Toscana Americana

A Sense of Place

in Tuscany

Travel Journaling under the Tuscan sun!

with Artist/Instructor

Alison Watt

September 4-11, 2024 Wed-Wed

Cortona, Italy

Alison Watt

Magical Cortona

View Cortona photo gallery - click here

About this workshop...

Join me for a week of joyful exploration of Place, in the

beautiful city of Cortona. Sitting in ancient squares, by

fountains, or in cafes, I’ll show you some simple ways to

capture buildings. In markets we’ll talk about how to include

figures in your sketches. Overlooking vistas of vineyards and

far off hills, we’ll explore how to simplify the scene to focus on

important elements and create depth.

Drawing and painting on loose pages rather than in a

watercolour journal, allows us to loosen up and have fun with

experimental techniques and a variety of media.

We’ll work with watercolour, pen, ink, marker, on different

papers, to create images, which we will curate into a

concertina book.

The Concertina books you make with these images will be

your personal art book of your Cortona experience.

Picture Yourself...

among the sights and sounds of beautiful and romantic Tuscany: olive groves, vineyards, centuries-old buildings, winding streets, texture and vibrant sunlight.

Feel Yourself...

in the warm ambiance of Cortona, overlooking Lake Trasimeno and the Val di Chiana, originally fortified by the Umbrians, claimed by the Etruscans, touched by the Renaissance, almost unchanged for centuries, one of Tuscany's jewels.

Experience...

the joy of creating mosaic art in a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere with the camaraderie of a small group of enthusiastic Artists.

Enjoy...

great Italian food, delightful wines, new friends, breath-taking vistas, history and the hospitality of the people of Cortona.

Go to Enrollment page

Cortona Vineyards

All-inclusive* workshop includes:
Escorted group travel Florence
to Cortona September 4, 2024****
Instruction on location
Seven nights accommodations
in historic Cortona** (Private room & bath)
Local Etruscan Museum & Museo Diocesano
All meals***
(Italian breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Daily wine tasting opportunities

Day trip to Pienza & Montepulciano

Day trip to Siena
A farewell wine tasting dinner
Escorted group travel Cortona
to Florence September 11, 2024****

**Included with "Hotel" private room plans only. See details.
***Included with "Group Meal Plan" only. Italian breakfsat simply includes coffees, brioche, toast, milk, juices, cheese.
****Specific departure time from Florence airport September 4, 2024 only at 12:00noon
****Specific departure time from Cortona to Florence airport September 11, 2024 only at 8:00am
*All-inclusive plans are "Hotel" only.
Air travel and ground transportation to/from Cortona is not included and is the responsibility of each participant

Go to Enrollment page

Meet Alison Watt...

Alison Watt is a painter and writer who lives on Vancouver
Island. In her acrylic and mixed media landscapes she strives
for complex surface and luminous colour. She has been
teaching for 25 years, recently online, offering courses in
acrylic and mixed media, as well as water media, and
illustrated journalling.

In illustrated journals she strives to capture a sense of place.
Her book “The Last Island, a Naturalists Sojourn on Triangle
Island” is illustrated with watercolours of the birds, tide pools,
and towering cliffs of a remote island off the west coast of
Canada.

Her journal courses bring this spirit of exploration and wonder
to the process of capturing any place, whether it be the
familiar paths of home or the thrilling vistas of travel.

About Cortona...

Cortona is one of the true jewels of the Tuscan “hill towns.” Cortona, which is often called the “City of Art,” has its origin as an Etruscan city that pre-dates Roman times with sections of its walls dating back some 2500 years. As is typical of Tuscan hill-towns, Cortona is a walled city that, for purposes of defense, was built atop a prominent geographical point. The stone buildings and streets not only have the romance, style, and charm that are particular to Tuscany, but also speak of the lives and times Cortona has witnessed. An encounter with Cortona is an encounter with music & art, with history and with spirituality. Getting to know this timeless city is a real rediscovery of our past. Cortona offers testimony to its history as well as an enchanting view of the landscape enclosed by Lake Trasimeno and the Apennine mountains

Itinerary

Wednesday Sept 4 – Arrival in Cortona

-12:00 noon – Escorted group travel Florence airport to Cortona

-Arrival and Check-in in Cortona

-Free afternoon to shop, rest, explore! Museums are open and tickets provided.
-6:30p Welcome to Cortona wine and chocolate tasting at La Saletta.