The Fitzgerald Art Immersion — with Keiko Tanabe

01 · The Retreat

Landscapes that breathe with light and mood

Discover the beauty of painting landscapes that breathe with light, mood, and emotion — four nights at The Fitzgerald, on Corolla's remote four-by-four beach.

Wild horses on the dunes, the red Currituck Beach Lighthouse, and the Atlantic at the property line. Over three teaching days — roughly half in the studio and half en plein air, weather permitting — Keiko Tanabe guides you on a journey from the foundation of structure to the expressive freedom of impression.

DatesSept 23–27, 2027

VenueThe Fitzgerald

InstructorKeiko Tanabe

Capacity12 private rooms

02 · Keiko's Work

Light, mood, and a sense of place

surf below the cliffs

the shoreline at dusk

pasture beneath a distant abbey

river bridge at sunset

hill town and terraces

village beneath the mountains

Watercolors by Keiko Tanabe — landscapes, cityscapes, and waterscapes. See more at ktanabefineart.com.

03 · The Estate

The Fitzgerald

fig. i — the pool deck

fig. ii — hot tub, oceanfront

fig. iii — the Atlantic

fig. iv — pool & sun deck

fig. v — the sun deck

fig. vi — the wrap-around deck

fig. vii — the beach

fig. viii — outdoor hot tub

fig. ix — the estate

primary king suite

primary suite

king suite, teal

bedroom retreat

king suite

oceanview king

serene king, ivory

king suite, deep teal

elegant king

king, modern

fourteenth bedroom

coastal pink accents

bedroom 8 — king

bedroom 9 — king suite

bedroom 11

bedroom 12

bedroom 13

bunk room retreat

The Fitzgerald has fourteen bedrooms — king suites in teal, ivory, and coastal pink, most with ocean views. Twelve are offered as private rooms for this retreat.

floor plan — The Fitzgerald

04 · What's Included

One price, the whole retreat

Four nights, oceanfront estate accommodation at The Fitzgerald — every room with en-suite bath
Meals throughout the retreat, excluding lunch on plein air days
Round-trip 4×4 transport between the parking area and the estate
Three teaching days with Keiko Tanabe — live demonstrations, guided painting exercises, and discussion
Studio & plein air — a well-lit studio at the estate, and painting sites along the Corolla coast, weather permitting

06 · Reserve

Reserve your place

The Full Immersion Private Room + Workshop

^$4,900

per person · private room

Your own private room, four nights — en-suite bath
Full seat in Keiko Tanabe's workshop
Three teaching days · studio & plein air
Meals throughout the retreat

12 of 12 left0 booked

25% deposit · $1,225 today

Reserve — Private Room

Shared Room + Workshop

^$3,300

per person · shared room

Share a room with your travel partner
Full seat in Keiko Tanabe's workshop
Three teaching days · studio & plein air
Booked alongside a Private Room

4 of 4 left0 booked

25% deposit · $825 today

Reserve — Shared Room

Companion Stay

^$1,495

per person · no workshop seat

Shares their partner's private room
Meals throughout, excluding lunch on plein air days
Evenings on the deck & the beach
No workshop seat

8 of 8 left0 booked

$750 deposit today

Reserve — Companion

A 25% deposit holds a Private or Shared place; a $750 deposit holds a Companion Stay. The balance is due 60 days before arrival. Twelve private rooms, four shared-room seats, and eight companion places — once filled, registration closes. Airport transfers to and from Norfolk / Virginia Beach are not included. Hold the dates.

Already Joining

07 · Retreat FAQ

Good to know

What does the schedule look like?+

Arrive in the afternoon of Thursday, September 23. Three full teaching days follow on September 24, 25, and 26, and you depart on the morning of Monday, September 27, 2027.

Studio or plein air?+

Roughly half and half, depending on the weather — studio sessions in the estate's well-lit studio, and plein air painting at sites along the Corolla coast. If the weather turns, the day moves into the studio.

How do Shared Room and Companion places work?+

Both are booked alongside a Private Room reservation. A Shared Room place gives the friend sharing your room a full workshop seat — you stay together, you both paint. A Companion Stay includes the retreat's meals and full run of the estate — the decks, the pool, the beach — just no workshop seat; companions share their partner's room. Every room has an en-suite bathroom.

What's the deposit and cancellation policy?+

A 25% deposit holds a Private Room ($1,225) or Shared Room ($825) place; a Companion Stay is held with a flat $750 deposit. The remaining balance is due 60 days before arrival.

How do I get to The Fitzgerald?+

Round-trip 4×4 transport between the parking area and the estate is included — details and exact pickup time are sent after you reserve. The Fitzgerald sits on Corolla's four-by-four beach, 2.2 miles past the end of pavement. The nearest airport is Norfolk / Virginia Beach; airport transfers are not included.

What about meals?+

Meals are included throughout the retreat, excluding lunch on plein air days — on those days lunch is on your own.

Who is this workshop for?+

Watercolor painters who want their landscapes to feel fresh, luminous, and personal — balancing control and spontaneity, structure and looseness, clarity and mystery. With each session you gain the confidence to paint more freely and the understanding to transform everyday scenes into evocative works of art.

What should I bring?+

Keiko's full supply list is emailed after registration. In short: professional-quality watercolors, a palette with plenty of mixing space, a large round brush (size 12 or bigger) and a smaller brush for details, rough or cold-pressed 140 lb cotton paper (plan on two sheets a day; a ¼ sheet is recommended), a drawing board, masking tape, pencil and eraser, a sketchbook for thumbnails, a water container, and towels. An outdoor easel is optional for plein air days.