Join Giselle for a week of painting while immersed in the beauty of Tuscany!
The painting week at a glance...
Sept 23, Thursday: Handling watercolor paint; Identifying simple value designs when painting from life (grayscale painting).
Sept 24, Friday: Learning more skillful washes (softening edges and wet-in-wet painting); Introducing color into the painting.
Sept 25, Saturday: Day trip day to Fishing Village of San Feliciano/ Lake Trasimeno: Color mixing and capturing the colors we see.
Sept 26, Sunday: Anchoring learned skills; Seeing color in shadow; Planning a successful watercolor painting.
Sept 27, Monday: Painting optional ... day trip to Pienza and Montepulciano
Sept 28, Tuesday: Putting it all together; Final paintings and critiques.
Sessions will be conducted in the studio as well as outside in Cortona!
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 painting en plein air in a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere with the camaraderie of a small group of enthusiastic painters.
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 airport to Cortona September 22, 2027**** Instruction in the classroom and 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 Fishing village of
San Feliciano/Lake Trasimeno A farewell wine tasting dinner Escorted group travel Cortona to Florence airport September 29, 2027****
**Included with "Hotel" private room plans only. See details. ***Included with "Group Meal Plan" only. Italian breakfsat includes coffees, brioche, toast, milk, juices, cheese. ****Specific departure time from Florence airport September 22, 2027 only at 12:00noon ****Specific departure time from Cortona to Florence airport September 29, 2027 only at 8:00am *All-inclusive plans are "Hotel" only. Air travel and independent ground transportation to/from Cortona is not included and is the responsibility of each participant.
Meet Giselle Harrington...
Giselle Harrington is an award-winning artist who primarily paints in watercolor from life. Her work is represented by Simpatico Gallery in Charleston, SC but she has shown work along the east coast at various art centers and galleries. She divides her time between Charleston, South Carolina and Western Massachusetts, teaching adult painting and drawing workshops in both places. Giselle holds a MFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and has additionally studied painting and drawing at the Art Students League of New York and Grand Central Atelier.
In her en plein air painting practice, Giselle likes watercolor for its ease of transport, and the speed and efficiency with which one can capture the impression of light in an exact moment in time.
Testimonials
“I loved this course. Firstly because of Giselle’s quiet passion to lead us to appreciate, and understand the complexity and logic of water color painting. Secondly because of Giselle’s axiom that appreciation and understanding are nurtured by doing. Thirdly because our doing, with all its flaws, was met by encouragement from Giselle, but never by a diminution in her exacting standards. And finally, because I really appreciated Giselle’s skill as a water colorist and the sense she gave that teaching us was a part of her own process towards greater understanding and mastery of the art.”
— Sam, Watercolor Painting
“ As a retired art teacher, I appreciated the excellent lesson plans, the clear instructions and helpful demonstrations in Giselle’s watercolor class. She covered many techniques and was flexible in responding to individual queries.”
— Martha, Watercolor Painting
“Giselle’s Intro to Drawing class was a fantastic opportunity to help myself experience and answer the question that was in my mind “what actually is the foundation for learning how to draw?” Many of us in class and myself included, have never had any or much previous drawing training. Giselle’s guidance and encouragement helped each student tap into that special space within to flex their creative muscles — something I was seeking, and achieved, through this experience. This was also a great way to meet more members in the Western MA community!”
— Evelyn, Introduction to Drawing
“The watercolor class was very well structured with a clear progression of techniques. Giselle is a very encouraging and thoughtful instructor and conveyed a great depth of understanding of the process. A very enjoyable experience.”
— Cynthia, Watercolor Painting
Giselle Harrington
Giselle Harrington
Itinerary
September 22 Wednesday – Arrival in Cortona
-12:00p noon Depart Florence airport (FLR) escorted group travel to Cortona
-1:30p Arrival and Check-in Cortona and fre afternoon to explore
-6:30p Welcome to Cortona wine and chocolate
-7:30p Evening dinner in Cortona
September 23 Thursday - Cortona
-9:00a-12:30p Morning Session
-12:30p Lite Lunch
-2:00-5:30p Afternoon Session
-6:45p aperitifs
-7:30p Evening dinner in Cortona
September 24 Friday - Cortona
-9:00a-12:30p Morning Session
-12:30p Lite Lunch
-2:00-5:30p Afternoon Session
-6:45p aperitifs
-7:30p Evening dinner in Cortona
September 25 Saturday - Fishing village of San Feliciano/Lake Trasimeno
-8:45a Day trip to San Feliciano
-12:30p Lite lunch
-4:00p Depart and return to Cortona
-6:45p aperitifs
-7:30p Evening dinner in Cortona
September 26 Sunday - Cortona
-9:00a-12:30p Morning Session
-12:30p Lite Lunch
-2:00-5:30p Afternoon Session
-6:45p aperitifs
-7:30p Evening dinner in Cortona
September 27 Monday - Pienza & Montepulciano Day Trip (Non-painting)
-9:00a Depart Cortona
-1:00p Lite Lunch
-5:00p Return to Cortona
-6:45p aperitifs
-7:30p Evening dinner in Cortona
September 28 Tuesday - Cortona
-9:00a-12:30p Morning Session
-1:00p Lite Lunch
-FREE AFTERNOON
-7:30p Farewell Wine Tasting Dinner in Cortona Osteria del Teatro
September 29 Wednesday – Departureand Taxi to Florence airport (FLR)
-Morning Check-out
-8:00a departure from Cortona with escorted return to Florence airport.
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
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.
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 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 out 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 and 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. Persons who may be in an at-risk category or state of health are suggested to not participate.
