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Spring RaftingInflatable Kayaks Wilderness Watercolor July 30 - August 1, 2008 Sketchbooks and Paintings to Capture the Wilderness Experience $450/adults, $400/teens, $350/children This special adventure from River Dancers is for artists and their families, a unique 3 day river experience to share. Both accomplished artists and beginners are welcome. Everyone will discover new skills, new ways of seeing the wilderness and expressing themselves in travel sketchbooks, journals and location paintings. Carrying only a sketchpad, pencil and pen, a small kit of watercolors and paper, participants will record their impressions of a remarkable river adventure. 
Painting instructor Kim Solga is a fine artist, specializing
in watercocolor paintings and pen & ink drawings. Check out
her beautiful work on her website www.solga.com. She is a true river
lover and a delighful friend.Non-artists are also welcome as this is a perfect adventure for families and couples. River trips offer the wonderful opportunity to discover and enjoy the wilderness as a family. Parents and children interact in a relaxed, friendly environment. Non-artists can fish, swim, read and simply relax while the artists work. The Klamath River is a great first-time wilderness experience. Please phone us for details if you have any questions about the physical challenges of this trip, and recommendations for children (ages 10 and up).
The Adventure: Day 1 Day 1 begins at 9am in Happy Camp, in the beautiful Siskiyou Range of northwestern California. The first day's leisurely pace allows us to take in the beautiful surroundings as we run delightful class II and III rapids, and float long stretches of peaceful water. Bring your cameras as there will be ample opportunities for photography. We make camp early in the afternoon, and after a rest in the shade, time to unpack and set up tents and perhaps take a short swim, the watercolor fun begins. We start with a demonstration of how to work "en plein air", on location, and how to select a portion of the landscape or a detail of wildflower, willow, driftwood or rock to paint. The instructor will sketch and begin a painting, then assist participants in selecting and painting their own scenes. 
Meanwhile, the guides have set up camp, wine, cool drinks
and nibbles are available to artists as the golden afternoon light
lengthens. Dinner is waiting for you when your paintings are complete.
After dinner there's time to once again grab your brushes and capture
the fading colors of twilight, or to enjoy a nightcap and good conversation
with friends. Laughter and the gentle voice of the river make perfect partners
as the evening winds down. Fall asleep on warm beach sands and dream about
the scenes tomorrow will bring. The Adventure: Day 2 Day 2 begins with a delicious breakfast as the morning light filters through the pines, or as river mists create a beautiful and mysterious atmosphere. After packing our personal gear, artists will enjoy a sketchbook activity. This activity stresses quick, informational journal, sketches and notations. The instructor will demonstrate capturing the natural surroundings and camp atmosphere. Then, as our guides pack up and load the rafts, artists will explore the beach area with their own sketchbooks, capturing the vibrant colors and the magical light of the river combine to create unique journal memories from which later studio paintings can be created. Then we're off on the river. Cameras again come into play, and the leisurely lunch break is another chance to pull out those sketchbooks and practice the morning's lessons with quick, beautiful, location sketches. Again we make camp early in the afternoon, and after another location demonstration by the instructor, your time is your own. You may work at your own pace with instructor assistance, taking a break to rest by the riverside, enjoy a swim, or try a little fishing. Dinner time provides an opportunity to share your work with the class and gain from their critique. Saturday evening is a great time to relax with delicious food and fine company, go over what you've learned, and plan your morning's painting. The late evening is the perfect time to watch for wildlife....we often see families of river otter making their way upstream as well as ducks, mergansers, great blue heron, osprey and even bald eagles. Again we set up our tents on sun warmed river sand and sleep beside rippling waters. 
The Adventure: Day 3Spend your last morning practicing what you've learned, creating lasting memories as well as works of art. You will have several hours to paint, and the opportunity to hike with your guides to a spectacular waterfall about a quarter of a mile up a side creek. After lunch and sharing our artwork and what we've learned with other participants, we take to the river again for a final rapid and float to the take-out. You'll be back in your vehicle by late afternoon, free to return home or extend your vacation a few days longer to sketch, paint and enjoy beautiful Siskiyou County. Our goal is to provide a one of a kind, enlightening experience for those who have a love of the outdoors and an appreciation of art. With practice and a little luck, you will capture the true essence of wilderness life and add skills that will enrich your life and your travels from this day on. Art supplies to bring Supplies should be packed in a hard sided, Rubbermaid-type container, about 13"x20"x6" Sketching pencils and erasers Water soluble colored pencils Etching pens (optional) Hardback 5"x8" sketch book Small kit of watercolor paints (the Cotman Watercolor Travel Kit from Windsor Newton is excellent, as is the Sennelier Artist Watercolor Travel Set, though any small palette with your favorite collection of pigments is fine.) Paintbrushes and a cloth roll for carrying them Block of watercolor paper 9"x12" Cliipboard or small drawing board Small folding chair (optional) Rates & Reservations $450/adults, $400/teens, $350/children Area Map Level of difficulty Class II and III rivers are easy to moderate. No experience necessary, but paddling will be required. The most difficult rapids can be portaged with a short hike. Klamath trip information (directions to our meeting place, trip logistics, what to expect, what to bring, etc..) 
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