Painting the Tuscan Landscape Painting en Plein Air with Professional Artist/Instructor Dino Massaroni Cortona, Italy
September 18-25 , 2010
View Dino in Cortona
Dino Massaroni, an accomplished and award winning landscape and portrait artist, has conducted and taught painting workshops for over twenty-five years. His work is in private and corporate collections in the United States, Switzerland, and Italy. Alla Prima is Italian meaning, “at the first attempt.” You'll learn to achieve successful results and capture the fleeting effects of light quickly and assuredly as Massaroni reveals the secrets of this time-tested method. Through demonstrations and individual instruction, Massaroni will guide participants through a process designed to help obtain greater confidence and pleasure from painting outdoors while improving artistic vision and skill.Although Massaroni will demonstrate in oil color, the principles he shares can be applied to any medium including watercolor. Participants will enjoy morning and afternoon sessions as well as two day trips to Siena and Florence. Participants are required to provide their own art supplies, preferred paints, brushes & tools along with a portable easel. These items may also be purchased in Cortona and Florence.
See itinerary below...
"Andata a Casa"
"Bonassola"
Dino painting 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 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's historic center Click to view
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.
All-inclusive* workshop includes: Escorted group travel Florence to Cortona September 18, 2010**** 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 Florence & Museum of Modern Art at the Pitti Palace Day trip to Orvieto A farewell wine tasting dinner **Included with "Casa Betania" plans only. See details. ***Included with "Group Meal Plan" only. See details. ****Specific departure time from Florence airport only; time to be announced, return train ticket to Florence provided (not escorted) *All-inclusive plans only. Air travel and ground transportation to/from Cortona is not included and is the responsibility of each participant.
Casa Betania proud partner of Toscana Americana Workshops since 2003
Visit Casa Betania online
Itinerary
Saturday – Arrival in Cortona
-Arrival and Check-in in Cortona
-7:30p Welcome to Cortona wine and chocolate tasting at La Saletta.
-8:00p Evening dinner in Cortona at La Locanda nel Loggiato
Sunday - Cortona
-9:00a-1:00p Morning Session
-1:00p Lunch TBA
-3:00-7:00p Afternoon Session
-7:30p Wine tasting TBA
-8:00p Evening dinner in Cortona
Monday - Cortona
-9:00-1:00p Morning Session
-1:00p Lunch TBA
-3:00-7:00p Afternoon Session
-7:30p Wine tasting Il Pozzo
-8:00p Evening dinner in Cortona
Tuesday - Florence
-Day trip to Florence with lunch provided
-Visit to Museum of Modern Art at the Pitti Palace
-8:00p -Evening dinner in Cortona
Wednesday - Cortona
-9:00-1:00p Morning Session
-1:00 Lunch TBA
-3:00-7:00p Afternoon Session
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Evening dinner in Cortona
Thursday - Orvieto
-Day trip with lunch included
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Evening dinner in Cortona
Friday - Cortona
-9:00-1:00p Morning Session
-1:00p Lunch TBA
-3:00-7:00p Afternoon Sesion
-8:00p Farewell Wine Tasting Dinner in Cortona
Saturday – Departure
-Morning Check-out and departure from Cortona or we can help you plan an extended stay!
-Rome train departs 8:00am
Note: Toscana Americana reserves the right to alter this itinerary. All times are approximate
Painting Cortona from above
Inside Porta Montanina
painting in Cortona city center
Participant Supply List
Note: Do not pack prohibited items in carry-on luggage! They may be confiscated. Bring your smallest, lightest weight version of each item. Remember that you will need to carry your own gear as we travel from one painting location to another
Based on Dino’s travel experience, he has created a list of supplies for oil painters, pastelists, and watercolorists. With these supplies, an artist will be able to create unencumbered. A couple of weeks before your trip, pack your chosen materials (and clothing if there’s room) into your suitcase. You’ll be able to make sure everything fits and that the weight of the suitcase isn’t more than you can handle on your own. If you need to, you’ll have plenty of time to make adjustments before it’s time to leave for the airport. Also, he suggests a simple pencil & sketchbook kit, too. He recommends this as a “must have.” The Field Sketchbook by Canson® is the convenient and adequate 7˝ x 10˝ version, and the two technical pencils by Koh-I-Noorcover a wide range of tonal possibilities. SKETCHBOOK KIT - A Must Have! • Canson® Field Sketchbook (#541-67) Double wire bound, 7˝ x 10˝ classic black hardcover lies flat for ease of use. Contains 80 sheets of acid free, pure white drawing paper. • Two (2) Koh-I-Noor Rapidomatic® mechanical pencils (.07mm) (.09mm) with HB grade graphite • One (1) General’s Woodless Graphite Pencil - 8B grade • Double Barrel Handheld Pencil Sharpener • Design Kneaded Eraser (#1225) • Hard-shell glasses case for easy carrying of all of the above (except the book)! OIL PAINTERS COLORS (all Winsor & Newton) • Burnt Umber • Terra Rosa • Yellow Ochre • Cadmium Yellow Light • Cadmium Red Light • Alizarin Crimson • Ultramarine Blue • Cerulean Blue • Ivory Black • Titanium White Add these colors specifically for Santorini and the Capri/Positano Amalfi trip • Winsor Blue (Red Shade) • Winsor Blue (Green Shade) • Phthalo Turquoise MEDIUM (1) • Liquin 2 oz. bottle (Winsor & Newton) CANVAS (4 canvas panels per week) Both company's products are excellent. Choose one or the other. • Raymar Cotton Canvas Panels (9x12) www.raymarart.com • Fredrix Canvas Panels (9x12) www.fredrixartistcanvas.com BRUSHES (5) • #2, #6 Rathbone Bristle Flat (Winsor & Newton Series 5802) • #4, #8 Rathbone Bristle Filbert #4, #8 (Winsor & Newton Series 5803) • #4 Langnickle Royal Sable Filbert (Series 5522) www.royalbrush.com
PALETTE KNIFE • Standard Trowel Type (Winsor & Newton Model 300T) MINERAL SPIRITS CONTAINER • (Holbein #1052-6A) You will purchase your mineral spirits once you arrive in Europe. You’ll need a non-breakable container large enough to hold at least a pint of mineral spirits with a liquid-tight, rubber-sealed lid. EASEL • Half-sized M.A.B.E.F. brand (Model M23) or Julian brand French Easel. Will come equipped with a folding oil painter’s palette. This holds supplies in the easel’s drawer. (NOTE: I'm leaning more toward the M.A.B.E.F. brand over the Julian, but both will do.) MISCELLANEOUS • Viva® Paper Towels, small pliers to loosen dried-on paint caps. Zip-Lock Baggies to hold used paper towels until you're near a trash container.
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.
PASTELISTS COLORS • A set of Prismacolor brand NU-PASTEL (96 colors) will be sufficient for outdoor studies.
MY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE TO PAPER AND DRAWING BOARD! • Four (4 per week) Ampersand Pastelbord® 9˝ x 12˝ This product is its own drawing board - 1/8˝ composite board with a gray-toned acrylic/grit coating providing excellent tooth. I RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT INSTEAD OF THE PAPER & DRAWING BOARD OPTION BASED ON ITS QUALITY AND CONVENIENCE.
PASTEL PAPER & DRAWING BOARD • Three (3) sheets of Canson Mi Teintes® in a neutral medium gray tone Fold the individual sheets, which come approximately 19˝ x 24˝, in quarters and cut along the folds to produce four smaller sheets measuring approximately 9˝ x 12˝. You’ll end up with 12 smaller sheets after cutting the three larger sheets. • Lightweight Drawing Board approximately 12˝ x 16˝ The important feature is that the board be slightly larger than your paper and lightweight (1/8˝ laminate wood). You’ll need four (4) heavy-duty spring clips to hold the paper to the board. OfficeMax is a good source for the clips.
A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THE ABOVE PAPER AND BOARD! • Four (4 per week) Ampersand Pastelbord® 9˝ x 12˝ This product is its own drawing board - 1/8˝ composite board with a toned acrylic/grit coating providing excellent tooth. I RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT INSTEAD OF THE PAPER & DRAWING BOARD OPTION BASED ON ITS QUALITY AND CONVENIENCE. EASEL • Half-sized M.A.B.E.F. brand (Model M23) or Julian brand French Easel. Will come equipped with a folding oil painter’s palette. This holds supplies in the easel’s drawer. (NOTE: I'm leaning more toward the M.A.B.E.F. brand over the Julian, but both will do.)
MISCELLANEOUS • Moist towelettes. Zip-Lock Baggies to hold used towelettes until you're near a trash container. • One (1) box of medium grade Vine Charcoal. • Pad of glassine paper (approximately the size of your drawings) to separate the pastel drawings. Glassine is like wax paper, but works much better. You can find it in photo supply stores.
WATERCOLORISTS COLORS • Burnt Umber • Yellow Ochre • Lemon Yellow Deep • Cadmium Red • Alizarin Crimson • French Ultramarine Blue • Cerulean Blue • Ivory Black • Chinese White (Yes, I use white in watercolors)
Add these colors specifically for the Capri/Positano Amalfi trip • Peacock Blue (Holbein brand) • Cobalt Turquoise Light (Holbein brand) PALETTE • Hommee Palette (HWP18) http://www.cheapjoes.com/art-supplies/5555_hommee-palettes.asp Cheap Joe’s is a good source for this product. It measures 10.5˝ x 5˝ x 7/8˝ and has 18 wells for tube color. Squeeze your colors out a week before leaving so the colors have a chance to dry in the palette. They’ll reactivate when moistened with water. WATER CONTAINER • Plastic, wide-mouthed water container with screw-on lid (should hold about one quart of water). BRUSHES • #3, #8 Pointed Round Sable • 1.5˝ Flat Wash (Princeton® Series 4050) PAPER • Aquarelle Arches Field Watercolor Book 10˝ x 7˝ Double wire bound, hardcover EASEL NOTE: Watercolorists have the most streamlined and compact set of materials. Artists can work seated with the watercolor book on their lap. If you prefer painting while standing, I suggest one of the two easels below-Model M28 being my preference.: • M.A.B.E.F. Field Easel - Model M28.
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!
Travel with fellow artists, family & friends! In addition to Non-participating guest options, did you know that other workshops are offered this same week! Enjoy the experience together while immersed in different topics! View calendar for details!
