Blue Mountains Oil Painting Workshop with Natasha Ruschka
Blue Mountains Oil Painting Workshop
- Katoomba, Leura & Blackheath – Blue Mountains NSW
- 18 – 24 October 2026
- 6 Nights | 7 Days
Join us for a relaxed and inspiring 7-day mountain oil painting workshop based in the breathtaking Blue Mountains, NSW. Enjoy five full days of plein-air painting across dramatic escarpments, iconic lookouts, waterfalls, botanical gardens and misty valley landscapes.
This workshop is guided by artist Natasha Ruschka and is suitable for all levels. You’ll receive daily demonstrations, personalised feedback and practical guidance to strengthen composition, colour harmony, atmospheric perspective and confidence while painting on location.
Workshop format: Day 1 welcome dinner & orientation, Days 2–6 full painting days (Day 6 includes farewell dinner), Day 7 departure.
- The Three Sisters – Iconic Blue Mountains landmark with dramatic cliffs and layered valley views.
- Everglades House & Gardens – Historic gardens with colourful spring blooms and sweeping mountain vistas.
- Cahill’s Lookout – Stunning sunrise and sunset views over the Megalong Valley.
- Pool of Siloam & Waterfalls – Intimate cascade scenes perfect for studying movement and reflections.
- Govetts Leap, Blackheath – Expansive valley views with dramatic escarpments and waterfalls.
- Megalong Valley & Blue Mountains Botanic Garden – Rural mountain landscapes and botanical colour studies.
💰 Pricing Options
🧍 AU$ 3,499 (Single Room) 🧑🤝🧑 AU$ 2,899 (Twin Share Per Person) 🎨 AU$ 1,999 (Painting Only)
Painting Only includes all workshop sessions and tuition (accommodation & meals not included).
🎨 Blue Mountains Oil Painting Workshop with Natasha Ruschka
An inspiring 7-day mountain landscape painting experience in New South Wales
📍 Blue Mountains, NSW | 6 Nights | 5 Full Painting Days
🚨 Limited spots available – early booking recommended!
🖼️ Tour Overview
Join us for an immersive oil painting workshop set in the breathtaking landscapes of the
Blue Mountains. From dramatic escarpments and iconic lookouts to misty valleys, waterfalls, historic gardens and charming mountain villages, this region offers endless inspiration for plein-air painters.
Guided by acclaimed artist Natasha Ruschka, this workshop is designed to support artists of all levels. Natasha’s encouraging teaching style, strong focus on composition, colour harmony, atmospheric perspective and expressive brushwork will help you build confidence and deepen your painting practice in a relaxed, inspiring environment.
- 🏨 Full tour package including heritage accommodation, selected meals & all workshop sessions
🌟 Tour Highlights
✔️ Iconic Mountain Locations: Paint the Three Sisters, Govetts Leap, Everglades Gardens, Cahill’s Lookout, Megalong Valley, waterfalls and scenic botanical gardens
✔️ Expert Tuition: Daily demonstrations, one-on-one guidance and constructive group critiques with Natasha Ruschka
✔️ Plein-Air Focus: Learn to capture changing mountain light, mist, depth and dramatic landscape colour on location
✔️ Heritage Accommodation: Stay at the historic Carrington Hotel in the heart of Katoomba
✔️ Relaxed Itinerary: Five full painting days balanced with rest, exploration and social time
✔️ Small Group Experience: Limited numbers for personalised attention and a supportive learning environment
From our gallery
Step into the creative journey of our painting workshops through a curated collection of inspiring moments captured during our tours. This gallery features artworks created by participants, beautiful coastal landscapes from our painting locations, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of our immersive, tutor-led painting sessions, offering a true sense of the experience both on and off the easel.
Tour Plan
📍 Day 1 – Arrival in Blue Mountains | Welcome Dinner & Orientation
🛬 Arrival in Blue Mountains • 🍷 Welcome Drinks & 🍽️ Dinner
- Arrive in Katoomba, Blue Mountains and check into the Hotel
- Afternoon at leisure to explore Katoomba village, local cafés, galleries, or nearby scenic lookouts
- Evening Welcome Dinner 🍷
- Workshop orientation:
- Meet your tutor Natasha Ruschka and fellow artists
- Overview of materials, daily painting rhythm, weather considerations, safety, and oil painting approach
🎨 Day 2 – Everglades House & Gardens (Full Painting Day)
🎨 Day 2 • Full Day Painting • 🌿 Everglades House & Gardens
- Morning: Depart after breakfast for Everglades House & Gardens
- Painting Session 1 (AM):
- Garden pathways, spring blooms, and structured landscape compositions
- Focus on composition, value planning, and colour harmony in oils
- Tutor demonstration + one-on-one guidance from Natasha
- Lunch break: Picnic / café lunch (own cost unless included)
- Painting Session 2 (PM):
- Choose a new viewpoint (terraces, trees, distant valley views, architectural details)
- Focus on brushwork, edges, and building depth through atmospheric perspective
- Individual feedback and troubleshooting on your painting
- Late afternoon: Pack-up, group check-in, and return to Katoomba
- Evening: Dinner at leisure / optional informal review and Q&A
🎨 Day 3 – Three Sisters & Cahill’s Lookout (Full Painting Day)
🎨 Day 3 • Full Day Painting • ⛰️ Three Sisters & Cahill’s Lookout
- Morning: After breakfast, depart for Echo Point to paint the iconic Three Sisters
- Painting Session 1 (AM):
- Dramatic escarpments, layered valley views, and atmospheric distance
- Focus on big shapes, value structure, and atmospheric perspective
- Tutor demonstration + individual guidance from Natasha
- Lunch break: Picnic or nearby café (own cost unless included)
- Afternoon: Transfer to Cahill’s Lookout for a different valley viewpoint
- Painting Session 2 (PM):
- Capture changing mountain light, sky movement, and distant ridge patterns
- Focus on colour temperature shifts and expressive brushwork
- Personalised feedback and optional painting continuation
- Late afternoon: Pack-up, group reflection, and return to hotel
- Evening: Dinner at leisure
🎨 Day 4 – Pool of Siloam & Waterfall Studies (Full Painting Day)
🎨 Day 4 • Full Day Painting • 💧 Pool of Siloam & Waterfall Studies
- Morning: After breakfast, depart for Pool of Siloam / Leura Cascades area
- Painting Session 1 (AM):
- Waterfalls, rock formations, moss textures, and reflective water surfaces
- Focus on movement of water, texture, and light on wet surfaces
- Tutor demonstration + individual mentoring from Natasha
- Lunch break: Picnic in the gardens or nearby café (own cost unless included)
- Painting Session 2 (PM):
- Explore alternative viewpoints with stream compositions and forest canopy framing
- Focus on cool colour mixing, shadow patterns, and expressive brushwork
- Personalised feedback and painting refinement
- Late afternoon: Pack-up and return to Katoomba
- Optional: Visit a local gallery featuring plein-air works for inspiration
- Evening: Dinner at leisure
🎨 Day 5 – Govetts Leap & Megalong Valley (Full Painting Day)
🎨 Day 5 • Full Day Painting • 🌄 Govetts Leap & Megalong Valley
- Morning: After breakfast, depart for Govetts Leap lookout in Blackheath
- Painting Session 1 (AM):
- Expansive valley views, dramatic cliffs, and waterfall vistas
- Focus on large-scale composition, layered depth, and big sky design
- Tutor demonstration + personalised guidance from Natasha
- Lunch break: Picnic or café stop (own cost unless included)
- Afternoon: Transfer to Megalong Valley for rural landscape painting
- Painting Session 2 (PM):
- Pastoral scenes, rustic buildings, trees, and mountain backdrops
- Focus on simplifying shapes, colour temperature shifts, and atmospheric light
- Individual feedback and optional painting continuation
- Late afternoon: Pack-up, group reflection, and return to hotel
- Evening: Dinner at leisure
🎨 Day 6 – Blue Mountains Botanic Garden | Farewell Dinner (Full Painting Day)
🎨 Day 6 • Final Painting Day • 🌿 Blue Mountains Botanic Garden & 🍽️ Farewell Dinner
- Morning: After breakfast, depart for Blue Mountains Botanic Garden (Mount Tomah)
- Painting Session 1 (AM):
- Botanical subjects, gardens, mountain panoramas, and floral studies
- Focus on colour relationships, design, and developing a personal painting project
- Tutor demonstration + individual mentoring from Natasha
- Lunch break: Garden café or picnic (own cost unless included)
- Painting Session 2 (PM):
- Final artwork development and refinement
- Focus on edges, finishing touches, and strengthening focal points
- Optional group critique and artwork sharing
- Late afternoon: Return to hotel and freshen up
- Evening: Farewell Dinner 🍽️ with artwork sharing and celebration
✈️ Day 7 – Departure
🧳 Day 7 • Departure Day • ☕ Farewell & Check-out
- Morning: Breakfast at the hotel and relaxed time to pack
- Check-out: Hotel check-out by 10:00 AM
- Departure:
- Optional scenic stops or extended stay in the Blue Mountains (self-arranged)
- Farewell: Exchange contacts, final reflections, and departure
Gallery
Step into the creative journey of our painting workshops through a curated collection of inspiring moments captured during our tours. This gallery features artworks created by participants, beautiful coastal landscapes from our painting locations, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of our immersive, tutor-led painting sessions, offering a true sense of the experience both on and off the easel.
💰 Pricing Options
We offer flexible packages to suit your needs:| 🧾 Package Type | 💵 Price (AUD) | 🧳 Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| 🎨 Full Package – Twin Share | $2,899 pp | • 6 nights accommodation in Blue Mountain (twin share) • 5 full days of painting sessions & demonstrations • Welcome dinner & farewell dinner • Daily on-location tuition and personalised guidance • All local transport to painting locations |
| 🧍 Full Package – Single Room | $3,499 | • All inclusions from the Twin Share package • Private room |
| 🎨 Painting Only | $1,999 | • All painting sessions & demonstrations • Daily tuition and group critiques • Excludes accommodation, meals & transport |
📌 What’s Included
- 6 nights accommodation in quality Blue Mountain accommodation (for full package guests)
- Welcome dinner and farewell dinner
- 5 full days of plein-air painting
- Daily demonstrations, personalised feedback and group discussions
- Local transport to and from painting locations during workshop days
- Workshop coordination and on-ground support
❌ Not Included
- Flights to/from Blue Mountain or Sydney Airport
- Airport transfers
- Art materials and equipment
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Meals not listed above
📅 Cancellation Policy
- More than 90 days prior: Full refund minus holding deposit
- 30–90 days prior: 50% refund
- Less than 30 days prior: No refund
🔄 If We Need to Cancel
- Full refund, OR
- Option to transfer to a future Painting Holiday Tours workshop at no additional cost