ONE YOU, THREE PORTRAITS:
A Creative Retreat
August 21, 2025•10am-4pm
Woolman Hill Retreat Center
South Deerfield, MA
“We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.”
– May Sarton
Others see us all the time, but how often do we really pause to see ourselves in a kind and generous light?
Imagine spending a beautiful summer day in a peaceful spot with a group of kindred spirits, creating three distinct portraits of yourself – one in writing, one through art, and one through the camera lens.
WHAT WILL WE DO?
During this relaxing day-long retreat, you will have the opportunity to connect with your stories, hear others’ voices, eat delicious food, play with art materials, have an individual portrait session, and leave feeling truly heard and seen.
Drawing on Jena’s work as a writing coach and creative facilitator and Isabella’s passion for portrait photography, this special collaboration invites you to step out of your routines and into the wide open space of your creativity.
WHO SHOULD COME?
Whether you feel comfortable in your own skin and love who you are in the world, sometimes feel invisible and wonder where you fit in, or, like most of us, some combination of the two, we designed this retreat for you. All adults are welcome; no special writing or art experience is needed.
THE FLOW
Coffee, tea, snacks, getting settled
Welcome and introductions
Grounding exercise, writing prompt, and a delicious stretch of time with your journal
Sharing and witnessing facilitated by Jena
Catered lunch and rest-and-digest time
Playtime with collage and other art materials
Individual portrait sessions with Isabella
Closing circle
SIZE & PRICING
There is a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 12 participants
$450 per person
Deadline to register July 28, 2025
-
Price includes:
Jena and Isabella’s creative and professional expertise (106 years of life experience combined!)
A light-filled physical space in a beautiful natural setting in which to connect with your creativity
A signed copy of Jena’s book (early-bird only)
Morning coffee, tea, and snacks
A delicious catered lunch, dessert, and one non-alcoholic drink
Collage/art materials
A digital, high-resolution photo of you for your own personal and/or professional use
Price does not include:
Journal and writing utensil
Extra or special snacks and drinks
Prints of your photo portraits
Optional add-ons:
Come early or stay after in one of the amazing cabins on the property (link)
Order additional prints or digital images of your portrait
Buy Jena’s book, Fierce Encouragement: 201 Writing Prompts for Staying Grounded in Fragile Times
TERMS
By registering, you indicate your agreement with the following terms:
Please consider your commitment carefully as all payments are nonrefundable.
If a minimum of 8 people is not reached by July 28, the retreat will be canceled. In this event, we will issue a full refund minus a 5% processing fee.
Participants are expected to arrive on time and stay for the duration of the retreat.
There is absolutely no smoking, vaping, or alcohol of any kind on the premises.
You consent to having your portrait taken as well as informal photos throughout the day that may be shared after the retreat.
Jena and Isabella
Through writing and photography, we have each found a way to build a life around our respective passions. What we share is a love of storytelling, connection, fun, and authenticity. Both in our 50s, we have found that the freer we get with our own quirkiness, the more we open ourselves to joy. At a time when the world is full of heartache, we believe that it is a powerful thing to make space for self-expression, creativity, and community. We are so excited to be offering this retreat, our first collaboration, and we can’t wait to meet you!