Annual Taos Women’s Art Retreat:
creativity, personal growth, and community

with Susan Stover and Lisa Pressman

November 1-8, 2026

Join me and Lisa Pressman in Taos, NM for an immersive art making experience.

This year we’ve extended the workshop by 1 more day!

Join Susan Stover and Lisa Pressman in Taos, New Mexico, for an immersive art-making retreat grounded in place, process, and community.

This year, we’ve extended the retreat by an additional day—creating more spaciousness for making, reflection, conversation, and rest. Set in the Land of Enchantment, Taos offers expansive skies, striking light, and a landscape that naturally invites you to slow down and pay attention.

Our home for the week is the historic Mabel Dodge Luhan House, a longtime center for art, ideas, and exchange. For nearly 100 years, this remarkable adobe has welcomed artists, writers, and thinkers drawn by both the land and the creative dialogue that continues to live here.

There is something about Taos—and about the Mabel Dodge Luhan House in particular—that consistently shapes the experience. The land, the light, the history, and the rhythm of the property create an atmosphere that supports presence, focus, and meaningful engagement with the work and with one another.

“We’ve taught here for several years, and each return deepens the experience. The place continuesto surprise us—visually, creatively, and personally. We’d love to share this time with you." ~ Lisa and Sue

The Studio:

This retreat is designed for women who have an ongoing making practice—or who are comfortable working independently with guidance and support. Participants are encouraged to bring their own projects and materials, working in ways that feel authentic to their current questions and interests.

Susan and Lisa guide the week through demonstrations, optional prompts, individual conversations, and group dialogue. The emphasis is on process over product, creating space for ideas to unfold and intuition to lead.

This workshop is not media-specific. Participants are welcome to work in any medium.

We will spend five full days in the studio, with 24-hour access throughout the retreat. One additional day is intentionally unscheduled, allowing participants to design their own excursion—whether that means exploring Taos, visiting museums or galleries, returning to the landscape, or simply resting.

Options are:

water-based or oil painting
drawing
stitching or fiber
book-making
collage
object making
etc.

Is This Retreat is for You?

This retreat is for women who are comfortable working independently while being part of a thoughtful, engaged community.

It’s well suited for artists who value time, space, and place as essential parts of the creative process, and who are open to guidance through conversation, demonstrations, and shared inquiry rather than step-by-step instruction.

If you’re drawn to spacious studio time, honest exchange, and the kind of learning that happens through presence and lived experience, this retreat offers that kind of space.

What is included:

  • Welcome reception on Nov. 1 before dinner

  • 7 nights at the historic Mabel Dodge Luhan House in a private room with bath

  • Delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily (dietary restrictions accommodated) with one lunch and dinner out on your own

  • Free day to explore museums and galleries in Taos, Taos Pueblo, nearby towns, Ghost Ranch, Georgia O’Keefe’s house in Abiquiu (Ghost Ranch and O’Keefe house require reservations well in advance.

  • 5 full days of studio time and 24 hour access to the studio for the duration of the retreat

  • Evening presentations and get togethers

  • Demonstrations, prompts and individual attention

  • A variety of R&F Drawing Oils provided

  • 2 pre-trip meet and greet and informational Zoom meetings

  • Material and Technique Demos

  • Group Feedback Sessions

  • One on One Consultations

  • Community, Conversation, and Good Food

A group of people dining at a long wooden table, decorated with small pumpkins and candles, in a cozy, rustic room. They are engaged in conversation while enjoying wine and various dishes. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, resembling a gathering or dinner party.

Mabel Dodge is known for its healthy, delicious food created by a top local chef. When possible, garden-raised or local produce is used. To keep you energized throughout the day, coffee, tea, water and fresh baked cookies are available.

Sample dinner menu: (with vegetarian and vegan options available)

  • Grilled chicken cutlets in tomatillo-chipolte sauce

  • Herbed rice

  • Whole wheat tortillas

  • Squash stew (summer squash, onions, corn, green chile and queso fresco)

  • Sonoran salad (a green salad with jicama, poblano chiles, avocado and pecans)

  • Mexican chocolate Cake

And a Lot of Fun!

Total Price for the Retreat with Lodging, Meals, Instruction, and is $4500 USD

Payment is through Venmo or check.

EMAIL ME for registration.

Testimonials

  • "Everything about the Taos workshop is wonderful: the food, the location, the teachers, and the participants. You will spend your days talking, laughing, creating, and taking in the beautiful surroundings. Everyone is supportive and kind. The workshop will leave you feeling inspired, grateful for new friendships, and very happy."

    Susan A.

  • "Lisa and Sue’s Taos workshop/retreat was truly a wonderful experience. Mabel Dodge Luhan house is a charming, comfortable, and a visually lovely place to spend the week. Did I also mention that the food (breakfast, lunch, dinner) was also fabulous? I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work at my own pace in the nurturing and supportive environment they provide."

    Donna H.

  • "Sue and Lisa provided exercises and prompts as starting points, which I found to be inspiring. The group critiques and Lisa and Sue’s guidance were invaluable.. The field trip to canyon Ranch and Georgia O’Keefe’s was an experience I will not soon forget.. All in all I felt very fortunate to be able to be part of this amazing experience and would do it again in a heartbeat."

    Beth H.