Watercolor Techniques: Experience the Possibilities in Cinque Terre
Stacy Lund Levy
September 19 - September 26
$3595Grow as a Water Media Artist in the Stunning Cinque Terre
This watercolor workshop is designed for artists of all skill levels, including those who want to explore water media for the first time. Studio sessions focus on essential watercolor techniques that can be applied to any subject, from landscapes to portraits. Stacy’s approach emphasizes hands-on learning, with demonstrations, discussions, and personalized guidance to help you grow as an artist.
Throughout the workshop, Stacy will demonstrate specific techniques—such as color mixing, composition, use of masking fluid, and paint application—that are fundamental to watercolor painting. Studio time is informal, allowing you to experiment with the techniques shown or work on your own pieces. Whether you prefer to spend time photographing the area, working in a sketchbook, creating small studies or larger works, you’ll have the flexibility to choose your own approach.
Cinque Terre inspires creativity, offers opportunities for sightseeing, shopping, and photographing potential painting references. As questions arise, Stacy will offer tailored demos and advice to guide you through your creative process.
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 completely surrounded by greenery and silence with wonderful vistas and gardens to paint. Our group will take over the entire hotel for the week.
Join Stacy for a week of art instruction, touring and fun as we create memories together!
Additional Activities: Our daily painting will be combined with other adventures such as:
- train pass to visit other towns
- market day in Vernazza
- boat trip to Porto Venere to sketch, shop, have lunch or 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 final 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 savory and crunchy pancake made from a base of chickpea flour.
Price: $3,595 p/p based on double occupancy; non-painting partners $3,295
Optional Supplements:
- $485 for single room – limited availability
- $285 p/p for suite with terrace and 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, creativity exercises and critiques with Stacy
- 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 sight-seeing
- Gratuities for staff, which are always appreciated
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 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.
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.
Artist and Baltimore native, Stacy Lund Levy, has been creating art in many forms since kindergarten. She earned a BA from Hood College in Biochemistry as well as an MA from The Johns Hopkins Art as Applied to Medicine program. Combining her artistic talents with her intellectual interest in anatomy and science, she initially worked as a medical illustrator. Stacy then opted to establish Lund Art Studios, a career move that enabled her to take on a variety of clients locally and nationally, and to jury shows, teach classes and workshops, give demonstrations, and exhibit her artwork.
Stacy works primarily in watercolor and collage. She is a signature member of the American, Baltimore, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, National, Northwest, and Transparent Watercolor Societies, as well as the AWA, American Women Artists. Her work can be viewed at: //www.instagram.com/artorangutan/ and https://bakerartist.org/portfolios/stacylundlevyart
Website: https://bakerartist.org/portfolios/stacylundlevyart
