Sketch Loose Retreat
your watercolor and ink retreat
Spend a week with Toby exploring the semi-urban landscapes, villages, and river valleys of Le Marche. You will sketch outdoors every day (weather permitting), learn practical techniques, and enjoy a calm, structured week that builds your confidence as an artist. There will be a mix of guided sessions, creative clinics, relaxed sketching time, and space to enjoy the area at your own pace.
The program is flexible depending on the weather, and local events.
Exact venues and timings might change
retreat program
All the information you need to know exactly what to expect from this retreat.
Sutarday | Arrival Day
- Arrival and check-in at Chiaraluce Country House
- Time to settle in and meet the group
- Evening welcome pizza at Montefiore dell’Aso
Sunday | Welcome & First Sketches
8:15 am Breakfast
9:00 am Start at Chiaraluce: warm-up exercises, introductions, and overview of the week
13:00 Lunch at Chiaraluce
14:00 Depart for Montefiore dell’Aso for sketching its charming streets, hidden corners, and beautiful piazza
Return to Chiaraluce for relaxation and dinner
19:00 Dinner at Chiaraluce
Monday | Discovering Offida & MAM San Benedetto del Tronto
8:15 am Breakfast
9:00 am Depart for Offida with a packed lunch
Full day sketching in one of the most atmospheric hill towns in the Marche region
13:00 Packed lunch in Offida
Afternoon continuation of sketching and exploration
Return to Chiaraluce around 15:00
If timing allows: visit to the MAM – Museo d’Arte sul Mare, San Benedetto del Tronto
19:00 Dinner at Chiaraluce
Tueday | Grottammare & Wine Tasting
8:15 am Breakfast
9:00 am Depart for Grottammare, the historic “Pearl of the Adriatic”
Morning sketching in the old town and coastal atmosphere
Return to Chiaraluce for lunch
13:00 Lunch at Chiaraluce
Afternoon: wine tasting experience followed by an evening sketching session inspired by the changing light
19:00 Dinner at Chiaraluce
Wednesday | Ascoli Piceno
8:15 am Breakfast
9:00 am Depart for Ascoli Piceno
Morning sketching in the historic squares and streets
13:00 Lunch in town
Afternoon visit to a local olive oil producer on the way back
Optional stop at the outdoor sculpture park if not yet visited during the week
Return to Chiaraluce for dinner
19:00 Dinner at Chiaraluce
Thursday | Final Vernissage
8:15 am Breakfast
9:00 am Flexible morning: destination chosen together based on group inspiration
13:00 Lunch at Chiaraluce
Afternoon: final work on artworks and preparation of the exhibition
Evening: vernissage and final exhibition
Dinner is included as part of the vernissage event
Friday | Check-out & Departure
8:15 am Breakfast
9:00 am Check-out from Chiaraluce Country House
Departure according to individually arranged travel times
Toby Haseler "Sketch Loose"
Toby Haseler (aka Toby SketchLoose or Toby UrbanSketch) is an ink and
watercolour sketcher who specialises in capturing quick and expressive
art, using characteristic continuous lines and loose watercolours. He
sketches a range of subjects, both urban and rural landscapes, as woll
as still lifes, doodle-art and the occasional portrait too.
His journey through art hasn’t always been easy: he used to stress an
awful lot and pour his heart and soul into creating paintings for hours
and hours but eventually realised he wasn’t enjoying this approach. And
that is when he started to ‘Sketch Loose’ and started to find a new joy
and happiness in his art.
Now he puts his energy into helping other people discover this
fundamental shift in sketching mentality to free up their sketching.
loosen up their art, and use art not just to create but also to relax and
enjoy life.
does it cost?
We offer different pricing options based on your needs.
€1900
€1700 per person sharing
they’ll receive a €250 discount on the room and can explore all the activities available for them.
What’s Included
* 5 days painting tuition
* 6 nights accomodation
* All meals with beverages
* Transfers from/to Pedaso train station or Ancona airport
* Transfers from/to the venues where the plein air painting sessions will take place
* A day trip to Ascoli Piceno with oil tasting
* Foldable chairs
What’s Not Included
* Transfers from/to the venue from other airport
* Airfares, visa and travel insurance
* Personal art supplies – a recommended list will be provide by your artist
* Additional beverages outside meals
* Optional private sessions
* Personal expenses and souvenirs