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Landscape Painting in the Cinque Terre – all mediums
Michael Coy
September 14, 2024 - September 21, 2024
$3495Capture the stunning Cinque Terre, Italy in watercolor, gouache, acrylic or water-based oils
Join Michael as we concentrate on creating compelling landscapes from the famous setting of the Cinque Terre, Italy. We’ll take our inspiration from the blue Mediterranean sea to the dramatic hillsides crashing into the water to the 5 towns wedged in between. Learn how to translate the beauty of the Cinque Terre – grand vistas or intimate studies – into vibrant paintings as we paint and sketch en plein air together.
Michael will instruct in the basics of color, composition and perspective for all mediums: watercolor, gouache, acrylic, water-based oils or just pencil & ink drawing. We want to keep our equipment to a minimum so we are as mobile as possible. You’ll learn how to capture the essence of a scene in relatively quick sketches and paintings. He’ll discuss how to choose a scene and how to augment your paintings and sketches with your photos to have material for paintings back home.
In the few months preceding the workshop Michael will communicate with the participants regarding materials and with helpful painting tips.
The atmosphere will be relaxed with an emphasis on fun.
This workshop is designed for all levels of students who paint in any medium from oils, gouache or acrylics to pencil sketching.
Additional Activities: Our daily painting will be combined with other adventures such as:
- train pass to visit other towns (Vernazza, Riomaggiore, Manarola and Corniglia)
- boat trip to Porto Venere to sketch or photograph from the sea
- free shuttle service from the hotel to the main town
- transfers to/from Florence on the first/last day
The Cinque Terre – is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. “The Five Lands” comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach them from the outside. For more about the Cinque Terre, the Lonely Planet gives a nice description with photos: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/cinque-terre
The Food – We will have 5 dinners organized together at local restaurants and trattorie. We’ll sample the pastas, seafood and specialties of the area. Wine is included in all meals. Lunches and 2 dinners will be independent for you to explore the local cuisine on your own.
Given its location on the Mediterranean, seafood is plentiful in the local cuisine. Anchovies of Monterosso are a local specialty designated with a Protected Designation of Origin status from the European Union. The mountainsides of the Cinque Terre are heavily terraced and are used to cultivate grapes and olives. This area, and the region of Liguria, as a whole, is known for pesto — a sauce made from basil leaves, garlic, salt, olive oil, pine nuts and pecorino cheese. Focaccia is a particularly common locally baked bread product. Farinata is also a typical snack found in bakeries and pizzerias — essentially it is a savoury and crunchy pancake made from a base of chick-pea flour.
Price: $3,495 p/p based on double occupancy
Optional Supplements:
- $475 for single room – limited availability
- $250 p/p for suite with Jacuzzi and terrace, minimum 2 people
Includes:
- Shared double room in Hotel La Cabana in Monterosso (singles available for a supplement)
- Daily traditional breakfast
- 5 dinners with wine
- Daily painting classes and critiques with Michael
- Train passes for exploring other towns
- One boat trip on the Mediterranean
- Pick up from and return to Florence train station on arrival and departure days (NOTE: if you are traveling on from Monterosso and would prefer not to return to Florence, there is a convenient train station right in town.)
Does Not Include:
- Airfare
- Lunch
- Art supplies
- Gratuities – at your discretion at the end of the week, but this is always greatly appreciated by your program manager
- 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 follow the instructions to 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 1st. 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.
Our small hotel, La Cabana, sits on a small hill that divides the historic center of Monterosso from the new part, Fegina. It is a typical Ligurian farmhouse that has belonged to one family for generations. The vines and the olive trees that they have cultivated form the backdrop to the rooms that have been recently refurbished with the utmost respect for the environment and the traditions of the Cinque Terre, but without forgetting modern comforts.
The 9 rooms are furnished with antiques, parquet floors, curtains, and finishes intended to frame the unparalleled panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea. It is an oasis of relaxation completely surrounded by greenery and silence, with wonderful vistas and gardens to paint. Our group will take over the entire hotel for the week.
To get down to Monterosso you can take advantage of their free shuttle service or, if you are up for it, walking down is not difficult and takes less than ten minutes. It's a nice walk down that offers beautiful panoramic views. On the descent, you will pass the ancient 11th-century castle (today houses the cemetery of the village) and wind through olive trees until you reach the historical center of town. Coming back up, the shuttle might be a good idea!
For more information, visit their web site: lacabanacinqueterre.com/en
The Cinque Terre are in the section of Italy known as Liguria on the western coast. The main city of Liguria is Genova. These 5 towns were traditional fishing villages, cut off from the mainland by a steep range of mountains. For centuries, they were only accessible by sea.
To visit the town from our hotel, there is a regular shuttle bus. The towns are small with narrow roads, so the shuttle will leave us off in the newer section, then we will walk through a short tunnel to the historic center of town, where most of the shops and restaurants are located.
To go between towns (Vernazza, Manarola, Corniglia, or Rio Maggiore), there are local trains connecting all of them.
Arrival: We will arrange for a van to pick up the group at the Florence train station at about 1:00 pm on the first day. You will receive more specific instructions about this closer to the workshop date. It is about a 3-hour trip to Monterosso in the Cinque Terre. Once we arrive and get settled in, we’ll have a brief orientation before heading to dinner.
Departure: After breakfast on the final day. There will not be any class that day. We will organize another coach to take you back to Florence, but if you plan to go off in another direction, there is a convenient train station in the center of Monterosso that will take you anywhere in Italy and beyond. You can purchase tickets there or online. www.trenitalia.com
Passports: Please check the expiration date on your passport. It must be valid until 6 months AFTER you return home. This is an EU regulation. You will not be allowed to travel if your passport expiration date is too soon.
Flight Arrangements: We recommend that you fly into either Florence, Milan, or Rome. Florence is the closest arrival point; however, there are more flights from the US to Rome and Milan, many of them direct. Florence does not have an intercontinental airport, so there are no direct flights from the US. You will have to change planes at a larger city. Remember, it is not necessary to fly into and out of the same location, in case you want to explore more of Italy before or after the program. For instance, you might want to fly into Rome and out of Milan or even Genoa. With an extra day on either end, you get to see more of Italy.
Important! In making your return flight arrangements, if you are flying home on the final day after the workshop, try not to book a flight too early. From our location, it will take about 3.5 hours to get to the Florence airport or 4.5 hours to get to the Rome airport.
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 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.
If you have additional questions regarding planning, please email info@ilchiostro.com or administrative assistant Lexi at lexi@ilchiostro.com.
The Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. "The Five Lands" comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Paths, trains, and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach them from the outside.
For more about the Cinque Terre, the Lonely Planet gives a nice description with photos: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/cinque-terre
The Food: Given its location on the Mediterranean, seafood is plentiful in the local cuisine. Anchovies of Monterosso are a local specialty designated with a Protected Designation of Origin status from the European Union. The mountainsides of the Cinque Terre are heavily terraced and are used to cultivate grapes and olives. This area, and the region of Liguria, as a whole, is known for pesto — a sauce made from basil leaves, garlic, salt, olive oil, pine nuts, and pecorino cheese. Focaccia is a particularly common locally baked bread product. Farinata is also a typical snack found in bakeries and pizzerias — essentially it is a savoury and crunchy pancake made from a base of chick-pea flour. Epic porcini mushrooms are presented in a wooden box for you to choose for grilling with olive oil and garlic.
Michael Coy is a painter and illustrator living and working in Sonoma County, California. After graduating from Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, he worked in the entertainment and advertising industries as a storyboard, pre-production, and ideation artist for a wide range of clients including Disney Imagineering, Disney Online, Microsoft, Sony Television Animation, Activision, Warner Bros, Propaganda Films and Lucas Learning.
After moving to Northern California, Michael began painting both landscape and narrative paintings in addition to freelance work. He continues to be inspired by the light on the local landscape and has recently sought new inspiration from both the natural settings and cultural experiences of unique locations abroad.
Michael has taught private painting workshops for two decades and continues to teach from his home studio in Northern California.
