THE experience

THE PLACE

An experience like no other, the Forage Retreat is the leap that you've been waiting for. Get inspired by using all of your senses to create in new ways. Mindful moments painting with acrylics and mixed media, writing, observing, and foraging inspiration while gathering with like-minded individuals. Enjoy all of this within beautifully curated environments, created by artists like you.

Experience Sonoma Valley through the lens of two creatives. Enjoy creative time at Alex Cole’s Sonoma home. Begin the weekend with a welcome dinner at a private Sonoma estate. Experience a weekend of meals created by a private chef—using the bounty of the valley and its farmers—and indulge at one of our local favorite haunts, Valley Bar & Bottle. Take walks along our favorite paths and use these scenes to inspire writing and painting in your very own voice.

Meghan MArsh King

Meghan Marsh King is a writer, brand strategist, and creative director. While studying literature, Meghan fell in love with the power of words. She likes to think that reading, and writing about reading, taught her to shape character, preserve imagination, and advocate for the absurd. She’s leveraged her B.A. in English Literature and experience in luxury hospitality, marketing, branding, and consumer experience to create MMK Creative, a creative house that focuses on storytelling and brand strategy. With over 18 years of experience, Meghan focuses on telling stories for brands, founders, and creatives across the nation. Her writing has been featured on websites, marketing materials, biographies, and the labels of wine, beauty products, olive oil, kombucha, and many more you might recognize.

Meghan has a unique passion for designing experiences—evoking sentiment through storytelling and anticipating the emotional needs of others. Her desire to tell stories with artistry gives her a dynamic combination of creative and analytical skills that lend themselves to creating lasting brands. Meghan is constantly searching for ways to enhance the world around her and create enduring experiences—both aesthetic and experiential. 

Alex Cole

Alex Cole is a fine artist and workshop leader. She has been practicing painting for over 25 years. Working mainly with acrylic paint, she creates beautifully layered abstract and landscape paintings. Her paintings are in private and public collections around the world. Her most recent work can be found on her website, Westpark Home Gallery and other locations throughout Northern California. She has been featured in Sonoma Magazine, House Beautiful, Jenni Kayne Rip+Tan and most recently is a featured artist at Pottery Barn. 

Alongside her painting practice, Alex also is a workshop leader. Teaching Creative Painting workshops to artists and the creatively curious. The thread she brings to every workshop is sharing the tools and mindset of letting go, getting back to play and finding your own creative voice. She doesn’t teach how to paint like her but rather how to cultivate your own voice. Alex openly shares her personal painting techniques and creative process, yet her relaxed teaching style helps you to let go of the fears and inhibitions in order to create raw, free and honest work.