NIKOLAS ANTONIOU

Workshop Description

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This workshop is not about following a structured path from start to finish—it’s about showing up, working hard, and pushing yourself alongside fellow artists. Over five days in the studio, we will explore painting not just as a technical process but as a way of thinking, observing, and making decisions. Fear, doubt, and failure are all part of this journey, and learning how to navigate them is just as important as mastering brushwork. Instead of seeking a perfect outcome, we will focus on the mindset that allows for discovery. Through portrait painting, we will break down essential ideas about intention, emphasis, and expression while embracing the unpredictability that makes art alive. The process itself will guide us—great elements often emerge from accidents, in places we least expect. The goal is not to follow a rigid plan but to immerse ourselves fully, remaining open to new paths that reveal something deeper.

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Key Ideas We Will Explore

Understanding Your Why - What drives you to paint? What do you want to explore, express, or discover?
Setting an Artistic Goal - Learning to make choices that guide your process and define what should stand out.
The Attitude of Painting - Moving beyond hesitation, embracing spontaneity, and balancing control with freedom.
Fear & Failure - Identifying fear in your process, finding ways to trick self-doubt, and learning how failure can be a tool for growth.
Breaking Down the Portrait - Using portraiture to discuss structure, expression, and abstraction in painting.
Making Key Elements Stand Out - Understanding how to emphasize certain areas and simplify others to create impact.
The Long Road - Accepting that painting is an ongoing process where the result matters less than the journey itself.
Developing Your Own Voice - Finding personal meaning in your work and moving beyond imitation.
Letting the Process Lead You - Don’t be a slave to your initial idea. Try things. Be open to accidents and unexpected discoveries. Let the painting show you where to go instead of forcing it into a fixed vision.

About the Retreat

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During this all-inclusive art retreat, meals will be home-cooked by our wonderful Tuscan chef, and eaten together in our large dining room, or outside on our terrace with a panoramic view of the stunning landscape. After class you'll have free use of the Villa and grounds to explore, including our swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and woodland. Many of our evenings will be spent around the firepit, with a beautiful view of the stars, and during the week we will host some evening events, such as pizza night using our outdoor pizza oven, an evening of life drawing, and a night of live music. If you need to unwind after class we also have a yoga deck, tennis court, bicycles, a star-gazing platform, as well a games room with a pool table & table tennis. ​Otherwise feel free to continue practicing your art, sketching outside, or contine painting in our studio, which is always open.

This is a chance to focus on you and your art, you'll be living and working together, and alongside Nikolas, with the opportunity to dive deep into eachother's knowledge and experience, building relationships, whilst making the most of the surrounding nature in this beautiful Tuscan setting. 

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