Samish Island Art Retreat
2027 ART RETREAT SCHEDULE:
WINTER ART RETREAT: FEB. 17 – 21, 2027
Registration period: Nov. 1 – Feb. 5, 2026
Day Early Arrival – Arriving one day early is available on 2-16-27. No frills. See registration form.
SPRING ART RETREAT: MAY 12 – 16, 2027
Registration period: Feb. 22 – May 1, 2027
FALL ART RETREAT: SEPT. 15 – 19, 2027:
Registration period: May 17 – Sept. 5, 2027
With scheduled special event: Scott Stevensen, Representative for Daniel Smith Artists’ Materials.
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NEW! “CHOOSING YOUR ACCOMODATION” button is added on this page. This will be especially helpful if you are a coming to retreat for the first time.
ALSO NEW: “FAQ” button is added on this page. This is especially helpful if you are new or are considering attending.
TO REGISTER: Click the “CAMP REGISTRATION FORM” on this page on the date camp registration opens.
IMPORTANT NOTES AND CHANGES FOR 2027:
– To appeal to a wider group of artists, the new name is “Art Retreat.”
– February retreat option: Early arrival on Tues. Feb. 16 is available on the form at $60.00. No meals are included. Good choice for those who travel a great distance to retreat.
– Priority for E-cabins and renovated Vintage cabins goes to those registering for full, four-day camp.
– Note your preferred (if any) cabin # on the registration form, remembering it is first come, first served. Refer to the cabin maps: Click: Cabin Maps.
– Maximum Attendees: 50. After 50 registrants, wait list is available.
VINTAGE CABINS RENOVATIONS:
Samish Retreat Center is renovating the Vintage cabins. As of Oct. 24, 2026 we anticipate 25+/- cabins of 43 to be completed, including new foam mattresses and furniture. The renovated cabins are prioritized for full, four-day registrants, but if you are coming to camp for less than four days, request a renovated cabin # should it be available.. If you are an occupant of one of the UNrenovated cabins, you can ensure a better night’s sleep by bringing a mattress topper and/or other support.
2027 RETREAT RATES:
Choose from 11 options:
FULL 4 DAYS, E-CABIN, SINGLE OCCUPANT- $524
FULL 4 DAYS, E-CABIN, DOUBLE OCCUPANCY (PER PERSON) – $499
FULL 4 DAYS, VINTAGE CABIN – $498
3 DAYS, VINTAGE CABIN, WITH MEALS – $396
2 DAYS, VINTAGE CABIN, WITH MEALS – $278
1 DAY, VINTAGE CABIN, WITH MEALS – $159
4 DAY, DAY-ONLY, NO CABIN (W/MEALS) – $304
3 DAY, DAY-ONLY, NO CABIN (W/MEALS) – $238
2 DAY, DAY-ONLY, NO CABIN (W/MEALS) – $172
1 DAY, DAY-ONLY, NO CABIN (W/MEALS) – $106
FULL 4 DAYS, RV OR TENT – $471
QUESTONS: Contact Kathi Hicks at kathihicks@aol.com
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Three wonderful times each year, approximately 50 artists arrive at the beautiful, 80-acre Samish Island Retreat Center (about an hour north of Seattle, WA) to breathe the clean air and concentrate on creating. You may be any kind of creator…a pastelist, knitter, a plein air painter, watercolorist, collage artist, urban sketcher, oil painter (only odorless, non-toxic thinners allowed), quilter…your media is welcome!
The view is breathtaking, the ambiance welcoming, the food delicious. Artists make new friends and reunite with artist friends they’ve not seen in awhile. Here, you leave your obligations behind.
Art Retreat is open to anyone, both members and non-members. Bring a friend!
Accommodation choices (all close to the main lodge):
– A private, “vintage” cabin (electrified, heated, foam mattresses) with nearby bathroom/shower
– An “E” cabin (ADA compliant) with shared bathroom between your room and a second cabin. Double occupancy reservatons receive priority.
– A full RV hookup
Meals are included in the cost.
Most artists are focused, productive and also very sociable and sharing. Subject matter is abundant whether you are outdoors or a studio artist. You may create without interruption, as the lodge has no closing hour and you may leave your supplies at your table. An expansive view of Puget Sound and the oyster beds is enjoyed all day through an abundance of windows, trails are all around the area, and the tides are constantly changing! If you are new to an art process, many will share and teach. Art Retreat is a perfect place to learn, explore, and solve your art challenges without needing to stop and cook!
Within the lodge, two people share an 8′ table. The lower level of the lodge is a smaller, quieter space and preferred by some who want to spread out or work with larger formats with fewer people about.
Sharing is part of the experience, so a large partition becomes a growing exhibit of finished art for all to admire.
Click the “WHAT TO BRING” button and start planning your trip.
Testimonial from Loyce E.
I was a first timer at the 2026 September Paint Out and I will be going again. Hard to say what I liked best, the warm, generous painters I met or the amazing venue. A glance out the big windows or a short walk outside had views begging to be painted in all directions. The other painters were welcoming, supportive and it was easy to talk, ask questions, share techniques, materials, and always laughter. I never felt like an outsider, even during the times I took a break from painting to spin yarn or do embroidery. I stayed in a vintage cabin that was clean, private, and had a very nice bed. I got to talk to interesting people during tasty meals that I didn’t have to cook. The presentation by the Daniel Smith Ambassador on Friday was a highlight. Paint Out gave me a multiple day vacation where my biggest concern was what was I going to paint next. Oh ya, I will be going to Paint Out again!
CAMP REGISTRATION FORM
