Painting the Elegant Soft Pastel Still Life
Elizabeth Amacher
September 5 - September 12
$3895An 8-Day Artistic Retreat in Cinque Terre, Italy
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Italy’s famed Cinque Terre as you explore the luminous world of soft pastel still life painting. This 8-day workshop and retreat blends in-depth artistic study with time to relax, wander, and be inspired by the charm and rhythm of Italian life.
Under the guidance of Elizabeth Amacher, you’ll learn how to bring elegance, harmony, and depth to your still life paintings, mastering techniques that transform simple arrangements into refined works of art. With a balance of full-day studio sessions, half-day lessons, and personal time for excursions or rest, this retreat offers both structure and serenity in one of the world’s most picturesque destinations.
What You’ll Learn:
- Underpainting with watercolor to create soft, luminous foundations
- Using artist apps to understand value and strengthen your compositions
- How to design your own still life setups for balance, texture, and interest
- Smartphone techniques for capturing and editing strong reference photos
- Step-by-step demonstrations and personal guidance to complete 3–5 elegant pastel still life paintings
Your Experience
- Enjoy daily instruction in a comfortable, picturesque setting
- Create surrounded by breathtaking Italian scenery, inspiration just beyond your easel
- Savor time on your own to explore Cinque Terre’s coastal villages, cafés, and markets
- Connect with a small, supportive group of fellow artists who share your passion
- Return home with refined skills, new confidence, and a portfolio of finished work that reflects your artistic growth
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate/Advanced
Includes: Instruction, demonstrations, critiques, and guided studio sessions
Bring: Your curiosity, creativity, and love of art
The Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 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: lonelyplanet.com/italy/cinque-terre
Cinque Terre means “5 towns,” and signifies the interconnectedness of this area through picturesque hiking trails, rail lines, and boat routes. Notably, cars are mostly absent in these towns, making walking an indispensable (and necessary) means of transportation.
One of the highlights of visiting Cinque Terre is experiencing the local cuisine. Pesto Genovese takes center stage, with its vibrant flavors in many local dishes. Fresh seafood is abundant and paired with delicious local wine, close to perfection.
Cinque Terre is not just a destination but an experience that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime. From the colorful houses clinging to the cliffs to the warm and welcoming people, everything about this place exudes charm and beauty.
The Food – We will have 5 dinners organized together at local trattorie in Monterosso al Mare or prepared for us at home. We’ll sample the pastas, seafood, and specialties of each area. Local wine is included with all dinners. 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 savory and crunchy pancake made from a base of chickpea flour.
Price: $3,895 p/p based on double occupancy; non-painting partners $3,595
Optional Supplements:
- $485 for a single room
- $300 p/p double occupancy suite with jacuzzi and terrace
- $795 single suite with jacuzzi and terrace
Includes:
- Shared double room in Hotel La Cabana in Monterosso (singles or suite with terrace and jacuzzi available for a supplement)
- Daily traditional breakfast
- 5 dinners with wine
Riomaggiore - Daily classes with Liz
- Train passes for exploring other towns
- One boat trip on the Mediterranean
- Transfers from and return to Florence
Does Not Include:
- Airfare
- Lunch
- Independent meals and additional sightseeing
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 online 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 before the workshop with information about Italy, a supplies list, and an electronic invoice for the balance. The final balance is due by July 2nd, 2026. Any time before 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 before the workshop, a full refund is due, less the non-refundable deposit.
- 30-60 days before the workshop, a 50% refund of the balance paid is allowed, less the non-refundable deposit.
Less than 30 days before the 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.
For our program, we will meet the group in Florence on the first day. From there, a private bus will take the group to our hotel in Monterosso-al-Mare.
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.
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.
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.
Liz Amacher’s creative journey began at an early age, starting with pen and ink and graphite, and later expanding into watercolor and pastels. Since moving to Colorado in 2016, Liz has fully embraced her passion for art, reconnecting with her creativity and exhibiting her work in a variety of regional and international juried shows. As a lifelong learner, Liz continuously seeks out new techniques and learning opportunities to expand both her artistic practice and her leadership skills.
Currently, Liz teaches weekend workshops at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts, where she enjoys sharing her knowledge and passion for art with others. She lives in Colorado with her husband, Mike, and their energetic Border Collie, Ruby. Liz remains committed to blending her love of art with her work in education, always seeking new ways to inspire creativity and personal growth in both students and colleagues alike.
Website: https://www.lizamacher.com/
