Tuscan Color! with artist/instructor Mindy Lacefield Cortona, Italy
Canceled by instructor
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Come to Cortona, Italy as we explore the colors of the Tuscan countryside. Steeped in rich culture, Italy's Tuscan region was home to the early Etruscan empire who was inspired by neighboring Greece and western civilizations. We will take inspiration from the early Etruscan frescoes - rich texture along with beautiful colors that mimic the countryside. Taking visual snapshots of the everyday Italian culture will propel us forward into intuitive art making. We will fall in love with the process of painting all over again with no concern of the outcome. Our fresco packet bundles will become a tactile object aged richly with our own hands. Over the week, layers will be built and stories told. Your story will hold special and unique as you see with fresh eyes the colors before you - where the sky meets the earth and everything in between. Our quest for patterns readily found in nature along with the richness of Cortona's culture, will be our ground.
We will construct an Etruscan inspired fresco bundle and age the surface. It will serve as something that holds treasures we find on our journey. We will also paint on paper and cardboard taking inspiration from our outings whether its landscape, patterns, or people. I will teach you how to paint figures and faces in profile much the same way as the 1000 B.C. Etruscans did. I will delve deeper into face construction as well as how to work primitively and raw.
Come join me as we explore the colors of Tuscany and its rich heritage!
Enroll early in this small group workshop limited to 15 participants! Read workshop details below...
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.
About this workshop...
day 1: We will make introductions and talk about the plan for the project. The afternoon we'll roam outside and gather color and pattern inspiration. If time allows we will start working on prepping our surfaces.
day 2: We will begin making our packet for holding our papers and paintings. There will be demo time and lots of one on one attention. We will texture some of the surfaces as well.
day 3: Outside the studio where we'll search for vintage papers and closures (ie. bits of fabric or ribbon)
day 4: We will get messy with paint and begin working with rich color on our cardboard. We'll use pattern and color inspired by our outings on the first day and our trip to the market
day 5: We will work any of our market treasures into our packet and I'll demonstrate how to make the fabric closure to hold our packet together.
day 6: We will make any finishing touches to our paintings and packet and discuss as a group the meaning behind your work.
Meet Mindy Lacefield...
Mindy Lacefield is a mixed media artist who draws inspiration from the nostalgia of her childhood. Creating from the heart of a 7 year old, rainbow colors find themselves mingling among bursts of neon. Intuitive mark making with oil pastels tell the story of the child that still resides so vividly in the soul. Working quickly, letting go, and allowing spontaneous splashes of color just happen has been her approach to facing the blank canvas. Being in the moment and enjoying the process of painting with no specific plans of the outcome continues to thrive as Mindy's method of creating. Exploring the duality of nature, the dark against the sweet side - evolve and marry together - to awaken the dream-state that resides in layers of the soul. Mindy is a full time artist living in central Arkansas with her hubby and two pooches. When she’s not in the studio, she loves to watch independent films and is inspired by the movies of Tim Burton, Alfred Hitchcock, and Stanley Kubrick.
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.
All-inclusive* workshop includes: Escorted group travel Florence to Cortona May 8, 2013**** 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 Florence
A farewell wine tasting dinner **Included with "Hotel Oasi" 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 are Hotel plans only. Air travel and ground transportation to/from Cortona is not included and is the responsibility of each participant.
Saturday – Arrival in Cortona -Arrival and Check-in in Cortona
-7:00p 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
-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 Lunch
-3:00-6:00p Afternoon Session
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Evening dinner in Cortona
Tuesday - Florence
-Trip to Florence with lunch provided
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Evening dinner in Cortona
Wednesday - Cortona
-9:00-1:00p Morning Session
1:00p Lunch TBA
-3:00-5:30p Afternoon Session
-6:00p Tuscan Cooking Class
Thursday - Cortona
-9:00-1:00p Morning Session
-1:00p Lunch
-3:00-6:00p Afternoon Session
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Evening dinner in Cortona
Friday - Cortona
-9:00a-1:00p Morning Session
-1:00p Lunch at TBA
-3:00-7:00p Afternoon Session
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Farewell Wine Tasting Dinner in Cortona
Saturday – Cortona
-Morning Check-out and departure from Cortona
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.
Cortona city center
Participant Supply List
Tuscan Color Supply list:
cold press watercolor paper 26"x30 (if you want to cut to 13"x30" for travel please do so) acrylic paints - your favorite colors. (think of blues, oranges, greens, purples) heavy body white acrylic paint crackle medium - i use folk art brand distress crackle paint - ranger a couple of 1" foam brushes Brushes - the cheap hogs hair variety pack works great caran d'ache neocolor II water soluble oil pastels OR portfolio pastels sketch book/pencil camera (point and shoot or iphone camera is fine) a couple alcohol inks (ranger) pad of bristol smooth paper OR watercolor paper - 9x12" cardboard - 9x12" or smaller. (doesn't have to be perfect. you can bring old cereal box sheets too) gold leafing sheets
