Urban Sketching & Cultural retreat

MEXICO CITY

January 26 - February 2, 2026

About

Spend a week in the cultural capital of Latin America

learning how to pictorially represent what you observe. We will use various materials and techniques to capture the essence of the place. You will learn how to use colour to communicate mood, perspective to communicate scale/space, and material aplication for texture.

Since its time as the Aztec capital, Mexico City has attracted creatives from across Latin America who have left their mark through architecture, visual arts, music, and performance. 

 After waking up in a central hotel, each day will be filled with drawing outings to the most visually captivating locations, and art lessons from acclaimed Calgary art instructor Mark Vazquez-Mackay.

Drawing Sessions

At each site participants will receive a drawing lesson to give them visual tools to help them SEE the subject. The objective of drawing on location is not to create art, or even a resolved drawing, it is to practice being present in a given space as a means of noticing on a deeper level.

The week will start in Mark’s studio, in the historic centre, where participants can start to activate their sketchbooks with various techniques of printing, collaging, and stencilling.

Sites we will visit

The following sites will be visited to support the learning of drawing techniques.  We will focus on selected pieces to deepen our understanding of composition (add anything else here). Where permissible, there will be an opportunity to create quick art studies to develop later. 

Subject to small adjustment and change if uncontrollable circumstances arise.

  • Casa Azul: Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera’s house

  • Tenochtitlan: Mexica (Aztec) empier’s capital

  • Bellas Artes: Murals of the great Mexican mural movement

  • Museum of Anthropology

  • Museo de Arte Moderno

  • Museo de Arte popular

  • Various other museums and galleries

    NOTE: January 26th & February 2nd are travel dates. There will not be formal programming those days, however you will be with a guide to do informal exploring if you come early on the 26th, or leave late on the 2nd.

Cost

$1,950 shared accommodation

$2,175 private accommodation

Not Included

Roundtrip airfare to Mexico City

Your food and beverage (approx. $200-300 for the week)


Included

  • Trip meeting on Zoom in early February

  • Airport transportation with your hosts meeting you right out of the airport gates.

  • 7 nights accommodation in an amazing central hotel.

  • Museum entrance fees.

  • Daily art lessons by Mark Vazquez-Mackay.

  • Daily working Spanish sessions by Carmen Vazquez-Mackay.

  • Transportation to cultural sites we will be experiencing.

$50% deposit will reserve your spot. Refundable until December 1, 2025.

Final payment due January 1, 2026

10% discount for participants not joining in the art lessons. They will be able to participate in all day trips and receive all other benefits of the week.

Use discount code: FRIEND