Tuscany Workshop
16.05.2024 - 24.05.2024
Tuscany
| 
James Swanson
acrylics,
oil
2795 EUR
Immerse yourself in the serene landscapes of Tuscany during our Holiday Painting Workshop, set amidst the picturesque countryside. Throughout our stay, each day will bring a new and distinct aspect of Tuscany to our canvases. Guided by acclaimed artist James Swanson, this 8-day oil painting workshop offers a blend of artistic instruction and hands-on experience.
Discover the art of plein air painting as we capture the essence of the surroundings, and learn the techniques to bring your creations to their full potential. Join us for a journey of creativity, where each day’s canvas holds a unique piece of Tuscany’s charm. In addition to our artistic endeavors, there will be ample opportunities for leisurely sightseeing, making it a truly enriching experience.
We will be based at Villa Nobile near Cortona, now well-known from the film ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ and the book of the same name; perched high on the hillside of Mount Egidio, surrounded by olive groves and age old cypresses, this beautiful walled town dates back to Etruscan times.
Getting to know this timeless city is a close encounter with art, with history and with spirituality. As well as its amazing historic gems, Cortona offers enchanting views out across the Valdichiana to Lake Trasimeno and the Appenine mountains. Cortona is not just about the past, life here is vibrant – there always seems to be something going on, and there are plenty of outdoor bars and cafes, as well as some great restaurants and shops to enjoy along the way.
The workshops will include a variety of breathtaking locations chosen to inspire your creative work. Subjects will include architecture, perspective, landscape, and most particularly texture, tone, and colour, working with the clarity of light that is so much a part of Tuscany’s natural beauty.
Itinerary
We will provide the bulk of your equipment, i.e. boards, chairs, and easels, but you will need to bring some materials e.g. sketchbooks, pencils and brushes. A selection of materials and stretched canvases are available at cost price, and at the end of your holiday we can arrange framing and shipping of your finished paintings should you wish.
On a typical day we will paint for most of the morning, either in the grounds or out on location. At various times during the workshops there will be demonstrations by the tutor. The afternoon will provide more opportunities to continue our morning’s work, working on into the early evening to take full advantage of the wonderful clarity and warmth of the Tuscan light.
There will also be a free day during the week to do as you please – transport into Cortona will be on offer for those who would like to explore or shop , Anyone wishing to go to Arezzo or Florence for the day we will drop you off at our local train station.
All your meals are provided, either making use of the best local produce and specialities at the villa, or out and about at good quality restaurants.
Each morning we will offer a healthy breakfast including fresh croissants, cereals, yoghurts and a selection of seasonal fruits. Lunch will be a relaxed affair – perhaps a picnic lunch at the villa or on location, or at a local trattoria. Evening meals will be a mix of barbecues or dinners at the villa, and there will be some evening meals at quality restaurants in Cortona.
There will be a variety of excursions on offer in our Tuscany in the Frame minibus to medieval hilltop towns. We will often be travelling through the fabulous countryside of the ValdiChiana, with its classic Tuscan views, so always have your sketchbook and camera handy as there will be lots of opportunity to collect information and material to work on back at the studio.
Our trips will include two beautiful hill towns – Monticchiello, possibly Pienza with its famed local Pecorino cheeses; and also Montepulciano known for its wonderful wines. Here we will have the opportunity to visit La Cantina Ercolani for wine tasting in one of the oldest wineries in Tuscany, where you may sample the famous Vino Nobile – sadly no relation!
