We are in the midst of a revival in the arts of travelogue and reportage. Thousands of artists around the world are re-discovering sketching.
The sketchbook has always been the foundation for artistic inspiration. This is where we grow as artists, training our hand and eye, experimenting with technique, collecting visual understanding of the world. At the same time, we’re creating a personal journal of our lives. An in-the-moment record of what we’ve seen, drawn in our own unique shorthand. One day, these may become heirlooms we’ll pass on to future generations.
Join us in Cortona as we travel with our sketchbooks, re-invigorating our drawing skills, using pens, brushes, ink, and painting in watercolors.
It’s a chance for experienced artists to explore a fabulous setting with like-minded fellows, or for beginners to learn to sketch in a free-and-easy, spontaneous manner. Everyone will work at their own pace, using approaches best suited to their skill levels. We’ll head home with our sketchbooks full of memories!
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 expert instruction of a nationally know artist and instructor and the camaraderie of a small group of learners.
Enjoy...
great Italian food, delightful wines, new friends, breath-taking vistas, history and the hospitality of the people of Cortona.
Cortona city center
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.
DAY ONE: Arrival, Urban Sketching Slideshow
A quick visual tour (slideshow) of sketchbook drawing approaches. I’ll have some of my own work on hand, and we’ll look at examples from other Urban Sketchers around the world.
DAY TWO: Foundation Skills
The Sketching Method: SCRIBBLE AND REFINE
How to sketch quickly, yet be as accurate as you feel you need to be. We’ll start with a scribble in pencil then refine in ink. This introduces the idea of working Larger to Smaller, and how to catch errors before launching into the finished drawing.
SCRIBBLE AND REFINE + COLOR WASH
We’ll enhance the basic sketching method with watercolor. This is the most efficient way to work in a sketchbook. Capturing specific detail in the drawing, and big shapes of color with wash.
DAY THREE: Painless Perspective
Perspective drawing can seem overly technical - something we are apt to fear - or painstakingly study. I feel, if you're sketching for enjoyment, self expression, and memory, then all that matters is a spontaneous impression. We’ll cover three simple solutions:
Ignore it - stay tight focus:
Neutralize it - choose a frontal view:
Simplify it - use a Perspective Grid:
DAY FOUR: The Painted Sketch
Direct Watercolor: SILHOUETTE AND SUBDIVIDE:
A more painterly approach, working directly in color, (or, for beginners, over a simple pencil guideline). I’ll introduce working with a VIEWFINDER to isolate compositions, and how to simplify what we see into graphic shapes - silhouettes - that we’ll finish off with calligraphic brushwork.
DAY Five, Six and Seven: Sketching Tours
As we travel to various locations around Cortona, depending on what we find, we can do any of the following exercises. You can adapt them to work at your own pace, in whatever media best suits you.
STRAIGHT to INK: Skip the planning, be more spontaneous.
The FORMAT VIEWFINDER: Miniature compositions of varying proportions.
PANORAMIC VIEWS: Sketching 180 degree view.
Making a ‘SUBWAY MAP’: Ensure you get the best a neighborhood has to offer.
ACTORS ON STAGE: Get the landmarks and the street life.
PORTRAITS EN PASSANT: Capturing spontaneous portraits of people on the move.
50 STEPS: Learn to make a great composition, even from a randomly chosen view.
CAFE SKETCHING: You have to eat, but you don’t have to stop sketching.
All-inclusive* workshop includes: Escorted group travel Florence to Cortona June 8, 2015 & Cortona to Florence June 15, 2015**** Instruction in the studio and on location Seven nights accommodations in historic Cortona** (Private room & bath) Day trip to Siena Day trip to Lake Trasimeno Local Etruscan Museum & Museo Diocesano All meals*** (Italian breakfast, lunch and dinner) Daily wine tasting opportunities A farewell wine tasting dinner Tuscan Cooking class
**Included with "Hotel" plans only. See details. ***Included with "Group Meal Plan" only. See details. ****Specific departure time from Florence airport only on June 8, 2015 and from Cortona on June 15, 2015; 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. Go to Enrollment page
Prior to this, Marc enjoyed a 15 year career as an Art Director and Concept Artist in the video game industry, working for studios such as Microsoft, Electronic Arts, and Disney.
Marc’s personal website citizensketcher.com is an ever growing journal of step-by-step painting demos, downloadable lesson plans, and stories about art and travel. Stop by and subscribe for free to receive news and updates from wherever Marc is sketching today.
Testimonials:
Student feedback from watercolour course taught in Montreal - Sept-Dec 2013:
“The class was very worthwhile. Fell in love with Marc's style on urban sketches. Feel very lucky to have been able to learn a new style.”
“Really like the way he makes us work (a lot). I appreciate his way of teaching, repeating without tiring his corrections, theories and techniques. I hope all will stay in with us and be able to improve. Great course!”
“Professeur vraiment talentueux et très généreux, très attentionné avec chacun de ses élèves. Excellent conseils.”
“Very talented teacher in both watercolor and drawing. Interesting classes. Marc is very helpful (asked for advice for my architecture portfolio).”
“Very enjoyable class. We are given a lot of time to develop our skills. Very much appreciated.”
“Amazing teacher! Super inspiring classes! Will take more classes when there is more.”
Student feedback from watercolour course taught in Montreal - Jan-Apr 2014:
“Course very well structured. Teacher's expertise is excellent. I have always struggled with watercolor. I would have liked to be able to do some sketches outside of class to prepare for it so I could benefit more of the watercolor teaching. I want more!”
“The course was great. Not what I expected. Learned a lot about thinking behind the drawing. Would totally recommend!”
Reviews for The Urban Sketcher: Techniques for Seeing and Drawing on Location:
Practical, easy-to-follow tips for anyone interested in urban sketching. A must-have for your personal reference library! His step-by-step techniques are easy to follow with lots of delightful examples of his wonderful sketches. ~D. Thatcher
I have been drawing and painting in watercolor for over 50 years. I find many concepts here that if practiced will simplify the process, even as an experienced artist. Someone beginning the journey will find Marc's break down of steps to be very helpful and each stage from pencil only to pen and ink, then to coloring the ink sketch and finally pure watercolor all builds upon what just was mastered. His enthusiasm for sketching is contagious. ~Jody Bryan
Excellent book for anyone wanting to improve their drawing skills. Great exercises, step by step clearly written instructions along with great example drawings and photos. I like that it starts with the basics, a pencil, eraser and a piece of paper. If you've wanted to get involved with the Urban Sketching movement, here's a great introduction from a skilled artist and teacher. ~Elaine Magliacane
Extremely comprehensive and helpful location art instruction book. I bought it as a review, but find I am also learning some new useful techniques. Well written and illustrated. ~Berta Wilson
Very nice book, a must for all sketchers, beginners and advanced,
Found it very motivating, well explained with simple step by step illustrations. It is very difficult to go through the book without picking up your pen and start sketching yourself… ~Real Campeau
We live in an era of rebirth for drawing and Marc’s book, in my opinion, will become one of the cornerstone books of that rebirth. I know that sounds like hyperbole but I own a lot of drawing books and most of them don’t seem to understand the notion of structuring a drawing before you draw details, dividing the process of drawing into sub-goals that capture particular aspects of the scene being drawn. And yet, when I watch professional artists draw, they ALL do this, whether they realize it or not. Buy a copy of The Urban Sketcher: Techniques for Seeing and Drawing on Location. Become better at what you do. ~Larry D Marshall
Itinerary
(Note: itinerary may be altered to accommodate additional field trips)
Monday – Arrival in Cortona
-Arrival and Check-in in Cortona -5:00p Intro to workshop with Marc at hotel -6:30p Welcome to Cortona wine and chocolate tasting at La Saletta.
-7:30p Evening dinner in Cortona at La Locanda nel Loggiato
Tuesday - Cortona
-9:00a-1:00p Morning Session
-1:00p Lunch TBA
-2:00-5:30p Afternoon Session
-7:00p Wine tasting Il Pozzo
-8:00p Evening dinner in Cortona
Wednesday - Cortona
-9:00a-1:00p Morning Session
-1:00p Lunch TBA
-2:00-5:30p Afternoon Session
-7:00p Wine tasting
-7:30p Evening dinner in Cortona
Thursday - Cortona
-9:00a-1:00p Morning Session
-1:00p Lunch TBA
-2:00-5:30p Afternoon Session
-7:00p Wine tasting
-7:30p Evening dinner in Cortona
Friday - Siena
-9:00-12:30p Morning Session
-12:30 Lunch TBA
-2:00-5:00p Afternoon Session
-7:00p Wine tasting
-7:30p Evening dinner in Cortona
Saturday - Lake Trasimeno & San Feliciano -9:30-12:30p Morning Session
-12:30p Lunch
-2:00-5:00p Afternoon Session
-7:00p Wine tasting
-7:30p Evening dinner in Cortona
Sunday - Cortona
-9:00-12:30p Morning Session
-12:30 Lunch TBA
-2:00-5:00p Afternoon Session
-7:00p Wine tasting
-7:30p Farewell Wine Tasting Dinner in Cortona
Monday – Departure
-Morning Check-out and departure from Cortona. Escorted group transfer to Florence.
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.
Mechanical Pencil: Standard size is 0.5mm, but I prefer the 0.7mm. The lead doesn't break as often.
You’ll also want a Kneaded Rubber Eraser.
Lamy Safari Fountain Pens: I mainly use a Fine, but do carry an Extra Fine as well. I like water SOLUBLE ink, so I use the name brand Lamy Ink Cartridges.
If you want to use water PROOF ink, so that linework does not mix with watercolor - (a good idea for beginners) - I recommend Platinum Carbon Black waterproof ink, for which you’ll need a small plastic suction device called a Lamy Fountain Pen Ink Converter.
BRUSH PENS:
If you want a water PROOF brush pen, I recommend the Pentel Pocket Brush. You will want a spare pack (or two) of cartridges.
If you want a water SOLUBLE brush pen, I highly recommend the Kuretake #13 Sumi Brush. The name brand Kuretake Ink Cartridge comes already loaded with water soluble ink. Again, I would get a couple packs of spare ink cartridges.
SKETCHBOOKS:
Large Moleskine (5 x 8.25“): The slightly bigger size is good for street sketching and general purpose use.
Moleskine Folio Watercolor Album, A4 (8.25 x11.75“) This is a nice sized watercolor book, big enough to do multiple sketches on a page spread, or make an ultra-wide panorama.
(optional): Pocket Moleskine (3.5 x 5.5”): Ideal for little portraits, small still life drawings in a museum, sketching on a plane or the subway. I carry one of these everywhere so I am never without.
(optional) Travelogue Watercolor Journal by Hand Book, This is my favorite watercolor sketchbook. I use the Grand Portrait (10.5 x 8.25“) size, when I can’t find my preferred 8.25” square format. For whatever reason the square book is hard to find (?)
Watercolor Brushes:
Pointed Round Brushes: Any synthetic brand of pointed rounds will do. The points do wear out in a few months. Luckily, they’re cheap :)
If you want to try real sable, good brands are Escoda, da Vinci, and Winsor and Newton Artist Watercolor Sable. Any of these will last for years, even decades. But - never let your brushes stand in water. It ruins the points and cracks the handle.
I use sizes #2, 4, 10 and 14.
I also use a Brush Case: A nylon zippered ‘wallet’ to carry brushes safely.
(optional) Travel Brushes: a brush with a hollow handle that reverses to enclose the brush when its tossed into your bag. I recommend the da Vinci Cosmotop (synthetic fiber) or the da Vinci Maestro (sable).
(optional) consider a Rigger (a long needle pointed brush), a Dagger Brush (with a steak knife sort of shape) and possibly a Fan Brush. Strange, hard to control brushes can be fun to draw with.
Watercolor Travel Sets:
I recommend artist quality watercolor half pans. These will come in a tin (or plastic) box with around 12 colors. Good suppliers include Holbein, Schminke, or (my choice) Winsor and Newton. (not W&N Cotman - this is student grade).
Standard color selections are fine when you’re starting out, but you can also purchase individual pans, or empties you can fill from tubes.
I’ve sorted out my own set to carry a ‘split primary’ palette:
Bulldog Clips: (6-8) large bulldog clips (also called binder clips). Handy for holding the book open in the wind, or while wet. Also for clipping on the paint box and ‘clamping’ damp books overnight.
Water Containers: I suggest a few of 2 oz HDPE plastic bottles from Nalgene. I carry more than one, so when the water gets dirty I can pull a clean bottle out of my bag.
Paper Towels: Very important painting tool!
Tiny Atomizer Spray Bottle: For misting your watercolors to prime the pigments.
NOTE: Cortona has an art supply shop in the center!
