7 days at Villa Salinara
Italy captured my heart when I first
visited in 2013, and I’ve fallen more in love with it every time I return. I’ve
taught workshops in Tuscany the past few years, but in 2018 I’ll be traveling
to a different part of the country – Sicily!
This island off the southern coast
of Italy has everything you could wish for in a painting destination.
Clear aquamarine ocean waters,
Clear aquamarine ocean waters,
soaring mountains,
ancient ruins,
vineyards, olive groves,
historic cities,
and beautiful nature preserves (complete with windmills!)
September is the perfect time to
visit. The weather is warm and sunny, with cooler nights, and little to no
rain. And best of all, the summer crowds are nowhere to be found!
We’ll be staying at Villa Salinara,
a country estate built in the 1700s and lovingly restored by our hosts, Adriano
and his wife, Yumi.
The villa has lovely rooms with authentic Mediterranean
style and views of the surrounding fields, mountains, and sea.
Many of the
rooms are separate apartments with their own living area, kitchen, and bath. (Register
early for the best choice of accommodations.)
There’s an organic garden that
supplies delicious herbs and vegetables for the meals we’ll enjoy at the villa,
and the sea is just a short walk down the hill. You can even borrow a bike to
explore the area, if you like.
Our painting studio at the villa
offers a great spot for us to gather for daily classes and late-night painting
sessions,
but most of the time we’ll be sketching outdoors, either around the
villa, at the nearby seaside, or during our day trips to picturesque villages
and nature preserves.
We’ll be visiting the archeologic
park at Segesta and sketching a beautifully preserved ancient Greek temple there.
The city of Marsala is just a few
kilometers from Villa Salinara, and we’ll have plenty of time to explore its
historic sites, shops, and colorful markets.
The incredible views from Mount
Erice will have us scrambling for pen and paints. I’m already thinking of how
to capture the essence of it on paper.
Now let's talk about the food...it will be incredible!
At Villa Salinara, we'll enjoy authentic Mediterranean meals with locally-sourced ingredients, including fresh veggies from the villa’s own gardens.
Our chef caters to everyone’s dietary needs, happily preparing vegetarian and gluten-free selections that are just as delicious as the “regular” options.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included in the price of this workshop tour, so you’ll have extra money to spend in those cute shops in Marsala!
During the workshop, you’ll be
creating your own illustrated watercolor travel journal filled with sketches of
the places you see, the adventures you have, and the things you discover that
are distinctly Sicilian. I’ll show you how to add interest to your sketchbook
pages with hand lettering, borders, and exciting page designs. You’ll find
yourself looking at the world differently as we go about our days, noticing
design details where you never thought to look for them before.
I'll share practical step-by-step
lessons on how to paint specific subject matter that we encounter in our
wanderings, and my easy techniques for drawing buildings and handling
perspective challenges will make drawing those quaint medieval village scenes
easier than you imagined.
With my encouragement and one-on-one guidance, and
the inspiration you’ll find just from being in Sicily, you’ll fill the pages of
your travel sketchbook with images that are full of life and memories.
Travel sketching imprints a place on
your mind like nothing else can. Why not join me in Sicily in 2018 and
experience it for yourself?
This workshop is being arranged
through Artravelitaly, who will handle all booking
arrangements. Artravelitaly will follow up on correspondence with students and
receive the payments of deposit and balance from the students directly. Visit their website for more information, or click here to see the schedule for the week.
Contact: Alessia, program
manager, at:
Artravelitaly
Loc. Bagnano, 135
50052 Certaldo - Firenze - Italy
Phone: +39 3772709500
Everything is included in the cost
of your week in Sicily:
- Accommodations in a single or double room at Villa Salinara
- All tuition fees
- All Sicilian breakfasts, lunches and dinners
- Wine tasting with local producer
- All local transportation
- Pick-up and drop-off at Palermo airport
Prices for the all-inclusive package
of seven nights at Villa Salinara, September 15-22, 2018, are listed below. It
is suggested that you fly into Palermo Airport in Sicily and arrive on
Saturday morning, September 15, 2018, and fly out on Saturday, September 22,
2018. Or
you may wish to extend your trip by adding on a day or two at either end to
explore Palermo, Marsala, or other parts of Sicily. In any case, pick-up for
the workshop will be at Palermo Airport at a scheduled time on September 15,
2018.
Cost: (US prices listed
are approximate and will vary according to the monetary exchange rate at the
time your payment is made.)
- Double room/apartment with private
bath € 2350 (~ $2722)
- Single room with shared bath € 2470
(~ $2860) (maximum three people sharing)
- Single room/apartment with
private bath € 2970 (~ $3440)
Spouses or non-painting partners
benefit from everything included in the program except painting instruction.
To sign up, a 600 € deposit is
requested. Reserve your place now, so you don't miss out! Early
registration also gives you your choice of rooms. Contact Alessia for all the
details.
Everyone needs to visit Italy at
least once in their life.
Make 2018 your year to sketch the Sicilian
countryside,
stroll through historic villages, enjoy a glass of wine
in Marsala,
and relax on a pristine beach.
I can't wait to go! Won't you
come along with me?
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