Watercolor Painting Workshop in Tuscany: Plein air painting is experiencing all the senses. Looking at your paintings done on site brings back all the sounds, visual flavors and essence of a place in time to be savored and remembered all over again. This watercolor workshop will create lasting memories of time spent painting in the beautiful location of San Fedele set in the heart of the Tuscan countryside. Beginners as well as experienced students have the opportunity to form an intimate creative experience with the landscape. They will understand what it means to "see with an artist’s eye". Students learn to quickly capture this essence of the landscape by taking advantage of the early morning light and shadows. Clear, concise instruction is infused with basis traditional methods and frequent, step by step demonstrations, As students are working, each will be offered individual critique and specific guidance as their paintings progress. I will talk and answer questions through the process as I demonstrate. Students enjoy and learn a great deal from this combined instruction technique as our paintings come together. A comfortable, fun working atmosphere allows students to take chances and learn simple techniques for correcting mistakes. Any painting can be rescued! We will start each morning at a specific site and work as long as we are comfortable. If necessary continuing inside working from reference photos to complete at least one finished painting in a daily session as well as several value and color studies. At the end of the daily session, we will visit the next day’s location and reflect on our day with a glass of wine. This sets a visual image for us to contemplate for the next morning’s new painting session. Each student will be given a portfolio with an outline of the week’s activities and information covered. This portfolio also provides storage for finished paintings and a transport for getting artwork back home safely. Vicky will supply all painting materials for those who would like this option. This eliminates another bag to have to deal with while traveling. Students will become familiar with quality art materials and and how important these choices are for creating successful paintings. Please click here for more information about this program. You may register for this program through Il Chiostro, Inc. And this link provides information for the settings and accommodations at San Fedele in Tuscany. You may also send an email to Vicky for additional information about the program. Instructor’s Bio Vicky Russell has been painting in watercolor and pastel for 30 years and has been involved in teaching art at all levels for over 20 years. Vicky earned her BFA degree in Fine Arts from Colorado State University with post-graduate work from University of Northern Colorado. She currently lives and teaches studio and plein air workshops and weekly classes at her home and studio in Loveland, Colorado. She is a on summer staff as an art instructor at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, Colorado. Vicky’s vivid watercolors and pastels have been featured in numerous juried, solo and group shows locally and nationally. Inspiration for her plein air paintings has come from her experiences traveling in Europe, sketching and journaling Italian scenes and other locations. Living in the western states. Colorado mountains, New Mexico vistas, Wyoming skies, reflect Vicky’s passion to experience nature through her paintings. Another favorite theme, drawing from her past and family background, is her Victorian porch series bringing back fond memories of simpler times. Vicky’s use of light and color create a welcoming path that invites the viewer into her paintings.