 6 years ago as I studied plant science, and once I discovered the art of using botanical materials to create art I was hooked for life. After juggling flower farming & freelance floristry for a few years, I wanted to focus full-time on weddings/events so I moved to Southern CA. Now I proudly own my own floral business focusing on artful florals on the central coast.
My journey with photography is even longer. I first picked up a camera in 6th grade. A few thousand shots later, I was enchanted with pairing my two favorite mediums together and never looked back.
Gear: DSLR Canon Rebel T6, 35mm film Nikon FE2
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Lindsey
FARMER, FLORIST, & PHOTOGRAPHER
Lindsey has been working with flowers and farming all over California for the past 10yrs plus, but was always a photographer first. After studying fine art with a focus on film photography at UC Santa Cruz, she shifted her energy towards agriculture with her first flower farm job in 2014. Ever since she has been delving deeper into the world of growing and arranging locally grown flowers, and of course always photographing all the beauty along the way. <3
Gear: A random old 35mm pentax someone gifted me (which happens a lot when you are a film photographer because no one knows how to use them anymore), Medium format Hasselblad, and my dad’s old Nikon DSLR.
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Eleanor
FLOWER FARMER & PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER (albeit, retired)
Photography has woven in and out of my life for the past 25 years. Focusing on print, editorial, and storytelling, I’ve been featured in a few publications and had the privilege of working with wonderful stylists, business owners, and artists. Over the past 10 years, I’ve been honing my skills in horticulture and flowers, shifting my focus to the soil. Instead of setting aside the camera, I discovered a new subject—complex and beautiful—that sparked a new wave of inspiration.
Gear: 120mm film Mamiya RB67, 35mm film Canon FTQL, DSLR Canon 30d
Favorite Lens: Canon 50mm f1.4
WHO IS THIS FOR?
This retreat is for anyone who loves flowers—whether you’re a seasoned florist, a creative soul craving a reset, or someone returning to art after a long season of busyness. All experience levels are welcome.
It’s especially for you if you want:
– To create in rhythm with the land rather than against it
– To work with lush, seasonal, locally grown flowers
– To build skills in centerpieces, bouquets, installations, and tabletop styling
– To explore or refine your own creative voice
– To be photographed with your work in a thoughtful, art-forward way
– To step away from the noise and reenter your craft slowly
– To begin the year with clarity, rest, and a renewed connection to nature
– To spend time in a coastal landscape that invites introspection, imagination, and openness
This is not a high-pressure production workshop.
It’s a spacious, restorative week designed for artistic expansion, creative curiosity, and the kind of beauty that only comes from making in a place that feels like a deep breath.
Day-by-day breakdown
DAY 1 — Arrival, Settling In, Welcome Dinner
Arrive at the property, explore the acreage, breathe in that first rush of coastal air, and make yourself at home. We’ll ease into the week with a slow welcome dinner around the table—good food, soft light, and an introduction to the rhythm we’ll be keeping.
DAY 2 — Bouquets + Centerpieces
Our first full design day. Morning instruction will cover expressive spring bouquets and generous, sculptural centerpieces that echo the movement of the coastline. After lunch, the studio opens for continued exploration, photography, wandering, or rest.
DAY 3 — Installation Begins
Today we start a site-specific installation built in collaboration with the land itself. Jessie will guide us through creating with natural materials—grasses, branches, textures found on the property—paired with seasonal flowers. This is a beauty-in-progress kind of day, with time to shape, adjust, and respond to the landscape.
DAY 4 — Installation Continued + Tablescape + Formal Dinner
We’ll complete the installation in the morning, with a photography window to capture the final work.
The afternoon shifts toward tabletop styling—layering dishes, tones, textures, and light to create evocative small-scale scenes.
We close the day with a more formal dinner, styled intentionally with the work created earlier: a night that feels a little celestial, a little mid-century, and very celebratory.
DAY 5 — Choose-Your-Own Morning + Departure
A gentle final day. Spend the morning however you’d like: take photos, finish a personal piece, walk the trails, or savor the quiet with coffee in hand. Pack up at your own pace and depart by midday—rested, inspired, and carrying a softer, clearer artistic voice home with you.
Investment
This retreat is intentionally intimate, with room for up to 9 artists. Each room option is listed below—choose the configuration that best suits your preferred level of privacy and comfort.
Bedroom 1 — King Bed (Shared Room)
$3,200 per person
A spacious king suite ideal for two friends or solo attendees comfortable sharing.
Bedroom 2 — Queen Bed (Shared or Single)
$3,150 per person to share
$6,000 for a private single-occupancy room
A serene queen room with the option to share—or reserve the entire space for yourself.
Bedroom 3 — Queen Bed (Shared or Single)
$3,150 per person to share
$6,000 for a private single-occupancy room
Similar in size and feel to Bedroom 2, with the same flexibility for privacy.
Bedroom 4 — Double Bed (Single Only)
$3,250 for single occupancy
A cozy, light-filled room meant for one guest who prefers a more intimate space.
Bedroom 5 — Two Single Beds (Shared Room)
$3,100 per person
A comfortable shared room with two separate single beds—our most accessible price point.
Our home for the week:
Logistics
Arrival + Departure
Check-in begins on Day 1 anytime after 2pm; guests will have the afternoon to settle in before our welcome dinner at 5pm.
The property is roughly 3 hours from San Francisco International Airport
Because of the rural coastline and limited rideshare options, carpooling or renting a car is strongly recommended.
Travel to and from the retreat location is arranged independently.
A detailed info email—address, driving notes, packing list, and contact numbers—will arrive well before the retreat.
Day 5 is intentionally light; guests may depart whenever they feel ready!
Daily Rhythm
Light breakfast available each morning.
A short group touch-base opens each design day.
Lunch is served onsite; breaks are intentionally built in for rest, reading, photography, or wandering the property.
Evenings alternate between shared meals and open downtime.
Flowers + Materials
All flowers are sourced from seasonal, regional growers and delivered directly to our workspace..
All tools, vessels, mechanics, and materials are provided.
Participants may bring any personal favorite tools if they prefer.
We highly recommend you bring other art forms to practice in as well! Paint, cameras, the sky is the limit.
Workspace
A dedicated studio space is on the property with generous table space- it is within an outdoor barn so dress warm!!
Access to the surrounding farm for gathering small textural elements
Multiple areas for photographing work throughout the week
