Toscana Americana

Arts, Music, Culture & Travel

Toscana Americana Homepage

TAW Workshop Topics

TAW 2009 2010 Calendar

TAW Instructors 1

TAW FAQ's & A's

TAW Testimonials

TAW Photo Galleries

Cortona Photo Gallery

Cortona Easter Procession

Cortona Uphill Race 2009

Snowy Cortona

5 Terre & Riviera Gallery

Capri, Amalfi & Positano

Venice Photo Gallery

Santorini Photo Gallery

Dingle Ireland Photos

Grand Canyon Photos

St Lucia Photo Gallery

P Roland Encaustic Photos

C Hellmuth CollageGallery

Worc Art Museum Italy

Photography

Painting & Drawing

Paper, Book & Mixed Media

Polymer Clay

Calligraphy

Ceramics & Clay

Sculpture & Carving

Writing

Digital Arts

Jewelry

Textile, Ribbon & Fiber

Paint Out Tuscany!

Paint Out Tuscany Enroll

Cooking, Food & Wine

Cooking Photo Gallery

TuscanCooking Food & Wine

Tuscan Photography

Tuscan Photography Enroll

Toscana Americana Travel

Tuscany Tour Destinations

Tour Destinations

Simone Plein Air Cortona

Simone Plein Air Enroll

Rob Ijbema Plein Air

R Ijbema Plein Air Enroll

J S Pryce Plein Air

J S Pryce Plein Air Enrol

L Meyer Painting home

L Meyer Painting Enroll

Laurie Meyer Painting

Webster Textiles & Text

Webster Textiles Enroll

Molly Lipsher Painting

Molly Lipsher Enroll

L Skye Mosaics home

L Skye Mosaics Enroll

Gabriela Delworth Cortona

Gabriela Delworth Enroll

A Sciortino Art Dolls

ASciortino Art Doll Enrol

H Gibb Ribbon Art

H Gibb Ribbon Art Enroll

Helen Gibb Gallery

Thomas Tuscan Architectur

Thomas Tuscany Enroll

Lieurance Writing

Lieurance Writing Enroll

C Taylor Mixed Media

CTaylor Mixed Media Enrol

Joy Skinner Plein Air

Joy Skinner Enroll

L Moore Cinque Terre home

Moore Cinque Terre Enroll

D'Agostino Painting

D'Agostino Painting Enrol

J Tresser Raised Gilding

J Tresser Enroll

L Klein Photography

L Klein Photo Enroll

R Obrien Watercolor home

R Obrien Watercolor Enrol

Diehn Real Life Journals

Diehn Journals Enroll

Gwen Diehn Photo Gallery

P Gandiol Painting Home

P Gandiol Painting Enroll

Philippe G Photo Gallery

Rich Gallego Plein Air

Rich Gallego Enroll

Soyong Ceramics Home

Soyong Ceramics Enroll

Cicale Calligraphy

Cicale Calligraphy Enroll

Dino Dingle Landscape

Dino Dingle Enroll

Shay Amber Clay

Shay Amber Clay Enroll

GemmaB Calligraphy Tuscan

GemmaB Calligraphy Enroll

C Lewis Cinque Terre

C Lewis 5 Terre Enroll

C Lewis Photo Gallery

Rolfe Digital in Tuscany

Rolfe Digital Enroll

Rolfe Digital Gallery

V Brook Santorini Home

V Brooks Santorini Enroll

V Brooks Photo Gallery

Busillo Figure Painting

Busillo Santorini Enroll

Busillo Figure Enroll

Busillo Photo Gallery

Ceramics on Santorini

Ceramics Santorini Enrol

Massaroni Amalfi Coast

Massaroni Amalfi Enrol

Larry Moore Cortona

L Moore Cortona Enroll

Larry Moore Photo Gallery

Massaroni Plein Air Corto

Massaroni Cortona Enroll

Dino Massaroni Gallery

Pam Carriker home

Pam Carriker enroll

Brian Davis Florals home

Brian Davis Florals Enrol

Paul McMahan homepage

Paul McMahan Enroll

Michael Letzig Painting

Michael Letzig Enroll

J Whitney Plein Air home

J Whitney Plein Air enrol

C Lewis St Lucia

C Lewis St Lucia Enroll

Helen Beacham Watercolor

Helen Beacham Enroll

Barbara J. Dunham Collage

Barbara J. Dunham Enroll

Thomas W Schaller Cortona

Thomas W Schaller Enroll

Traci Collage Unleashed

Collage Unleashed Enroll

Nancy Chaboun home

Nancy Chaboun Enroll

Patti Mollica home

Patti Mollica Enroll

D Van Tuinen Encaustic

D Van Tuinen Enroll

Encaustic D VanTuinen

Keiko & Eugen watercolor

Keiko & Eugen Enroll

Karrie Evenson Paint home

Karrie Evenson Enroll

D Stoller Photo Gallery

C Randall Photo Gallery

Sedona & Grand Canyon

Sedona Enrollment

 
Go to Cortona photo gallery

 
Cortona: Island in the Sky
Cortona: Island in the Sky
Meet Georgia Mansur
Meet Georgia Mansur
Painting the Landscape
en Plein Air
in Cortona

with Artist/instructor
Georgia Mansur
Cortona, Italy     May 16-23, 2012


View videos online
View videos online
Come and paint en plein air in the warmth of the Tuscan sun in Cortona, one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Tuscany!

This intensive workshop is designed to teach the fundamental skills necessary for successful landscape oil painting in the open air [en plein air].  Workshop participants will focus on the basic techniques of plein air painting, and learn skills to simplify and organize their compositions from the wealth of material that nature provides.

 
The workshop will begin indoors in the studio with an introduction to the necessary equipment and supplies needed for working on location, followed by a discussion of the fundamentals of sound painting en plein air.

Subsequent mornings and afternoons will be spent painting on location, and special emphasis will be placed on how to select a motif, and how to organize and simplify the nearly overwhelming amount of information that nature provides.

The instructor will teach the importance of good drawing, composition, value, design, color, and teach workshop participants how to see in terms of mass and form rather than detail and line. Emphasis will be put on composition and design in order to understand, simplify and organize value patterns and
shapes.

Workshop participants will learn how to create atmospheric perspective, and the balance of cool and warm colors outdoors. There will be demonstrations, individual help, and critiques.

Although the course is designed to develop the individual's ability, workshop participants are encouraged to develop their own expression and insight into their work.

Through this workshop the student will come to appreciate the importance of outdoor painting, which is the soul of studio work.

     Skill Level: Intermediate to advanced     Medium: Oil & Acrylic, but other media are acceptable.

Casa Santa Margherita Special Plans
All-inclusive w/ private room/bath &

 $2749.00 per person double occupancy w/Group Meal Plan!
$2849.00 single occupancy!


Go to Enrollment page


All-inclusive enrollment options include:

Instruction on location
Escorted group travel 
Florence to Cortona May 16, 2012****
Seven nights
accommodations
in historic Cortona**

Local museums and events

All meals***(Italian breakfast, lunch & dinner)
Daily wine tasting opportunities

Day trip to Florence
& day trip to Lake Trasimeno
Tuscan Cooking class & dinner
A farewell wine tasting dinner

**Included with "Casa Santa Margherita" plans only, see details

***Included with "Group Meal Plans" only, see details

****Specific departure time only; to be announced
 
 *All-inclusive plans are Casa Santa Margherita plans only.
 
Air travel is the responsibility of each participant. Florence (FLR) is the suggested arrival and departure airport in Italy.

 
A
message
from
Patrick

 
 
About this workshop...

Day 1 – Arrival in Cortona 
Workshop participants will arrive in Cortona independently, or from Florence with a Toscana Americana escort. For the rest of the afternoon, participants either rest or explore Cortona before our welcome meeting at La Saletta where we will enjoy a wine and chocolate tasting. Later it is off to enjoy a fine dinner at La Loccanda nel Loggiatto.   

Day 2 - Cortona
The morning workshop session will be held at the accommodations where there will be an orientation to the necessary equipment and supplies needed for working on location, followed by a discussion of the fundamentals of sound painting en plein air. Here we will lay out a solid approach foundation so participants will be able organize and simplify the nearly overwhelming amount of information that nature provides. We will have lunch onsite and then paint on location nearby for the afternoon session. At all workshop painting sessions we will work on developing solid drawing skills, composition, design, color, value, and learn how to see in terms of mass and form rather than detail and line. There will be instructor demonstrations, individual help, and critiques.

Day 3 - Cortona/Poggio
 We will paint on location for the morning workshop session, where we will work on developing solid drawing skills, composition, design, color, value, and learn how to see in terms of mass and form rather than detail and line.  We will resume painting on location for the afternoon workshop session. Later we return to the hotel to refresh then travel to Piazza Garibaldi for a wine tasting and then have great dinner at Fufluns.   

Day 4 – Travel Day to Florence for the Uffizi Gallery
 
Today we will take a bit of a break from painting and take the train from Camucia Station to travel to Florence.  This city is noted for the magnificent Uffizi Museum which we will visit. Bring your sketch book to record impressionable works of art. Arrangements for a light lunch will be made for us. After exploring Florence and taking in all the beauty, we will return to Cortona for dinner.  


Day 5 - Cortona
 
Group workshop painting sessions in both the morning and afternoon. We will work on exercises designed to develop solid drawing skills, composition, design, color, value, and learn how to see in terms of mass and form rather than detail and line. There will be an instructor demonstration, individual help, and critiques. Dinner will be a unique event which will include a Tuscan cooking class so you will know how to recreate those fantastic meals form this week when you return home.  


Day 6 - Lago Trasimeno & Isola Maggiore
 
We will depart Cortona to travel to Passiganano to take a boat to Isola Maggiore.  We will paint some of the beautiful vistas in this area during the morning and afternoon workshop sessions. We will work on color, value, and learn how to see in terms of mass and form rather than detail and line. There will be instructor demonstration, individual help, and critiques. We will take a break for lunch at Il Vecchio Orologio. 

Day 7 - Cortona
 
We will work in and about Cortona for the morning and afternoon painting sessions. We will return to the hotel to freshen up and then return to the city center for a farewell wine tasting dinner, and glow in the light of many wonderful memories and some solid paintings to cherish for a lifetime.   

Day 8 – Cortona - Departure
 
For those who are able we will gather together for our morning breakfast at the hotel and say our goodbyes.  If you have time, you can visit Cortona's outdoor market for some last minute souvenir shopping.  This program is subject to change depending on the weather or other conditions but we will try to follow the itinerary as best as we can.  If weather does not permit us to paint outdoors we will have a studio where we can work.   Scheduled transportation to and from Cortona city center is provided, though you may walk if desired.

 
 
 
Itinerary


Saturday  – Arrival in Cortona
-Arrival and Check-in in Cortona
-7:00p Welcome to Cortona wine and chocolate tasting.
-8:00p Evening dinner in Cortona at La Loccanda nel Loggiatto

Sunday  - Cortona
-9:00a-1:00p Morning Session
-1:00p Lite lunch 
-3:00-6:00p Afternoon Session
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Evening dinner in Cortona

Monday  - Cortona
-9:00-1:00p Morning Session
-1:00p Lite lunch 
-3:00-6:00p Afternoon Session
-7:30p Wine tasting TBA
-8:00p Evening dinner in Cortona

Tuesday - Florence
-8:00a Taxi to Camucia Station (train at 8:29)
-Day trip to Florence with lite lunch provided
-Uffizi gallery visit.  
-4:13p Depart Florence
-7:30p Wine at TBA
-8:00p Dinner in Cortona 

Wednesday  - Cortona
-9:00-12:00p Morning Session
-12:00p Lunch 
-2:00-5:00p Afternoon Session
-5:45p Taxi to Tuscan cooking class & dinner  
-9:30p Taxi to accommodations


Thursday  -  Lago Trasimeno & Isola Maggiore

-8:15am Taxi to Tuoro

-9:05am Boat from Tuoro to Isola Maggiore

-Morning Session

-Lite lunch

-16:44pm depart Isola Maggiore for Tuoro

-17:15pm Taxi from Tuoro to accommodations


Friday  - Cortona
-9:00-1:00p Morning Session
-1:00p Lunch 
-3:00-6:00p Afternoon Session
-8:00p Farewell Wine Tasting Dinner in Cortona 

Saturday – Cortona
-Morning Check-out and departure from Cortona or we can help you plan an extended stay!
-Each guest must make taxi/travel requests through the hotel front desk. 
 

Note: Toscana Americana reserves the right to alter this itinerary.
All times are approximate


Cortona from the Valley
Cortona from the Valley
Cortona city center
Cortona city center
Isola Maggiore
Isola Maggiore

Casa Santa Margherita
proud partner of
Toscana Americana Workshops


Casa Santa Margherita
Casa Santa Margherita
Newly re-opened after a two and a half year remodeling and restoration!
Wonderful location, ambience and all-new amenities, including Wi-Fi!

 
Meet Georgia Mansur...

Georgia Mansur grew up in California and moved to Australia in 1984, settling with husband Pete on a cotton property one hour west of Moree, NSW. This isolated new environment gave Georgia the opportunity to look inward for her source of creativity and self expression. Painting and communicating her world became an inner wellspring of discovery and joy for the artist. Now living on their vineyard in Mudgee, Georgia has continued to explore watercolour, pastels, acrylics, mixed media and oils to find the best way to express her fascination with nature. Being able to share through art that original emotion of being moved by nature….watching the shadows grow long against the setting sun…. is a wonderful expression of the human experience. A particular interest in helping others to see the way light and colour on form produces artistic ‘magic’ drives Georgia to share this passion with others. Teaching and communicating about creativity and self expression through art has been a fulfilling experience for the artist. As Artist in Residence at Hamilton Island, Great Barrier Reef, as well as teaching workshops around the country, Georgia enjoys that interaction from helping others to tap into the natural creativity within us. Giving others the key to self expression is reward in itself, watching that light bulb of inspiration click on above students heads! Having completed a Bachelor of Communication at CSUS (California), Georgia feels painting is another level to communicate with others in a way that goes beyond words. Making a connection with the viewer of one’s artworks and truly touching and inspiring them with what you have created is this artist’s ultimate goal. Georgia has studied with many well known Australian and International painting masters, including Joseph Zbukvic, Herman Pekel, Patrick Carroll, Alvaro Castagnet, David Taylor, Colley Whisson, Chris Brown, Colina Grant, Les McDonough, Mignon Parker, Jeff Rigby, Jerry Fresia (Italy) and Gil Dellinger (California) to name a few. Georgia was a finalist in the 2008 Country Energy $35,000 Landscape Prize, and has won many awards, including First Prizes in art shows with judges Edmund Capon (Director Art Gallery of NSW), Justin Miller (Director Sotheby’s Australia), Georgina Pemberton (Australian Paintings-Sotheby’s), as well as being selected for the Calleen Art Prize, Cowra (twice), The Rocks Market Art Prize (3 times) and winner of the People’s Choice Award ‘Driven to Abstraction’, Mudgee. Georgia Mansur’s work is in collections in Australia, USA, UK, Germany, Hong Kong, and Singapore. See more of her work or contact the artist at http://www.georgiamansur.com" www.georgiamansur.com


 
 
Participant Supply List

Full list coming soon! 

Mineral Spirits (MS) may be purchased on location. DO NOT PACK AND BRING. IT IS ILLEGAL TO BRING OMS ON FLIGHTS. Participants purchase their own mineral spririts or equivalent.

Paper towels and plastic grocery bags (for trash) can be purchased on location.


Notebook for taking notes [Unless you have a permanent, photographic memory….its your class get your money’s worth]

A good day-bag or backpack for carrying the gear.

Wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, water bottle, rain gear and appropriate warm, dry comfortable shoes and clothing for working outdoors.


Go to Enrollment page


Meet your hosts in Tuscany...

Angela Lucani was born and raised in Cortona and never tires of living within the walls of this vibrant Tuscan hilltown! She trained as an elementary school teacher and taught in various locals within Cortona from its mountain villages to the growing post-war part of Cortona known as Camucia. Angela has always been passionate about Tuscan cooking, which she began to learn at an early age aiding her mother in the kitchen. She maintains respect for local cooking traditions and recipes and shares that with Italians and foreign visitors through cooking classes conducted both in Italy and in America.
She has extensive knowledge of Cortona's various areas, from the mountains to the fertile Val di Chiana, and continues to learn about its long and colorful history. She is also passionate about travel and enjoys learning about and experiencing customs, traditions and characteristics of other countries, cultures & people. Her travels destinations have included the United States, England, Egypt, South America, France, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Greece. She enjoys serving as a bridge between visitors to Tuscany and the local culture.

Patrick Mahoney (Miami University BA'80, MA'82) lives in Cortona where he continues a thirty-year career in the field of Arts & Entertainment producing events, workshops and tours and providing opportunities to share the Italy experience with travelers, artists and people who share his interests for foods, wine, art, culture. Patrick's passion is to conceive and realize various ways in which the human spirit can express and demonstrate its capacity to create. His ability to fearlessly think, conceive, and work "out of the box" has earned him the attention of artists & musicians, colleges & universities, public & private organizations, and business and industry. Patrick brings integrity and a unique vision to Toscana Americana and he is committed to realizing the opportunity for participants to create in an atmosphere of peace, joy, respect and mutual support. As a "slow traveler" and a supporter of "slow food" Mr. Mahoney rides trains, walks, lingers over lunch, dinner or a cup of espresso, stops to smell the roses and savors the sensory feast wherever he is!



Contact Toscana Americana

Go to Toscana Americana Workshops Homepage

Go to Toscana Americana Workshops Calendar

Go to FAQ's & A's


Go to Photo Gallery links


 
Photos & Content © Copyright 2011 Toscana Americana. All rights reserved.