Plein Air Tuscany & Umbria Painting en Plein Air with artist/instructor Thomas W. Schaller Cortona, Italy May 5-12, 2012
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Experience the thrill and beauty of a wonderful part of Italy, and even more so, taking these memories you've created home with you! This workshop is for beginners to advanced artists and will be conducted outdoors on location.
Study with Thomas and capture the adventures of plein air painting colorful landscapes in beautiful picturesque Cortona, Italy. Discover how painting from life helps us to see and observe the affects of light and atmosphere. Learn how to simplify your subject while painting more quickly and accurately, with special attention placed on learning to see masses, as opposed to line, and form, rather than detail. The entire painting process will be covered along with daily demonstrations. Thomas will work individually with each student at their easel and guide them at their own level. This workshop is for anyone interested in learning to develop creative, painterly paintings with clean, rich color, mood, and dynamic compositions. Read more about this workshop 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.
Portico - Asissi
Thomas W. Schaller
Piazza del Campo - Siena
All-inclusive* workshop includes: Escorted group travel Florence to Cortona May 5, 2012**** Six paintng days with 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 Lake Trasimeno & Isola Maggiore Day trip to Orvieto A farewell wine tasting dinner Tuscan Cooking Class & dinner
**Included with "Hotel Italia" 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 Italia" plans only. Air travel and ground transportation to/from Cortona is not included and is the responsibility of each participant.
Hotel Italia proud partner of Toscana Americana Workshops since 2003
Hotel Italia in the city center
Royal Crescent, Bath England
Manhattan Beach Pier
“Royal Crescent – Bath, England”
22X30 Inches
Watercolor 2010
“ Bath is a treasure trove of Georgian architecture and John Wood’s incomparable design of the Royal Crescent creates one of the finest of outdoor spaces in all England. As a painting, I wanted this piece to express the unique choreography between the man-made and the natural worlds by using light as a unifying element.
“Manhattan Beach Pier”
22X30 Inches
Watercolor 2010
“ More than any specific object or space, it was my goal in this painting to express the qualities of pure light and atmosphere. As the marine layer rolled in over the pier, the range of different expressions of light – direct, diffuse, reflected, and refracted – was truly amazing. The unique aspects of the watercolor medium – from suggestive wet-into-wet washes to nearly opaque dry-brush applications - were perfect for this task. “
Demo and instruction: Positive and Negative Shapes; Using the dialogue between architecture and nature to achieve compelling and dynamic compositions..
-2:00-5:00p Afternoon Workshop
Full afternoon of plein-air painting with the emphasis on positive and negative shapes.
5/10 Thursday - Orvieto
Casual walking day with our sketch books: We will concentrate on capturing quick images of people, trees, architecture, and the general fabric of this magical town.
Today we will identify a subject of our choosing, and complete our final painting using all the techniques and approaches we have discussed throughout the week.
-2:00-5:00p Afternoon Workshop
At about 3:00, we’ll wrap up our last painting. Then we’ll meet for a casual group exhibition and question/answer session; discussing what we’ve learned, what we may want to try differently next time, and to admire all we’ve accomplished!
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.
Back Street, Santa Monica, CA
Construction site, Los Angeles, CA
Itinerary
5/5 Saturday– Arrival in Cortona
-Arrival and Check-in in Cortona
-7:00p Welcome to Cortona wine and chocolate tasting.
-8:00p Dinner in Cortona
5/6 Sunday - Cortona
-9:00-12:00p Morning Workshop
-12:30p Lunch
-2:00-5:00p Afternoon Workshop
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Dinner in Cortona
5/7 Monday - Cortona
-9:00-12:00p Morning Workshop
-12:30p Lunch
-2:00-5:00p Afternoon Workshop
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Dinner in Cortona
5/8 Tuesday- Lake Trasimeno & Isola Maggiore
-9:30-12:30 Morning Workshop
-12:30p Lunch
-1:30-4:30p Afternoon Workshop
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Dinner in Cortona
5/9 Wednesday - Cortona
-9:00-12:00p Morning Workshop
-12:30p Lunch
-2:00-5:00p Afternoon Workshop
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Dinner in Cortona
5/10 Thursday - Orvieto
-Day trip to Orvieto with lunch provided.
-TBA Train to Cortona
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Dinner in Cortona
5/11 Friday- Cortona
-9:00-12:00p Morning Workshop
-12:30p Lunch
-2:00-5:00p Afternoon Workshop
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Final wine tasting dinner in Cortona
5/12 Saturday- Departure
- Morning Check-out
- Departure from Cortona or we can help you plan an extended stay!
Note: Toscana Americana reserves the right to alter this itinerary.
Thomas W. Schaller is a registered architect and for over 20 years, has been considered one of the premier architectural artists in the world. He is a two-time winner of the Hugh Ferriss Memorial Prize and has authored two books , including the best-selling "Architecture in Watercolor"
Based in Los Angeles, Tom now devotes himself full-time to artwork in the watercolor medium.
As a fine artist, his watercolors have been recognized in a great many juried exhibitions around the world and featured in International Artist, Watercolor Artist, American Artist, The Artist, and American Art Collector magazines. He is represented by the RS Hanna Gallery, the Sharp Gallery, the Link Gallery, the Universal Art Gallery and The Carter-Sexton Gallery in Los Angeles.
Mr. Schaller in a member of many organizations including the American Watercolor Society, The National Watercolor Society, The California Watercolor Association, The Northwest Watercolor Society, the California Art Club, and he is a founding member of the
North American Watercolor Artists.
Artist Statement...
"All art has some story to tell. And in my work – far more than any specific object or space - it is the narrative of light that is always the star. While I love to paint cityscapes and buildings, I have found that it is the dialogue between - and the collision of - the natural and the man-made worlds that makes the most compelling subject matter for me. The fascinating ways in which buildings interact with the sky and the landscapes where they are placed form countless surprising and beautiful compositions of positive and negative shapes – rich darks and sparkling lights.
As an architect, I was trained in the strict Beaux-Arts methods of watercolor application; but as a fine artist, I have grown to love the integration of those formal techniques with the freedom of much looser, less controlled, and expressionistic methods. In many ways, I see watercolor as a natural extension of the act of drawing; but rather than using a line formed by pen or pencil, in watercolor, we draw using shapes - shapes of color – shapes of shadow and light."
Supply List
What to bring:
(Materials should be kept to a minimum as much as possible)
+ Travel Sketchbook – any size.
+ Sketch Pencil - soft lead
+ Eraser - soft white, or kneaded type
+ Watercolor Paper: Blocks or loose sheets are fine. I will using mostly ½ sheets of Saunders140lb rough surface.
+Art Board: If you use loose paper, bring a thin plywood or light-weight masonite panel to tape down watercolor paper in the field.
+ A Light-Weight Outdoor Travel Easel. I’m using an aluminum camera tripod-style.
+Portable Watercolor Palette: any light-weight portable type. I use a folding metal Holbein plein-air palette.
+ Watercolors: Good quality tube watercolors. I will have a limited palette of about 12 pigments by Holbein, Windsor Newton, and Daniel Smith.
I suggest at least: light yellow, darker yellow, cobalt blue, ultramarine blue, light red, alizarin crimson, burnt sienna, neutral tint. I also suggest a viridian, cobalt turquoise, cad. orange, cad yellow pale, cad. red light, and chinese white.
+ Brushes: A minimum of 3 brushes – a #6 squirrel mop and a #8 round and a ¾” flat. I will also be using a number of mops ; #2,#4,#6,#10: several rounds; #4,#6,#8; a 1” flat, a ¾” flat, and a rigger for line work and details.
+ Miscellaneous ; masking tape, water container, spray bottle ( I use a fine spray atomizer), and paper towels
Paper towels may be purchased in Cortona as well as a variety of watercolor supplies.
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.
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!
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!
