HotelChatter

The Fairmont Dallas is gettin’ all urban on us and has welcomed Phoenix-based graffiti artist DOSE as its first artist-in-residence of 2013. After twenty years as an urban artist working on abandoned public spaces and warehouses, DOSE gradually began to create multimedia graffiti art on canvas. Currently living in one of the hotel’s luxurious 25th floor suites (sweet!) and working in a glass-front studio there, DOSE will leave the hotel a custom piece to add to its permanent art collection. Now if you want to get in on the fun, the Discover Dallas Art Package includes a private lesson in the “Art of Making Art” with the artist-in-residence (which may be DOSE depending on when you go -- they have rotating artists throughout the year), a lesson in the “Art of Buying Art” with a representative from The Gallery at The Fairmont, and two tics to the Nasher Sculpture Center in the Dallas Arts District that's right by the hotel. Rates start at an unbelievable $169 per night.

In St. John (as in part of the US Virgin Islands), beach chic resort Caneel Bay, a Rosewood Resort, has not one but two artists-in-residence. Both artists offer regularly scheduled classes in watercolors or pastels and they even offer a kid’s class. Four classes per week are scheduled, but don’t despair if these clash with your beach time. Private classes can also be booked that better suit your schedule or that save you from the embarrassment of having your work critiqued by other budding artists in a group class.

La Posada de Santa Fe was a private estate from 1882 until the 1930s when the owners added casitas where artists could stay as their guests. In the 1940s it became a hotel and was one of the first hotels to have an art collection. To show off its extensive American art collection, the hotel has its own curator, but this woman is multi-talented: not only can she arrange for you to purchase a piece from the hotel gallery, but she also teaches a memoir-writing class (bet you were expecting us to say "art class," weren’t you?). One can express oneself through writing as well as through art, you know.

If you can work on a time schedule, we found that The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge has an art-filled weekend coming up April 12-15, and talk about being inspired –- your muse is the majestic Canadian Rockies that surround you. Four artists over two days will offer art workshops and classes to help you work magic with that paint brush. Here’s what you get with the Food for the Soul Art Package: three nights’ accommodation, welcome reception, lunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday, art sessions, self-made art to take home, gratuities and art supplies at rates starting from $699 CAD ($678) per person. That’s not too shabby.

Are there other ones you've seen? Let us know!

[Photos: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Rosewood Resorts, La Posada de Santa Fe]