Spend 10 days La Romita devoted to your process, shared with an intimate group of other artists!
For over 60 years, La Romita School has been hosting workshops and retreats from its home, a 16th-century monastery nestled among olive groves in Umbria. The region is an extraordinary destination for artists, photographers, and poets, with inspiration to be found in local scenery, history, and culture. Time at La Romita gives artists time and space to focus on their art in a serene atmosphere, with opportunities to explore and adventure, without most of the logistical distractions that come with travel abroad. Ordinarily, our workshops are led by instructors in a particular medium, but this retreat will instead cater to those artists who just want to get out and capture their experiences with paintbrush, pen, or lens.
What’s Included
- Full room and board for the duration, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- 7 trips (4 half-day, 3 full day) – see our 10-Day Sample Itinerary.
- Pickup from and Drop-off at Rome’s International Airport.
- 24/7 access to our beautiful studio.
- full run of our grounds, including the garden and olive orchards.
- plenty of space indoors and out, to work, socialize, or get away.
In Michael’s workshop, you will immerse yourself in the splendor of the Umbrian villages and countryside, to drink in and capture the beauty and wonder of it all! You will learn and practice maintaining awareness of the principles of painting and the focus that painting on location takes. You will come away with incredible memories of the experience, a stack of paintings from a unique and wonderful part of the world, and the benefit of many discussions and demonstrations about painting with watercolor.
In addition to specific techniques that watercolor demands, the workshop will focus on all of the other important principles of painting, including drawing, design, composition, color, values, edges, etc. There will be lots of time both on location and in the studio, and Michael will be teaching for all levels of experience.
Michael works with each student on an individual basis. When on location, he discusses what he’s doing as he paints, and encourages the group to paint along with a similar view. In the studio, paint-along sessions give students a chance to see and hear about color selection and mixing, how washes are applied and why… and to watch and then do it themselves on their own.
Each day will start with a session on location. After lunch will be another session – in the studio, on La Romita’s grounds, or a trip to another town – depending on the day and focus.