Johan Barrios is a Colombian contemporary artist born in 1982 in Barranquilla. He studied visual arts at the Universidad of Antioquia in Medellín, where he also began his artistic career.
Today, he lives and works in Houston, TX and is represented by KIRK Gallery in Aalborg, Denmark.
Barrios is known for his haunting figurative paintings that blend realism with surreal, dreamlike elements. His subjects, often human figures, are shown in awkward, lifeless postures, appearing weightless or disconnected from reality.
He works primarily with oil paint, and charcoal Drawings, starting with photographs and sketches before creating layered, atmospheric pieces. His muted, desaturated color palette helps unify his compositions and enhances their emotional intensity.
Barrios has exhibited widely in Europe and North America, including solo shows like Lightness, Silence, and Absorption.
His work has been featured in art publications such as Hi-Fructose, Beautiful Bizarre, Artnet, and MutualArt.
Through his unique approach, Barrios invites viewers to reflect on the human condition, stillness, and the subtle boundary between the real and the imagined.In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore the distinctive drawing process of Johan Barrios, known for his intimate, realistic figures that appear suspended between presence and absence.
WHAT YOU WILL GET:
You’ll learn how Johan builds his drawings with charcoal and watercolor on paper, enhances them with transparent washes, and then mounts the work on wood panel for a refined and archival finish.
This session guides you through:
PREPARING SURFACE – Mounting watercolor paper onto a wooden panel for a stable, smooth base.
CHARCOAL DRAWING – Developing form, light, and shadow with soft charcoal to create Barrios’s quiet realism.
SURFACE FINISHING – Sealing or varnishing (optional) to protect and unify the final artwork
EVENT DETAILS
12 APRIL - 18 APRIL
DATE:
PRICE:
from 1990 €
Participating Partner:
1500 €
Non-Participating Partner:
1000 €
Workshop spots:
10-13
Painting Experience:
All levels
Medium:
CHARCOAL & WATERCOLOUR
Languages
English
PRICES
Private Bedroom
with a double bed and private bathroom
2500 €
shared Bedroom
with a single bed and private bathroom
1990 €
6 NIGHTS
accommodation in Boutique Hotel Atelier
5 DAYS
of tuition 6 hours per day
ALL MEALS
(breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks and non alcoholic drinks)
2 extra activities
(visit to Dalí Museum and extra surprise :) )
Models
(when requested by instructor)
Transfers to and from the venue on the first and last days of the retreat to
FIGUERES VILAFANT Train Station
Easels, solvents and brush cleaner
Hairdryer
Wifi
21% VAT included
Art materials needed for each specific retreat, such as paints, palette, palette knife and canvas.
Flights, transportation costs
(except for our complimentary transfers on the first and last day to Figueres- Vilafant Train Station).
Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks.
Specific gel or shampoo
Extra activities will be offered and are totally optional with an extra cost
such the Visit with guide to the Museum Dali, or a visit to Cadaques city,
bike tour to the Natural park beside the venue.
all activities will be offered the first day of the venue.
If you book a private bedroom then you are very welcome to bring along a travel companion with you who will not be participating in the workshop. Partners will be very welcome to join all of our meals and activities, and become a part of our group. check prices!
We will happily assist in planning activities during the days for your partner, such as bike tours, trips to local towns, and walks around the surrounding countryside. Equally, your partner is very welcome to relax by the pool and enjoy the beautiful countryside or at the beach. We recommend bringing a car so that you can travel around freely, however, it will also be possible to call a taxi at any time to take you to the local train station.
The fee for non-participating partners includes: 21% IVA - 6 nights accommodation - Arrival & Departure Transfers - Breakfasts, lunches, dinners & snacks - Tea, coffee & soft drinks - Wine tour & tasting - Laundry - Heated swimming Pool - Wifi.
Bring a partner or friend who will attend the workshop with you. If you book a private bedroom you are welcome to bring along a a travel companion who will participate in the workshop with you and share a bedroom with you. all-inclusive rate for your travel companion! check prices!:)
All meals will be made up of delicious home-cooked cuisine by our chef Joseph, and will take place in our beautiful dining hall or outside whenever the weather is nice.
Vegetarian and gluten free options can be available, vegan won't be possible :(
please let us know in advance if you have any dietary requirements (dietary needs rather than preferences).
We want you to have a fully relaxed experience and we're pleased to offer group private transfers for all retreat participants arriving at:
FIGUERES VILAFANT Train Station
Check-in on Sunday at 5 pm
Check-out on Saturday at 10 am.
Our transfer to the venue will collect you on the first day of the workshop from
FIGUERES VILAFANT Train Station at 5:30pm,
you must confirm in advance if you plan to meet the transfer.
Our transfer from the venue will take you back on the final day of the workshop to
FIGUERES VILAFANT train station, departing from the venue at 10am.
If you would like to book a private transfer or taxi at a different time or from a different location let us know retreats@ateliercostabrava.com
(please note private transfers and taxis are not included in the price of the workshop).
BARCELONA International Airport
or
GIRONA COSTA BRAVA Airport
which is the closest airport to our retreat.
If you can't meet one of our complimentary transfers, contact us we will find a solution :)
To book a place on this retreat click Book Now below and you'll be taken to a separate page where you can choose your bedroom option, register.
First step will be to pay a 850€ deposit.
The remaining balance must can be paid up to 3 MONTHS before the start of the retreat via bank transfer (we will send you a reminder and our bank details).
If you don't have the funds to book and pay right now please send us an email atelier@ateliercostabrava.com as we are happy to arrange a payment plan that works for you!
For cancellations made up to 12 weeks before a retreat start date, the total retreat balance (minus the €850 non-refundable deposit) is refunded to the Client.
For cancellations made less than 12 weeks before the retreat start date, no refunds will be issued.
If a given workshop has fewer than the minimum number of bookings before the course is due to start, the retreat will be cancelled and any persons who have booked to attend will be notified immediately. If a course is cancelled by ATELIER, the full payment (including deposit) will be 100% refunded immediately.
We only refund bookings with ATELIER, we do not refund the cost of travel.
We advise you to book travel insurance.
No. Our workshops and retreats are open to all levels from beginner to advanced, our instructors are all sufficiently experienced as teachers to be able to personalize the level of instruction to each student’s level.
If in doubt, please email us with any questions.
You will need to bring all of the necessary art materials listed in the information pack which we will send to you a few months before the start of the retreat.
We will provide mediums, solvents, and easels so you do not need to travel with them
Leave enough space in your suitcases so that you can pack up your work and take it home with you, we are happy to help you pack your work in a way that should prevent any damage.
If you don't have enough space in your suitcase then we recommend that you purchase a wet painting carrier, which can be purchased in various stores such as raymarart.com these are easy to carry and not too expensive, although these are only suitable for carrying panels.
If these options don't suit you then we can arrange shipment of your work to you - the cost will depend on the shipping company. This is an extra service we provide for your comfort, if any damage occurs during shipping this is not the responsibility of ATELIER.
We welcome 10-13 participants on each art retreat, unless specified otherwise.