Painting the Italian Landscape – with Thomas Kegler
August 19, 2025 - August 29, 2025
$3900
La Romita welcomes preeminent painter and teacher Thomas Kegler, whose approach draws on Tonalism and Luminsim to blend the expressive modes of 19th century Romantic Impressionists with Contemporary Realism.
Modeled after the techniques and philosophy of the Hudson River School of the mid 1800s, this landscape painting workshop will focus on understanding the anatomy of the landscape through close observation via field studies in the form of sketches, notes and plein air paintings. These investigative works can also potentially be used as reference for a future large studio painting.
Traditional landscape painting in the 19th Century involved spending much time immersing yourself in the outdoors. Investigating the individual visual elements that compose a landscape is integral to “understanding” nature. Ultimately, the artist shares their experience in the form of an evocative painting.
Tom will demonstrate approaches to capturing the landscape through gathering visual information. Students will begin by searching out potential concepts, motifs and composition(s) via thumbnail drawings. The workshop’s focus will then transfer to the students’ hands-on painting. Student questions and interest will direct some of the demonstrations and presentations.
Students will be guided through processes of color mixing and brushwork, as well as how to cope with ever changing weather and lighting conditions. Discussions on composition, value, color, edges, aesthetics, atmospheric perspective, theory, nature, and distilling the visual will also be offered.
Although Tom will demonstrate a new painting and theme each day, participants will be encouraged to work at their own pace.
Artists can work in any media they prefer (Oils, Watercolor, Pastels, etc.) even though the demonstrations will be in oils. This class is geared for all levels of skill from beginner to advanced students.
To learn more about Thomas Kegler, the workshop, or to register, please visit thomaskegler.com/classes/italy/
Contact the Instructor
About Tom
Thomas Kegler is an Art Renewal Center Living Master as well as publisher, instructor, and accomplished educational film producer. He is regarded as one of the premiere landscape painters of today. Thomas’ growing volume of work, considered to be among the most influential of our time, embodies a confident humility obtained from a life spent outdoors.
Thomas is a renowned art educator and champion of future artists, young and old with over 27 years experience teaching art. His work draws on the techniques and sensibilities of the Hudson River school, Tonalism and Lumanism movements of the mid-1800’s. Each piece celebrates the grandeur and mystery of God’s creation through careful attention to often-overlooked subtleties. His paintings are a “devotional” of hand, head, and heart that impart a universal quality… making the viewer feel he has been there and can relate to the image. He is recognized as a top artist among many national organizations and has been featured in various international art publications. Thomas’ work has won numerous awards and has been showcased globally in galleries, museums, and collections from the United States to Europe.
As La Romita School caters to multiple levels of instruction and various forms of the arts, prices will vary by session, season, instructor, and offerings.