The artist’s book combines words and images in a structure that reinforces the ideas it contains. Inspired by our experiences in Italy, we fill books that will be a repository for our week together in Cortona. We will begin by talking about travel journals, documenting your experiences on this trip. Some simple page design considerations will lead us to work on it as an artist’s book. We’ll expand on your drawing skills by capturing some of the unique character of Cortona. Your images may then include drawing, painting or collage. We will integrate our imagery with handwritten text to design a book further develops the ideas. Whether traditional or contemporary, your book will be an expression of your own ideas, leaving ample room for experimentation and individual expression. Field trips to museums and outlying areas around Cortona will supplement our wanderings among the village itself, giving us ample inspiration for our books.
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.
All-inclusive* workshop includes: Escorted group travel Florence to Cortona April 22, 2025**** Instruction on location Six 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 Siena A farewell wine tasting dinner Escorted group travel Cortona to Florence April 28, 2025****
**Included with "Hotel Italia" privateroom 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 April 22, 2025 only at 12:00noon ****Specific departure time from Cortona to Florence airport April 28, 2025 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
Annie has written two books that may give you some background on her work. The Art & Craft of Hand Lettering covers the fundamentals of calligraphy, and is now in it’s 5th printing. A Scribe’s Journey, Drawing, Lettering, Painting, Writing, was published in 2023, and gives a lot of background on her work.
"I love to make books that are unique expressions of my travel experiences. Whether you choose to work with your own writings or with those of another author, an artist’s book can expand on the meaning of the words through a visual interpretation to express the ideas and personality of the artist. With ample visual stimulation through slides and field trips, I plan to help each student raise journal keeping to a new level."
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
Tuesday April 22 – 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. -6:00p Welcome to Cortona wine and chocolate tasting at La Saletta.
-7:00p Evening dinner in Cortona
Wednesday April 23 - Cortona
-9:00a-12:30p Morning Session
-12:30-2:00p Lite Lunch TBA
-2:00-5:00p Afternoon Session
-6:00p Wine/aperitifs
-7:00p Evening dinner in Cortona
Thursday April 24 - Siena
-8:00a Depart Cortona for day trip to Siena
-12:30 Lite Lunch -4:30p Depart to Cortona
-6:30p Wine/aperitifs
-7:00p Evening dinner in Cortona
Friday April 25 - Cortona
-9:00a-12:30p Morning Session
-12:30-2:00p Lite Lunch TBA
-2:00-5:00p Afternoon Session
-6:00p Wine/aperitifs
-7:00p Evening dinner in Cortona
Saturday April 26 - Cortona
-9:00a-12:30p Morning Session
-12:30-2:00p Lite Lunch TBA
-2:00-5:00p Afternoon Session
-6:00p Wine/aperitifs
-7:00p Evening dinner in Cortona
Sunday April 27 - Cortona
-9:00a-12:30p Morning Session
-12:30-2:00p Lite Lunch -FREE AFTERNOON to explore, shop, relax, or pack! -7:00p Farewell Wine Tasting Dinner in Cortona
Monday April 28 - Cortona
-Morning Check-out
-8:00a departure from Cortona with escorted return to Florence airport.
Note: This program period is arrival Tuesday April 22, 2025 to departure Monday April 28, 2025
Note: Toscana Americana reserves the right to alter this itinerary. All times are approximate. Note: Transfers are provided only for programmed meals and activities away from the hotel. Note: All guests are responsible for handling their own luggage/baggage....we suggest to pack light. Note: No refunds are given for any unused aspects of the itinerary or for any activities outside the above itinerary.
Note: Airfares not included
Note: Guests are responsible for all personal hotel service charges
Materials List...
Your travel journal, in progress, if you have one. If you are shopping for a new one, a case bound book, as opposed to a spiral sketchbook, will give you a sturdy container. If you plan to use watercolor, make sure the paper is heavy enough to avoid buckling when wet.
Basic writing tools for handwriting or calligraphy: small ruler, pencils, erasers, ink rags.
I love the Pilot Precise Premium rolling ball, which gives a good monoline, and can be used with a brush full of water to make a graded wash. If you are a calligrapher, bring a few broad edged felt tip pens.
Small scissors
Glue stick, such as ‘UHU stic’ (the yellow one)
Bone folder, for burnishing collage
Colored media: colored pencils, watercolor pencils, pastel, or watercolor, or other, along with palettes, brushes, etc. Bring only one or two media, limited to what is transportable. For travel, my favorite watercolor palette is a little 3x5” box that has 2 foldout palettes for mixing and will hold 14 colors.
Layout bond or tracing paper for designing more complex pages. For traveling you probably need only a few sheets.
Texts to work with either from home or things you find (or write) in Italy. Bring two or three ideas and we’ll adapt one of them to the time and space limitations of a workshop situation.
Plastic cutting mat for collage materials
Paper for additional projects: We can buy paper at Zecchi’s on a Florence field trip.
Patrick Mahoney has called Cortona, Italy home since 2001! Patrick shares his very personal and intimate knowledge of Cortona's people, history, art, culture and food & wine to Toscana Americana Workshops experience. With his love of travel and after studying and working for many years in the Art & Entertainment industry Patrick's sensativity creates and shapes, along with a stable of wonderfully talented instructors, meaaningful, creative and memorale experiences in the Arts. A testament to the quality of the Toscana Americana Workshops experience is the large number of participants who return to enrich their lives while participating in creative programs...not only in Cortona, but also the Amalfi Coast, the Cinque Terre, Venice, Portofino, as well as Santorini, Greece and Austria, and the American Southwest!!
Covid-19 Protocols and Safety Measures (No restrictions as of July 19, 2023) To respect our local host communities/countries and to ensure the safety and health of our guests and participants we follow the safety measures and protocols in place by our host communities/countries at the time of any given workshop or program or tour. These measures and protocols may vary and or change from time to time as well as during the course of any given workshop or program or tour and we will adapt to and abide by official safety measures and protocols. All of our guests and participants, without exception, are expected to adapt to and abide by official safety measures and protocols during any given workshop or program or tour in which they are participating. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as face masks are the responsibility of each guest or participant. Health documents such as proof of vaccination or inoculation or other required by a host country, such as Italy for example, are the sole responsibility of each guest or participant. We strongly suggest all such documents are carried on-person at all times during any given workshop or program or tour in which they are participating.
