Figurative Art Retreats
September 22-28, 2025
JAMAICA!
The Art of Modeling's Jamaica Figure Drawing Retreat is a travel opportunity rich with arts and culture for all levels of artists who want to immerse themselves in figurative drawing and painting in tropical plein air scenes with Jamaican art models. We will hold our first figure drawing retreat in Negril, Jamaica.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
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Accommodations: We will be staying and figurative art making at a breezy oceanside cliff resort in both cottages and in suites with ocean and garden views. In this gated property, all rooms have wifi, AC and a safe.
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Jump off the laddered cliffs into the azure blue ocean that you can see the sea floor of, swim in the pool, soak in the hot tub, read, sketch or ponder life in a private enclave on the cliffs or in the garden areas, or relax in your own private outdoor nook on the property. There are plenty of sunny and shady spots to hang out.
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When night falls, hear the croaking of the tree frogs, the chirping of crickets and the sounds of reggae music coming from nearby yards. See the moon from a different perspective! Wake up to the sounds of the ocean, tropical birds and neighborhood roosters.
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Four days of figurative art making opportunities in the plein air on the resort grounds for three hours each day with different Jamaican fine art models on cliff/oceanside grounds where we are staying.
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Every day during figure drawing we will serve sample tastings of different local seasonal fruits such as ganep, soursop, sweetsop, June plum, jackfruit, pineapple, different varieties of bananas, mango, grapefruit, tangerine, and fresh sugar cane. Jamaican “bun n’ cheese” will also be served, along with fresh tropical juice and fresh coconut jelly water.
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Welcome reception/dinner on the evening of arrival.
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Group excursion on a glass bottomed boat from the white sands of Seven Mile Beach to Booby Cay Island, a small island off the coast for a lobster (or chicken or veg) lunch and drinks. On the 30 minute ride there we will hover over coral reefs to view the giant sea stars, sand dollars and tropical fish. We will dock on the island to enjoy a seafood lunch of fresh caught lobster, crab or fish with raw veggies and cold drinks. Swim in the ocean, hike the island, and relax while watching the pelicans fly overhead and dive for fish while waiting for your food to cook. Transportation to and from Seven Mile Beach and to and from Booby Cay Island is included.
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Farewell breakfast on the final morning.
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A donation to Negril Pup Rescue and to NEET (Negril Education Environment Trust)
JOIN US IN NEGRIL,
Photos from Negril and of the retreat venue
PRICING
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Early Bird Special: Save $250 per cottage/suite if you pay in full by May 20
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Cottage or Suite Single Occupancy/Per Person price: $3,795. Double Occupancy (1 bed)/Per Person price: $3,095
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Brand new, private and exclusive seaside cottages (only two of them) with uninterrupted ocean views and privacy. King size bed & walk in shower. Plenty of steps to the ocean to explore; including a cave and a ladder for swimming and snorkeling. A semi-private Jacuzzi shared with just the other cottage behind a private fence. Stairs are used to access this unit. Single Occupancy/Per Person price: $5,095. Double Occupancy (1 bed)/Per Person price: $4,395
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Two Bedroom Suite; Double Occupancy (two separate bedrooms, each with own bed)/Per Person price: $3,395
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Two Bedroom Suite; Triple or Quadruple Occupancy (two separate bedrooms, each with own bed)/Per Person price: $2,795
Email to get registered: ArtofModelingInfo@gmail.com
DETAILS
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Travel insurance with cancellation coverage is required for covering medical expenses, travel interruptions, and personal cancellation to cover anything that might require cancellation or a change in travel arrangements. You will also be asked to sign a liability waiver, which you will be emailed once you register.
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A non-refundable 50% deposit is required when you register; the balance is due July 20, 2025. There are no refunds after the balance has been paid, unless the trip is cancelled by us in which case you will receive a full refund, including the deposit.
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Spots are on a first-come first served basis, and will be reserved upon receipt of your deposit.
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Ways to pay: by personal or cashier's check or money order if in the United States, by Venmo or by Zelle If you will pay via electronic payment such as Paypal, Credit Card or Venmo, there is a 4% fee per payment to cover processing fees.
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Ages 18+ only.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Once you have put down your deposit, you have confirmed your participation in the trip and that deposit is non-refundable. We require you to purchase travel insurance to cover medical expenses, travel interruptions, and personal cancellation to cover anything that might require you having to cancel or make a change in travel arrangements. We will require proof of your insurance 30 days after you register. If for some reason the trip has to be cancelled, you will be refunded what your travel insurance will not cover, if anything. Travel insurance is required to attend this trip and it will cover cancelations and interruptions, including the trip being cancelled by AOM.
Elle, Pat & two of the three kids in Negril at sunset in November 2023
The included details will all be arranged and coordinated by dual Jamaican/United States citizens, AOM Executive Director Ellen Allen and her husband Dr. Patrick Allen.
Ellen, an artist and a (mostly) former fine art model founded and runs Art of Modeling. In addition to model management, training and booking, she has been hosting and moderating figurative art drawing and painting sessions, and building community among area artists for the last five years at the NoBo Art Center in Boulder, Colorado.
Patrick, born and raised in Jamaica, immigrated to the US where he completed his education, earning a PhD in Molecular Biology under the tutelage of Nobel Prize Candidate, Dr. Harry Noller, then received a million dollar grant from the National Institutes of Health to research HIV at CU Boulder. He went on to found The Black Biomedical Research Movement, a non-profit organization that aimed to decrease disparities in Black health and to encourage more Black people to enter careers in the biomedical sciences, working with Black celebrities to more widely spread the message. He then founded the $27 million VC backed company Annai Systems, that developed a genomics data streamline platform designed to handle the complexities of next-generation sequencing data in the clinical, pharmaceutical, and research environments. Since retiring from the sciences, Patrick's current project is securing administratorship of several hundred acres of his family's land in the parish of Saint Thomas located in the foothills of the Blue Mountains where we envision implementing hiking trails, solar and agricultural farms, and an artistic compound, among other things (soon seeking interested investors!).
Coming Soon: Jamaica is planning a new international airport in Negril!
For now, fly into Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay (MBJ)
Seven Mile Beach & Booby Cay Island
NOT INCLUDED
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Airfare and transportation are not included (with the exception of transportation for the included group excursion). The resort has a trusted transportation partner whose service can be arranged for transport from the airport to the resort.
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Art Supplies.
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Additional meals/food not listed above as included. Enjoy the highly rated onsite restaurant, or try one of the many other close by restaurants. Have an authentic Jamaican breakfast served with Blue Mountain coffee with condensed milk; Jamaican style, try a Jamaican patty, go to a rum bar in a candlelit cave, go out for jerk chicken or for seafood, try vegetarian Ital food, go to fruit stands or get street food. (I will have a list of recommended spots to share).
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Any other activity or excursion that you do on your own time. There is much more to explore in your free time that is within walking or (very close, affordable and readily available) taxi distance, such as:
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Watch the Cliff Divers diving off the cliffs and the trees on the cliffs at sunset at the famous Rick’s Café in walking distance from our resort.
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Spend a day at 7 Mile Beach: Take a leisurely oceanside walk on the white sand beach in the surf while stopping to swim or stopping for food, drinks, massage and shopping all along the way. Watch the Negril sunset and then stay out for free live reggae music played beachside/bar-side every Thursday night.
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Partake in numerous other area touristy-activities in your own free time, such as enjoying a cliffside massage, taking a culinary farm to table tour, taking a ride on a party catamaran, riding on a bamboo raft down a river, going on an underwater cave tour, jump (or climb into) a blue hole mineral spring, go ATV riding or zip lining through tropical forests, snorkeling at a coral reef, horseback riding on the beach, cliff diving, touring rum estates, touring ganja fields, visiting waterfalls, rivers and bays, going out to live music performances, stopping into art galleries and artisan shops of local artists and support a Jamaican artist by purchasing a piece of art to take home to commemorate your artistic journey to Jamaica. There are ample taxis and shuttles to safely get you to and from these excursions.
Travel Advisories Regarding Jamaica Debunked