Travel with fellow artists, family & friends! In addition to Non-participating guest options, did you know that other workshops are offered this same week! Enjoy the experience together while immersed in different topics! View calendar for details!
Watercolor Sketching in Santorini with artist/instructor Jim Chapman October 3-10, 2009
Fira, Santorini
Experience the thrill and beauty of a wonderful part of Greece, and even more so, taking these memories you've created home with you! This workshop is for beginners to advanced artists and will be conducted on outdoors location, weather permitting.
Study with Jim and capture the adventures of plein air painting colorful landscapes in beautiful picturesque Santorini, Greece. Discover how painting from life helps us to see and observe the affects of light and atmosphere. Learn how to simplify your subject while painting more quickly and accurately, with special attention placed on learning to see masses, as opposed to line, and form, rather than detail. The entire painting process will be covered along with daily demonstrations. Jim will work individually with each student at their easel and guide them at their own level. This workshop is for anyone interested in learning to develop creative, painterly paintings with clean, rich color, mood, and dynamic compositions. Read more about this workshop below...
Picture Yourself...
painting among the sights and sounds of beautiful Santorini: Crystal blue water, vineyards, centuries-old buildings, narrow winding streets, bold color and vibrant sunlight.
Feel Yourself...
in the warm ambiance of Santorini, overlooking an ancient volcanic caldera, claimed site of the lost city of Atlantis, originally fortified by the Minoans, claimed by the Romans, touched by the Venicians, almost unchanged for centuries, one of Greece's jewels.
Experience...
the joy of learning and gaining painting skills and confidence the expert instruction of an acclaimed professional painter and the camaraderie of a small group of learners.
Enjoy...
great Mediterranean food, delightful wines, new friends, breath-taking vistas, history and the hospitality of the people of Santorini.
Workshop is open to painters of all levels. Whether you are a novice just learning to mix color, or a professional needing advanced problem solving, Jim’s individualized instruction will address needs at your level and push you to the next step in your personal development. Accommodations are intended as follows:
Note: Accommodations may change based on availability.
About this workshop...
Day 1: Arrival at Santorini. Opening reception, where we meet and greet and excitedly talk about the week of discovery coming up. Day 2, two sessions: First, there must be coffee! - And a quick show of hands about the possible locations for the day. Does the class prefer working in a sunny vineyard or in the shadows of medieval walls? Jim explains his approach to working on location, his materials and some of the challenges he’s faced in painting in outdoors. Teacher demos. Students paint. Day 2 emphasis is on basic design and composition. Day 3, two sessions: Teacher demos. Students paint. Day 3 emphasis is on value (and color value) range. Day 4, two sessions: Teacher demos. Students paint. Day 4 emphasis is on positive/neg. shapes.
Day 5, two sessions: Teacher demos. Students paint. Day 5 emphasis is on value range.
Day 6, one session: Teacher demos. Students paint. Day 6 emphasis is on color. If you have questions, please let me know: Jim@vardeman.com or call 770-530-9671
During the week we will visit the towns and villages of Fira, Oia (pronounced Eee-ah) and Akrotiri, and the local museum featuring wall paintngs from the ancient city of Akrotiri. We will also take a day cruise to explore the inner islands, with optional visits to hot springs, the volcano, as well as the island of Thirasia.
And, in true Toscana Americana Workshops style, we will explore the local Greek culture, cuisine and wines while dining in local cliff-side restaurants 1000 feet above the water!
This is bound to be a wonderful week with plenty
of opportunity to paint "plein air" in a relaxed
and inspirational setting!
Santorini...
Santorini is one of the cycladic islands, created by the eruption of the volcano 1500 B.C. (thought by some to have brought about the end of the Minoan civilization and speculated by some as the famous island of Atlantis). Due to this, the island offers a versatile landscape with on the one hand steep darkish rock formations and on the other hand beaches and small white villages. Besides that, there are several interesting monuments and the active volcano of course. Thira offers, besides remnants from several eras, ruins of the old Roman baths, theatres and markets.
Santorini is a group of islands in a circle about 10 KM across - the rim of a large volcano that is still producing small islands in the center. Steep slopes lead to the central area and gentle slopes lead to the sea that circles the island. It's really a group of islands even though it is usually discussed as if it were one. Settlements are scattered around the island as a series of small villages.
The famous white buildings are huddled close to one another on and over the cliff of the central caldera. Hiking paths and trails lead all over the island, but a charming time can be had walking the paths that interconnect the settlements and exploring the shops. Visitors can take ferry boats to the central island(s) to visit the new land and soak in hot springs.
*All-inclusive plans are Hotel plans only. **Hotel Nissos Thira or equivalent. Based on availability ***Included with "All-inclusive" plans only All guests are responsible for handling their own luggage/baggage... ...we suggest to pack light. Go to Enrollment Form
Itinerary
(Itinerary in progress, subject to change)
All painting locations to be announced
3 Saturday– Arrival in Fira, Santorini -Arrival and Check-in in Fira (Participants are responsible for transfers to hotel) -7:00p Welcome to Santorini wine & chocolate tasting at Zafora. -8:00p Dinner at Zafora
4 Sunday - Fira -9:00a-1:00p Morning session -1:00p Lunch -3:00-6:00p Afternoon session -7:00p Wine tasting at Zafora -7:30p Dinner in Fira at Cesare 5 Monday - Fira -9:00-1:00p Morning session
-1:00p Lunch -3:00-6:00p Afternoon session
-7:00p Wine tasting at Zafora -7:30pDinner in Fira at Noussa
7 Wednesday - Full-day Caldera Cruise -11:00a Depart by bus for Athinios Port -5:30p approx. return to Fira -7:00p Wine tasting at Espresso Caffe -7:30p Dinner in Fira at Ouzeoi
8 Thursday - Akrotiri
-9:00a-1:00p Morning session
-1:00p Lunch
-3:00-6:00p Afternoon session -7:00p Wine tasting at Zafora
-7:30p-Dinner in Fira at Dionysus
9 Friday - Fira -9:00a-1:00p Morning session -1:00p Lunch at Posiedon -3:00-6:00p Afternoon session -7:00 - Wine tasting at Zafora -7:30p Farewell Wine Tasting Dinner at Zafora 10 Saturday – Departure- Morning Check-out & departure Note: Toscana Americana reserves the right to alter this itinerary.
All times are approximate. Arrange departure taxi through Hotel front desk.
Supply List
Bring the materials that you are most comfortable with. It’s not about the materials, but about the experience. Generally, I work sitting on available park benches, on the ground or on a stool. Although umbrellas and French easels are handy, I don’t use them, as I prefer ‘blending’ in to better focus on the paintings. But if you use them, by all means bring them.
Paper: Use whatever brand and type you prefer. If you’re a beginner, I’d recommend a watercolor pad or sketchbook (or both). I’ll be using a 14” x 17” Aquabee Super Deluxe Sketch book that comes with 60 sheets. I’ll also use some Fabriano paper, most likely 140-pound rough or cold pressed half sheets. Some good papers are Arches, Fabriano, Lana, etc.
Brushes: I use a number 10 sable most often, as well a 2-inch brush and a rigger brush.
Palette: Use the type you are most comfortable with. I use a small folding palette in the field.
Paints: I use a mix of brands, usually DaVinci, Windsor Newton and others that look interesting. Please feel free to substitute any of the colors below.
Here is my basis palette:
Windsor Yellow
New Gamboge
Raw Sienna
Burnt Sienna
Raw Umber
Ivory Black
Alizarin Crimson
Permanent Rose
Cadmium Red Light
Quinacridone Violet
Ultramarine Blue
Cobalt Blue
Cobalt Violet
Thalo Blue
Thalo Green
Hooker’s Green
Sketching: I use a Prismascolor.5 sepia fine line marker for preliminary sketches before applying watercolor. You may use pencil, or erase the marks after you complete your paintings. If you use pencil, I’d recommend a no. 2 and don’t forget some sort of sharpener.
Hat: Pretty much a mandatory, as abundant light will almost overwhelm an artist here.
