PORTUGAL
6 day (Small group) painting retreat (Todd Bonita)
October 04 -10, 2026 (Limit 8)
PORTUGAL (Algarve)
October 04 - 10, 2026,
Painting retreat w/ Todd Bonita
6 night Hotel / All Brekafasts / Airport transfers / ground transport / )$2,900 (double occ). *add $500 for single room w/private bath.
* Non-painting guest $1,800.
(LIMIT 8)
Call Todd to Register: (603) 819-9100
or email: [email protected]
Painting in the AlgarveA Week of Painting, Light & Discovery in Southern Portugal
Come paint with us in the extraordinary Algarve region of southern Portugal, where brilliant Atlantic light, whitewashed villages, ochre cliffs, turquoise water, ancient stone walls, and colorful fishing towns provide an endless supply of inspiration.
This is a painting retreat designed to give you time to slow down, look closely, and paint.
Each day we'll explore a different corner of the Algarve—from dramatic coastal cliffs and secluded beaches to charming villages, historic streets, harbors, and the rolling countryside. The region is particularly remarkable for its ever-changing light and vibrant color, from the deep blues of the Atlantic to the warm terracotta, ochre and white of traditional Portuguese architecture.
We'll paint outdoors, working directly from the landscape and allowing the experience of being there to inform our paintings. There will also be group critiques, and individual guidance.
But this isn't simply a painting trip.
It's a chance to live like an artist for a week.
Long lunches. Morning coffee. Wandering through old villages. Conversations over dinner. Time beside the sea. A sketchbook in your bag. And the freedom to capture something that catches your eye.
The Algarve offers an extraordinary variety of subjects—quiet fishing villages, historic towns such as Silves and Lagos, rugged Atlantic coastline, mountain landscapes around Monchique, colorful boats and harbors, tiled buildings and sun-drenched streets.
No experience necessary.Whether you're an experienced painter or simply someone who has always wanted to paint, you'll be encouraged to work at your own level and develop your own vision. Instruction will focus on seeing, composition, color, light and the process of turning what you see into a painting, with plenty of individual attention.
Most importantly, there is no pressure to produce a masterpiece.
We're going to Portugal to paint, to explore, and to enjoy being there.
And somewhere along the way, we'll make some beautiful paintings.
Scroll below for:
Registration
Accommodations
Travel / Passport
Art Supply
Itinerary
FAQ
More.
October 04 - 10, 2026,
Painting retreat w/ Todd Bonita
6 night Hotel / All Brekafasts / Airport transfers / ground transport / )$2,900 (double occ). *add $500 for single room w/private bath.
* Non-painting guest $1,800.
(LIMIT 8)
Call Todd to Register: (603) 819-9100
or email: [email protected]
Painting in the AlgarveA Week of Painting, Light & Discovery in Southern Portugal
Come paint with us in the extraordinary Algarve region of southern Portugal, where brilliant Atlantic light, whitewashed villages, ochre cliffs, turquoise water, ancient stone walls, and colorful fishing towns provide an endless supply of inspiration.
This is a painting retreat designed to give you time to slow down, look closely, and paint.
Each day we'll explore a different corner of the Algarve—from dramatic coastal cliffs and secluded beaches to charming villages, historic streets, harbors, and the rolling countryside. The region is particularly remarkable for its ever-changing light and vibrant color, from the deep blues of the Atlantic to the warm terracotta, ochre and white of traditional Portuguese architecture.
We'll paint outdoors, working directly from the landscape and allowing the experience of being there to inform our paintings. There will also be group critiques, and individual guidance.
But this isn't simply a painting trip.
It's a chance to live like an artist for a week.
Long lunches. Morning coffee. Wandering through old villages. Conversations over dinner. Time beside the sea. A sketchbook in your bag. And the freedom to capture something that catches your eye.
The Algarve offers an extraordinary variety of subjects—quiet fishing villages, historic towns such as Silves and Lagos, rugged Atlantic coastline, mountain landscapes around Monchique, colorful boats and harbors, tiled buildings and sun-drenched streets.
No experience necessary.Whether you're an experienced painter or simply someone who has always wanted to paint, you'll be encouraged to work at your own level and develop your own vision. Instruction will focus on seeing, composition, color, light and the process of turning what you see into a painting, with plenty of individual attention.
Most importantly, there is no pressure to produce a masterpiece.
We're going to Portugal to paint, to explore, and to enjoy being there.
And somewhere along the way, we'll make some beautiful paintings.
Scroll below for:
Registration
Accommodations
Travel / Passport
Art Supply
Itinerary
FAQ
More.
REGISTER
REGISTRATION:
$2,800 double occ.
* add $500 for single occ room w/private bath.
* Non-painting guest $1,800.
* 6 Nights hotel in Bellagio, Italy, Lake Como.
* All Breakfasts
* Ground transfer from Faro airport to our Sagres hotel
* Ground transfer return to Sagres airport
* Ground transport your entire time in Algarve.
* Critiques, Lectures, Painting location guide
* (Does not include air, travel insurance or dinners). Half the fun will be sampling various oceanside cuisine.
Call Todd Bonita (603) 819-9100
email: [email protected]
$500 Deposit to reserve your space. Check made out to Todd Bonita and mailed to:
Todd Bonita
28 McShane Ave
Greenland, NH 03840
Please write, "PORTUGAL" in the memo on the check.
CANCELATION / REFUND POLICY:
* 120 days notice or more refunded 100% of your payment to date, less $50 deposit admin and thrid party admin fee.
* 90 days notice or more refunded 100% of your payment to date, less $500 deposit admin and thrird party admin fee.
* Less than 60 days NO REFUNDS. NO EXCEPTIONS.
I recommend you arrange for travel insurance in the unlikely event of an unintended disruptions to your travel plans. Please understand that your deposits are used so that we can reserve our accommodations, transportation and reservations to third parties. For this reason, we have a strict, refund / cancellation policy that honors our agreement to these third parties. Registration in this workshop presumes you have read the refund / cancellation policy and agree to it. To confirm you have read the policy, we will ask for a confirmation email to follow your registration.
In the event that you must cancel, your deposit and / or installment payments will be forfeited as detailed by the dates shown above. We will make every effort to find a wait-listed alternate to take your place.
$2,800 double occ.
* add $500 for single occ room w/private bath.
* Non-painting guest $1,800.
* 6 Nights hotel in Bellagio, Italy, Lake Como.
* All Breakfasts
* Ground transfer from Faro airport to our Sagres hotel
* Ground transfer return to Sagres airport
* Ground transport your entire time in Algarve.
* Critiques, Lectures, Painting location guide
* (Does not include air, travel insurance or dinners). Half the fun will be sampling various oceanside cuisine.
Call Todd Bonita (603) 819-9100
email: [email protected]
$500 Deposit to reserve your space. Check made out to Todd Bonita and mailed to:
Todd Bonita
28 McShane Ave
Greenland, NH 03840
Please write, "PORTUGAL" in the memo on the check.
CANCELATION / REFUND POLICY:
* 120 days notice or more refunded 100% of your payment to date, less $50 deposit admin and thrid party admin fee.
* 90 days notice or more refunded 100% of your payment to date, less $500 deposit admin and thrird party admin fee.
* Less than 60 days NO REFUNDS. NO EXCEPTIONS.
I recommend you arrange for travel insurance in the unlikely event of an unintended disruptions to your travel plans. Please understand that your deposits are used so that we can reserve our accommodations, transportation and reservations to third parties. For this reason, we have a strict, refund / cancellation policy that honors our agreement to these third parties. Registration in this workshop presumes you have read the refund / cancellation policy and agree to it. To confirm you have read the policy, we will ask for a confirmation email to follow your registration.
In the event that you must cancel, your deposit and / or installment payments will be forfeited as detailed by the dates shown above. We will make every effort to find a wait-listed alternate to take your place.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Memmo Baleeira Hotel is a four star hotel in Sagres, in the Algarve region of Portugal. Our hotel is situated several hundred yards from the shores of the Atlantic ocean
FLIGHT
Faro International airport, Portugal
* I am flying into Faro International Airport airport. Its the largest airport in the vicinity of the Algarve region with the most flights. We will pick you up from the airport on Sunday sometime between 1- 4pm. Please send us your flight info when you book your flight and we can give you a specific time in that window.
PASSPORT
* If Portugal is an International flight for you, you will require a passport. Make sure yours is up to date and not expired. If your passport expires within three months of travel, you will need to update it.
FLYING w/ PAINT (TSA)
* PLEASE NOTE * Pack your oil paints in your checked luggage and NOT your carry-on. You CAN travel with Gamsol brush cleaner, it is TSA approved for your packed luggage. on international flights, you will not be able to travel with Liquin, it has a flashpoint above the TSA regulated, fit to fly rule. Print this Airline Inspectors sheet below and keep it with your paints, packed in your checked luggage.
GAMBLIN (Travel with paint tips)
This is an excellent, soup to nuts over view of how to travel with your paints and deal with TSA and insure best odds of smooth travel. CLICK HERE.
Faro International airport, Portugal
* I am flying into Faro International Airport airport. Its the largest airport in the vicinity of the Algarve region with the most flights. We will pick you up from the airport on Sunday sometime between 1- 4pm. Please send us your flight info when you book your flight and we can give you a specific time in that window.
PASSPORT
* If Portugal is an International flight for you, you will require a passport. Make sure yours is up to date and not expired. If your passport expires within three months of travel, you will need to update it.
FLYING w/ PAINT (TSA)
* PLEASE NOTE * Pack your oil paints in your checked luggage and NOT your carry-on. You CAN travel with Gamsol brush cleaner, it is TSA approved for your packed luggage. on international flights, you will not be able to travel with Liquin, it has a flashpoint above the TSA regulated, fit to fly rule. Print this Airline Inspectors sheet below and keep it with your paints, packed in your checked luggage.
GAMBLIN (Travel with paint tips)
This is an excellent, soup to nuts over view of how to travel with your paints and deal with TSA and insure best odds of smooth travel. CLICK HERE.
ART SUPPLY LIST
ART SUPPLY LIST
(Click here to go to an illustrated page of my Plein air painting supplies)
(Think light weight and portable, find creative ways to simplify...I manage to pack everything below in a back pack. I get most of my supplies online at ASW, Jerrys Artarama, Dick Blick, Cheap Joes or Utrecht).
Portable Easel
French easel, half box easel or Pochade box for working outside.
(I use the 8x10" or 10x12" Open Box M system and sometimes the 6x8" Guerilla box for traveling, both are mounted to a photographers tripod. If you prefer the French easels, go with the lighter and smaller Jullian Half box easel. Last year I also bought the Cadillac of outdoor easels, The Soletek easel. It's not cheap, I bought mine used on Ebay. You might check Ebay or try "All of Craigslist" search for whatever easel you decide to go with. * Here is a terrific article on Pochade Box reviews from the popular Lines and Colors blog. This will give you a thorough understanding of whats available and best for you. Click here.
Palette
I recommend a wood palette....try to avoid paper pallets.
Paint
*(I recommend a minimal palette of a warm and cool version of the three primaries plus white (with maybe a few extras)....Please spend the extra for professional grade paints. I use Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton, Gamblin and Utrecht but there are many good options.)
Alkyd White (Alkyd is a quick dry paint that plays nice with oils. For brands, my favorite is Winsor & Newtons Griffin Alkyd. There are many other excellent quick dry whites.
Titanium White
Cad Yellow
Yellow ochre
Alizeran Crimson
Cadmium Red
Ultramarine Blue
Cerulean Blue or Pthalo blue
Burnt Sienna
Sap Green
Ivory black (*Optional)
raw Umber(*Optional)
Painting surface
Canvas, canvas or linen mounted on board or gessoed wood panel (sizes can range from 6x8” to 14x18” but I would not go larger)...For a travel workshop like this, I will likely limit myself to only one or two sizes, like 8x10". This will simplify my wet carrier system as well.
Brushes
*Assortment of bristle brushes (I suggest large, medium and small in three styles: Flats, Rounds and Filberts. I mostly use Robert Simmons Signet series flats #3, #6 and #10)
*One or two Royal sable flats in medium and large sizes (size 10 or 16) for blending and softening edges (I prefer Langnickel.)
*Small synthetic rounds for details. (I suggest Winsor and Newton Septre Gold 2 in the 404 series...size 4 and / or size 6)
Other
Trowel type Pallet knife
liquin ***You cannot travel with Liquin*** There are many quick dry mediums flight friendly, like Gamblins solvent free gel.
Gamsol ***You cannot travel w/ Gamsol or Solvents*** I will provide Gamsol when you get there for $10 per can.
paper towels (Blue shop towels are the best)
Ruler, straight edge or a mahl stick (something to make straight lines with is handy)
A Veiwfinder: Important! Whether homemade or store bought, it must be adjustable or proportionate to your canvases. Viewcatcher is good.
Artist paint box or back pack for supplies
Wet paint carrier. I love the PanelPaks...they are lightweight and convenient.
*Appropriate clothing for outdoor weather and conditions.
Optional
Hat
sunglasses
Water bottle or something to drink, snack
Sun block
Camera
Umbrella
(Click here to go to an illustrated page of my Plein air painting supplies)
(Think light weight and portable, find creative ways to simplify...I manage to pack everything below in a back pack. I get most of my supplies online at ASW, Jerrys Artarama, Dick Blick, Cheap Joes or Utrecht).
Portable Easel
French easel, half box easel or Pochade box for working outside.
(I use the 8x10" or 10x12" Open Box M system and sometimes the 6x8" Guerilla box for traveling, both are mounted to a photographers tripod. If you prefer the French easels, go with the lighter and smaller Jullian Half box easel. Last year I also bought the Cadillac of outdoor easels, The Soletek easel. It's not cheap, I bought mine used on Ebay. You might check Ebay or try "All of Craigslist" search for whatever easel you decide to go with. * Here is a terrific article on Pochade Box reviews from the popular Lines and Colors blog. This will give you a thorough understanding of whats available and best for you. Click here.
Palette
I recommend a wood palette....try to avoid paper pallets.
Paint
*(I recommend a minimal palette of a warm and cool version of the three primaries plus white (with maybe a few extras)....Please spend the extra for professional grade paints. I use Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton, Gamblin and Utrecht but there are many good options.)
Alkyd White (Alkyd is a quick dry paint that plays nice with oils. For brands, my favorite is Winsor & Newtons Griffin Alkyd. There are many other excellent quick dry whites.
Titanium White
Cad Yellow
Yellow ochre
Alizeran Crimson
Cadmium Red
Ultramarine Blue
Cerulean Blue or Pthalo blue
Burnt Sienna
Sap Green
Ivory black (*Optional)
raw Umber(*Optional)
Painting surface
Canvas, canvas or linen mounted on board or gessoed wood panel (sizes can range from 6x8” to 14x18” but I would not go larger)...For a travel workshop like this, I will likely limit myself to only one or two sizes, like 8x10". This will simplify my wet carrier system as well.
Brushes
*Assortment of bristle brushes (I suggest large, medium and small in three styles: Flats, Rounds and Filberts. I mostly use Robert Simmons Signet series flats #3, #6 and #10)
*One or two Royal sable flats in medium and large sizes (size 10 or 16) for blending and softening edges (I prefer Langnickel.)
*Small synthetic rounds for details. (I suggest Winsor and Newton Septre Gold 2 in the 404 series...size 4 and / or size 6)
Other
Trowel type Pallet knife
liquin ***You cannot travel with Liquin*** There are many quick dry mediums flight friendly, like Gamblins solvent free gel.
Gamsol ***You cannot travel w/ Gamsol or Solvents*** I will provide Gamsol when you get there for $10 per can.
paper towels (Blue shop towels are the best)
Ruler, straight edge or a mahl stick (something to make straight lines with is handy)
A Veiwfinder: Important! Whether homemade or store bought, it must be adjustable or proportionate to your canvases. Viewcatcher is good.
Artist paint box or back pack for supplies
Wet paint carrier. I love the PanelPaks...they are lightweight and convenient.
*Appropriate clothing for outdoor weather and conditions.
Optional
Hat
sunglasses
Water bottle or something to drink, snack
Sun block
Camera
Umbrella
F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
....."Prossimamente".....
1) What if it rains?
We will sing songs about the rain. We will find an outdoor spot with ample, overhead coverage and paint.
2) What if my plane is delayed on arrival?
The latest our vendor can provide pick up is at 4pm Sunday arrival at Milain airport as a group. If your plane arrives after 4, you will be responsible for the one hour taxi/coach to our hotel. Its not terribly expensive as it is anly about an hour away. I am more than happy to assist you with logistical info and arranging for your pcik up / drop off at the hotel. We got your back.
....."Prossimamente".....
1) What if it rains?
We will sing songs about the rain. We will find an outdoor spot with ample, overhead coverage and paint.
2) What if my plane is delayed on arrival?
The latest our vendor can provide pick up is at 4pm Sunday arrival at Milain airport as a group. If your plane arrives after 4, you will be responsible for the one hour taxi/coach to our hotel. Its not terribly expensive as it is anly about an hour away. I am more than happy to assist you with logistical info and arranging for your pcik up / drop off at the hotel. We got your back.