Let’s Sketch Granada Together!
OCTOBER 23-27, 2025
Retreat Status: Confirmed
Join Julia Henze and Emma Bolton in Granada, Spain for a truly inspiring retreat.
We’ll explore, sketch, and immerse ourselves in the beauty of this incredible city – together with a community of like-minded sketchers.
Whether you’re new to urban sketching or looking to refine your skills, this experience will help you grow, gain confidence, and most importantly – have fun!
Sketch breathtaking locations
Capture Granada’s stunning architecture and lively streets.
Inspiring community
Connect, learn, and share ideas with fellow sketchers.
A creative experience to remember
Improve your sketching skills and confidence, explore Granada with a local guide, and soak up the Andalusian atmosphere!
Retreat Overview
Inclusions
-
Live sketching workshops with Julia and sketch walks
-
Exclusive access to Julia’s online retreat prep course, designed to help you strengthen your sketching foundations before we meet in Granada!
-
Walking tours with professional local guides and entry to the Alhambra palace
-
Four nights of accommodation in a centrally-located hotel in Granada (limited single rooms available)
-
Meals (as specified in the itinerary)
Exclusions
-
Airfares and any airport transfers
-
Visas and travel insurance
-
Meals (except as specified in the itinerary)
-
Art materials (we’ll send you a detailed materials list prior to the retreat)
-
Tips for local guides (tipping is customary in Spain)
-
Any other expenses you might incur on your own, and any other items not specified as included above
Double occupancy:
€1,998
Single room:
€2,608
This retreat is confirmed and the full price of the retreat is payable to reserve your spot. All prices are in euros.
On or after 23 July 2025, cancellations are non-refundable.
Retreat Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Granada
Afternoon: Check-in and Welcome Tapas
Arrive in Granada and check in to your accommodation this afternoon.
We’ll gather for a welcome tapa and drink in the early evening, so you can meet your fellow sketchers and set expectations for the days ahead! We’ll also go for a free sketching session, so you can start getting to know your materials better!
Included: Welcome drink & tapa.
Day 2: The Basics of Urban Sketching & The Albaicín
Morning: The Basics of Urban Sketching Workshop
This morning we’ll meet for a fun and practical workshop on The Basics of Urban Sketching in one of Granada’s beautiful central squares. We'll focus on the essential techniques you need to sketch confidently on location, from composition and perspective to adding color and details. You'll learn how to quickly build up a sketch and bring it to life with a mix of fineliners, watercolors, and other materials.
Afternoon: Explore the Albaicín with a local guide
We’ll meet our local guide for a walking tour of the Albaicín, the city’s oldest residential quarter and a Unesco World Heritage Site. It's full of historical, white buildings, twisty streets and hidden gems. It feels a bit like stepping back in time.
Included: Breakfast and local guide.
Day 3: Expressive Techniques in Urban Sketching
Morning: Expressive Techniques in Urban Sketching Workshop
This morning we’ll dive into Expressive Techniques in Urban Sketching, inspired by Puerta de Elvira, one of the majestic gates to the old city. In this sketching workshop, you’ll learn two simple yet powerful techniques to make your urban sketches more expressive and unique.
We'll start with watercolor and layer other materials to create bold, eye-catching results. You'll gain practical tools to bring more confidence and creativity to your sketches, and learn to let go with these fun techniques!
Afternoon: Free Sketching in Realejo
We’ll spend the afternoon free sketching in Realejo, one of Granada’s most picturesque neighbourhoods. This is the perfect opportunity to choose your own composition and practice applying the sketching techniques you’ve learned over the past few days. You’ll be able to ask questions and receive feedback on your sketches and celebrate your progress so far!
Included: Breakfast.
Day 4: Painting White Buildings, and The Alhambra
Morning: Painting White Buildings & Shadows Workshop
From the Albaicín to Lorca’s house, Granada is famous for it’s beautiful white buildings, so this morning’s workshop will focus on how to paint white buildings with watercolor. You’ll learn how to add dynamic shadows to create depth and interest in your sketches, as well as the power of contrast.
Afternoon: Explore the Alhambra with a local guide
Our local guide will help you discover the wonders of the Alhambra palace, one of Spain’s most stunning monuments and a Unesco World Heritage Site. You’ll also be inspired by the Generalife (the royal summer residence) and the colorful gardens. If you’re feeling inspired, you’re welcome to stay at the gardens to free sketch after the walking tour.
Included: Breakfast, Alhambra entry & local guide.
Day 5: Thanks for the memories
Morning: Check out & farewell
Today your urban sketching adventure in Granada comes to an end, but you’ll be departing with the confidence and skills to continue it back home or on your next trip!
There are no scheduled workshops on this day, so you can depart at your own pace. Take a moment to reflect on the unforgettable experiences, meaningful connections and lasting memories you’ve made on the retreat.
We’ll also share recommendations for a nearby café if you’d like to meet up to share a final sketching session and coffee.
Included: Breakfast
The exact schedule may vary based on host planning, weather conditions, third-party availability or group dynamics.
-
Who is the membership for?✔️ Absolute beginners. My Foundations Roadmap will take you step-by-step through the foundational sketching skills you need to start urban sketching. After a few months, you have a solid foundation to start experimenting more in your sketching practice and developing your own style. ✔️ Amateur artists with some sketching experience. Explore new materials, learn new sketching techniques and foster a new sense of play in your sketching practice. Some Brave Brushes members have been part of the community for more than two years, so the membership also includes more intermediate, focused courses on subjects like painting white objects, two-point perspective and painting water. ✔️ Artists who are looking to expand their sketching practice by trying a new material or sketching different subjects. For example, if you're a watercolor artist who usually paints botanicals, you may be interested in my courses on alcohol markers or sketching people.
-
How much time do I need to commit to the membership?I suggest committing 3 to 5 hours per month to get the most out of your membership. That gives you time each month to join the Live Sketching Session and the live Q&A (or watch the replay) and complete a course of 4 to 5 pre-recorded, weekly lessons, for example on color theory or one-point perspective. However, you can choose to take the courses at your own pace and spread them over a longer period of time. And if you want to spend more time in the community, I'm confident there are plenty of courses, workshops and challenges to keep you engaged!
-
Will I get immediate access to all content?Yes, once you subscribe you'll receive immediate access to all content. That includes access to more than 20 focused courses to practice an aspect of urban sketching, all my Skillshare courses and standalone workshops, recordings of more than 20 live sketching sessions and Q&A sessions, and my friendly Facebook community for members.
-
What if I can't attend the monthly Live Sketching and Q&A calls live?Our monthly live sketching sessions and Q&A calls are generally held in the evenings on Central European (CET) time. All live sessions are recorded and uploaded to the website the next day. And you're always welcome to submit a question for the Q&A and watch the replay later.
-
Can I cancel my membership?You can cancel your membership at any time, without any cancellation fees. You'll continue to have access to the site until the end of your current payment term.
-
What happens to my course progress if I cancel my membership?Your course progress will be saved when you cancel your membership. If you rejoin Brave Brushes Studio later, you can pick up where you left off.
Hello,
Art is my passion. Urban sketching is my love. For years, I’ve been capturing the beauty of cityscapes through my sketches, and now I want to share that joy with you!
I believe that anyone can learn to sketch. I struggled for years thinking I wasn’t ‘good enough,’ until I realized that art isn’t about talent — it’s about learning the right skills in the right order. And that especially applies to learning to sketch on location! That’s why I’ve created a system that actually works, and have taught over 60,000 artists.
Let me help you find the joy in your sketching journey.
Connect with me on Instagram: @julia_henze
I'm Julia Henze
ARTIST | URBAN SKETCHER | TEACHER
Hello,
I'm Emma Bolton
LOCAL ARTIST l URBAN SKETCHER l WRITER
I’m a watercolour and gouache artist living in Granada. I love creating lasting memories from everyday moments with bright colours and dynamic textures.
Granada has captured my heart. It’s full of hidden historic corners, wonderful sketching locations and amazing tapas. I can’t wait to share the city I now call home with you!
If you want to learn more about what life is like as an artist in Granada, check out my newsletter, Sketches from Granada.
Connect with me on Instagram: @emmaboltonart
REVIEWS
Gerlof van Driel
“I took the workshop Expressive Techniques in Urban Sketching with Julia.
I went in knowing that ‘letting go’ and ‘coloring outside the lines’ isn’t exactly my strength. So I was curious to see if Julia could help me break out of my comfort zone.
Long story short: she absolutely did! It was a fantastic and inspiring workshop. I learned how to sketch quickly, how to work more expressively with color, and how to combine different materials beyond just watercolor — like fineliner and colored pencils“
Joke Damen
"Urban sketching with Julia – three times the fun! Enjoyed being outside, met some lovely new people, and of course, got great tips from Julia. As a beginner, I really feel like I’ve taken another step forward. Thank you, Julia – looking forward to next time!"
Annemarie
“Last Sunday I was in Rotterdam with Julia Henze for the workshop Urban Sketching in the beautiful city of Rotterdam. We learned not to be afraid of just sitting on the sidewalk in front of the Markhal, just doing our thing. We learned about thumbnails, (for me with a little advantage beacause I’m a Brave Brusher), how to look for the best composition and the best colors. And lots of suggestions of everything. And how to finish the sketch with pencils. I had a great day!”