• Daily workshops with Judy Jelsma
• Accommodation – choose from our bures at the front (Ocean View bures), or at the back (standard rooms)
• Meals : breakfast, lunch and dinner – a mix of local Fijian and Indian food and international recipes (one dinner out at own expense)
• Excursions:  snorkel on the fabulous coral reefs, bathe in glorious waterfall, revel in the abundant nature of the landscape and experience the rich Fijian culture.

You just need to buy your air ticket and art materials, and leave the rest to us.

Dive into a colourful week of painting, experimenting, and seeing where your creativity takes you. This immersive workshop invites you to into the expressive world of acrylics and mixed media—combining collage, charcoal, ink, pastels, and more to create truly personal works of art.

Together, we’ll break the creative process into four simple (but powerful) steps:

1. Preparing your surface
2. Finding your concept or inspiration
3. Bringing that idea to life on the page
4. Exploring techniques to make it uniquely yours

Throughout the week, you’ll experiment freely with materials while developing your own visual language. We’ll gather inspiration from sketches, notes, photos, and memories—building a rich foundation for your compositions.

Our mornings will begin in a beautiful studio space, with relaxed sessions designed to spark ideas and build confidence. Outdoor sketching will be light and enjoyable, using handmade concertina sketchbooks—no heavy equipment required. These sketchbooks will become a treasured record of your journey, perfect for experimentation, layering, collage, and storytelling. They often capture the essence of a place far more vividly than photographs ever could.

This workshop is open to all levels—from complete beginners to experienced artists. While we all start from the same point, your individual style and interpretation will be encouraged every step of the way. Rather than working on your pieces, I’ll offer guidance, suggestions, and support—leaving creative decisions in your hands.

Bring an open mind, a willingness to explore… and a good sense of humour.

Judy has continually drawn inspiration from the landscapes around her.

Beginning with a highly detailed, realistic style, her work gradually evolved into a freer, more expressive approach. Today, her paintings are known for their vibrant colour, rich textures, and contemporary feel, often incorporating collage and mixed media. For Judy, the excitement lies in interpreting a subject rather than replicating it — allowing intuition, experimentation, and even “happy accidents” to shape the final piece.

Her creative philosophy is simple: don’t be afraid to make the mark. Layers can be reworked, painted over, or revealed again, each adding depth and character to the work.

Over 30 years ago, others began to notice Judy’s unique approach and asked her to teach. Since then, she has inspired countless students, particularly those wanting to break free from rigid realism and explore a more expressive style. Judy teaches instinctively — guiding each student individually after a shared starting point — and finds great joy in seeing people “let go” and discover a new energy in their work.

She works primarily with acrylics, combined with collage, charcoal, and inks. While she may begin with sketches, notes, or photographs, the painting soon takes on a life of its own, much like a path forming naturally through the landscape.

Judy is a painter based in the coastal town of Port Macquarie, NSW, where she has lived and worked for over 40 years. She holds certificates in Drawing and Painting from Port Macquarie and Kempsey TAFE, and furthered her studies with two years at Southern Cross University.

Her artistic journey has taken her far beyond the studio. From group painting trips into the vast Australian outback to the wild beauty of Tasmania, and the lush rainforests and beaches of her home region, Judy has continually drawn inspiration from the landscapes around her.

Judy has also led seven successful Bali Painting Holidays and now looks forward to bringing her passion and experience to Daku Resort in beautiful Savusavu. Her upcoming retreat, Self-Expression in Acrylic and Mixed Media, invites participants to explore creativity in a relaxed, tropical setting — and to discover the freedom and joy of painting without limits.