Paint and Wine
A Berkshires art retreat for beginners, experienced painters, and anyone who wants a beautiful, social, creative week away.
Retreat Dates
All Levels
December 13 – 18, 2026
All Levels
March 14 – 19, 2027
Come spend a quiet off-season week at the Lakehouse Inn painting, sipping, relaxing, and making something with your hands. This is not a competitive art class, it is not intimidating, and it is not only for serious artists. It is a warm, social, guided painting retreat for people of all abilities — beginners, experienced painters, couples, friends, solo travelers, and curious first-timers all welcome.
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Whether you are a beginner or an experienced painter, this retreat offers guidance and a dedicated space to create. Join local artist Diane Firtell for an experience of relaxed, creative exploration. Participants will learn foundational painting techniques while developing their own artistic voice. A still-life setup will be provided, but you may also work from a photo reference, a printed image, or your imagination.
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Participants are welcome to bring their own materials(please note: no oil paints), though we will supply canvases, easels, paintbrushes, and paints.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Diane Firtell
Diane Firtell has been an artist almost her entire life, and after more than forty years she still describes the work the same way: she is not a photographer but an artist who uses a camera. Nearly every piece begins with a photograph and becomes something else — a painting, a collage, an image transferred and reworked until it is wholly her own. A familiar theme of nature(botanicals and landscape) runs through most of her art, often incorporating hand image transfer. Making art, she says, has taught her to welcome challenge and experimentation without judgment — the same easy, unhurried spirit she brings to a roomful of students.
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Her first endeavor(in NYC) was hand-painted clothing. She then moved to jewelry design(selling to celebrities and having her pieces appear on the screen). It was when she moved to the Berkshires, over 30 years ago, that she focused primarily on fine art. From the very beginning of her career, her work was recognized and has appeared in galleries and museums nationally.
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She studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology, the Art Students League, and the School of Visual Arts in New York City. A long-time faculty artist at the Berkshire Art Center, she was an art facilitator at Canyon Ranch from 2023 to 2025 and has painted annually at the Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio in Lenox as part of its summer Friday morning artist series. Her work is represented at Art in the Berkshires, Stockbridge Artisans’, and the Becket Art Center. No experience is required to paint with Diane — only a willingness to try something new.
The Sessions
Eight guided sessions over four days (or four guided sessions over two days for the 3-day retreat) — morning and afternoon — for beginners and experienced painters alike.
​Each session begins with n brief warmup exercise designed to strengthen obrservarion and eye-hand coordinarion- the skills needed to translate vision to canvas. Diane will work with each participant to understand what they hope to gain from the retreat.
The flrst session begins by looking at examples ofwhat makes some paintings more compelling than others - color, line, cropping, and style. Then we begin to paint.
In the sessions that follow, Diane's personal guidence helps participants build on what they have learned, deepen their understanding of painting techniques, and either continue an earlier piece or begin a new one. There will always be options: work from a still life, paint the surrounding landscape and winter light, or use a reference image you have brought for inspiration.
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Throughout, participants begin to see differently, feel more confident in their ability to relate to paint and canvas and, most importantly, to trust and express their own inner vision.
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Each afternoon session closes with a relaxed, completely non-judgmental look at the day's work - never to compare, but to notice a new way to express something. handle a backgruund, or simply see with fresh eyes.
Creative, social, relaxed, and beautiful. No pressure, no judgment, no experience required. Sessions and topics subject to change.
The Details
The Daily Rhythm
Sunday: Arrive after 3pm. Casual welcome mixer
Morning sessions: 10am to 12pm
Afternoon sessions: 4pm to 6pm
Sessions: Two hours each, all levels welcome
Friday: Breakfast, then check out by 11am
Materials: Easels, canvases, paints, and brushes provided
What Is Included
Five nights at the Lakehouse Inn
Breakfast each morning
Eight guided painting sessions
Sunday welcome mixer
Easels, canvases, paints, and brushes
Snacks, fruit, and cheese during sessions
Wine with afternoon sessions
Pricing
Per attendee, single occupancy. Includes lodging, breakfast, all sessions, refreshments, and the Sunday welcom mixer.
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A second attendee sharing the same room: 50% off.
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A non-participating partner sharing a room: $50 per day, breakfast only. Non-participating guests do not attend sessions, the welcome mixer, or other retreat events.
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Hotel guests receive first priority. Local attendees are confirmed on a space-available basis.
Policies & House Rules
Off-Season Services
Retreats run during the inn’s quiet off-
season. Services are limited:
Housekeeping: light touch-ups on
request only
Housekeeping: light touch-ups on
request only
Bar: open during front desk hours only
Deposit & Cancellation
Inn guests: $500 deposit, balance due 6 weeks before. Refundable until 6 weeks before the retreat.
Local attendees: full fee at registration,
non-refundable thereafter.
Minimum enrollment required to run a retreat.
House Rules
All guests must be 21 or over
No pets
No smoking
All guests sign a brief lake waiver at
check-in
All policies as stated at lakehouseinnlee.com/policies are strictly enforced.