7 Day/8 Night Singles Painting Vacations in Tuscany and Sicily

 

Our painting courses in Italy are held in Italy’s renaissance region of Tuscany and on the colorful exotic island of Sicily. Italian Painting Vacations carefully selects private villas in the most beautiful locations which are sure to provide plenty of inspiration to any artist.

Our painting vacations in Italy are taught by Penelope Anstice, a well established international artist, based in London and Scotland.

Our painting vacations in Italy offer the perfect mix: daily classes with Penelope, excursions to visit breathtaking historic and natural sites, delicious food and drink accompanied by evening discussions about the days work. Our vacations are designed for mixed ability groups and you will leave us having transformed your way of thinking and looking, with a sketchbook full of new ideas and techniques. Your creativity will be invigorated!

Our Tuscany painting courses are ideal for beginners and experts as we have a relaxed itinerary that allows for a great deal of experimentation and development at all levels.

Saturday
Arrive at  Pisa airport at approximately 3:00 PM where you will be met by your host and transferred to Villa Maria. Welcome drinks and dinner on the terrace.

Sunday
After breakfast you will have an introduction to watercolor, looking at basic techniques, different kinds of paper, brushes etc. There will be a demonstration in how to do quick sketches in the medium. The afternoon is free to enjoy as you wish. Dinner will be at the villa.

Monday There will be a demonstration of landscape painting after breakfast, looking at different ways in which to apply watercolor and the mixing of other media like pastel and colored pencil. Following lunch there will be an afternoon visit to a private painting location for you to try out techniques. In the evening we will have a critique of the work so far, followed by dinner.

Tuesday
After breakfast there will be a lesson in the elements of composition and color and the chance to experiment further with the medium. Following lunch, an afternoon visit to Lucca with an opportunity to sketch. Dinner at the villa.

Wednesday
Today we take a visit to Florence for a full day of gallery visits at your leisure and meet for lunch at a traditional trattoria. Before dinner we will have an evening discussion of the work so far and a look at some examples of traditional and contemporary watercolor painting.

Thursday
A chance today to try larger scale and more ambitious work using sketches and ideas accumulated do far. This will take up the large part of the day with a break for lunch on the terrace. In the latter part of the afternoon we will visit a local vineyard and the evening will be spent in Lucca with dinner at a local restaurant.

Friday
After breakfast we will look at the work so far with a critique on progress and a chance to continue to work in and around the villa. For the rest of your last day you are free to continue painting, to relax by the pool or go walking. Dinner will be at the villa and we will have a group show of the work created during the week.

Saturday
Depart for airport after breakfast.

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Available Dates:  May 1 - 8 / May 8 - 15 / May 29 - June 5 / June 5 - 12 / September 19 - 25 / September 25 - October 2 / October 2 - 9

Price - $2,549

Included in the price during your stay at Villa Maria is:

- 5 hands-on painting lessons with professional artist Penelope Anstice
- A tutored private wine tasting
- A full day trip to Florence
- Visit to Lucca
- Dinner at a local restaurant
- All meals and drinks included
- Private minibus transport throughout
- Airport Transfer

Our painting vacations in Sicily are the ultimate creative retreat. Your senses will be overcome with the exotic colors and fantastic light provided by this beautiful island!

Sunday
After breakfast we will have an introductory session and a demonstration of watercolor painting. Lunch will follow and then in the afternoon we will make a sketching and research visit to Noto, the most beautiful baroque villa in Sicily. Dinner will be served back at the villa.

Monday
After breakfast there will be a demonstration in landscape painting and the elements of good composition. Lunch will follow and the afternoon is spent enjoying a wine tasting at Felice Modica estate in Bufalefi. The grounds and house of the estate, which have been preserved in the 18th century Sicilian style, provide wonderful scope for wandering and sketching. We will meet back at the villa to discuss the day's artwork. Dinner will follow.

Tuesday
After breakfast we head out for a the day to visit the cities of Ragusa and Modica. Here you can explore and enjoy the atmosphere of these delightful cities! We have lunch out in one of the many lovely restaurants in Ragusa and then continue to the city of Modica. At the end of the day we return to the villa to enjoy dinner.

Wednesday
In the morning we move onto the development of larger scale pieces using water-based paints and mixed media. After lunch we visit the small fishing villae of Marzamemi with its Tonnara (ruined tuna fishing station) taking our paints to record the busy scenes. Back at the villa we will have critique of the work so far, followed by dinner.

Thursday
In the morning we will explore basic color principles and their use in landscape painting and the rest of the morning will be spent around the villa with a chance to try new subjects or work further on existing paintings. In the afternoon we visit the city of Siracusa and dine out.

Friday
After breakfast we head to Portopalo which is is a small port. Another great chance here for quick, observational sketched in watercolor, with lunch in a local restaurant. The afternoon is free for you to paint at your leisure. Back at the villa, we will have a show of the week's work and a Scaccia party with an old Sicilian Mamma, (A Scaccia is similar to an Italian Pizza but done in the Sicilian way)

Saturday
After an early breakfast you will be transferred to the airport.

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Available Dates:  May 1 - 8 / May 8 - 15 / May 15 - 22 / June 5 - 12 / June 12 - 19 / June 19 - 26 / October 2 - 9 / October 9 - 16 /  October 16 - 23 / October 23 - 30

Price - $2,599

Included in the price during your stay ay Villa Sicily is:
 
- 5 days painting tuition
- 2 Meals at a local restaurant
- Visit to Modica, Siracusa and Ragusa
- Various drawing excursions
- Private Minibus transport throughout
- All Meals and Wine
- Airport transfers 

For More Information See Your Travel Agent

Travel Agents Call 877 848-7488