Sketching & Painting Orvieto, The Perfect Italian Town

Capture the light and vibrant colors of a three-hundred-year-old cathedral and the charming cobbled alleyways of Medieval Orvieto: one of the most picturesque hill towns in Italy. Through painting and drawing, you’ll have the opportunity to document on paper the heart and soul of this ancient village overflowing with Renaissance art, venerable history, impressive architecture, and amazingly delicious food and wine.

Join us for this week-long workshop where intermingling culture and place adds a depth of experience that will help you see beneath the surface of Italy’s stunning beauty. You’ll start the week by creating your own sketchbook of handmade marbleized paper after learning about the history of paper. You’ll get a chance to meet inspirational artisans as they practice their age-old crafts, and converse and rub elbows with Orvieto’s friendly townspeople. Sketch people in motion at the weekly farmer’s market or learn perspective by sketching the nearby countryside. Toward the end of the workshop, our group will participate in several events, like an open-to-the-public sketchcrawl and a gallery exhibition displaying the group’s artwork.

This workshop is a unique opportunity to learn and draw together, Italian style. The workshop is recommended for artists who have previous sketching and watercolor experience—beginners to professionals are welcome. Having a positive attitude, being open to constructive criticism, and willing to learn new things from your peers is essential for getting the most out of this experience.

ITINERARY:

Monday, September 25 – Arrival in Orvieto/ Accommodations check-in

Open group sketch in Piazza del Duomo (optional)
Welcome dinner

Tuesday, September 26 – Sketching Orvieto

Morning Session 9:30 – 12:30 The importance of values in watercolor, study of 2, 3 and 5 values for creating a solid painting foundation and harmonious composition
Afternoon Session 3 – 5
Learn the history of paper and marbleized paper demonstration with a local artisan, Lamberto, at his studio

Wednesday, September 27 – Sketching Orvieto
Morning Session 9:30 – 12:30 Painting shadows so that they feel like air. Study of warm and cool colors with discussion and demonstration

Afternoon Session 3 – 5 Further study of shadows along with warm and cool colors in a finished painting 

Thursday, September 28 – Lago di Bolsena Morning Session: 9:30 – 12:30 Painting around the castle with a discussion of 1 and 2 point perspective and capturing a place quickly

Lunch on your own in town 1 – 2:30 pm

Afternoon Session )optional) 3 – 5 pm 2 hours painting at the lake with a focus on painting water and reflections

Group evening review with wine at the lake 5-6 pm

Friday, September 29– Sketch the Orvieto Market  Morning Session 9:30 – 12:30 Sketching people and places quickly, capturing the Orvieto market. Focus on 1-line pen drawing with the selective addition of color plus how to sketch people quickly Free afternoon Optional Sketching Session 5 -6 pm Meet with local shoemaker Federico and sketch him while he works and tells us about the process of making shoes start to finish Artisan Wine Tasting 6 -7 pm

Saturday, September 30 in Orvieto Morning Session 9:30 – 12:30 We will work in a local park painting distances and views with a discussion and demonstration on how to paint atmospheric perspective with color and values using a limited palette Afternoon Session 2 – 4 pm We will dedicate this final session to 10-minute watercolors, the heart of practicing capturing what is essential quickly and efficiently Optional Session 4:30 – 6 pm Meet and sketch a local shoemaker in his shop while he tells the story of handmade shoes from start to finish Evening session 6 – 7 pm Group evening review with wine

Sunday, October 1 Open Sketching Event/Gallery Exhibition

Open Sketchcrawl with the town of Orvieto 10 am – 12:30 pm  We will sketch together in a group sketchcrawl in Piazza del Duomo with locals from the town. The event is free and open to everyone.

There will be no afternoon session, leaving you free to paint, relax and enjoy the city.

Gallery Exhibition & Aperitivo 6 pm – 8 pm Final exhibition in a local art gallery that will be open to the public. We’ll share our week’s work and have a celebratory aperitivo (cocktails).

Group farewell dinner at a local restaurant at 8 pm

Monday, October 2 Departure from Orvieto Check out at 10 am

Workshop Tuition
For a single person with a private room €1,800 
For a single person sharing a room €1,500
For a single person non-painter private room (option to participate in all activities) €1250
For a single person non-painter sharing a room (option to participate in all activities) €900
Single apartments for one person/couple or two-bedroom apartments are available upon request.
*Option: A materials kit prepared and waiting for you for an additional €180

Payment:

A deposit of €500 to hold your spot is due by July 15th. The final payment is due in full by August 15th

Cancellation Policy:

In the event the workshop is canceled, all deposits and payments will be returned in full. If you have to cancel for any reason payments will be returned as follows:

Cancel on or before July 15th: 75% of payment returned

Cancel on or before August 15th: 50% of payment returned

After September 1st, payments are non-refundable

Workshop Tuition Includes:
Accommodations (7 nights) + breakfast (B&B rooms only) Sketching instruction (5 days)
Welcome and farewell dinner
Day out at Lake Bolsena
Gallery exhibition & cocktail party
Visit with local artisans
History of Paper workshop
Handmade sketchbook

*Maximum of 12 participates

Not Included:
Airfare and transfers
Meals and drinks (other than welcome and farewell dinner)
Art supplies (list will be provided upon registration) *

*IMPORTANT** Please Note: Purchasing travel/medical insurance is highly recommended. Participants should be in good physical condition and be able to walk on uneven surfaces and up and down hills while carrying supplies and equipment in a backpack. Must also be able to sit for extended periods on folding stools while you paint. If your budget and schedule allow, we recommend arriving in Orvieto a few days before the workshop begins or staying a few days after to tour and enjoy Orvieto at a more leisurely pace. If you’d like to do so, let us know and we’ll help arrange your accommodations for those extra days (extra nights are not included in the tuition price).

About Kelly:

Kelly Medford is a classically trained American oil and watercolor painter, as well as an avid sketcher specializing in Italian landscapes and cityscapes. She has been painting en plein air since 2005, training in the United States at Antioch College, the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and in private apprenticeships in New York City. While living in Florence, Italy for six years she studied figurative drawing at the Florence Academy of Art before moving to Rome in the fall of 2010. She has traveled and painted extensively in the US and Europe, where her work has been frequently exhibited. When not working on private commissions, she teaches week-long, exclusive workshops in Rome, Venice, and Umbria. Kelly started Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 as a way for tourists visiting the Eternal City to see and experience it in a unique and creative way. She is an instructor and member of the international Urban Sketchers.

About Orvieto:

Orvieto is a small hill town perched upon a tufa rock in the region of Umbria, Italy. The majestic cathedral, Duomo di Orvieto, dates back to the 13th century and houses one of the great masterpieces of the Renaissance, The Last Judgement by Luca Signorelli. Just some of the other famous sights to see while here are Pozzo di San Patrizio: a 16th-century well shaft with a double spiral staircase, and Orvieto Underground: a fascinating subterranean network of Etruscan caves and wells. Find out more about what to do and see here.

Our Accommodations:

We’ll be staying at lovely B&Bs in the historical center of Orvieto. You can choose from a private en suite double room or share a room with one, two, or three other participants. Apartments are also available upon request. Breakfast (B&Bs only) and Wi-Fi are included.

Contact: Kelly Medford: paintings@kellymedford.com / +39 3349835677

Toni DeBella, workshop coordinator: t_debella@yahoo.com / +39 333729441

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]