The Figure in its Environment
Margaret Dyer
October 10 - October 17
$3895The Coastal Light and Shadow of Cinque Terre
We will be taking day trips throughout Cinque Terre’s centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. We’ll photograph colorful houses and vineyards clinging to steep terraces; we’ll capture harbors filled with fishing boats, then return to our studio to work from our many photos. Although I am not a plein air painter, we can also try a little plein air work if you’re willing.
Bring your iPad or tablet. You can use your phone or iPad to take photographs on location. However, when painting from your reference photos in the studio, you will be working only from your iPads.
In the studio, you can paint with oils or soft pastels, or both. We will explore drawing, composition, proportion, value, color, and medium application. Emphasis will be on developing form using light and shadow. My step-by-step method will help you simplify the complicated. If you are bewildered by color or want to speed up and become more efficient in your work, you will benefit from this workshop.
Where we’ll stay: Our home away from home for the week, La Cabana, is a typical Ligurian farmhouse that has belonged to one family for generations. The vines and the olive trees 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 and finishes intended to frame the unparalleled panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea. It is an oasis of relaxation surrounded by greenery and silence, with wonderful vistas and gardens to paint. Our group will take over the entire hotel for the week.
Additional Activities: Our daily painting will be combined with other adventures, such as:
- A train pass to visit other towns
- Market day in Vernazza
- Boat trip to Porto Venere to sketch, shop, have lunch, or a cappuccino in the cafes
- Free shuttle service from the hotel to the main town
- Pick up in Florence on the first day; optional return to Florence on the final day
The Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of the 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 trattorias. 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 chickpea flour.
Price: $3,895 p/p based on double occupancy; non-painting partners $3,595
Optional Supplements:
- $485 for single room – limited availability
- $300 p/p for a suite with a terrace and a jacuzzi, minimum 2 persons
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 Margaret
- Train passes for exploring other towns
- Boat trip to Porto Venere
- Pick up from Florence train station on arrival day (on the departure day, you can either go back to Florence with the group, or board a train from the local station to reach your next destination).
Does Not Include:
- Airfare
- Lunch
- Art supplies
- Independent meals and sightseeing
- Gratuities for staff, which are always appreciated
To Register: Click 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.
Final Balance is due by August 6th, 2026. 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 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 chickpea flour. Epic porcini mushrooms are presented in a wooden box for you to choose for grilling with olive oil and garlic.
Weather: Fall is a lovely time to visit the Cinque Terre, especially in September and October. September can still feel like summer, with warm, sunny days, pleasant sea temperatures, and fewer crowds around the villages. As October approaches, the days are often bright and clear, while nights cool down and feel noticeably crisper. As we know, however, the weather is always unpredictable, with the occasional sudden shower. As much as we can predict the weather, it’s always best to be prepared: bring layers for the cooler evenings, and maybe keep an umbrella handy, just in case.
Born in New York, Atlanta-based Margaret Dyer is an award-winning member of the American Impressionist Society and the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society. She is a Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America, and is in the Master Circle of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS). Margaret has been featured many times in American Artist, International Artist, The Artist magazine, and The Pastel Journal.
In the June 2002 issue of The Artist’s Magazine, the author wrote:
“Dyer is adamant about what she wants to portray: beautiful, not overtly provocative, figures in action. She tries to avoid languid, sentimental posturing and prefers to show her model in an unguarded moment, when she’s not worrying about the ‘right pose.’ Dyer’s attention is caught by telling gestures, such as a direct gaze or a hand on a hip… Above all, Dyer seeks to establish an atmosphere and mood particular to the developing painting.”
Website: www.margaretdyer.com
