The light! ...The food! ...The views! ... The culture! ...The art & history! ...
all Under the Tuscan Sun!
If you’ve been to Italy before, you KNOW what it’s like & can’t wait to get back…if you’ve never been, you have GOT to get over there! The light in Tuscany is like nowhere else on earth! Its caress leaves you feeling mellow all over, and somehow full of the creative spirit we yearn for as artists! Daily forays in and around Cortona and the Tuscan countryside, visiting an antique market, or grabbing a gelato at the village trattoria will give us compositions & memories for a lifetime. Everything will be taken care of for us…all we have to do is savor every moment (with our paint brushes!) and make new friends along the way.
by Helen K. Beacham
by Helen K. Beacham
Helen’s energetic approach to teaching & enthusiasm for the watercolor medium combine to create classes which are both fun and informative.
- Composition, design and atmospheric perspective will be topics of lively discussion. - Italy’s enchanting landscape will be explored…how do you best create a variety of interesting greens? - Italy’s ancient architecture begs to be captured…let’s paint bricks, rock and even trickling fountains! - Still lifes abound (potted geraniums, vino e formaggio ,… whatever we find that turns us on!) - Frequent demonstrations to get our juices flowing, followed by lots of painting time for YOU! - Gain confidence in your own style or learn techniques that Helen will share - In case of rain, we’ll paint indoors on yummy Yupo paper (provided gratis by Helen) - Individual, specific assistance throughout the week - Informal discussions about joining a gallery, and how to open your own gallery! - Any knowledge in Helen’s head is fair game this week! - Maybe a visit to an Italian artist’s studio??? - Side visit to Florence to see the Accademia & Michelangelo’s David! A “must-do”! - For a change of pace, let’s cook a fabulous evening meal together, under the supervision of our own chef - All skill levels are welcome in this workshop!
- Plenty of free time to shop, unwind, snap lots of research material for future paintings, and leisurely stroll the cobblestoned streets of this Italian “island in the sky”.
by Helen K. Beacham
by Helen K. Beacham
All-inclusive* workshop includes: Escorted group travel Florence to Cortona April 21, 2012**** 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 Florence & the "David" Day trip to Lake Trasimeno & Isola Maggiore Day trip to Siena Tuscan cooking class & dinner A farewell wine tasting dinner
**Included with "Casa Santa Margherita" 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 only; time to be announced, return train ticket to Florence provided (not escorted) *All-inclusive plans are "Casa Santa Margherita" only. Air travel and ground transportation to/from Cortona is not included and is the responsibility of each participant.
Casa Santa Margherita Special... All-inclusive w/ private room/bath & Group Meal Plan...$2849.00 per person! $2749.00 per person double occupancy w/Group Meal Plan! Special Non-participant rates!
-7:00p Welcome to Cortona wine and chocolate tasting.
-8:00p Dinner in Cortona at La Loccanda del Loggiatto
Sunday - Cortona
-9:00 -12:00p Morning Workshop
-12:30p Lunch
-2:30-5:30p Afternoon Workshop
-7:00p Wine tasting at IL Pozzo
-8:00p Dinner in Cortona
Monday - Lake Trasimeno & Isola Maggiore -9:00-12:00p Morning Workshop
-12:00p Lunch
-4:30 Depart for Cortona
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Dinner in Cortona
Tuesday - Cortona -9:00-1:00p Morning Workshop
-1:00p Lunch
-3:00-6:00p Afternoon Workshop
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Dinner in Cortona
Wednesday - Florence -Day trip to Florence with Visit to Accademia "David" & lunch.
-4:13p Train to Cortona
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Dinner in Cortona
Thursday - Cortona -9:00a-1230p Morning Workshop
-1:00p Lunch
-2:30-5:00p Afternoon Workshop
-5:45 Tuscan cooking class & dinner
Friday - Siena -8:00 Day trip to Siena -1:00p Lunch
-8:00p Farewell Wine Tasting Dinner in Cortona
Saturday – Departure
- Morning Check-out
- Departure from Cortona or we can help you plan an extended stay!
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.
Meet Helen K. Beacham...
Helen K. Beacham was born in Montreal, Canada and currently lives in Charleston, SC. She is an award-winning painter of 28 years and an owner of two galleries in the Charleston area. She is a past President of the Memphis-Germantown Art League, a past Vice President of the Charleston Artist Guild and current Vice President of the French Quarter Arts Association in Charleston. Helen has served as juror for numerous exhibitions and teaches both watercolors and acrylics to adults and children.
AFFILIATIONS: National Watercolor Association South Carolina Watermedia Society The International Society of Acrylic Painters Charleston Artist Guild Beaufort Art Association
Casa Santa Margherita... proud partner of Toscana Americana Workshops
Visit Casa Santa Margherita online
Participant Suggested Supply List...
- Note that these are supplies I recommend, but there are many other good options out there. At the very end of this list, I give you online resources for your shopping needs.
- Never buy “student” grade materials…buy “artist” grade.
- Think lightweight and small scale.
WATERCOLOR PAINTS
The following is a list of paint colors that I find useful, although you do NOT need all of them. The ones you should try to bring are highlighted in yellow.
Winsor & Newton Artist Grade (not Cotman Grade which is a student grade...this is important).
Burnt Umber
Burnt Sienna
Yellow Ochre
Cadmium Yellow (or Lemon Yellow)
Permanent Alizarin Crimson (or sometimes just called Alizarin Crimson)
Olive Green
Sap Green
Hooker’s Green
Cerulean Blue
Cobalt Blue
French Ultramarine Blue OR
Indanthrene Blue
Payne’s Gray
Indigo
Lamp Black
WATERCOLOR BRUSHES If you already have watercolor brushes, bring them. If you want to buy brushes, here are some sizes to consider. NOTE: Be sure to buy “watercolor” brushes. Not brushes for oils or acrylics! TIP: Watercolor brushes are short-handled and softer. Oil & Acrylic brushes are long-handled with very coarse bristles.
- #12 Filbert brush
- #16 Round brush
- #8 Round brush
PORTABLE PLEIN AIR EASEL
I recommend an easel that is made for watercolor painters. A good one to consider would be:
Eric Michael’s En Plein Air Pro Easel (cheapest I’ve found is on Cheap Joe’s site: www.cheapjoes.com). It weighs just 20 oz. and comes complete with a palette shelf, water pail, portable watercolor palette, and bags to carry everything in.
Cheap Joe’s also makes their own version of a watercolor easel, called the Joe Miller Signature Field Easel…it has 4 legs instead of 3, but it’s $50 more expensive than the one above, and it weighs 10 lbs. instead of 20 oz.
WATERCOLOR PALETTE
Any small (portable) watercolor palette, with a lid that is secure & won’t leak, is appropriate. See my comment under “easel” above.
WATERCOLOR PAPER
- Strathmore Field Watercolor Pad (400 Series) 140 lb. – or similar.
- Arches 140 lb. Watercolor Block (9”x12”, cold pressed) – or similar. If you go with this kind of block pad, bring a sharp edged ruler or something similar to take off each sheet from the pad. A knife might not be best for airplane security checks.
- You can bring sheets of watercolor paper instead of a block or pad, but if you do so, you must also bring a firm (yet lightweight) support to tape your paper to.
MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS THAT YOU WILL NEED TO BRING:
- Sketchbooks or journal (for when you’re not painting)
- Pencil (H or 2H is best – don’t go too soft)
- General’s Kimberly Graphite Sticks (984-4B) – great for sketching
- Eraser (white, kneaded or gum eraser, not pink erasers)
- Spray bottle (with a fine mist & a harder spray option)
- Paper Towels (one roll provided, otherwise available in Cortona)
- Small plastic water bucket (or see my comment under “easel” above)
- Empty plastic bottle with cap, to carry water to painting site. 12-16oz or so would be good.
- Cheap Joe’s “Watercolor Wheel” (color wheel for watercolorists) – not mandatory
- Cheap Joe’s “Value Sketch and Composition Finder” – very handy and I recommend it, or similar
- 5-6 large bulldog clips, or similar
- 5-6 grocery bags (you can clip one or more to your easel to hold supplies or trash, etc.)
- Baby wipes (for general cleanup of hands & some equipment, requiring less water on site).
- Sharp edged ruler (see paper section above)
- Something to hold all this in (rolling backpack is one idea).
- Blue painters tape (only if you bring separate sheets of watercolor paper and a support to tape it to).
- Portable chair, if you want to use one. Not mandatory. Think lightweight.
- Camera (with extra batteries and memory chips). Put it inside a ZipLock baggie for weather protection.
- Notepad for sure (or use your sketchbook for this)! I will share lots of tips & insights.
- Comfortable shoes. Layers of clothing. Windbreaker with hood? A hat? Small umbrella?
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.
“Helen Beacham is a talented watercolor artist and a gifted teacher as well. She is able to easily convey the practices and methods for creating a beautiful watercolor to all her students. In her indoor workshops, she demonstrates her process, starting with turning a photograph of her inspiration into a lovely composition. From there, each class takes on a life of its own, depending on what her students need: a lesson on the color wheel, a demo of negative painting, instruction in washes, glazing, or value. Helen also uses her own paintings to reinforce concepts that she’s teaching. What an inspiration! She makes time for students to practice techniques, giving individual instruction as she makes her way around the studio. Her critiques are direct and honest, encouraging and confidence-building. I’ve been working with Helen for about a year and a half and am looking forward to her next workshop!” Anne Peterson Summerville, SC
“I have taken three workshops in various media with Helen. She is well-organized and focused on her goals for the class! She starts with helpful demonstrations and displays final results. Helen gives the students achievable goals, and she assigns small tasks to work toward a final product. Her advice and suggestions help the student learn the new technique in a constructive way. She knows how to offer positive criticism to improve their paintings. Patty Gould Rosenberg Board of Directors, Bay School Community Arts Center Matthews, VA
“Helen’s landscape technique was new to me…much looser than the way I’m used to painting. I found it useful and fun…I think it was good to try doing new techniques under her supervision. I wanted to learn about negative space which I thought was very cool once I caught on! I also enjoyed working with a group of such nice people! “ Karen Gaag, Summerville, SC
“I really enjoyed Helen’s workshop! Whenever I needed help, she was right there with suggestions on how to proceed…” Jane Hart, Mt. Pleasant, SC
“I thought Helen’s just-in-time demonstrations were very effective! A good balance between demo and doing.” Nancy W., Madison, WI
“I absolutely learned so much. Helen has the ability to reach beginners and mesh information with material that the more experienced painter can also use. It is a true gift!” Judith Chamberlin, Mt. Pleasant, SC
