Painting the Landscape en Plein Air in Cortona with Artist/instructor Georgia Mansur Cortona, Italy May 16-23, 2012
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Come and paint en plein air in the warmth of the Tuscan sun in Cortona, one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Tuscany!
This intensive workshop is designed to teach the fundamental skills necessary for successful landscape oil painting in the open air [en plein air].Workshop participants will focus on the basic techniques of plein air painting, and learn skills to simplify and organize their compositions from the wealth of material that nature provides.
The workshop will begin indoors in the studio with an introduction to the necessary equipment and supplies needed for working on location, followed by a discussion of the fundamentals of sound painting en plein air.
Subsequent mornings and afternoons will be spent painting on location, and special emphasis will be placed on how to select a motif, and how to organize and simplify the nearly overwhelming amount of information that nature provides.
The instructor will teach the importance of good drawing, composition, value, design, color, and teach workshop participants how to see in terms of mass and form rather than detail and line. Emphasis will be put on composition and design in order to understand, simplify and organize value patterns and shapes. Workshop participants will learn how to create atmospheric perspective, and the balance of cool and warm colors outdoors. There will be demonstrations, individual help, and critiques. Although the course is designed to develop the individual's ability, workshop participants are encouraged to develop their own expression and insight into their work.
Through this workshop the student will come to appreciate the importance of outdoor painting, which is the soul of studio work.
Skill Level: Intermediate to advanced Medium: Oil & Acrylic, but other media are acceptable.
All-inclusive enrollment options include: Instruction on location Escorted group travel Florence to Cortona May 16, 2012**** Seven nights accommodations in historic Cortona**
Local museums and events
All meals***(Italian breakfast, lunch & dinner) Daily wine tasting opportunities
Day trip to Florence & day trip to Lake Trasimeno Tuscan Cooking class & dinner A farewell wine tasting dinner
**Included with "Casa Santa Margherita" plans only, see details
***Included with "Group Meal Plans" only, see details
****Specific departure time only; to be announced *All-inclusive plans are Casa Santa Margherita plans only. Air travel is the responsibility of each participant. Florence (FLR) is the suggested arrival and departure airport in Italy.
A message from Patrick
About this workshop...
Day 1 – Arrival in Cortona Workshop participants will arrive in Cortona independently, or from Florence with a Toscana Americana escort. For the rest of the afternoon, participants either rest or explore Cortona before our welcome meeting at La Saletta where we will enjoy a wine and chocolate tasting. Later it is off to enjoy a fine dinner at La Loccanda nel Loggiatto.
Day 2 - Cortona The morning workshop session will be held at the accommodations where there will be an orientation to the necessary equipment and supplies needed for working on location, followed by a discussion of the fundamentals of sound painting en plein air. Here we will lay out a solid approach foundation so participants will be able organize and simplify the nearly overwhelming amount of information that nature provides. We will have lunch onsite and then paint on location nearby for the afternoon session. At all workshop painting sessions we will work on developing solid drawing skills, composition, design, color, value, and learn how to see in terms of mass and form rather than detail and line. There will be instructor demonstrations, individual help, and critiques.
Day 3 - Cortona/Poggio We will paint on location for the morning workshop session, where we will work on developing solid drawing skills, composition, design, color, value, and learn how to see in terms of mass and form rather than detail and line. We will resume painting on location for the afternoon workshop session. Later we return to the hotel to refresh then travel to Piazza Garibaldi for a wine tasting and then have great dinner at Fufluns. Day 4 – Travel Day to Florence for the Uffizi Gallery Today we will take a bit of a break from painting and take the train from Camucia Station to travel to Florence. This city is noted for the magnificent Uffizi Museum which we will visit. Bring your sketch book to record impressionable works of art. Arrangements for a light lunch will be made for us. After exploring Florence and taking in all the beauty, we will return to Cortona for dinner.
Day 5 - Cortona Group workshop painting sessions in both the morning and afternoon. We will work on exercises designed to develop solid drawing skills, composition, design, color, value, and learn how to see in terms of mass and form rather than detail and line. There will be an instructor demonstration, individual help, and critiques. Dinner will be a unique event which will include a Tuscan cooking class so you will know how to recreate those fantastic meals form this week when you return home.
Day 6 - Lago Trasimeno & Isola Maggiore We will depart Cortona to travel to Passiganano to take a boat to Isola Maggiore. We will paint some of the beautiful vistas in this area during the morning and afternoon workshop sessions. We will work on color, value, and learn how to see in terms of mass and form rather than detail and line. There will be instructor demonstration, individual help, and critiques. We will take a break for lunch at Il Vecchio Orologio. Day 7 - Cortona We will work in and about Cortona for the morning and afternoon painting sessions. We will return to the hotel to freshen up and then return to the city center for a farewell wine tasting dinner, and glow in the light of many wonderful memories and some solid paintings to cherish for a lifetime. Day 8 – Cortona - Departure For those who are able we will gather together for our morning breakfast at the hotel and say our goodbyes. If you have time, you can visit Cortona's outdoor market for some last minute souvenir shopping. This program is subject to change depending on the weather or other conditions but we will try to follow the itinerary as best as we can. If weather does not permit us to paint outdoors we will have a studio where we can work. Scheduled transportation to and from Cortona city center is provided, though you may walk if desired.
Itinerary
Saturday – Arrival in Cortona -Arrival and Check-in in Cortona -7:00p Welcome to Cortona wine and chocolate tasting. -8:00p Evening dinner in Cortona at La Loccanda nel Loggiatto Sunday - Cortona -9:00a-1:00p Morning Session -1:00p Lite lunch -3:00-6:00p Afternoon Session -7:30p Wine tasting -8:00p Evening dinner in Cortona Monday - Cortona -9:00-1:00p Morning Session -1:00p Lite lunch -3:00-6:00p Afternoon Session -7:30p Wine tasting TBA -8:00p Evening dinner in Cortona Tuesday - Florence -8:00a Taxi to Camucia Station (train at 8:29) -Day trip to Florence with lite lunch provided -Uffizi gallery visit. -4:13p Depart Florence -7:30p Wine at TBA -8:00p Dinner in Cortona Wednesday - Cortona -9:00-12:00p Morning Session -12:00p Lunch -2:00-5:00p Afternoon Session -5:45p Taxi to Tuscan cooking class & dinner -9:30p Taxi to accommodations Thursday - Lago Trasimeno & Isola Maggiore
-8:15am Taxi to Tuoro
-9:05am Boat from Tuoro to Isola Maggiore
-Morning Session
-Lite lunch
-16:44pm depart Isola Maggiore for Tuoro
-17:15pm Taxi from Tuoro to accommodations
Friday - Cortona -9:00-1:00p Morning Session -1:00p Lunch -3:00-6:00p Afternoon Session -8:00p Farewell Wine Tasting Dinner in Cortona Saturday – Cortona -Morning Check-out and departure from Cortona or we can help you plan an extended stay! -Each guest must make taxi/travel requests through the hotel front desk. Note: Toscana Americana reserves the right to alter this itinerary. All times are approximate
Cortona from the Valley
Cortona city center
Isola Maggiore
Casa Santa Margherita proud partner of Toscana Americana Workshops
Casa Santa Margherita
Newly re-opened after a two and a half year remodeling and restoration! Wonderful location, ambience and all-new amenities, including Wi-Fi!
Meet Georgia Mansur...
Georgia Mansur grew up in California and moved to Australia in 1984, settling with husband Pete on a cotton property one hour west of Moree, NSW. This isolated new environment gave Georgia the opportunity to look inward for her source of creativity and self expression. Painting and communicating her world became an inner wellspring of discovery and joy for the artist. Now living on their vineyard in Mudgee, Georgia has continued to explore watercolour, pastels, acrylics, mixed media and oils to find the best way to express her fascination with nature. Being able to share through art that original emotion of being moved by nature….watching the shadows grow long against the setting sun…. is a wonderful expression of the human experience. A particular interest in helping others to see the way light and colour on form produces artistic ‘magic’ drives Georgia to share this passion with others. Teaching and communicating about creativity and self expression through art has been a fulfilling experience for the artist. As Artist in Residence at Hamilton Island, Great Barrier Reef, as well as teaching workshops around the country, Georgia enjoys that interaction from helping others to tap into the natural creativity within us. Giving others the key to self expression is reward in itself, watching that light bulb of inspiration click on above students heads! Having completed a Bachelor of Communication at CSUS (California), Georgia feels painting is another level to communicate with others in a way that goes beyond words. Making a connection with the viewer of one’s artworks and truly touching and inspiring them with what you have created is this artist’s ultimate goal. Georgia has studied with many well known Australian and International painting masters, including Joseph Zbukvic, Herman Pekel, Patrick Carroll, Alvaro Castagnet, David Taylor, Colley Whisson, Chris Brown, Colina Grant, Les McDonough, Mignon Parker, Jeff Rigby, Jerry Fresia (Italy) and Gil Dellinger (California) to name a few. Georgia was a finalist in the 2008 Country Energy $35,000 Landscape Prize, and has won many awards, including First Prizes in art shows with judges Edmund Capon (Director Art Gallery of NSW), Justin Miller (Director Sotheby’s Australia), Georgina Pemberton (Australian Paintings-Sotheby’s), as well as being selected for the Calleen Art Prize, Cowra (twice), The Rocks Market Art Prize (3 times) and winner of the People’s Choice Award ‘Driven to Abstraction’, Mudgee. Georgia Mansur’s work is in collections in Australia, USA, UK, Germany, Hong Kong, and Singapore. See more of her work or contact the artist at http://www.georgiamansur.com" www.georgiamansur.com
Participant Supply List
Full list coming soon!
Mineral Spirits (MS) may be purchased on location. DO NOT PACK AND BRING. IT IS ILLEGAL TO BRING OMS ON FLIGHTS. Participants purchase their own mineral spririts or equivalent.
Paper towels and plastic grocery bags (for trash) can be purchased on location.
Notebook for taking notes [Unless you have a permanent, photographic memory….its your class get your money’s worth]
A good day-bag or backpack for carrying the gear.
Wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, water bottle, rain gear and appropriate warm, dry comfortable shoes and clothing for working outdoors.
Angela Lucani was born and raised in Cortona and never tires of living within the walls of this vibrant Tuscan hilltown! She trained as an elementary school teacher and taught in various locals within Cortona from its mountain villages to the growing post-war part of Cortona known as Camucia. Angela has always been passionate about Tuscan cooking, which she began to learn at an early age aiding her mother in the kitchen. She maintains respect for local cooking traditions and recipes and shares that with Italians and foreign visitors through cooking classes conducted both in Italy and in America. She has extensive knowledge of Cortona's various areas, from the mountains to the fertile Val di Chiana, and continues to learn about its long and colorful history. She is also passionate about travel and enjoys learning about and experiencing customs, traditions and characteristics of other countries, cultures & people. Her travels destinations have included the United States, England, Egypt, South America, France, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Greece. She enjoys serving as a bridge between visitors to Tuscany and the local culture.
Patrick Mahoney (Miami University BA'80, MA'82) lives in Cortona where he continues a thirty-year career in the field of Arts & Entertainment producing events, workshops and tours and providing opportunities to share the Italy experience with travelers, artists and people who share his interests for foods, wine, art, culture. Patrick's passion is to conceive and realize various ways in which the human spirit can express and demonstrate its capacity to create. His ability to fearlessly think, conceive, and work "out of the box" has earned him the attention of artists & musicians, colleges & universities, public & private organizations, and business and industry. Patrick brings integrity and a unique vision to Toscana Americana and he is committed to realizing the opportunity for participants to create in an atmosphere of peace, joy, respect and mutual support. As a "slow traveler" and a supporter of "slow food" Mr. Mahoney rides trains, walks, lingers over lunch, dinner or a cup of espresso, stops to smell the roses and savors the sensory feast wherever he is!
