This course is designed for all levels of ability from complete beginners to practicing artists. It aims to provide you with an enjoyable week of painting with tuition at a level that suits your personal requirements and aims to help you develop your artwork.

There is a weekly programme for painting on location. Subject matter includes buildings, landscape and people. Courses run from Tuesday to Tuesday. Tuesday afternoon and evening is a getting to know each other period with a discussion about the week ahead. You can also wander off on one of the many lovely walks leading from the farmhouse.

Each day Joy will set warm up exercises either in the studio or on location. Tuition is relaxed and based on the needs of the group or individual requests. If for example you want to learn about perspective or colour mixing Joy will be happy to give demonstrations. Her preferred approach is to start with a piece you are working on and take it from there. She will help you to develop your own work, rather than teach you to paint in any particular style, prompting you to move out of your comfort zone and try new things.

We will travel to a location for painting each morning, lunch may be at a café near our location or back at the farmhouse. In the afternoon you can return to the morning location (transport will be provided) or work in any of the gorgeous locations within walking distance from the house, or work in the studio or garden. Joy will come and find you to provide any guidance you might want. One whole day will be spent on a trip to the mountains. For this trip we advise a reasonably good pair of shoes for walking (a good pair of trainers will do) and a rucksack to carry your materials.

A typical week will include:

• trips to many of the beautiful nearby medieval hilltop towns and natural locations providing landscape vistas and a wealth of buildings rich with character and history,
• trips to local markets, Saturday will be in Asti for one of the largest markets in Italy, and to discover the town. You can paint the rich subject matter – or take the day off and enjoy the market and the town.
• a full day out in the mountains.

Although a programme for the week will be arranged in advance you may stay around the garden or studio working on your own if you wish.

Dates for 2012 Course 3:

7^th – 14^th June

18^th – 25^th September

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“I am looking forward to impressing my arty friends with my new loose style and will certainly recommend you to all of them” Bert

“The variety of activities is amazing..I think I can paint..I’m allowing myself to express what’s been suppressed!!!” Regina

“Cercato lezione di disegno, schizzi e techniche pittoriche: con Joy ho travato molto di piu” Anna