Nature Journaling in Tuscany-a great time

2011 Journaling workshop
From left to right: Katherine Lundgren, Alex Dougherty (back),
 Carol Jean Rogalski, Cynthia Camazine, Sharon Shapiro,
Gretchen Halpert (instructor), Scott Rawlins, Brent Bauer, Nancy Gerald
Notice the impressive cacti in the background and, of course, our handmade journals.

We had a fabulous time in Tuscany. Eight students plus teacher met in Firenze for a chartered van ride to Spannocchia, our destination in Siena province for the next nine days. Immediately, this group clicked. We chatted our way during the hour plus drive to Spannocchia, over wine on the terrace overlooking golden hillsides, through the bountiful dinner meal and on through the week, punctuated with plenty of laughter and serious drawing.

Day 1 we set up in the limonaria for a full day of  bookmaking.

Carol fits her journal cover paper over grayboard

From then on, we set out to fill our books with paintings, drawings, observations and words.

Here are some photos from the week.

©Brent Bauer draws some architectural
details in graphite and pastel.

©Scott Rawlins produces a beautifully delicate and accurate
watercolor of the Spannocchia tower on right, then makes a
breakthrough with an elegant quick sketch on the left.

Scott sketches the tower and our
home for the week.

Cooking class included a tour in
the organic vegetable gardens and
resulted in a feast for all.

Building and geranium sketches © Cynthia Camazine in watercolor. Geraniums are 

strategically planted around the compound, brilliant in the summer sun against cerulean skies. Note the reference value scale on the right page of 

 the building sketch. This reference helps you develop a deeper range of values.

Scott, Gretchen and Alex at
 Santa Lucia, an abandoned
monastery on the property

 
                                       Sketch books of Brent Bauer, Cynthia Camazine and Gretchen Halpert

Gelato!!!

Walking the old road in
Fonterutoli to the home
of botanical artist Margaret Saul

Botanical artist Margaret Saul graciously shares
her techniques.

Drawing on the lawn at Spannocchia

Margaret's drawing board displaying
her work, sketches and finished
paintings. See also the GNSI newsletter!
(www.gnsi.org)

View from bedroom window.

Heritage Cinta Senese pigs

An exhibit opening of our week's
work was shared with the Spannocchia
community. H'or d'oeuvres, wine and art.

Nancy and friend

Capparis Spinosa-capers! The plant was blooming and I have
wanted to paint it. This is the first step in a botanical painting-
studying the structure, taking copius notes and photographs.

Inside the ancient monastary of Santa
Lucia. Stairs warped from ten centuries
of wear. Ten centuries.
©Gretchen Halpert 2011

A couple unedited reviews from the class:

What a nice variety of exercises. I enjoyed every one. The bookmaking, journaling, poetry, pencil and water color were superb and all levels of experience benefitted. The field trips to the various towns and Margaret's home fit well into the program. Gretchen kept things flowing and interesting the entire times. What talent!!!!!

All of the exercises were worthwhile -- some were review, but much appreciated, and others (especially the writing exercises) were new and interesting. We sometimes forget that a journal is not just a sketchbook, but a "journey" in both images and words. I can't think of anything I would change or omit -- though the trip to Margaret's was very valuable and something I understand has not been included in the past. I liked the freedom we had to explore after class or just stay near the villa and draw (or sleep or read). I highly recommend the garden tour -- this helped put the goals of the Spannocchia Foundation into perspective. 

I plan to offer this workshop again during the summer of 2013. 

Contact Gretchen Halpert at ghalpert@stny.rr.com for more information.

The description for this 2011 workshop is in the August 2010 post.

We held to the description, adding some late afternoon writing sessions,

 a field trip to Fonterutoli to visit Ms. Saul, and to 

Castellina-in-Chianti for famed gelato and sightseeing. Field trips may vary, 

but the city of Siena is always on the schedule. See the location of Siena on the 

map link at the bottom of this page.

Thanks to all the participants for their enthusiasm, good nature and artwork!

Cooking class

2010 class
From left-Mitch Reese, Jeannine Reese, Clara Richardson,
Frank Ippolito, Judy Halpert, Annagrace Kasten(back),
Gretchen Halpert, Laurie O'Keefe, Steve Halpert,
Britt Griswold, Jennifer Seabaugh

Ready to make dough

Spinach filling for ravioli-2006

Ready to start eating our feast
2006 participants

Sketching during cooking class

Ravioli

Tiramisu

Relaxing after finishing first course of wine and bruschetta appetizers

Nature Journaling in Tuscany 2006

2011 Workshop Description is in August posting


 From the GNSI Newsletter, Volume 2006 Number 7 September

Nature Journaling in Tuscany-A Report on the Summer 2006 Workshop-

-Gretchen Halpert

 It’s true what they say about the light. 

Castiglion Che Dio Sol Sa
watercolor value study
D. Piemonte ©2006

You stare at it until it absorbs you. You drink it in like it will quench your summer thirst, and then, you must record it.

         We all fell in love with the Tuscan glow, calling to us from the luminescent wheat fields we passed on our sojourns. In the early evenings, it called us gently from the hills,  while we drank homemade wine on the terrace. From acres of sunflowers in full bloom, it called us loudly. We gasped at the brilliance of thousands of orange-yellow heads demanding our attention until every one of our heads turned and snapped their pictures.

         Ten artists converged at Tenuta di Spannocchia, a working farm and nature preserve on 1200 acres of forest, gardens and history. Each morning we gathered for field sketching exercises. From the shade of the secret garden to the domain of the chickens and Cinta Senese pigs, we drew. From the Escher-like Castle That Only God Knows (Castiglion Che Dio Sol Sa) deep in the woods, we drew. We sketched, painted and photographed at the Monastery Among Olive Trees (Monte Oliveto Maggiore),  where 14^th century frescos painted by Signorelli and Il Sodoma line the walls of the Great Cloister. We drew in a Zen-like garden nearby, during Pre-Palio festivities in Siena, in museums where the architecture is as impressive as the art, on field trips to walled medieval cities and from the bedroom windows of our 16^th century Villa overlooking terraced vegetable gardens and Tuscan hills.

watercolor value study
W. Smith ©2006

         The afternoons we weren’t on field trips, we spent on our own: exploring, hiking, drawing, writing, swimming. Whatever we chose to do, we never missed our farm-grown, creatively prepared,  sumptuous meals. One day we spent playing in the kitchen under the direction of a local chef. We cooked up a 5-course meal then feasted on it. Another afternoon some of us took an Italian language class so we could order meals and buy postcards and souvenirs in Italian. Another couple (hundred) of those and we would fit right in.

         Evenings we held slide shows as well as an art opening to share our drawings with the Spannocchia community. The ten days we were in Tuscany coincided with the Palio, the 4^th of July (yes, we had a barbecue, beer, chips, and fireworks) and the World cup where Italy reigned. Thanks to all the participants: Diane Dorigan, Wendy Smith, Antonia Ross, Rachel Robinov, Cally Gurley, Susan Horigan, Colly Geer, Diane Piemonte, Carol Rothberg and honorary participants Ronald Faris, Jim Ross and Cally’s whole family for making this a memorable workshop. The participants coupled with the wonderful staff at Spannocchia have made me look forward to offering this workshop again.

2006 workshop participants
Front row from left-Gretchen Halpert (instructor), Colly Geer, Diane Piemonte
back row from left-Jim Ross, Toni Ross, Susan Horigan, Diane Dorigan,
Wendy Smith, Rachel Robinov, Ron Faris, Carol Rothberg, Cally Gurley

         

Comments from Previous Workshop Participants

These comments are from evaluation forms I handed out at the end of the workshop. Anything in parentheses are my edits. Those who wrote me with input and ideas for future classes, I thank you. Your input will help shape the 2011 workshop.-Gretchen

From a 2007 and interested 2011 participant:
"Hey Gretchen, I am SOOOO glad you are offering this trip again and I would love to attend!  It sounds like a great venue with different things from before, but I have to tell you that was one of the best trips I've ever been on. I still think the price is reasonable too! ... I have a feeling this might fill up pretty quickly so want to take advantage of not lolly gagging and missing out." L.O.

"The mapping lesson was fun-a great way to document in my journal"

"The field trip to M. Olivero/Pienza....was so inspiring and the ride beautiful"

"(I loved) the guided field trip. It was a great day. Also, our morning at the Castle Ony God Knows was an excellent lesson."

"I really would have loved to stay the summer. However, reality does need to be faced."

"Well done. Even though I have had some of these (exercises) before, I felt very enthusiastic about the lessons. These are lessons we should do ourselves regularly-especially sitting quietly before we begin."

"I liked being away, meeting wonderful people, seeing new sights and being able to have the uninterrupted time to practice."

"I'm going to save my pennies again-loved everything! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

"...Spannocchia is a wonderful world!"

"Thoughtfully designed with realistic objectives and flexible to needs of group. Good group dynamics, therefore."

"You gave us the best possible sense of what was to come. The schedule was particularly helpful. For first-time participants there is just no way to visualize the place/time"

"It's very inspiring to see each others' artwork."

"Hiking on your own and making your own discoveries is a "must" do!"

Pictures from Nature Journaling Workshops in Tuscany

Day in Siena

2006 participants
Front row from left-Gretchen Halpert (instructor), Colly Geer, Diane Piemonte
back row from left-Jim Ross, Toni Ross, Susan Horigan, Diane Dorigan,
Wendy Smith, Rachel Robinov, Ron Faris, Carol Rothberg, Cally Gurley

Morning view of cypress trees and hills
from my bedroom window

Siena rooftops

Italian cooking class
We cooked and feasted!

Entrance to Spannocchia compound

Sketchers

Sharing our sketchbooks in the Secret Garden

One on one time

The swimming pool is a perfect respite on hot summer days

Drawing at the Castle

Tuscan Countryside

Tuscan Countryside

Fields of sunflowers

Cactus-sketchbook page ©GKH

At the Escher-like "Castle that Only God Knows"

Drawing  perpective

Sketch of Cinte Senese Pigs