Paper and practice

with ANKITA CHAWLA

APRIL 12-18, 2027

6 selected participants will be invited to attend a 7-day fully funded creative retreat in Chios, Greece, from April 12–18, 2027, led by Ankita Chawla.

Rooted in returning to your creativity, the retreat offers an immersive experience centred on drawing, sketchbook practice, making things by hand and the slower, hands-on process of creating without a screen mediating it. The Paper and Practice Retreat is for people who used to make things, stopped, and are ready to start again.

Set within the quiet landscape of Chios Island, the program combines hands-on workshops with communal meals, time by the sea, and space for rest, reflection, and creative exploration.

Throughout the retreat, participants will build a daily sketchbook practice through drawing exercises, material play, and hands-on making sessions, alongside free studio days to work independently and let the practice settle in.

Open to artists, makers, and complete beginners alike, the retreat values curiosity, experimentation, and connection over technical experience or finished outcomes.

Apply now

MATERIAL EXPLORATION

Participants work with paper, sketchbooks, and drawing materials, reconnecting with instinct, creativity and process rather than outcome.

HANDS-ON PROCESS

A tactile, hands-on experience built around returning to your own creative practice through consistent, daily making.

LIMITED SPOTS

To keep the experience intimate and hands-on, spaces are intentionally limited to a small group of participants.

FULLY FUNDED EXPERIENCE

Six selected participants will attend the retreat free of charge, with accommodation, meals, workshops, materials, and activities fully covered. Participants are only responsible for their travel to Chios.

Meet the Instructor

Ankita Chawla came to Descoverartists as a resident in 2026 and found her way back to her own creative practice here. Now she's building a retreat around that experience.

Ankita is a content creator (known as Hustlerani), career educator, and digital storyteller who's built a significant following around work, ambition, and personal branding. In 2025, she led a movement for young professionals rethinking what career and identity actually mean to them. For Paper and Practice, she’s bringing that same curiosity back to the page through drawing, making and daily creative practice.

FAQS & TERMS AND CONDITIONS

  • To apply, participants are asked to submit a short application along with a €15 non refundable application fee. It's kept deliberately low so the process stays accessible, it helps support the review and selection process, as well as general retreat operations, so that the participants we select can attend entirely funded, flights aside.

    Deadline for application January 10th, 2026 at 11.59 PM Athens time.

    Shortlisted artists will be asked to provide more information by January 17th, 2027.

  • Six selected participants will receive a fully funded place in the retreat.

    Accommodation, meals, workshops, materials, and all retreat activities will be fully covered by Descoverartists.

    Any additional expenses (travel, private car rental, travel insurance, etc.) are to be covered by the participant.

  • Yes! You can send us an email with your full name and email address and any changes you would like to make to your application at hello@descoverartists.com

  • Residencies take place at Eona House, a restored historic home in Nenita, Chios, a peaceful village in the South of the island known for its traditional architecture, quiet atmosphere, and proximity to the sea. The space is designed to offer artists time for focused creative work, rest, and meaningful connection with others.

  • Artists will share a room with one other artist. After acceptance, we will send an email with all the practical information needed to help you plan your trip and experience.

  • Expectations: Cleaning and maintaining the house during our retreats is undertaken collectively. The artists are expected to respect the island, its inhabitants, the environment, animals, and local culture and to respect the other residents.

    Living expenses: While there are a few expenses the residents need to consider while at the retreat, it is worth having funds for trips to local cafes and the like. Calculate approximately 5-15 euros a day for such incidentals.

    Minimum number of applicants: This retreats run only if a minimum number of participants is reached. If not, Descoverartists will inform all confirmed participants and issue a full refund for the application fee.

    Damages to the house or other areas on the island: We are not responsible for any loss or damage caused by the artists during their stay at our retreats. The artists must adhere to the house rules established by the owners or pay any fees charged after checkout.