A creative week of drawing and exploring the visual language in the mountains
July 23rd-30th, 2026
7 days in a beautiful and peaceful spot in the green Catalan Pyrenees in Spain, practicing bringing our ideas to paper
We combine exercises and experimentation, drawing both from observation and from imagination–gaining skills, knowledge and confidence as visual storytellers. We focus on the basics of the visual language, its grammar, syntax and poetry to develop our capacity to communicate an idea in our own personal way.
Thinking beyond art and self-exploration, we address drawing as a communication tool. We draw in order to make sense of the world around us: we re-create what we see, translating our thoughts and ideas into images, capturing memories on paper that would otherwise evaporate.
There is space for dialogue and exchange–enjoying our diversity of approaches–in a friendly group dynamic that helps us to overcome barriers and limitations in our visual expression.
The training will be facilitated by 2 experienced visual storytellers: Eva Hilhorst and Yorgos Konstantinou.
“I didn’t have a perfect-looking, Instagrammable sketchbook, but an amazing collection of new tested techniques and moments of freedom and courage in drawing – which, let’s be honest, is so much better”
When and where
The retreat will take place from the 23rd to the 30th of July 2026, in a beautiful rural house named Casanova de les Garrigues, located in the pre-Pyrenees, about 100 km from Barcelona, 10 kilometres from the city of Berga. The location, on a spectacular plateau, surrounded by a mixed forest at 1000m of altitude, offers an ideal environment for learning, disconnecting and getting inspired by nature, far from noise, pollution and distraction.
For who?
Everyone who is motivated to dedicate a whole week to drawing, learning and sharing their experiences with others.
“I feel much freer to draw, more motivated to do it, and less fearful of the results I might get”
Programme
During the week we will combine drawing activities with exploring the surrounding. We will start the workshops each morning around ten, with a lunch break and finish around five. Then we have time for enjoying food, music and drinks, spending time with oneself, or learning each other better, sharing and playing with our drawing tools or without. We want to enable a safe environment, where each and all can have their creative spaces, where expression, dialogue and exchange are the tools for learning.
Daily programme (general layout)
| 7:30-8:00 | meditation (optional) |
| 9:00-10:00 | Breakfast |
| 10:00-13:00 | Programme: theory and drawing exercises |
| 13:00-14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00-15:00 | Free time |
| 15:00-16:30 | Programme: theory and drawing exercises |
| 16:30-17:30 | Break optional 30 min. movement & stretching session |
| 17:30-19:00 | Programme: theory and drawing exercises, reflection and feedback and wrapping-up |
| 20:00 | Dinner |
| After dinner | optional: model drawing (postures/positions) |
Facilitators
Eva Hilhorst is an illustrator and graphic journalist from Amsterdam. She initiated the platform Drawing the Times, where graphic journalists from all over the world publish their drawn stories.
She is also a teacher at the illustration department of HKU in Utrecht (Netherlands), where she teaches visual reportage and an interdisciplinary course called Meet You In My Drawings. At Sint Joost academy of the Arts in Breda she teaches a minor Graphic novel.
She is a fervent promoter of drawing as a language. Together with Yorgos Konstantinou she taught a drawing course for artists in exile in Berlin, where they discovered that they complement each other as teachers.
Yorgos Konstantinou is a greek cartoonist and visual engineer, who lives in Catalonia. His art is focused on social justice and collective freedom; weaving bridges between stories and visual activism.
Since initiating the “KLASSE comics” at the Berlin Univerity of Arts in the early 90’s, he is designing and sharing imaginative and creative ways for facilitating people’s access to creativity, cure and transformation.
He works as an illustrator, creator of cartoons and comics, live-drawing specialist and animated-explainer-videos maker.
The encounter with Eva Hilhorst has inspired a new approach to teaching drawing as a language.
Price and conditions
- Shared room (double) – €1.250 / Early bird price (before April 30th) €1.100
- Single room – €1.600 / Early bird price (before April 30th) €1.450
The price includes:
- a room with en suite bathroom
- 6 hours of workshops every day
- 3 meals a day
- transportation from Berga to the location
The price does not include: flights and travel costs to Berga.
The organisers are happy to advise you on the travel from Barcelona to Berga and back by public transport (bus).
An excellent cook will prepare homemade food daily, considering participants’ dietary requirements. Participants are expected to assist serving and tidying up after meals.
You can apply for an Individual Mobility grant from Culture Moves Europe to cover (a part of) your travel and stay costs.
“It brought me far more than I had expected or hoped for”
Book Your Spot!
Be quick–book before April 30th–and enjoy an Early Bird discount of €150!
Use the code EARLYBIRDIE in the form below.
If you have any questions, please mail us.
We wish to make the retreat accessible for everyone. If you have the wish to join but not the (financial) means, please contact us and we will try to make it work.
Payment in instalments is an option! Please contact us in you’d like to use this option.
What People Say
I had the great fortune to participate in a week-long drawing retreat in the Catalan Pyrenees organised by Eva Hilhorst and Yorgos Konstantinou in the summer of 2025. Since then, I feel much freer to draw, more motivated to do it, and less fearful of the results I might get. The course somehow unlocked some blocks I felt with regards to drawing. It made me feel more relaxed drawing in the presence of others and less judgemental about my own achievements. It also contributed a great deal to nourish my sense of imagination and to challenge my ability to translate abstract thoughts and concepts into visual form. The group dynamic was also great, and the natural environment in which we immersed ourselves priceless. It is an experience I will always cherish.
Marta
Last August, I immersed myself for a week in the world of graphic journalism. It brought me far more than I had expected or hoped for. Working from the theme “drawing as a visual language,” we explored the different aspects needed to master a language: vocabulary, grammar, syntax, and rhetoric. The teachers, visual storytellers Eva Hilhorst and Yorgos Konstantinou, complemented each other perfectly, and the diverse people in the group were incredibly inspiring. And the surroundings were so beautiful and quiet, the food so good, the group so warm and fun. Definitely worth repeating.
Monique
The drawing course held by Eva an Yorgos set a great environment for me to loosen my hand and experiment! I didn’t have a perfect-looking, Instagrammable sketchbook after my time in Berga, but an amazing collection of new tested techniques and moments of freedom and courage in drawing – which, let’s be honest, is so much better.
Thank you for feeding our brains, hands and bodies with your knowledge, food, stories, laughter and very sensible touch throughout the week we spent together.
Serena
