Painting vacations in Italy

Think of Europe’s art and you might think of Italy first. It’s the land of the Uffizi and futurism, Arte Povera and Papal patronage, home of the Venice Biennale, the Renaissance, Modigliani, chiaroscuro and Caravaggio. It’s the adopted home of artists like Cy Twombly, who moved to southern Italy in the 1950s, and collectors like Peggy Guggenheim, who set up in Venice in the 1940s. Countless others have been inspired – take Durer, who visited and brought the Italian Renaissance back to northern Europe as a souvenir – and Kandinsky, who had frequent vacations here through his life.

Yes, there’s a heavy cultural legacy in Italy, but there’s room for plenty more creativity. That’s where our painting vacations in Italy come in. On these trips, the landscape serves as eternal inspiration. Not for nothing is Italy known as the bel paese – beautiful country, among its people. You see it in the enrosadira – when the Dolomites blush pink at dawn and dusk. You see it when Lake Garda settles into a long, hot lunchtime, and the water sparkles.

Whilst Italy is known for big-hitter sights, our painting vacations are retreats away from the crowds: why risk a jolted easel in St Mark’s Square when you can sprawl in the picturesque solitude of the hills? Some of Italy’s less-visited places are connected with some of the world’s greatest artists, who weren’t, of course, all born in Rome or Florence. Take Renaissance artist Raphael, who was born in Urbino, a small city in the region of Marche; the city has lots of arts students, but not many tourists.

Best of all, you can work with, and meet, living artists. In your small group, you’ll have an inspirational tutor, plus meet artists from all over the world – many of whom will be open to discussing their approach with the group. Then there are those you encounter in the community.

We have painting vacations running at different times of year, and they are dictated by a particular artist’s availability to tutor. You’ll find that most vacations run between May and September – this is when you get the best weather for painting en plein air, and the landscape is looking its best.

Our painting vacations are small group trips. The types of art you do varies. Our trips include sketching vacations, where you’ll fill a book with ideas; more focused watercolour and oil workshops, and vacations where you can try out more unusual techniques like paper sculpture. You’ll work under the tutelage of an artist who can give you as much or as little feedback as you like.

Imposter syndrome is banned here. You don’t need any experience to take part in a painting vacation, so don’t worry about being ‘good enough’. Non-painting partners are welcome, too, as many activities are cultural and interesting whether you’re an artist or more of a scientist. And remember, these trips are still vacations – so approach with a good dash of sprezzatura (the art of not trying too hard).