MASTERING GOUACHE OR PASTEL WITH WATERCOLORS

Spring Workshop at Dillman’s Art Retreat   
​May 31 – June 5, 2026 (4-teaching days)

There’s something extraordinary about painting in the Northwoods in spring.

The lakes begin to wake up. The pines glow with fresh color. Morning mist hangs low over the water. And for a few uninterrupted days, artists gather at Dillman’s Art Retreat to focus on one thing:

Creating.

This spring, award-winning watercolorist Dale L. Popovich returns to Dillman’s Art Retreat for an immersive four-day paint-along workshop designed to help artists create more depth, atmosphere, and emotion in their paintings.
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Whether you work primarily in watercolor, gouache, or pastel — or want to learn how to combine them beautifully — this workshop is designed to push your work to the next level.

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WHAT MAKES THIS WORKSHOP DIFFERENT? 
​More than a workshop. A complete creative immersion.

Paint-Along Teaching Format
Dale demonstrates step-by-step while students paint along in real time. This approach removes intimidation and helps students fully understand the process instead of simply watching from a distance.

Personalized Feedback
Students receive individual guidance throughout the workshop, with practical instruction they can apply immediately to their own paintings.

Comprehensive Workbook Included
Each student receives Dale’s exclusive workshop workbook featuring:
• Reference photos
• Value studies
• Pencil sketches
• Color lists
• Technique breakdowns
• Supply recommendations
• Note-taking pages
• Pre-workshop preparation guidance

Northwoods Creative Immersion
Dillman’s Art Retreat is surrounded by towering pines, sparkling lakes, and the beauty of Wisconsin’s Northwoods — an atmosphere that naturally inspires creativity.

Small Class Atmosphere
Students consistently say they appreciate the supportive environment, camaraderie, and ability to interact directly with Dale throughout the workshop.

Decades of Teaching Experience
​Dale has taught thousands of students across America and has spent decades refining a teaching style that makes watercolor approachable, understandable, and exciting.

PAINT WITH DALE

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WHO THIS WORKSHOP IS PERFECT FOR
Designed for artists ready to grow

This workshop is ideal for:• Artists feeling creatively stuck
• Painters wanting stronger depth and atmosphere
• Students intimidated by watercolor
• Artists craving creative community and encouragement
• Intermediate painters wanting stronger composition
• Artists interested in combining gouache or pastel with watercolor
• Painters wanting to better understand light, value, edges, and mood

THE DILLMAN’S EXPERIENCE
Artists call it the “Disneyland of art workshops.”
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Dillman’s Art Retreat offers far more than classroom instruction.
You’ll experience:
• Beautiful Northwoods scenery
• Comfortable lodging
• Inspiring studios
• Creative friendships
• Optional evening activities
• Pontoon rides and gallery tours
• Time away from distractions to fully focus on your art
Many students return year after year because the experience is unlike anything else.

WHAT YOU’LL EXPLORE
​Techniques that bring paintings to life.

During the workshop, Dale will demonstrate:
• Building atmospheric depth
• Understanding seasonal color and temperature
• Creating stronger value relationships
• Simplifying complex landscapes
• Integrating gouache or pastel into watercolor
• Capturing mood, light, and storytelling
• Designing paintings with stronger visual impact
Students will work through demonstrations together while gaining a deeper understanding of how to truly see and interpret the landscape.

I’ve attended Dale’s workshops at Dillman’s for the past 3 years. They are all excellent—and this was the BEST one yet! The pacing was awesome. I am a slow painter, yet I had time to finish my paintings each day after class and still have time to take a nice break to enjoy the gorgeous weather and wind down. I felt that the painting was helped by the number of paintings we did (six rather than eight as we had done in previous workshops) and the workbook that Marilee and Dale put together and provided us with a week before the workshop started (so I was able to draw everything for paintings before the workshop rather than having to do the drawings for the next day each night during the workshop.)

I love that we do paintings of all the seasons in the Northwoods—so between the different paintings, we learn how to paint snow, rocks, water, winter, fall, spring, and summer scenes and colors.

I like how he divides doing a painting into phases: he does a phase (and we watch), and then we do the phase (and he comes around and looks at what we are doing and gives each of us feedback and tips.) 

No matter how many workshops and classes I’ve taken with him, I always learn something new! It’s why I keep coming back.
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– Janet S
Long Grove, IL USA
Dillman's Art Retreat
2020-2025 4-Day Watercolor Workshops
Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts 2020-26
Weekly Zoom Watercolor Studio Classes 

A FEW EASELS REMAIN
​Join Dale this spring in the Northwoods.

If you’ve been waiting for the right workshop to recharge your creativity, strengthen your painting skills, and immerse yourself in art for a few unforgettable days, this is your moment.
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Workshop Dates:
May 31 – June 5, 2026 (4 working days)
Location:
Dillman’s Art Retreat
Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin

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RESERVE YOUR EASAL  TODAY

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​WHAT YOU’LL EXPLORE

 WATCH THE VIDEO 
Techniques that bring paintings to life.During the workshop, Dale will demonstrate:
• Building atmospheric depth
• Understanding seasonal color and temperature
• Creating stronger value relationships
• Simplifying complex landscapes
• Integrating gouache or pastel into watercolor
• Capturing mood, light, and storytelling
• Designing paintings with stronger visual impact
Students will work through demonstrations together while gaining a deeper understanding of how to truly see and interpret the landscape.

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TRANSFORMATION +
IMMERSION +
​PERSONAL ATTENTION
Along this journey, my goal is to help you truly see. 

REGISTER HERE

Thank you,  creatively,
​Dale