The painting workshop in Tuscany was more than I could have asked for! A great group of people accompanied me and we had lots of time to paint, eat delicious local foods and drink Chianti at the Borgo Rapale. Each day we would have breakfast under the vine covered arbour, then head out into the village of Rapale to paint. Rapale, a 800 year old village, sits upon a hill and looks out over the rolling Tuscan landscapes filled with grapevines and olive trees. That famous Tuscan light did not disappoint. Then each evening we dined in the historic old wine cellar and drank copious amounts of the Cioli family Chianti. Owners Fortunato and Gisella treated us like family and we could not have asked for nicer hosts.
Florence offered the Uffizi gallery, the Accademia, the Duomo, the Ponti Vechio and old streets filled with art and history and architecture. I visited the David in the Accamdia ( that is where the original sculpture is, the one in the open square in front of the Duomo is a replica) where I also saw the Three Slaves by Michelangelo and other amazing sculptures. Carl and I walked along the Ponti Vechio and chatted with a few of the local artists who were set up with their art trying to make a meager living. One such artist, a young fellow who worked in ink, was especially interesting. After he made a lovely small ink drawing for me. he offered me to sit in his chair and use his inks and make a drawing, which I did and traded with him. One of his dreams is to come to Canada and sit in the streets of Old Quebec City to sell his work. But his plan was to come in winter when Florence is not so busy...we had to break the news to him that Quebec City in winter may not be ideal for sitting outside and flogging his art!
Next stop was San Gimignano, the Ancient Town of Towers. We enjoyed 3 days there and sketched and painted each day in the square and down the old winding streets of the old town. It was a favourite of many of us in the workshop.
We ended the 2 weeks in Rome. A city so full of history that it was difficult to take it all in. A visit to the Vatican Museum to see the Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo, sketching in front of the Colliseum, and searching out the small church of San Pietro in Vincola where Michelangelo's sculpture of Moses is located. Another very important goal off my wish list.
Florence offered the Uffizi gallery, the Accademia, the Duomo, the Ponti Vechio and old streets filled with art and history and architecture. I visited the David in the Accamdia ( that is where the original sculpture is, the one in the open square in front of the Duomo is a replica) where I also saw the Three Slaves by Michelangelo and other amazing sculptures. Carl and I walked along the Ponti Vechio and chatted with a few of the local artists who were set up with their art trying to make a meager living. One such artist, a young fellow who worked in ink, was especially interesting. After he made a lovely small ink drawing for me. he offered me to sit in his chair and use his inks and make a drawing, which I did and traded with him. One of his dreams is to come to Canada and sit in the streets of Old Quebec City to sell his work. But his plan was to come in winter when Florence is not so busy...we had to break the news to him that Quebec City in winter may not be ideal for sitting outside and flogging his art!
Next stop was San Gimignano, the Ancient Town of Towers. We enjoyed 3 days there and sketched and painted each day in the square and down the old winding streets of the old town. It was a favourite of many of us in the workshop.
We ended the 2 weeks in Rome. A city so full of history that it was difficult to take it all in. A visit to the Vatican Museum to see the Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo, sketching in front of the Colliseum, and searching out the small church of San Pietro in Vincola where Michelangelo's sculpture of Moses is located. Another very important goal off my wish list.
 The old Tuscan village of Rapale, population 15 people. | My watercolour demo (unfinished) of the landscape looking out from the Borgo Rapale. 
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Viewing the finished paintings after the first week.
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