Toscana Americana

Pen & Watercolor Illustration

in Tuscany!

with Artist/Instructor
Ann Thomas
April 19-26, 2023
Cortona, Italy

Spaces limited, enroll early to ensure your participation!

Capturing the Charm of Tuscan Hill Towns

in Pen and Ink and Watercolor

Picture yourself sitting in an outdoor cafe in one of the piazzas, sketchbook in hand, immersed in capturing the life around you while enjoying a cappuccino.  Let me share the techniques I use in my work using a very portable means of sketching  -  pen and ink and watercolor – to record the beautiful, sensitive lines of an old building or the bold strokes of a street scene. Learn to zoom in on the important elements when working in the field to create interesting compositions and lasting memories with texture and rich washes of color!

This class covers pen and ink and watercolor wash techniques, composition and simple perspective.   Plenty of time for one on one assistance with the instructor and always an enjoyable critique at the end of the day!

Picture Yourself...

among the sights and sounds of beautiful and romantic Tuscany: olive groves, vineyards, centuries-old buildings, winding streets, texture and vibrant sunlight.

Feel Yourself...

in the warm ambiance of Cortona, overlooking Lake Trasimeno and the Val di Chiana, originally fortified by the Umbrians, claimed by the Etruscans, touched by the Renaissance, almost unchanged for centuries, one of Tuscany's jewels.

Experience...

the joy of painting en plein air in a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere with the camaraderie of a small group of enthusiastic painters.

Enjoy...

great Italian food, delightful wines, new friends, breath-taking vistas, history and the hospitality of the people of Cortona.

All-inclusive* workshop includes:
Escorted group travel Florence
to Cortona April 19, 2023****
Instruction in the classroom and on location
Seven nights accommodations
in historic Cortona** (Private room & bath)
Local Etruscan Museum & Museo Diocesano
All meals***
(Italian breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Daily wine tasting opportunities
Day trip to Pienza & Montepulciano

Day trip to Siena
A farewell wine tasting dinner
Escorted group travel Cortona
to Florence April 26, 2023****

**Included with "Hotel" private room plans only. See details.
***Included with "Group Meal Plan" only. Italian breakfsat simply includes coffees, brioche, toast, milk, juices, cheese.  
****Specific departure time from Florence airport April 19, 2023 only at 12:00noon
****Specific departure time from Cortona to Florence airport April 26, 2023 only at 8:00am
*All-inclusive plans are "Hotel" only.
Air travel and ground transportation to/from Cortona is not included and is the responsibility of each participant

Hotel Italia Special...
$3750.00 All-inclusive w/ shared room/bath & Group Meal Plan... per person double occupancy

$3890.00 w/ private room/bath & Group Meal Plan... per person

 
Special Non-participant rates!

Meet Ann Thomas...

Artist Ann Thomas is widely recognized for her fine architectural style renderings of homes, businesses and landmark buildings in pen and ink, colored pencil, and watercolor. Ann is also known for her detailed images used in children’s books, greeting cards and other print media.  Ann freelances out of her home studio in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is currently an online instructor for Craftsy.com. She can be contacted at annsart@sbcglobal.net, web site address: www.annthomasillustration.com

Ann..."I have always loved to draw. Since 2^nd grade.  Really.

Trained as a Graphic artist and working in that field for several years, I changed gears to focus on my illustration skills.  Proficient in colored pencil, watercolor, pastels and most recently water-based oils, my first love is pen and ink.

Years ago a friend gave me his technical pen and I immediately fell in love with the crisp, dark lines against the creamy background of the paper. Since then I’ve done countless homes and buildings in and around where I live and currently give workshops sharing this wonderful media with others.

My other passion is drawing children and illustrating for children’s books and creating my yearly Christmas card.  I have an online class available through Craftsy.com devoted to this.

I’ve worked as a graphic designer, taught as an adjunct instructor at Mount Mary University for 6 years and am currently giving workshops in pen and ink and watercolor."

Itinerary

Wednesday  – Arrival in Cortona

-12:00 noon – Escorted group travel Florence airport to Cortona

-Arrival and Check-in in Cortona

-Free afternoon to shop, rest, explore!

-6:30p Welcome to Cortona wine and chocolate tasting at La Saletta.

-7:30p Evening dinner in Cortona at La Locanda nel Loggiato

   

Thursday  - Cortona

-9:00a-12:30p Morning Session

-12:30-1:30p Lite Lunch TBA

-1:30-5:00p Afternoon Session

-7:00p Wine/aperitifs

-7:30p Evening dinner in Cortona

 

Friday  - Siena

-8:00a Depart Cortona for Siena

-9:30a-12:30p Morning visit

-12:30-1:30p Lite Lunch

-1:30-4:00p Afternoon

-7:00p Wine/aperitifs

-7:30p Evening dinner in Cortona

  

Saturday  - Cortona

-9:00a-12:00p Morning Session (Market day...until about 1pm)

-1:00-2:00p Lite Lunch

-2:00-5:00p Afternoon Session

-7:00p Wine/aperitifs

-7:30p Evening dinner in Cortona

Sunday  - Pienza and Montepulciano 

-8:45a Day trip to Pienza and Montepulciano

- Morning Session

-12:30p Lite lunch 

- Afternoon Session

-4:00p Depart and return to Cortona 

-7:00p aperitifs 

-7:30p Evening dinner in Cortona 

   

Monday  -  Val di Chiana 

-9:00a-12:30p Morning Session

-12:30p Lite Lunch 

-2:00-5:30p Afternoon Session

-6:00p aperitifs 

-7:30p Evening dinner in Cortona 

 

Tuesday  - Cortona

-9:00a-12:30p Morning Session

-1:00p Lite Lunch 

-FREE AFTERNOON

-7:30p Farewell Wine Tasting Dinner in Cortona 

 

Wednesday – Departure   

-Morning Check-out

-8:00a departure from Cortona with escorted return to Florence airport.

 

Note: Toscana Americana reserves the right to alter this itinerary. All times are approximate.
Note: Transfers are provided only for programmed meals and activities away from the hotel.
Note: All guests are responsible for handling their own luggage/baggage....we suggest to pack light.
Note: No refunds are given for any unused aspects of the itinerary or for any activities outside the above itinerary.

Note: Airfares not included

Note: Guests are responsible for all personal hotel service charges

Go to Enrollment Form

See more photos of Cortona!

Click here!

Hotel Italia...
proud partner of
Toscana Americana Workshops

Participant Suggested Supply List...

• Waterproof (felt tip) ink pens in several size tips, a good one is Faber-Castell 4PITT Artist Pens, Black. (Try to include 1 brush pen.) OR any portable sketch pen with waterproof ink, there are some very nice fountain pens used for sketching – example: Lamy ink pens, Rotring, Platinum Carbon ink pen,  etc.
• Portable sketch pad, approximately 11 x 14” or what you’re comfortable using, with paper heavy enough to accept watercolor. I use an acid free, 80 # sketch pad and have several smaller size sketch books. Straight watercolor paper can be hard on pen tips, so I prefer sketch pads.
• Tracing paper, several sheets.
• Soft pencils, sharpener and kneaded eraser
• Portable water container 
• Small set of watercolors or watercolor pencils. Watercolor brushes in several sizes if using watercolor, for instance #2 round, #4 round pointed, #6 round and #12 round brushes are all good choices. 1 or 2 brushes are sufficient. Again use what you have and are comfortable with.
• Rags or paper towel for cleanup
• Portable chair for onsite sketching
• I encourage students to bring the tools they already have and are comfortable working with. This is a very portable class, and the media we use should be quick drying and easy to carry.

About Cortona

Cortona is one of the true jewels of the Tuscan “hill towns.”    Cortona, which is often called the “City of Art,” has its origin as an Etruscan city that pre-dates Roman times with sections of its walls dating back some 2500 years.  As is typical of Tuscan hill-towns, Cortona is a walled city that, for purposes of defense, was built atop a prominent geographical point. The stone buildings and streets not only have the romance, style, and charm that are particular to Tuscany, but also speak of the lives and times Cortona has witnessed. An encounter with Cortona is an encounter with music & art, with history and with spirituality. Getting to know this timeless city is a real rediscovery of our past. Cortona offers testimony to its history as well as an enchanting view of the landscape enclosed by Lake Trasimeno and the Apennine mountains.