Painting Holidays In Italy

Double dutch – August painting holiday in italy

Caroline — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:09:36 +0000

We have learnt now that for some reason different nationalities come in waves. This month we had a distinctly Netherlands feel with artists from Holland, Belgium and Isreal of dutch abstraction. Virginie (Belgium) was one of our youngest visitors at 28 and painted a great oil painting of the vespa – we have discovered that as many people are seduced by the idea of painting the vespa as the landscape – whatever, they are both so definately Italy. Tilly (Isreal) was our oldest visitor at 89, definately young at heart both she and Jenni added their warmth and enthusiasm to the group, even if Jenni doesn’t want to admit that theere is an oil painter struggling to get out from the watercolourist. Margriet (Holland) was interested in abstraction and went on a particularly joyous journey moving through an olive stump, the landscape, the vespa and a particularly wonderful rendition of the hipbone – whose we do not know.

Also joining us was Rona from Northumberland, a veteran from many painting holidays she was fascinating to talk to. She blossomed with the increased personal attention of the relatively small group of five, explaining that she had learnt more with us than on any of her other previous jaunts. Discussing with Andrea we have decided that that will be our niche. Small intimate and intensive groups, so that we can continue to send people away so very happy and relaxed.

Recent painting gallery

Caroline — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 21:54:56 +0000

Just because Iit took me ages to compile it –

First Fools of the Year

Caroline — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 07:38:20 +0000

The Fountain of Madness

The children returned from a day out in Matelica recently, each wielding a Patenta di Mattu – ‘Licence to be crazy’ – well, who knew you needed a licence?

In the middle ages bankrupts were forced to wear a silly hat and walk around the fountain twelve times whilst ringing a bell and shouting ‘I have given away all my possessions and for this no one should ever believe me again’. At which point they were officially registered by the council and all debts cleared.

Given their sense of style I think for Italians the hat was the main deterrent (for the English it would be an added bonus). Nowadays children can run around the fountain seven times and get the Crazy license abd it was with great pride that they reported that they were the first Mattu of the year – they won’t be the last.

Maisie said it was embarrassing but worth it, whilst Letta is just impressed with anything with an official stamp and has squirrelled it away with her FBI Licence to kill.

I cannot help thinking that if Italians once again fall for Berlusconi’s (I told you he’d be back) promises of tax cuts and give aways, the square will be cacophony of bells and bristling with silly hats.

Press – think squeeze, not mangle

Caroline — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:38:14 +0000

I spent a while last year enjoying printing lessons with a local artist, Alberto, learning the finer points of intalghilo printing, no pun intended. It got to the stage where I was thinking of buying my own press, – well perhaps not at €1000 a pop. However I did think I could manage something abit like it – something a bit like an old fashioned mangle. So, of course I typed ‘mangano’ into Italian ebay – only to come up with endless movie prints of an italian diva by that name and not a single hand operated mangle. Rolling my eyes I went for the english ebay, found one in Nottingham, where an italian friend happened to be visiting with his van. After a couple of months and much negotiation the mangle was delivered – only to discover it had siezed up, not an irreparable situation but one which I have not quite resolved.

My point is that on my last visit to the ‘second hand shop’ in Tolentino (run, amusingly, by the man with one hand) I found a machine which looked surprisingly similar. It was, of course, a grape press. Being English my thoughts were instantly drawn toward the mangle but in Italy the removal of water from clothes is not such a problem, what with the sunshine and all – on the other hand the removal of juice from grapes is. I am often surprised firstly at the extent to which the climate has an effect on the way things are run – school term times, working hours etc but also at my own inability to get right into the head of my adopted country. Such is the ex-pats lot – always sending off to the old country for mangles where there is a grape press just around the corner.

Autumn and blue remembered hills

Caroline — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 11:29:01 +0000

Here are a few examples of why I just love this time of year.

The contrast between the blue mountains and the autumn trees just happens to be my favourite complimentary colour combination. I think next year – an autumn course and we shall chance our arm with the weather.

Some new friends

Caroline — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 15:30:18 +0000

I am very behind on the blogging duties, so, as a cop out and to keep the search engines happy, here are a few pictures of some of the great friends we have made this year, and some of the things they had to say about us. Just click on the button.

Antipodean June

Caroline — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 03:50:24 +0000

This course, for some reason, was filled with our antipodean friends. We had John and Micheal from Australia and mother and daughter Deborah and Jenny from New Zealand, all avoiding the southern hemisphere winter. As the temperature hit 40 I guess that was mission accomplished. Fortunately the old farmers knew how to build and no one had an uncomfortable night.

Deborah painting with swifts

What a great way to earn a living, wandering around little Italian towns, sketching here and there – perhaps a painting or two, the occaisional cappuchino. What could be better? – well, in this heat, a visit to the lake just about pipped it – all in the name of guerilla life drawing, of course.

Her resulting watercolour patchwork

We had several requests, this week for 1 – a panorama and 2 – some perspective. Funnily enough I know just the places. The rocca Borgia in Camerino overlooks a vast plain of houses, hills and olive groves whilst the Ducal Palace at the other end of town offers vaulted cloisters and a miracle of jumbled perspectives.

Michelle's deliciously cool painting of the ducal palace

I think you will agree all challenges were met.

As well as three trips to Camerino and one to the lake we also dropped in on the crypt of Saint Nicolas in Tolentino with it’s beautiful frescos and, fortunately, a gelateria just outside.

Wheels, bottles – no clubs, no tubs. Custom Holiday for Glynis and Nick

Caroline — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:16:53 +0000

A first for us this week with a custom made holiday for Nick and Glynis’s 40th wedding anniversary. Glynis looked a little shell shocked when they arrived . Surpri-ise! – although very relieved it didn’t involve golf clubs. Nick had told me that they only wanted to paint in the mornings allowing them to explore the area and spend some time together. So the normal course was curtailed and, because I wanted them to go home with a couple of decent paintings, the drawing had to give. They didn’t let me down, despite being complete beginners they both produced some cracking pictures and the mantra of the week must be – Don’t worry you can just wipe it off! – oh the joy of oil paint.

Fate has dealt Glynis and Nick a squiffy hand in the last year, but it was great to see them relax and enjoy themselves over the week as they developed a new skill.

Nick was used to dealing with plans and was surprised that he had to mix colours, expecting them to come straight out of the tube (rolls eyes heavenward) but once he got away from lines and into patches he enjoyed himself working out ways to represent different subjects and textures. There is a reason we don’t hang plans on the wall, or build a house from an oil painting.

Glynis was lacking in confidence and had been left alone for too long with an eraser. Once that was removed, and she had to go with what she felt, there was no holding her back. She has quite a knack with light.

Andrea and I enjoyed the week so much, not hard since both were very amusing and interesting company, that we are considering running a half – day week next year, and will definately be up for more custom built courses.

We only skated over the surface of the various aspects of painting but they returned home with tentative plans to remove the hot tub and put in a studio. Bravo to that, you get over the novelty of hot water but painting is a constant surprise.

What they said

Julie and the Corsa alla Spada

Caroline — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:46:27 +0000

Julie joined us for a week of painting and some medieval fayre at the Corsa all spada festival in Camerino. Here are some of her great pictures, as well as Muffin taking her fifteen minutes in the limelight posing on the vespa.

A prada bag has recently (since the April course) joined the shelf of Italian icons – drawing a paper bag is always a bit of a challenge – so it might as well be a classy one.

Tonal exercise Pastel, Italian icons Oil, the hand cart, and, of course, poppies

What Julie wrote

Nuts in May

Caroline — Sat, 12 May 2012 03:02:07 +0000

Val and Nerina

There’s something about Yorkshire humour, add a little Teutonic surrealism and you have a cracking combination.

Sally among the poppies

Val came to celebrate her birthday with her friends Sally and Isobel (I can only draw rabbits) They spent a mostly sunny week with us, painted some great pictures and made us laugh with tales of mismatched footwear in Rome and the ‘magic key’ to the Cistine Chapel.

Tina, when it’s finished, it’s finished

Tina from Germany, who professed a loathing of all things romantic, discovered a talent for watercolour flowers – and a deep appreciation of irony.

Isobel, otherwise know as the mad lady on the balcony

Special mention goes to Isobel who, having come clean on the first day that she could only draw cartoon rabbits and would probably just read her book – not only stuck with us all week but surprised herself to tears when she produced some stunning pictures.

Meanwhile all laughed alot, ate amply and probably drank a little more than we should.

The Yorkshire verdict