Bringing Italy Home (1) TEST

Join me at my Niagara-on-the-Lake studio for a full-day of fun and creativity while we remember bella Italia! I have available several references from our Italy excursion, plus participants are welcome to bring their own photos or work-in-progress. We will be creating a landscape of one of our vistas in Tuscany, plus focusing on some of the artwork and influences of the area. An Italian-inspired lunch will be included and YES! there will be a gelato walk to our own Tuscan gelateria in town. Please bring your own small- or medium- sized canvas (16"x20" and under), acrylic or watercolour paints, brushes, apron, palette and rags. The studio is spacious however registration is limited to 6 people live, and 4 more who can participate online. Outdoor painting may be an option weather permitting. (Note: live attendance may increase to 10 maximum by September.) All demonstrations will be done in acrylic paint. Oil paints are only permitted if used with non-toxic gel medium or no medium at all. Watercolours are welcome too. Suggested material list is provided upon registration. Feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions at all.

YOUR DAY AT A GLANCE

9:45 for 10:00AM Start:

Parking is provided in the driveway and on the road in front of my home studio. Due to COVID restrictions, participants are welcome to bring any of their painting supplies, but only bring into the studio space what is necessary for the workshop. Please leave extra canvases and materials in your vehicles in order to allow for maximum space in the studio. Bring whatever colors you have or you can see the suggested material list.

10:00AM - 11AM

Landscape demonstration: I will be showing participants how I organize my palette and lay in an underpainting for one of our Italian scenes. This demonstration will include information on brush technique, linear and atmospheric perspective and composition while. We will touch upon creating mood and meaning with our painting and how to not be overly dependent on our photographs. I will provide some examples of paintings of the area on a monitor so we can learn from examples and plan our approach before we begin to paint.

11AM - NOON

Participants will lay the groundwork for their own painting on their canvas. They will create their initial drawing and underpainting while working at their own pace. I will be assisting and coaching throughout the day, as your paintings develop. I will be advising on colour-mixing, value and composition of individual works. The innate style of individual artists are important, so my goal is to let your own style show through while offering only fundamental direction.

12:15 - 1PM

Break for lunch: We will enjoy a healthy Italian-inspired lunch and refreshments away from our paintings. Lunch is provided by our very own Italian cook and pizzaiolo and will include one glass of Niagara Region wine (after all, we DO have to finish our paintings!) This will give us some time to get away from our work and let the fairies come in and do their magic! Weather permitting we will eat outside around the property.

1PM - 4:00PM

Return to our work with a fresh perspective and continue to add layers and colour to our work. I will be introducing some acrylic mediums and options in order to produce some profile in the landscapes. This is a good time to delve into our paintings and listen to some music provided by my personally curated Italian play-list!

4:00PM - 5:30PM

Students are welcome to continue working for a while if needed. We will walk to town and meet up at our local Tuscan gelateria.

You are free to stay in town and wonder or continue working in the studio until 6PM

Fee: $185. (in person with lunch and refreshments included)

or

$95. online (a zoom link and password will be provided)

Note for those attending the in-person workshop: *If COVID restrictions change and no longer permit the in-person workshop by Sept. 10th, then the workshop will continue online and you will be refunded the difference of $90.

Accomodations for those looking to spend some time in Niagara-on-the-Lake, please visit the Bed & Breakfast Association at:

https://www.bookyourstay.ca/