Toscana Americana

Cortona, is one of those places which transcends time. A place we all dream of escaping to and transporting you to a simpler life, a sacred space of renaissant times past with the refinement, hospitality and joy of modern Italian living. Tuscany is the place to elude the redundant rhythms of our busy lives; to go outdoors to play. 
We may feel a strong urge to linger on a bench with a Cheshire cat sunning itself on the central piazza.
....or wandering the meandering pathways that wind through endless history.
...or sitting down to enjoy a relaxing "pranzo" lunch in a wine cellar turned trattoria. 
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Imagine the prospect of painting at many amazing historical locations amidst these centuries old places in and around the City of Cortona, (plus side trips to sites in the surrounding countryside?) all part of my Cortona, Italy Painting Workshop with Toscana Americana Workshops. I will be conducting daily live demos and we will paint together at fabulous painting sites, enjoy wonderful local food/wine and stay at comfortable and well chosen accommodations, with all ground transportation included. It's time to experience the amazing springtime conditions in Tuscany between May 27th and June 3, 2020!

Non-painters also welcome!

 Workshops include demos in oils as well as pencil. Abundant one on one instruction with Fernando and daily critique sessions for those who wish to participate.  And just to make sure the student has everything he or she needs to succeed in making better paintings, you’ll have the beauty of the Tuscan landscape to inspire you!   Come and learn how to better express your artistic vision in a place that has inspired some of history’s giants, with an artist who genuinely loves to teach.

All mediums welcome though Fernando will demo only in Oil as well as Pencil.

I am a long time resident of Laguna Beach, CA and a member of LPAPA, AIS, and CAC.

I was born in Fiano, a small village near Lucca, Italy and immigrated to the U.S. in 1955. I grew up in San Francisco and upon completing High School in Watsonville, California, I attended school in Italy for two years. This allowed me the time to travel and attain better proficiency in the language needed to pursue Art and Architecture there. 
I eventually longed to return to the U.S. and obtained my BA degree in Landscape Architecture at U.C. Berkeley, College of Environmental Design in 1977. I was licensed and practiced Landscape Architecture and Urban
Design for 37 years in many high profile projects until my retirement in 2014. 

In June of 2014, I made a life changing decision on a whim to pursue a longing to be a painter and artist. I focused on the immediacy of Plein Air painting, capturing the beauty of California as well as abroad. I love painting Plein Air and consider it an extremely enriching avocation which has turned into a second career that I am very passionate about. 

Something I am particularly proud of is mentoring grade school students locally through the LPAPA Plein Air Project, headed by Jeff Sewell throughout the year. This last year we mentored 100's of children in the joy of painting outdoors. I teach indoor classes at the Sawdust Festival and have Plein Air classes with adult students as well.

Professional Affiliations:
LPAPA, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association 

AIS, American Imressionist Society 

CAC, California Art Club

All-inclusive* workshop includes:
--Escorted group travel Florence

to Cortona May 27, 2020****

--Cortona to Florence June 3, 2020****

--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 Lake Trasimeno

--Day trip in Val di Chiana

--A farewell wine tasting dinner 
 
**Included with "Hotel San Luca" plans only. See details.
***Included with "Group Meal Plan" only. See details.  
****Specific departure time from Florence airport only on May 27, 2020
and from Cortona on June 3, 2020; times to be announced.

  *All-inclusive plans are Hotel only.
Air travel to/from Cortona is not included and is the responsibility of each participant.

 Participant Suppy List .....Coming soon!

Plein Air Supply List

Easel - Any sturdy easel or tripod that will hold your paper/board and allow you to

paint vertical to flat should be good. A shelf attached to the legs to hold palette, water

and brushes is beneficial.

Umbrella - Important for shielding your work from sun or rain and helps keep you

shaded.

Broad brimmed hat for shade.

Chair or stool - If you can’t stand for a few hours to paint you may want something to

sit on. Lightweight and collapsible is best.

Miscellaneous - Jacket, sunglasses, sunscreen and repellant. You will be outside in ALL

KINDS of weather. Be prepared.