Welcome to our dream come true
we are honored to be your retreat hosts
Meet Emily & Tanya
We met in 2018 after following each other online for a couple of years and, despite living across the country—Emily in South Carolina and Tanya in Alaska—we quickly learned that we were linked through our passion for the natural world and our creative work.
After discovering our shared love for nature and creativity, we began traveling together through Alaska, France, Arizona, Italy, and all throughout California. These adventures, and our excitement to share the joy of creativity and friendship, inspired us to start the Creating With Nature Retreats.
Hosted at the most beautiful locations, deep in nature, each Creating With Nature Retreat is thoughtfully designed to help you escape daily life and immerse yourself in simplicity and beauty. We believe everyone, regardless of artistic background, deeply benefits from connecting with the natural world and learning to use the earth’s bounty for self-expression and creativity.
You don’t need to be an experienced artist—just ready to learn, explore, and connect with yourself and the immense beauty around you.We also believe that creativity and restoration should be FUN. We are warm, welcoming, a little silly, and easily delighted by inspiration and the things we will explore together. These retreats are the perfect time to feel freedom and joy in abundance.
We work very hard to create a warm and welcoming environment where every person feels safe and light, and every workshop is full of creative freedom. From natural dyeing and plant-based ink creation to guided photography and landscape-inspired painting, we aim to inspire and leave a lasting impact on your creative journey, creating cherished memories that linger long after the retreats end.
Emily Jeffords
Natural Oil Painter, Educator, Traveler, Creative Retreat Leader, & Writer
Emily lives and works in the south, surrounded by lush foliage and old ways of doing things. The landscape is rich with pigment and inspiration which often finds its way into her creative process. As an educator, Emily gets to nurture the creative community through courses and memberships, empowering others to expand their studio practices and businesses. While pregnant, Emily became aware of the many toxic elements found in most art studios which lead to a fully re-imagined creative practice, rooted in natural elements, handmade products, and non-toxic methods.
Tanya Val
Abstract Painter, Forager, Natural Ink Maker, Creative Retreat Leader, Photographer, and Florist
Tanya Val, an abstract painter from Alaska, draws inspiration from nature's beauty. Her vibrant work reflects the adventurous spirit, freedom, individuality, and sustainability that define her unique style. Painting outdoors allows her to deeply connect with her surroundings and showcase the magnificence of natural resources while highlighting the impact of climate change. Tanya exclusively uses eco-friendly and foraged materials in her artwork, such as natural pigments, soil, plants, and berries. She advocates for sustainable art practices and shares her passion through creative retreats, workshops, tutorials, and advice on mindfulness in outdoor settings, spreading joy, inspiration, and positivity to fellow nature-loving artists.
