- This workshop has passed.
Fearless Watercolor – Painting in Lake Garda and Verona – SOLD OUT
Jan Guarino
September 26, 2024 - October 3, 2024
$2950Sorry, but this program with Jan is full. Stay tuned for her next program.
Eat your way through the cuisine, paint what is all around you, experience excursions, and enjoy free time to explore it all!
From the romance of Romeo & Juliet’s fabled Verona to the lakes district of northeastern Italy, join Jan as she instructs and paints within this varied landscape – medieval towns, a Roman colosseum, bustling piazzas, lakefronts, harbors, sailboat marinas! We will guide attendees through fabulous excursions to local sites to paint (see suggestions below), eat, spritz and visit villages to shop, all with plenty of time to paint each morning and during every excursion.
You may paint in a travel journal, on sheets or blocks – bring all your easy watercolor supplies and be prepared to create with the guidance of accomplished painter Jan Guarino!
What a great way to record lasting memories! Each day you will visit a new location in this glorious lakes region of northern Italy. Everyone knows Lake Como because of George Clooney, but Lake Garda is the real hidden treasure coming down from the foothills of the Alps and plunging into the Veneto area. It is surrounded by dramatic layers of mountains, colorful towns and olive and lemon groves. We’ll choose different perspectives, from hilltops to waterfront marinas every day for a few hours of sketching and painting.
Student Testimonial
“Painting and traveling with artist, Jan Guarino, is fabulous! Her exuberance is apparent in her art and her personality! I have attended 4 trips with Jan; to a villa on the Amalfi Coast; hotels in Sante Fe, New Mexico and Dubrovnik, Croatia; a river boat cruise in the South of France. All interesting, well planned and luxurious! I’m certain Tuscany will be the same!!!” — Mindy A.
We begin our week by meeting at 3pm at the train station in the famed, romantic city of Verona, home to the tale of Romeo and Juliet. Our coach will pick us up there and take us directly to Lake Garda (1 hour away). In the charming village of Villa di Gargnano we’ll check into our home for the first 6 nights – Hotel Gardenia al Lago.
We will finish our program with a final night in Verona. After breakfast at the lake, the coach will take us back to Verona where we will check into the Hotel Indigo des Artes . We’ll have the day to explore museums and perhaps some shopping along the main artery (paved in pink marble!) and an independent lunch. From the hotel that evening we will walk to the town center for a farewell dinner a few steps away from the Roman arena. The next day will be departure after breakfast. From the hotel you can get a taxi to the airport if you are flying directly home, or to the train station if you are continuing your journey.
Overview
A typical day will include breakfast at our hotel then painting in one of the nearby villages or from the garden of the hotel or at the home of the owners perched high above the lake. Jan will guide you with demos and then you will select your painting spot. Lunch will be on your own at local cafes in one of the villages where we paint.
Group dinners back at the hotel with local wine will finish off our adventurous days nicely.
Non-painter friends and family members are welcome to join us. They can accompany us on all excursions and enjoy exploring the lake area while we are painting. It’s easy to get around with the local buses, ferries or walking.
On the final evening in Garda, we will have an exhibition of our week’s creations. After breakfast the next day we will transfer back to Verona where we can explore this elegant city, shop, lounge at the cafes and enjoy our final dinner together before final departure the following day.
Come with us and capture your personal impression of this stunning corner of Italy.
General Activities: in addition to the activities of the workshop, we will also see and explore this area of Lake Garda with various excursions selected from:
- A breath-taking ferry across the lake to the town of Malcesine
- Painting in various locations along the lake in towns, gardens and hilltops
- Full day excursion to the lovely Renaissance town of Mantua or other lake town
- Overnight and dinner in the romantic city of Verona
- Optional museum visits and site seeing in Verona, like visiting the fabled setting of Juliet’s house
We’ll return each evening to relax in the comfort of our lakeside hotel, enjoy a delicious dinner with wine, and share about the day.
Price: $2,950, ($2,650 for non-painting partners)
Single room supplement: $475
All rooms with ensuite bathrooms. (Click the Accommodations tab above for more about our hotels.)
What is Included:
- Shared double room in lakeside hotel (single rooms available for supplement)
- Daily traditional breakfast and dinner, including wine
- Daily workshop classes and critiques with Jan
- Dinner and hotel stay in Verona on final day
- All local transportation
- Fully escorted excursions
- ½ day excursion to nearby lake town Malcesine
- Full day excursion to Mantua or other lake town
- Pick up group at Verona train station
- Transfer by coach to Lake Garda
- Return transfer to Verona for our final day/evening
Does Not Include:
- Airfare
- Lunch
- Daily spritz (if you don’t know what this is, you need to come)
- Gratuities
- Independent meals and sight-seeing
To Register: just click on the Sign Up Now button. A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to secure your spot in the workshop. Payment can be made on line with a credit card, or you can send in your registration and payment by mail. Once we receive your deposit we will send you a formal Registration Confirmation with further information about the program. You will receive 2-3 other correspondences by email prior to the workshop with information about Italy, a supplies list and an electronic invoice for the balance. Final Balance is due by August 15th. Any time prior to your arrival, if you have questions about anything regarding the trip or the program, you can contact us by email or phone and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Cancellation policy:
$500 deposit is non-refundable. For cancellation:
- 60 days prior to workshop, full refund due less non-refundable deposit.
- 30-60 days prior to workshop, 50% refund of balance paid allowed, less non-refundable deposit.
Less than 30 days prior to workshop, no refund due.
Il Chiostro recommends personal travel insurance to cover the possibility of unexpected or last-minute cancellation.
Contact us for more information: info@ilchiostro.com or speak to us live at 800-990-3506.
We will start our adventure by meeting at the train station in Verona at 3pm on the first day. From there we will meet our coach that will take us to Lake Garda (approximately 75 minutes).
We'll spend the next 6 days at the small, family-owned Hotel Gardenia al Lago, right on the shores of Lake Garda.
This hotel was built on what was once a lemon and olive garden on the shores of the lake. Because this is an original villa refurbished into a hotel, each room is different with some of the decor dating from the original 1925 family home. Rooms are either doubles or singles (with a supplement).
Dinner will be served each evening, weather permitting, in the garden adjacent to the villa.
The charming village of Villa, with it's small harbor and cafes, is just a few steps away. The larger town of Gargnano is a short 10 minute walk where you will find shops, restaurants, another harbor and fantastic artisanal gelato!
Verona
We will spend the final night of our week in the magical city of Verona at the four star Grand Indigo Hotel des Arts. For anyone wishing to extend your stay at this hotel, please contact them directly through their web site.We’ll have time to walk around the city, enjoy lunch at a cafe, then have our our final dinner together in an old Verona restaurant. The next day after breakfast is departure. The train station is not far, if you want to continue your exploration in Venice, Bologna or Florence. Or you can get a taxi directly to the airport if your flight home leaves that day.
The group will meet at the train station in the center of Verona, from where we’ll board our coach that will take us to Lake Garda.
Unless you will be traveling around before the workshop, we recommend you fly to Verona's Villafranca airport. There are no direct flights from the US, but you can change in the European city associated with your airline. Then it is a quick taxi ride to the hotel. Other options include flying into Venice, Brescia, Florence, Bologna, or Milan’s Malpensa airport and traveling around on your own prior to our first meeting in Verona.
We’ll spend 6 nights in Lake Garda, then transfer back to Verona for our final night in this romantic, northern Italian city. After breakfast the next day, you can taxi back to the train station to continue our travels or to the airport for your flight home.
Travel Agents & Insurance: Over the last few years, the way we travel has undergone significant changes. For that reason, we now encourage everyone to use a professional travel agent when arranging their trips. Travel agents save you time and stress by handling all the details and tailoring your itinerary to your needs. One of the most important services they offer today is helping you choose and enroll in the right travel insurance program. With COVID and the continued possibility of schedule changes or postponements, travel insurance has become essential, and selecting the right plan on your own can be overwhelming.
If you encounter any issues during your travels, your agent can provide quick support and solutions, taking the pressure off your shoulders. While booking through online sites like Expedia or Hotels.com may seem more convenient or less expensive, they offer little help if you need to modify your plans. A travel professional, on the other hand, is there to assist you every step of the way, ensuring a smooth and worry-free travel experience.
If you choose to Go It Alone, we highly recommend taking out travel insurance for the trip in the event of any unforeseen obstacles to your travel. We recommend Travelex (800) 504-7883 or Travel Guard International (877) 901-7599.
"Those who are sensitive to all that is sublime. You are invited to look at the map of Lake Garda. The shores of this lake with its beautiful forests and calm waters constitute perhaps the most beautiful landscape in the world." - Stendhal
The Province of Lombardy: Both Milan and Lake Garda are located in Lombardy, a northern Italian region bordered by Switzerland to the north and Veneto to the east. Lombardy is the most populous region of Italy and has a rich, layered history. Over the centuries, it was ruled by Germanic tribes, the Spanish, the French, and the Austrians, before finally becoming part of unified Italy in 1861. As a result, Lombardy’s distinctive character—reflected in its art, cuisine, wine, and architecture—bears the influence of these past inhabitants.
Geologically, the Alpine rivers in the north have spread into a chain of stunning lakes, creating the famous Italian Lakes District. Nestled among the gentle slopes of the pre-Alpine hills, these sparkling waters and lush landscapes have earned this part of Lombardy the nickname “The Garden of Italy.”
Lake Garda: Also known as Lake Benaco, Lake Garda is not only the largest of the pre-Alpine lakes but also the biggest lake in all of Italy. Carved by glaciers during the last Ice Age, it stretches across three regions—Lombardy, Veneto, and Trentino-Alto Adige—and offers an astonishing variety of landscapes. Thanks to its mild, Mediterranean-style climate, the lake supports lush vegetation unusual for northern Italy: vineyards, olive groves, and citrus orchards thrive here, giving the shores a distinctly southern feel.
Lake Garda has been a crossroads of civilizations for millennia. From Bronze Age settlements and Gallic tribes to the Romans—who built villas, roads, and thermal baths along its shores—the area’s long history is still visible in ruins, castles, and charming medieval towns. The lake’s name is thought to come from the mighty castle of Torri del Benaco, which once “guarded” the waters against pestilence and invasion.
Today, the only “invaders” are happy travelers. Lake Garda is a favorite holiday spot for German and Austrian visitors and a popular weekend escape for Milanese city-dwellers. The lake offers something for everyone: sailing and windsurfing in the breezy north, cycling and hiking trails along the hills, and relaxing spa towns and gardens on the southern and western shores.
One of the most celebrated stretches is the Brescian Riviera, between Salò and Gargnano. This area is renowned for its elegant villas, lush parks, lemon houses, and historic health resorts. Beyond that, visitors can explore Limone sul Garda with its cliffside lemon groves, Sirmione with its fairytale Scaliger Castle and Roman ruins, or Riva del Garda, where Alpine peaks tumble dramatically into the water.
From medieval castles and pastel-colored harbors to award-winning gelaterie and lakeside promenades, Lake Garda is a place where history, culture, and leisure come together in one unforgettable setting.
Gargnano: Midway up Lake Garda’s western shore, Gargnano is a picture-perfect town with a small harbor where yachts and sailboats drift against a promenade shaded by orange trees and dotted with lakeside cafés. Despite its laid-back charm, the town has a rich past—most famously as Mussolini’s wartime headquarters at Villa Feltrinelli, now a luxury hotel.
Stroll through its medieval churches, explore the cloisters of San Francesco, or wander the narrow streets lined with citrus-scented gardens and traditional limonaie. Surrounded by the Alto Garda Bresciano Park, Gargnano is also a gateway to hiking, cycling, and sailing. It’s a place where history, nature, and lakeside leisure flow effortlessly together.
Jan has taught FEARLESS WATERCOLORS at the Art League of Long Island and The Artists Studio at Chelsea Mansion. Since March 2020, however, she has taught exclusively online and now reaches students from all over the US and internationally. Every year, Jan does a 4-day workshop at the Landgrove Inn in Vermont and an Artists' Trip to Europe. Starting Fall 2021, she will be resuming in-person classes at the Firefly Artists' second floor in Northport, NY, where she also exhibits and sells her paintings.
As a watercolorist, Jan longs to embrace all the wonderful things this medium has to offer, blossoms, drips, unexpected things that happen - lost edges, movement of pigment. Her comment:
I want to keep them all to remember that it is very much like life itself. Most artists feel that this medium is difficult to control and the most challenging to paint with. But I feel the total opposite of this. I long for all of the uniqueness and beauty watercolors have to offer, and to leave room for the viewer to fill in what may be missing or nearly suggested.
As a teacher, Jan loves to share this passion for watercolor techniques, theories, and joy with all of her students, hoping that they find enjoyment in interpreting their world with paint, splatters, drips, and color by embracing the unexpected and unplanned.
Jan has exhibited at the Heckscher Museum, the William Reis Gallery, the Huntington Arts Council, the Long Island Museum, the Art League of Long Island, the Art Guild, and is a permanent artist at The Firefly Gallery in Northport, NY.
Jan graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology and has been a graphic artist designing marketing materials for businesses for 45 years. Recently retired from that, she looks forward to focusing entirely on painting and teaching.
Artists Statement:
Every painting I choose to paint focuses on the question … what drew me to this subject? As I move through this question, I look through a filter that asks what’s next and then go where the answers lead me. The subject may be a place I visited during my travels, I will be called to a particular photo, or a painting I started en plein air. It may be a photograph someone shows me of a person, a child, a couple that captured a moment, an expression, a posture. But when I see it, there is a moment where something grabs me and causes me to pause. I am overcome by a stirring and a knowing that I must paint it.
I don’t choose my subjects as much as they seem to choose me. My intention is always to create an unexpected depiction of the subject, a colorful interpretation, not a literal translation. I enjoy using this unusual color palette to bring you into the painting, and though you may have seen that place before, I wish for you to feel you are seeing it through a different lens for the very first time.
Website: https://www.janguarinofineart.com/
