TUSCANY Plein Air WORKSHOP
JUNE 17 through June 24, 2024
Recently, I have been offered an opportunity to teach a painting class in Tuscany, Italy next June. I have experience with il Chiostro, taking a class in 2005, and teaching a plein air class for them in 2006. The memories of that week are simply wonderful in every way, and I am delighted that I will be able to take part in their well organized program again; and to offer it to any of you who might be interested and able to participate.
Following from the ilchiostro.com website detailing my wokshop:
Meals and our “Home”
Beautiful San Fedele, a thousand-year-old monastery near Siena, resurrected from ruins and transformed into a distinctive retreat center, will be your home away from home for a full week.
Dinners are prepared by our personal chef using local and seasonal ingredients to make every meal a feast! We’ll eat together in the dining room of the ex-monastery each evening. Breakfast is served buffet-style. You are free to eat indoors or out on the terrace. There is a lovely private pool at the end of the garden which makes for the perfect end to a long day painting.
Additional Activities: Our daily painting will be combined with other adventures such as:
Day trip to Medieval Siena to sketch, take photos, explore and shop
Excursions to nearby hilltowns like Radda, Castellina, Monteriggioni, etc.
Visit to Chianti winery for a tour and tasting
Sunday dinner at local winery
Variety of plein air locations to paint landscapes, villages, and the Tuscan light
After excursions or painting on location, we’ll return each evening to relax in our 1,000 year old monastery to enjoy the surroundings, have a glass of wine, and relax after the day’s rich experiences. Then we will move to the dining room (the authentic refectory where the monks used to assemble) to enjoy our local chef’s authentic, homemade Tuscan meal, recapping the day’s adventure with good company.
Take Flight, pastel by Shauna Shane
Price: $3,595 p/p; non-painters $3,295
Supplement: $575 for single room, limited availability
$500 deposit due upon registration. Balance due by April 15.
Workshop Details:
Plein Air Workshop in oil, acrylic or pastel, any level, taught by me, with demonstrations and specific individual instruction on location in Tuscany.
In this plein air painting class I can accommodate pastel, oil or acrylic. I will begin with a discussion and demonstration that is packed with information about the thought process during the planning and completion of a painting.
My teaching style is encouraging and positive. Instruction is geared to each student’s individual needs. The goal of this workshop is to help students learn as much as possible about how to produce a successful painting, including:
How to choose your subject with consideration of the time you have
How to plan your design with awareness of your main concept or idea
How to simplify “green spinach” into large shapes; chaos into masses
How to see light and shadow as your major design element
How to develop your skill level so that you can paint more efficiently
How to relax and smile so you can enjoy your journey through this amazing, delightful experience, painting ‘en plein air.’
Seven days: June 15 – 22, 2024
Location: San Fedele, Tuscany about 12 km North of Sienna
Cost: $3,595 per student, airfare not included. (With information and references available for travel. Check out “Travel Resources” on their web site)
Includes double occupancy room (supplement of $575 for singles)
Includes breakfast and dinner (with wine) each day
Includes all instruction, and local transportation to curated painting locations
Includes pick up and return to Florence on the first and last day
Includes a program manager with the class the entire time
www.ilchiostro.com for information on the organization and location. Look up my workshop dates (June 17 – 24) for additional information and pictures .
Insights:
How to choose your subject with consideration for the time you have
How to simplify “spinach” into light and shadow shapes; chaos into masses
How to see light and dark rather than objects as your major design element
How to develop your skill level so that you can paint more efficiently
How to relax and smile so you can enjoy your journey through this amazing, delightful experience called painting
Painting outdoors is to be surrounded by nature, color and light, with jewel-like light and the tradition of the impressionist masters to inspire. It also just happens to be the best practice possible to achieve excellence in the art of painting. Because the light is changing one learns to place the stroke with intention, resulting (hopefully) in a fresh and painterly impression of a beautiful moment in time.
Where could one possibly choose to inspire artistic excellence as much as the beautiful, painterly landscape of Tuscany?
If you think you might be able to join me, please connect through my contact page, or text: 860-429-3646
There is a limit to how many students can attend, so please let me know soon if this might fit for you.
Plein air examples by Shauna Shane: First three Oil, then a pastel.
A Dedicated Teacher
Shauna is known for her positive, effective teaching style. Her goal as a teacher is to share the techniques and information that helped her the most in her own artistic journey. Demonstrations are informative and effective, taking a blank canvas to an established painting while discussing the thought process along the way. Shauna has the gift of being able to describe what it is she is thinking as she develops a painting, and each demonstration gives new and useful information.
Watercolor Self Portrait
“A generous and outgoing teacher, her individual, specific instruction make her classes a joy for anyone who has an appreciation of the artistic process. Even more, her students come away with a new way of seeing the world. ”
Tuesday Open Studio
9:30-12:30 Painting Instruction: all levels, any medium
Join Shauna on Tuesday mornings for instruction and advice on your current project or painting problem. Rain or shine, every week brings an opportunity to develop your skills, whether beginner or expert. Shauna has won awards in drawing, watercolor, pastel, acrylic, and oil, and is known for effective advice in advancing your work and your skill level. No need to sign up, just come in when you can. Bring your project and supplies – easels are provided.
The fee for three hour's instruction is $25.00. Best deal in town! Questions? call 860-429-3646