In-Person Workshops, Retreats, and Private Instruction

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Contact Ren@elisewagner.com to be added to the list for 2026.

Encaustic Workshop 2025/ Collagraph Printmaking Workshop 2025

Encaustic Painting & Collagraph Printmaking Retreat in Guanajuato, Mexico

January 3-9, 2025

Embark on a creative and culturally enriching experience on the open-air rooftop studio at Alma del Sol in the picturesque city of Guanajuato. This marks the sixth year of the Guanajuato Printmaking retreat, commencing with a welcome dinner on January 3, followed by instructional days on January 4-10. Optional activity day included choosing from sightseeing, exploring local cuisine, or working in the studio!

Transform the Spanish Colonial hill town of Guanajuato, the birthplace of Diego Rivera, into your winter haven for creativity and exploration. Founded in 1559, Guanajuato boasts opulent colonial buildings, tree-filled plazas, and vibrantly colored houses perched on steep slopes. This city, with its excellent museums, beautiful theater, and lively cobblestone streets adorned with markets and restaurants, is a captivating maze of tunnels once traversed by rivers.

Don't miss the opportunity to kick off the New Year by immersing yourself in creativity, surrounded by students from across the globe, in this magical place.

For those unable to pay in full, we highly recommend using After Pay for convenient installment payments at checkout, ensuring your space in the class. Alternatively, a deposit option of $500 is available to secure your spot, with recommended payment options listed below. Reach out to Elise for any payment-related queries or to discuss alternative arrangements. Contact Hugo for questions regarding accommodations, airport transportation, and special dietary needs.

Prior to the workshop, Elise and our local host, Hugo, will conduct an online Q&A session to address your queries about the workshop, required materials, navigating the town, accommodations, and more.

Learn to print by embossing textiles into wax using handmade Wagner Encaustic Collagraph White. Traditionally in printmaking, a “collagraph” is a collaged printing plate. Wagner developed this particular unique approach to printmaking which replaces the collage on the plate with a specially formulated white encaustic wax. This class combines the techniques and approaches of both printmaking and encaustic painting to produce richly textured intaglio prints. Create plates from marks and textures applied with wax. In this class, we use both traditional plexiglas and flat Ampersand Claybord as the printing plate to learn the advantages of printing with each. We use non-toxic soy and honey based Akua Inks on Japanese papers and Evolon microfiber.

Wagner is a member of the Speedball Professional Network

Your Elise Wagner Workshops Gift Card can be used for any online or in-person workshop, including the annual retreat in Guanajuato, Mexico.

Private Instruction with Elise Wagner, booked by the hour.

Format: Online or In-person hourly sessions at my art studio in Astoria, Oregon (select at checkout).

These sessions are designed for you. Here’s how it works, you contact me with what you are interested in learning and share projects you are working on. We then estimate what length of session is best for you and schedule from there!

Whether you are new to encaustic painting or trying something new with printmaking, this is a good place to start. Enjoy a full virtual or in-person tour of my encaustic and printmaking studio set up. See work in progress and get an inside glimpse of the many ways to create. Learn about encaustic painting, collagraph printmaking, encaustic restoration, get feedback on your work or ask about managing an art business or connecting to supportive art communities.

Thinking about registering for Private Instruction? Just email me to express your goals and schedule.