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Rachael King & Georgie Forbes welcome you to our "Painting to Pattern" Art Retreats

Georgina Forbes

Georgie is a colourful Australian Artist, Surface Pattern Designer and the Head Honcho of creative business Lordy Dordie.

Georgie's designs are packed with contrasting but harmonious, vibrant colour combinations, abstract shapes, quirky and fun florals. Georgie strives to convey a positive, joyful and happy message in her art. Georgie's Lordy Dordie pattern designs have appeared in successful collaborations both in Australia and internationally. Follow Georgie on Instagram @lordydordie

Rachael King

Rachael is an colourful Australian Surface Designer, Author and Creative.

Rachael is drawn to bright, saturated colour in mostly floral themes that reflect living in Queensland. Rachael is a keen learner, mentor and passionate advocate of artists in the Surface Design industry. Rachaels books, Pattern Pulse 1 & 2, is a passion project that celebrates the world of Surface Design and the amazing Australian Artists working in that space. Follow Rachael in Instagram @rachaeldoesdesign

Painting to Pattern - Art Retreat

This retreat is perfect for passionate creatives and those interested in colour, art licensing, and surface pattern design. Rachael and Georgie wanted to create a course that would inspire any creative, at any level of expertise, to take their artwork to the next level without needing complex software to get started!

Rachael and Georgie will guide you in discovering your unique artistic style, learning key pattern design techniques by experimenting with Winsor & Newton watercolours, playing with acrylic paint pens, and choosing colour palettes. You’ll master the fundamentals of motif development, balance and contrast in patterns, pattern placement, print layout, and hand-creating repeat patterns. Additionally, you’ll receive an introduction to capturing and digitising your artwork, opening up new possibilities for your designs.

Rachael and Georgie love inspiring passionate creatives to explore the wonderful world of surface pattern design. Unleash your creativity in a friendly and supportive environment suitable for all experience levels, especially beginners. The retreat offers a unique opportunity to learn from two experienced artists while connecting with fellow art enthusiasts.

We invite up to up to three inspiring Guest Speakers who will come and share their expertise in art, design, and digital printing, providing invaluable insights and practical advice to help elevate your creative projects.

Retreat Timing: Workshop doors open each day from 8:30 AM for a 9:00 AM sharp start, finishing at 4:00 PM. Morning tea and lunch are provided both days, along with all-day coffee and tea-making facilities in the workshop room. Rachael and Georgie invite all retreat attendees to a celebratory drink on Friday night of the retreat.

We’re delighted to partner with Winsor & Newton Australia as our event sponsor and eagerly anticipate showcasing their incredible products at the retreat!

Lordy Dordie Art Workshops

Painting to Pattern Art Retreat

inclusions

What's included in your Art Retreat ticket?

  • All materials required for workshops are included in your retreat fee, although you are welcome to BYO art supplies
  • Finding inspiration & your own unique creative style
  • More than 10 hours of inspiring, supportive creative instruction and guidance from Georgie & Rachael
  • Understanding the foundations of the elements & principles of pattern design
  • Intro to using Winsor & Newton Watercolours and other art supplies products that we use/recommend
  • Multiple Watercolour sessions with directed guidance and tuition
  • Working towards creating repeatable designs using your artworks
  • How to capture your artworks professionally for digitising
  • Turning your artworks into a repeatable pattern design 
  • Demonstrations of artwork pattern repeats (using various programs) from beginner level to intermediate
  • Advice on launching your artwork into the world of surface pattern design
  • Inspiration for how to apply your own surface designs to textiles, products
  • Morning Tea & Lunch each day
  • Raffle prizes & Goodie bags
  • Celebratory drink on Friday night
  • All day Coffee & Tea

What's not included?

  • Overnight accommodation - discounted accommodation can be booked directly with the hotel - these details will be provided once Retreat ticket is purchased
  • Transport to and from the hotel
  • Extra drinks or food outside of those listed above
Lordy Dordie Art Workshops

Painting to Pattern Art Retreat

Testimonials

  • Hi Rachael and Georgie, I wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed the weekend workshop in Noosa.  It was so good to meet people who are working in the industry.   There was a really positive energy and I felt like it helped me focus on what my next steps would be.  I think that having guest speakers in was informative.  It gave us an insight from different points of view and linked different aspects of the industry together.  I also found it helpful to get a list of businesses that offered different services. Thanks again for a wonderful weekend and all your valuable knowledge and experience you shared with us!

    Lidia - ATTENDED Sunshine Coast 2025 P2P RETREAT

  • Rachael and Georgie were the perfect pair of hosts for the Painting to Pattern workshop. Their skills complemented each other perfectly, creating such a well-rounded and insightful course on surface pattern design. Georgie’s knowledge of product development and building her brand was invaluable, while Rachael’s expertise in technology and seamlessly piecing together patterns was incredible to watch and learn from—not to mention their gorgeous artistic talent!   I’ve come home feeling like everything has clicked—I finally get it! I now understand how to quickly create a pattern, and I’m seeing so many new design possibilities that never even occurred to me before.   On top of that, the group of women who attended, along with Rachael and Georgie, were so supportive. The energy and vibe of the group made the experience even more special. Such a fantastic workshop—thank you both!

    Laura - ATTENDED Sunshine Coast 2025 P2P RETREAT

  • "Attending the Painting to Pattern" retreat was such a wonderful experience. I felt so welcomed and I learned so much with lots of hands on experience. It was just the push I needed to build my confidence and step out more in my creative journey. Rachael and Georgie were such fun and encouraging. I left feeling that yes I can be apart of this creative world. "

    Corrina H - attended Gold Coast 2024

  • "The ‘Paint to Pattern’ Art Retreat hosted by Georgina Forbes and Rachael King was such a lovely, relaxing event. The process from pattern to paper was demonstrated clearly and we were given multiple opportunities to put it into practice. While digitising the pattern is a big learning curve it was explained well and very beginner friendly. Georgie and Rachael are both fantastic teachers! They answered all of our questions, gave demonstrations, shared tips and tricks, and were genuinely friendly and approachable. The guest speakers were also amazing sharing their processes and insight into the industry. If you are thinking about this course, do it. You won’t regret it!"

    Emily S - ATTENDED GOLD Coast 2024 P2P RETREAT

  • Omg… what an amazingly, creatively filling weekend. Thank you both soooooo very much for sharing your time, knowledge and years of learnings with us to provide us with the tools, understanding and hope for the opportunities that are available in this colorful world. Thank you for taking the time away from your families to gift to us this wonderful experience, truly grateful.

    Fran & Emma - ATTENDED NOOSA 2025 P2P RETREAT

  • Rachael and Georgie were the perfect pair of hosts for the Painting to Pattern workshop. Their skills complemented each other perfectly, creating such a well-rounded and insightful course on surface pattern design. Georgie’s knowledge of product development and building her brand was invaluable, while Rachael’s expertise in technology and seamlessly piecing together patterns was incredible to watch and learn from—not to mention their gorgeous artistic talent!   I’ve come home feeling like everything has clicked—I finally get it! I now understand how to quickly create a pattern, and I’m seeing so many new design possibilities that never even occurred to me before.   On top of that, the group of women who attended, along with Rachael and Georgie, were so supportive. The energy and vibe of the group made the experience even more special. Such a fantastic workshop—thank you both!

    Laura - ATTENDED NOOSA 2025 P2P RETREAT

  • You two really are such a wonderful team and it’s women like you that help other women who have a spark .. find it again and believe in themselves and what they are capable of. I think I can confidently say that on behalf of every single woman that held space in that room over the weekend :) we all got so much more out of it than words can describe 💞

    Katrina -  ATTENDED BRISBANE 2023 P2P RETREAT

  • "I am writing to you both to thank you for the inspiring, extremely informative, and for me, lightbulb couple of days, that, with the content you covered, has absolutely propelled me to achieve my goal of 2023 and that was to learn how to digitise my art and get it to print. "

    Rebecca - attended Brisbane 2023 p2p Retreat

  • "I just wanted to say the biggest Thank you to you both. Such an amazing group, both of you sharing your knowledge and experiences, and just the whole weekend felt like the biggest creative hug that I’ve been needing. So Thank you, I feel like I’m getting “me” back, and that has honestly all started since the weekend. "

    Karina - attended Brisbane 2023 p2p Retreat

  • Hello Rachael and Georgie, I just wanted to say thank you for a fabulous retreat! It was fantastic being surrounded by so many creative and talented people and I have come away from it feeling very inspired.  Feedback - I thought the guest speakers were very interesting especially Ellie. She has inspired me to rethink my direction a little and to look at a bigger picture. I also really enjoyed your painting demonstration at the end. It was very interesting to watch.   The goodies we received were also very generous - thank you.

    Lauren C.

  • "Show off incredible feedback from your customers"

    John Doe

Art Retreat Q&A's

Cancellation is allowed up to 14 days before the Retreat starts. If you cancel within the 14 days leading up to the retreat, we cannot refund your ticket due to costs already paid for the event. However, if we (or you) manage to find someone from the waiting list to take your spot, we will be happy to refund you the ticket price. You would also be welcome to find a replacement to fill your spot for the retreat if you can't make it and arrange with us the change on the ticket name.

TBA

Book directly with the Hotel for a stylish stay during our Art Retreats. Contact them directly to book your stay.

There is ample parking onsite for those driving to the retreat.

Yes of course you can! We will be supplying you with ALL the creative tools you will need for the Art Retreat however you are most welcome to bring your favourite art supplies along.

Delicious morning tea & lunch as well as coffee & tea making facilities are provided over both retreat days. After the Friday workshop finishes at 4pm, please join us in the restaurant complimentary drink from 5pm.

Our retreat is open to any creative, at any level! Suitable for beginners, as well as those with some surface pattern design experience.