Full – Pre-register for 2027
May 6–13, 2026 (Arrival May 5 pm, departure May 13 am)
Workshop cost: €2,950 – €3,950 (Depending on room selection)
Level of experience: All levels (Everyone! The class requires no experience)
Material fee: Included (Heat plates and some materials provided; specific list supplied by instructor)
Workshop Details
Join us for an immersive retreat focused on building encaustic paintings from the ground up—exploring techniques on the substrate, between layers, and on the surface.
In this workshop you will:
- Learn how to create smooth, luminous surfaces using a variety of materials including Ink, Charcoal, Pan Pastel, Oil pastel, Pencil, Graphite, Metal leaf, and R&F Pigment Sticks.
- Explore techniques on the substrate, between layers, and on the surface.
- Build encaustic paintings from the ground up.
Please note: This workshop is suitable for everyone and requires no prior experience.
Workshops have taken place in the 1000-year-old castle in two spacious studios where participants have plenty of room to spread out and work. The facility is amazing.
Goals
- Working with encaustic paint, Pigment Sticks, Pan Pastel, and more.
- Creating translucent layers filled with light and meaning.
- Incorporating mark-making, image transfers, and drawing.
- Balancing composition, form, and personal expression.
Schedule
Details:
- Dates: May 6–13, 2026.
- Arrival: May 5 (pm).
- Departure: May 13 (am).
- Daily Studio Time: Ample studio time provided in the Encaustic studio at Be-Artz.
- Excursions: There will be time to explore Sauveterre de Béarn, enjoy local architecture and nature, and walk the Camino Trail.
- Field Trip: Day four of class will include a day-long field trip for those wishing to go (optional). This may include visiting the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain.
What is included:
- Private room with shower or full bathroom (options available).
- Most meals provided: 3-course meals, catered, often enjoyed on a terrace overlooking the river (weather permitting).
- Self-service continental breakfast.
- Daily yoga classes.
- Two destination excursions.
- Village exploration and ample studio time.
- Personalized 1:1 instruction with Dietlind.
- Heat plates and some materials.
What is not included:
- Airfare, trains, and taxis to/from the airport.
- Costs of meals on day trips or restaurant outings.
- Extra transportation or car rental (We will pick up from Biarritz airport or train station on May 5th).
Pricing
Cost:
- €3,950: Single/double room with ensuite bathroom/shower (4 available).
- €3,450: Single/double room with ensuite shower/sink, WC/extra large bathroom across corridor (4 available).
- €2,950: Shared bedroom with two single beds.
Payment Schedule:
- Deposit: 50% of the course fee is due on registration (non-refundable).
- Balance: Due 90 days before the course starts.
Payment Methods:
- Stripe: You will be sent an invoice via Stripe. You can pay by card or use Klarna to divide payments.
- Bank Transfer: You may also pay using a bank transfer.
Cancellation & Insurance: IMPORTANT. TRAVEL INSURANCE. There is no refund for the deposit if the class is not full but still takes place. The balance is due 90 days prior. Please take out “all cause” travel insurance so that you can be refunded should anything stop the class from happening or if you can’t make it. If you cannot come, we will try to fill your space from our waitlist or you can find a replacement.
Meet Your Instructor: Dietlind Vander Schaaf is a nationally recognized encaustic artist known for her luminous works that explore transparency, repetition, and stillness. She teaches workshops throughout the U.S. and internationally.Website: dietlindvanderschaaf.com | Instagram: @dietlindvanderschaaf
Photo & Video Image Release Policy: By registering for a workshop, you give permission for photographs of you and your artwork taken during a Beartz workshop to be used for publicity, video, website content, social media, and Beartz publications. If you do not give permission, please let us know in writing.
TO REGISTER: please contact Magdalena Groszek at info@be-artz.com
Meet the Instructor :
Dietlind Vander Schaaf is an accomplished artist and educator whose work invites viewers into a space of stillness and balance. Holding an MFA from the University of San Francisco and an MA from the University of Southern Maine, Dietlind blends her deep academic background with a contemplative artistic practice inspired by Zen Buddhism, Christian mysticism, and poetry.
Artistic Philosophy Dietlind describes her paintings as the meeting place between “inner and outer landscapes.” Drawing on the Japanese concept of jikan—the silence between two thoughts—she uses texture, pattern, and color to render fleeting moments of beauty visible. Her work is widely recognized for its “elegantly simple compositions of pattern and grace,” establishing an emotional tone of calm-centeredness.
Professional Experience A Core Instructor for R&F Handmade Paints and an Ampersand Ambassador, Dietlind is a highly sought-after teacher. She has led workshops at prestigious institutions across the United States and abroad, including:
- Domestic: Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Arrowmont, Penland School of Craft, and Maine College of Art.
- International: Zijdelings (Netherlands), Essence of Mulranny (Ireland), and Kunstfreiraum (Switzerland).
Her work is represented by Portland Art Gallery, Artemis Gallery, and Edgewater Gallery, and has been exhibited in venues such as the Cape Cod Museum of Art and The Fuller Craft Museum.
Beyond the Studio Dietlind’s teaching is informed by her diverse disciplines; she is a 500-hour Kripalu yoga instructor with advanced training in meditation and Ayurveda. She is also a Level 2 Archery Instructor and a former president of New England Wax.
Join Dietlind to explore the intersection of mindfulness and material, and learn to create work that resonates with quiet power.