Capture the Lisbon Wow
with Cynthia Morris and Koosje Koene
April 16 - 21, 2025
Dare to take yourself on a creative adventure
Finally feel creatively free
- get past insecurities about drawing
- break the curse of the blank page
- have fun making memories in your sketchbook
Slow down to feel the wow
- focus on what WOWs you
- stop trying to draw everything
- slow down enough to savor your experience
Learn practices you can use at home
- take ideas from your sketchbook into your art
- combine drawings and words to express unique experiences
- fit sketchbooking into a busy schedule
By the end of our week, you will have learned a handful of creative tools to slow down and capture any experience.
A walking and creativity workshop to entice the adventurer in you
The vibrant capital of Portugal will be both our inspiration and classroom. Lisbon is what Cynthia calls 'rugged'. The seven hills, the endless stairs, the charming but uneven cobblestone pavement, the graffiti - this is a classic and funky European city.
We will be out and about in the city. Expect to walk a lot. Expect to tackle and conquer all those stairs. You can do it! This city challenges us to be nimble and agile. It's less about stamina and more about flexibility.
We’ll meet in different locations for workshops on elements of keeping a travel sketchbook. This workshop is about much more than drawing or sketching. It's about slowing down and using all our senses to bring the inspiration that surrounds us into our travel sketchbooks. No moment is too insignificant to capture.
Alongside a group of new creative friends, you will have a ton of fun learning and exploring. You’ll get instruction and inspiration from Cynthia and Koosje every day.
You choose your lodging, meals, and transportation. Lisbon is easily navigated by walking. Mostly we will be walking, but other times you might take the metro, tram or Tuk Tuk.
You are a savvy traveler and feel comfortable navigating a new environment. You’ll love designing your own Lisbon activities with our workshop as a framework for traveling as an artist.
Lisbon is calling. Are you answering?
(Your artist is!)
Sample schedule
Most days, we will meet in the morning (9:30 - 12:30) to explore and practice new techniques.
Each session will have three hours of instruction and group time.
As part of the workshop, we will regularly lay out our sketchbooks for all of us to see and learn from. Your teachers will offer encouraging support that will spark you to go further.
You'll be on your own for meals, so you can customize according to your tastes.
Afternoons will be free for exploring on your own.
Some days we will convene for late afternoon activities.
We will have a few shared outings that we will reveal before we meet. Life-changing experiences, anyone?
At the end of our week together, we'll gather to celebrate our creative adventure.
Just prior to our workshop, you will be given a more thorough itinerary.
People love adventuring with Cynthia and Koosje
“If you want to become more comfortable drawing ‘in the wild’, doing quick sketches, and getting rid of the fear of the blank page, this is for you.” 2024 Wowster
“I loved this workshop! We effortlessly became a “band” of merry sketchers. I loved every location we went to. Koosje and Cynthia were so persuasive about us reaching new and improved levels in our art. ” Jack
“The schedule was great. I enjoyed having a session in the morning and the rest of the day free to explore Lisbon, sketch, and work on the day's assignment.We were able to put each day’s lesson into practice right away.
You managed to find lovely locations that were not overcrowded (a feat with the number of tourists in the city!).
This experience is perfect for anyone who needs a nudge to unleash their inner artist in a supportive environment. I see the world in a different way now, and my fingers have been itching to sketch each day since I returned home!” Jennifer K
“Capture the Lisbon Wow was my very favorite travel thing I’ve ever done.
The schedule was a perfect amount of together and alone time. I loved having a daily artistic theme/method. That gives me a way to re-create at home.
Cynthia and Koosje did a great job leading each day from their respective strengths.” Emily
“The blend of the written word and visual art made this workshop unique. Lots of new ideas to play with.
I loved the workshops in various locations, with lots of time to explore.
Cynthia and Koosje are FANTASTIC teachers!! ” Kim K Roberts
“I 100% recommend Capture the Lisbon Wow! This was my first solo travel. I learned so much about how to travel on my own. I’m very proud of how I was able to get around and do things on my own. This trip helped me to build my confidence in myself.
I loved the blend of class time, outings, and free time. I loved being in a community of artists that encouraged each other. The people I met on this trip were wonderful, open, friendly, kind, and inspiring. There were so many laughs.
This trip expanded so many possibilities for me. I’m very grateful.” Anu
“I loved the positive and encouraging energy—on the process and the feeling of accomplishment associated with sketching.
Also loved discovering the city through a variety of experiences, from a wealth of perspectives, in the company of supportive new friends.
This is for anyone who wants to give their sketching a boost so it becomes an enjoyable habit. A week of sketching in a wow-worthy city with other aspiring artists is a great way to overcome self-consciousness about drawing in public.” Frances Sprout
New dates added!
April 16 - 21, 2025
Is this for you?
Calling artists of all types, writers, sculptors, architects, stitchers, and people who love to observe the world and want to capture it in color and line.
Seasoned sketchbook keepers or blank page beginners are welcome.
People who prefer to walk through a city because that's where more magic and sensations are discovered. Get those steps!
You are a savvy traveler who feels ready, willing, and able to make your way in Lisbon on your own and with the group. This is for you if you want to:
- travel in a creative way, with your artist in the lead
- overcome fear of perfection in your creative process
- keep a sketchbook but don’t have the practice or the tools
- refresh your sketchbook practice and get new ideas and inspiration
- be your creative self and have a blast at play in Lisbon.
Not for you if you:
- you are solely interested in learning drawing techniques or realistic drawing in the style of urban sketching
- are not willing to step out of your artistic comfort zone
- don’t enjoy walking
- are uncomfortable when plans change
- need to learn in a classroom environment.
What's included
Private Online Salon
Private online forum before, during, and after the program to connect with others, prepare for the sketchventure and get all the info. No one gives you support and resources before a workshop like this.
Daily workshops
Daily instruction in English with Cynthia and Koosje. Instruction in drawing, lettering, storytelling, collage, color, and overall freeing up your artist from two world-renowned artists.
Inspiration for your artist
Carefully curated Sketch Kit for the art supply lover in you. You will love the goodies we've chosen for you!
Welcome and closing celebrations
Welcome session/mingle and meet/set the stage for adventure sketchventure
Final party to celebrate our sketchadventures
Not included:
- Lodging
- Airfare
- Transportation to and around Lisbon
- Meals
- Excursions on your own
Pricing
Meet Your Teachers
Cynthia Morris
Fall in love with your life as a creative adventure
Cynthia's illustrated journals are bursting with color, drawings, and snippets of life both on the road and at home in Colorado. Her pages show how to see familiar and faraway places with new eyes. Cynthia is the creator of Writual Blessings, a colorful deck of affirmations for writers. Cynthia illustrated the book, How to Sell Your Art Online by Cory Huff. She has been leading writing and creativity workshops in Paris and elsewhere since 2005.
Koosje Koene
Documenting life from your point of view
(pronounced “Kosha Koonah”) is an artist, illustrator and writer, and co-founder of Sketchbook Skool. Ever since starting a regular drawing practice herself, she’s been teaching others why drawing makes you happy and can change the way you see the world and yourself. In her sketchbooks, Koosje draws the world around her; she captures exciting adventures as well as everyday things. She does this in her classes, in her weekly YouTube series Draw Tip Tuesday, and in her book “life is better when you draw (it)”
Have the time of your life with your new creative friends
