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Details
Dates: 20-26 April 2024
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Price: From €1835 - €2550
Includes: 22% VAT, 5 days tuition, 6 nights accommodation, all meals & drinks (including wine), wine tour & tasting, transfers, models, easels & solvents
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Non-Participaing Partner: €650
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Location: Antico Borgo La Torre
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Medium: Oil on canvas
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Class size: 12-17
Painting Experience: All levels welcome
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Languages: English
Italian translation available (email us)
Retreat Description
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Join us for an all-inclusive week of oil painting in the Tuscan countryside with Michael Carson.
This workshop is open to all levels of artist who would like to learn a unique approach to figurative painting. During this workshop, Mike will demonstrate his process and approach with painting demonstrations each morning. The afternoons will be devoted to painting, with focus on painting the figure from life, and multi-figure painting using reference materials. Mike will demonstrate his techniques to simplify the figure. He will discuss the balance between representational art and instinctive design decisions which can transform an academic figure study. He will also encourage you to better enhance and evolve your own personal style by remaining free to manipulate the painting as you envision it.
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During this all-inclusive art retreat, meals will be home-cooked and eaten together in our large dining room or outside when the weather is nice. In the evenings particiapants will have free use of the grounds to explore, including the swimming pool, woodland, lake and olive groves. There is also a volleyball net, and a games room with table tennis and table football. During the week we will host some evening entertanment which everyone is welcome to join, such as a wine tour, cooking class, and pizza night.
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The Venue
This workshop will take place at Antico Borgo La Torre, a converted farmhouse and winery located in Chianti, 25km from Florence.
Originally a medieval tower, the structure dates back to the middle ages. Now an agriturismo, Antico Borgo La Torre produces it's own wine and olive oil. It is made up of 32 hectars of land, which include olive groves, vineyards, woodland, orchards, walnut trees, and a swimming pool.
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See photos and more details about the venue here
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What's included?
22% VAT - 5 days tuition - 6 nights accommodation - Life Models - Arrival & departure transfers - Breakfasts, lunches, dinners & snacks - Tea, coffee & soft drinks - Alcohol (wine grown & produced at the venue) - Wine tour & tasting - Extra activities - Laundry - Swimming Pool - Wifi - Easels & solvents for painting.
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Prices
€1835 Shared Twin Bedroom with private bathroom (shared with one other participant of the same gender)
€2290 Private Bedroom with a double bed and private bathroom
€2550 Private Apartment with a double bedroom, bathroom and private living room/kitchen
€650 Non-Participating Partner to share a private bedroom or private apartment with you
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The Food
All meals will be made up up of delicious, home-cooked Tuscan cuisine, and will take place in our beautiful dining hall or outside whenever the weather is nice. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options will be available, please let us know in advance if you have any dietary requirements (dietary needs rather than preferences).
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Materials list, itinerary & more information
We will send you an information pack with the full materials list and more details about the retreat. See airport and transfer information on our FAQ's page here
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Bring a partner or friend - €650 all-inclusive rate
If you book a private bedroom or apartment then you are very welcome to bring along a travel companion with you who will not be participating in the workshop. Partners will be very welcome to join all of our meals and activities, and become a part of our group.
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We will happily assist in planning activities during the days for your partner, such as bike tours, trips to local towns, and walks around the surrounding countryside. Equally, your partner is very welcome to relax by the pool and enjoy the beautiful countryside. We recommend bringing a car so that you can travel around freely, however, it will also be possible to call a taxi at any time to take you to the local train station.
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The €650 fee for non-participating partners includes: 22% VAT - 6 nights accommodation - Arrival & Departure Transfers - Breakfasts, lunches, dinners & snacks - Tea, coffee & soft drinks - Alcohol (wine grown at the venue) - Wine tour & tasting - Laundry - Swimming Pool - Wifi.
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Participating Partner - €1380 all-inclusive
Bring a partner or friend who will attend the workshop with you. If you book a private bedroom or apartment you are welcome to bring along a a travel companion who will participate in the workshop with you and share a bedroom with you. €1380 all-inclusive rate for your travel companion!
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Booking information
To book a place on this retreat click Book Now below and you'll be taken to a separate page where you can choose your bedroom option, register and pay. To confirm your place on this retreat you will need to pay a €750 deposit. You can choose to pay the deposit via credit card or bank transfer, the full reamining balance must be paid by bank transfer. When paying by bank transfer choose 'offline payment' when you check out, and from there you will be given our bank details. If you require a different payment plan email us for details.
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Review our terms & conditions of booking here
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Questions? See our FAQ's page here
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Michael Carson
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Michael Carson is a Minnesotan oil painter and sculptor, whose artwork can be found in private and corporate collections throughout the world. His aim is to use technique, mechanics, color and design to bring a fresh approach to the subject of the figure.
"My work is first and foremost figurative studies. It's what I like to paint, my biggest challenge and my greatest payoff."
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You can see more of Mike's work here:
Instagram: @mcarson1999
