Art Holidays Val d'Orcia
Spring, Summer and Autumn
Dear friends,
as most of you know my small, privately run art school has been closed since the beginning of the pandemic. I will call these 14 months my Black Iron Oxide times, i.e. pure blackness. And yet, despite all, I am still thinking that I could find ways to pursue beauty, do something meaningful and offer the chance to learn the fine arts.
During summer, I will rent a grand farmhouse in Val d'Orcia, Tuscany, and offer art tuition everyday for all those of you who are so over this virus and seek beauty and freedom. I am also looking for a cellist to play for us in the garden and for a cook, with whom to learn how to make "pici".
We will live immersed in dense oak and beech woods, not far from natural, wild, unspoilt springs and we will visit a few Medieval hamlets. In full respect of covid-19 guidelines, we will find the right balance between safety/carefulness and sociability/fun. If you would love to do something creative in a special environment, please get in touch (and word of mouth will be utterly appreciated!)
Available weeks:
July 24th/31st 2021 ✷ September 11th-18th, 2021.✷ May 21st-28th, 2022 ✷ July 23rd-30th, 2022
Planning a trip to Val d'Orcia
Val d'Orcia is a region of Tuscany which extends from the hills south of Siena to Monte Amiata. Its gentle, cultivated hills are occasionally sprinkled with Medieval Villages, cypresses and natural springs.
Where to stay & What to do
We have teamed up with Emanuele Modigliani, writer, owner of a wonderful farmhouse called Il Colombaio. The farmhouse was built around a 16th century sighting tower, constructed directly upon an enormous rock that is still partially visible in the main room. The renovation was careful and respectful, all the original materials were kept: trachyte walls; chestnut beams; the terracotta tiles or the rough stone for the floors. The kitchen features majolicas hand painted by local artisans. Il Colombaio is immersed in woods of chestnut and oak where the altitude prohibits beech trees to grow. The beech groves are like temples of white columns, in autumn turning to shades of orange yellow, bright red.
Il Colombaio di Vivo d'Orcia
Retreat for artists, writers and musicians
With
guidance from academic artist Elena Governo we will paint, draw and print we will return home with a
rich and diversified body of works. In particular we will dedicate
ourselves to:
5 painting lessons, 4 hours each, and we will create a fine oil painting on wood from priming to polishing. You will travel home with a great piece to hang!
COOKING LESSONS WITH GIOVANNA AND LUISA - two cooking classes to learn the secrets of Tuscan cuisine and to taste unique dishes under the arbour.
WATER SPRINGS WALK WITH GIANLUCA - join a magical walk in the woods with a professional guide.
Cost: £800/€940 per person, based on two people sharing a room.
Come-with-a-friend fee: £750/€880 per person or come-with-two-friends fee: £720/€840 per person.