Under the Supermoon: A Día de los Muertos Watercolor Journey

About Día de los Muertos

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican tradition that honors deceased loved ones with joy, memory, and beauty. It is a celebration of life and death intertwined — filled with altars (ofrendas), marigolds, candles, music, and family gatherings. This ancient festival reminds us that death is not an end, but part of the cycle of existence.

Exploration

This is your own custom spiritual journey into yourself, guided by watercolor.

We’ll begin by setting intentions:

• What are you here for?

• What do you want to manifest in your life—over the next 6 months?  year?  three?

• What stands in your way? Fear? Doubt? Shame? Something else?

• What is a healthy lifestyle change, related to your ideal, that you would choose to implement?

• Is binge-eating?  Sugar? 

Can you give it a name, or even a face? 

Once you've identified your desire and what stands in your way, you'll craft that into a sacred intention for our gathering.  You may reveal as much or as little as you like to the others. This is your sacred journey, and we honor each person’s path.

Once we've identified our intention, we’ll step into the Dia de los Muertos celebration and seek what messages await us.

Guidance & Freedom

For the six days of our gathering, each of us will be led in our own way. Sometimes as a group, sometimes alone. There are no rules—only the reminder to return to your intention and follow your intuition.

Your experiences will be unique, whether shared with others or explored solo. The choice is always yours.  Listen to your inner voice and follow that guidance.

Evening Circles

In those first three afternoons we’ll come together—relax, share, and reflect.  Maybe we’ll go to dinner together.  Maybe we’ll just stay in and cook together.  And we’ll explore:

• What did you see?

• Was some secret word whispered to you as you gazed upon a particular scene?

• Did an ancestor send you a message?

• Was there an epiphany at sunset? as mariachi music floated by from a nearby plaza?

• What do you think of a particular Mary Oliver poem?  Poe?

We’ll play with ways to express this—scribbles, sketches, concepts - letting ideas evolve freely in an atmosphere of creativity and play.  You are free to use any medium; pencils, ink, charcoal, watercolor . . .  whatever works to express your ideas. 

These evenings will be very informal and free; with lots of play involved to shake the fruit from the creativity tree . . . 

__________________

Creative Flow

Over those first three days of the gathering, you’ll step into new experiences, each unique to you.  You'll have freedom to set your own boundaries; remembering to keep your intention sacred.  After those three days of "cultural meditation", we'll begin gathering in the studio at Casa Camellia to explore our ideas . . . 

On Monday morning, your ideas will have been refined and will have ripened into concepts you will pursue, and together we’ll explore how to bring them to life—no matter your drawing skill.

We will start that day with principles and techniques for using watercolor. 

“I can’t draw.”

Doesn’t matter. We’ll experiment, play, and discover ways to put your heart onto paper. My hope is that each of you leaves with something profound—a painting, an understanding, or both—something meaningful to you.

My job is to facilitate, to guide you through principles and techniques that help you create works of art that come from deep inside.

This isn’t about learning to paint landscapes or portraits—though the tools I share could take you there. It’s about accessing that deep part of you, letting the messages surface, and capturing them on paper. Be open to the possibilities.

Living Together

The retreat space includes a large, beautifully appointed outdoor kitchen: six-burner gas range, fridge, spices, and a lounge area. Bring your own PBJ fixings if you like—or join in cooking together a couple of times.

Día de los Muertos & Closing

We’ll honor those who have passed—friends, family, pets, or even aspects of ourselves we’re saying goodbye to. And we’ll celebrate completion while preparing for what’s next.

On Wednesday, November 5, the Beaver Supermoon rises at 9:47 PM in the east. It symbolizes completion and readiness for the longer nights of winter. On this final night, we’ll gather on Casa Camellia’s rooftop terrace to honor our time, our journey, and our shared discoveries under the Beaver Supermoon.

Community

I am no guru. I mess up all the time. But I’ve found pathways that can help others. I’ve asked to be guided by the universe in becoming a facilitator for your journey—and I’ll be practicing right alongside you. I, too, am setting intentions and opening myself up for the messages that await.

A Sacred Space

Because this is a spiritual retreat, we ask that politics and worldly noise be set aside. Let this be a time of peace, intention, and connection.

Materials

Use the best quality you can afford. Paper is the most important factor in beautiful work; paints come second. If you need to economize, save it for brushes. I mostly use inexpensive brushes myself—they get beat up the way I paint. Now and then I splurge on a professional one.

Paper

I love Arches cold-pressed. Cold-pressed and rough are textured with tiny peaks and valleys. Hot-pressed is smooth, like it’s been ironed.

Fabriano is another good choice, and Bao Hong is a newer paper with strong reviews.

Avoid brands like Strathmore or Canson; their surface sizing makes pigments behave unpredictably.

For our gathering, I recommend Arches Watercolor Blocks (10” × 14”). They’re convenient for travel, large enough for expression, and glued on all four sides so you can paint directly on them without buckling.

Other

I’ll also have supplies for experimentation: Dr. Ph. Martin’s concentrated watercolors, Bombay inks, masking fluid, tape, a hair-dryer, paper towels, and plenty of jugs for water.

What questions do you have?

About the Artist

Greg Miles is a painter and musician whose work bridges the soulful and the spiritual. His watercolors are known for their vibrant life and emotional depth, while his music — rooted in Americana and Blues — carries the same energy of storytelling and connection. With decades of creative practice, Greg brings both skill and heart to this gathering.  See more examples of his work at www.gregmilesart.com 

Reviews

"Greg's workshops are engaging, informative, and fun for artists of all levels! I first met Greg at a one-day workshop where I was a beginner among experienced artists. This was intimidating, but he made me feel immediately welcomed.

Greg tailors his instruction to each participant’s experience level, offering individual attention, encouragement, and guidance. He breaks down both foundational and advanced techniques with clarity and creativity.

All of us – beginners to advanced artists – left the workshop that day with new insights to enhance each of our individual painting skills, styles, and goals. For me, that single workshop was a turning point -- I left knowing not only that I could learn to paint, but inspired that I could actually become an artist. I enthusiastically recommend his workshops!"

~ LeeAnn Robertson

"Over the course of the last 20 years, I have participated in several art demonstrations/events with Greg Miles. He has been an instructor in my school classrooms as well as my instructor when I took his weekend workshop. Greg has a unique way of getting students, young and old, to see composition in new ways and has a true talent for encouraging creative exploration. His ability to encourage while challenging individuals offers an opportunity to open up to the unexpected. The way Greg explains the importance of light, use of color, texture and aesthetic meaning in works of art is captivating. Greg is a master painter who delights in others' success. He will bring out the best in each person who is willing to take a risk as they dig deep into their own creative mojo. I look forward to painting with Greg again and again. "

~ Mrs. Cynthia Girone (Elkins)

Details

Dates: October 31^st – November 5^th, 2025 (arrive on 30^th; leave on 6^th)

Place: Casa Camellia, San Miguel de Allende

Lodging: Casa Camellia — $150/night, only 6 rooms remain. Accommodations elsewhere are scarce during this season. Act soon!

Visit www.casacamelliasma.com for more information. 

To book your room, contact hotel manager Uriel Negrete at +52 415-151-1341 and mention you’re part of Greg Miles’ watercolor gathering.  

14 total spaces for the workshop.  Sign up soon, as these will fill up quickly.  If you’re coming with a friend, consider sharing a room so others can stay here as well . . .

Tuition:

$700 — Patron Tier (includes Full Experience + helps another participant attend)

$550 — Full Experience (instruction, cultural immersion, closing ceremony)

$400 — Assisted Tier (by request only)

Bring-a-Friend Discount:

➼ Patron Tier (50OFF): $50 off each

➼ Full Experience (code: 100OFF): $500 each if two register together

Sign Up

Secure Online Payment Link: Book Now

For more information, email: greg@gregmilesart.com