Join artists Claire Tollstrup and Lynne Millar in beautiful Palm Springs for 4 immersive days of oil painting, floral design, creative connection, relaxation and restoration at the enchanting Korakia Pensione in Palm Springs.

Our intention is to create the ultimate creative pause—a space where you can slow down, fill your artistic well, and become inspired. Each day will include foundational oil painting instruction—designed for both committed beginners and experienced painters—with thoughtful exercises, live demonstrations, and personalized feedback. Each artist will have individual support from Claire and Lynne as they paint everyday.

We’ll also gather for a floral design session led by floral designer Marianne Bates, creating arrangements that mirror the natural beauty surrounding us. Together, we’ll explore what it means to live a creative life—and how to make space for painting and creativity in our daily life.

Sanctuary Workshop & Retreat January 19-22

At the heart of this retreat is Korakia, a historic Moroccan-style hideaway nestled against the San Jacinto Mountains. Featured in Vogue, Architectural Digest, The New York Times, and Forbes, this boutique hotel is unlike anywhere else—each room and courtyard carefully curated with beautiful and thoughtful details. The property is inviting at every turn, with so much to explore: secret gardens, Moroccan fountains, heated pools, and quiet corners perfect for relaxation.

After workshop sessions, guests are free to rest poolside, linger in the gardens, or venture into downtown Palm Springs to enjoy its renowned dining and boutique shopping scene. We’ve designed every detail of this experience to support your artistic growth and your personal renewal.

Sanctuary Workshop & Retreat Includes:

4 nights at Korakia boutique hotel January 19-22 (check out on 23rd)

Oil Painting instruction everyday, demonstrations, thoughtful exercises and group creativity discussions

Floral design class, with fresh fruit and flowers to paint from as we create our still life scenes

Breakfast everyday at Korakia Resort in Palm Springs Desert

Private group yoga session on the grounds of Korakia Resort

Welcome dinner on our first night, and a formal celebration dinner on our last evening together

2 Zoom classes before the workshop to help familiarize participants with their supplies and traveling with oil paints

This will be the 6th workshop hosted by Lynne Millar and Claire Tollstrup. They have loved partnering together to create unique experiences for artists, including past workshops in San Miguel Mexico, and Salt Lake City Utah. This is the 4th time featuring their favorite florist Marianne Bates.

Meet Lynne Millar

Lynne lives in Tracy, California, and brings her academic foundation with a degree in art history to the workshops. She showcases her work through Anthropologie, Minted, and Artfully Walls, describing painting as her way of “paying attention to and processing the beauty and complexity of the world around me through color, brushstroke and texture.”

Meet Claire Tollstrup

Claire is based in Salt Lake City and contributes two decades of oil painting experience to their teaching partnership. She actively participates in shows and galleries throughout Utah and surrounding states, believing that “artists should not try to be factories but instead intentional and thoughtful creators—each painting deserves its own individual thought, composition, theme and meaning behind it.”

Meet Marianne Bates

Completing their creative trio is Marianne Bates, a professional and highly sought-after floral designer whose elegant work has been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, and Style Me Pretty. Marianne brings her vibrant personality and energy to the group, making each workshop both educational and lighthearted.