Dates:

Due to the unpredictability of enrollment and new commitments this course will only be offered to private groups for a minimum of 5 students.  In order to work at this magnificent location and use the indoor facilities  for lectures and reviews participants must reserve rooms at the Inn at Castle Hill, Ipswich.  Contact us directly to discuss date options.

Location:

Ipswich

Fees:

$650 per person
accommodation not included

Description:

The Salt Marshes of the Crane Estate in Ipswich MA are a National Historic Landmark. Their pristine condition is very close in appearance to their state in the early 1630’s as family property of the first Massachusetts Bay Colony governor. They have been the continuous subject of artistic interpretation, most famously by Martin Johnson Heade and Arthur Wesley Dow in the 19th century.

Key Features:

• 2 painting sessions per day with two instructors
• Slide lectures present historic background of salt marsh painting
• Visit to the Ipswich Museum Arthur Wesley Dow collection
• Daily review of student work
• Intermediate to Advanced Artists

Register Now

Download a PDF with all course details and view our Terms and Conditions

Description:

The Advanced Landscape workshop provides an opportunity for experienced painters to work intensively in one location and develop a focused body of longer term work. Instructors will work closely with individual students to assist in the realization of creative goals.

We will not offer this program in 2026 as we are working on a new project in Aliano in the province of Matera. See the dates for 2027 below.

CLICK on images to enlarge

Dates:

2 – 11 September 2027

Location:

Buonconvento

Fees:

Receive a 7% discount on fees for each person you bring to a workshop!

Returning participants will receive a $125 discount on total fees

Per Person
$3,600 Double Occupancy
$3,850 Single Occupancy
$1,650 Non-Painters
Private Bath: $110

Key Program Features:

• Flexible program structure that adapts to the interests of the students enrolled. For example past classes have offered indirect painting techniques as well as abstract landscape.
• Slide shows on issues relevant to landscape painting will be held at least twice at lunch.
• Intermediate and Advanced artists only.
• Equipment (easels, palettes, umbrellas, chairs) and most materials (surfaces, brush tanks, solvents, paper towels) provided. Bring paint and brushes only!
• Painting in plein air only, RAIN or SHINE.
• 2 painting sessions per day, 1 of which instructed. 2 instructors provide more student support.
• Painting on isolated, private property in pristine landscapes.
• All media welcome but our expertise is oil painting.
• Daily reviews of work. 12 student maximum.
• Fees include accommodations, meals (breakfast, 4 of Maddine and Joe’s famous lunches, dinner plus wine!) equipment, all materials listed above, field trips, local transportation.
• Options for longer stays at reduced rates. Students may continue to use school equipment during this time.

Course Requirements:

1. Intermediate and Advanced Painters only. 
2. Prior plein air experience desirable. 
3. Physical fitness and ability to walk on uneven, hilly terrain.

Register Now

View our Terms & Conditions

Advanced Workshop 2026

A joint project with the Musei Aliano

3 SPOTS LEFT!!!

We are delighted to announce an exclusive, ONE TIME, collaboration with the Musei Aliano (MuA) (Aliano Museums) of Aliano in the province of Matera this October. In our newest historic itineraries initiative, “Carlo Levi and Aliano”, we will offer advanced painters an intensive experience of painting the spectacular lunar landscapes of Aliano as guests in the Museum’s newly renovated artist residency facilities.

Carlo Levi (1902 – 1975) was one of the most important cultural figures in 20^th century Italy. A Jewish native of Torino, Levi studied medicine at university but preferred to focus his energies on painting, writing and advocating for social justice. It was in the context of his social activism and opposition to the Fascist regime that he was imprisoned and exiled to the remote province of Matera, first in Grassano and then Aliano in 1935-36. His experience in Aliano formed the basis of his most famous work “Christ Stopped at Eboli” which brought the attention of the world to the plight of the southern Italian peasantry and introduced social realism as a literary genre. Many of Levi’s best known paintings date from his exile period. They reveal his deep empathy for the suffering of the local population which formed the basis of a lifelong attachment to Aliano, which not even death could terminate.  While most of his career was spent in cosmopolitan centers, including service as an independent Senator in Rome, Levi chose Aliano as his final resting place.  A truly great humanitarian, he is an inspiration to us, particularly in this difficult historic moment.

Program Objectives

4. Consider the role of art as a positive force in an anxious time of transition, uncertainty and instability.

5. Participate in MuA and the town of Aliano’s efforts to connect with the world beyond Aliano and maintain a relationship with “History” and contemporary culture. At the conclusion of the program artists will display their work for viewing by the local community.

We are extremely excited to have been offered this privileged and rare opportunity and encourage advanced painters to join us this October. It is not something that we are planning to repeat at this moment. Unlike Tuscany and other areas where we have held our programs, Basilicata, (except Matera), is off the tourist trail and expresses a more genuine character. That is another reason why we leaped at the chance to do this!

CLICK to see enlarged images of this spectacular location

Program Features 

• Advanced artists only
• All media welcome but our expertise is oil painting
• Intensive painting on self directed projects
• 2 artist directors present all day to work directly with participants
• Daily reviews of work 
• Opportunity to display work publicly at the conclusion of program
• Field trips to local towns including Matera, Craco, and others, some of which we will paint.
• Fees include:  accommodations, breakfast and dinner;  museum fees in Aliano and all field trip destinations; local transportation to field trips and painting locations. 
• We will provide breakfast ingredients for participants in the residency premises where we will have access to a fully equipped kitchen at all times. Dinners will be held in various restaurants in the village.  
• Logistical challenges prevent us from offering lunch.  We will make various shopping trips for food if the local stores are not adequately furnished.
• Also included in the fees is one pick up and drop off in Naples (2 1/2 hours from Aliano). We will arrange one trip only in each direction and will coordinate closely with participants about timing. We have chosen Naples as the city offers more attractions to the visitor than other destinations within a 2 hour radius of Aliano. Most notable among which are: the archeological sites of Pompei, Herculaneum, Oplontis;  the Archeological Museum of Naples; the Capodimonte Art Museum and Park; and…… the best pizza in Italy!
• We can also arrange for transportation outside the scheduled trips for an additional fee.
• Easels will be provided to first 6 artists that register. Others will need to bring their own painting kits. We will supply paper towels, solvents, Liquin, soap and Goop (waterless hand cleaner). We will also bring 6 foldable chairs.  Participants must bring everything else including painting surfaces.
• 12 student maximum

We encourage interested artists to contact us directly at 347-517-0297 or info@landscapepainting.com with any questions.  

Dates

1 – 10 October 2026

Location 

Click on the link below to see images of the artist residency buildings and surroundings.

ALIANO, Province of Matera

Fees

Receive a 7% discount on fees for each person you bring to a workshop!

Per Person
$3,300 Double Occupancy
$3,550 Single Occupancy
$1,400 Non-Painters
All Rooms have been recently renovated and have a Private Bath

Register Now

View our Terms & Conditions

Scroll down for details

Images from our 2024 class CLICK on photo to enlarge

Dates:

The Elements of Landscape workshop will not be offered in 2025.  Check back with us in 2026.

Location:

Buonconvento

Fees:

Receive a 7% discount on fees for each person you bring to a workshop!

Returning participants will receive a $125 discount on total fees.

Per Person
$3,250 Double Occupancy
$3,600 Single Occupancy
$1,650 Non-Painters
Private Bath: $110

Course Description:

The inspiration for this course is the writing of 18^th century French painter P. H. Valenciennes. In his famous treatise on open air painting published in 1800 Valenciennes advocated the separate study of the individual “elements” of landscape.

“Elements” is organized around slide presentations focusing on one element of landscape: fields and open spaces, trees, clouds and skies, water, time and nocturnes, and how various historical artists have interpreted this element.  Daily presentations will be followed by painting sessions dedicated to the subject element. 

In 2024 the program will be two days longer than it has been previously. The intention is to lessen the intense pace of the class while giving students more time to work  on the concepts introduced in the instructed sessions.

Key Features:

• Morning slide shows present one element of the landscape as depicted by historical masters. Emphasis on painting technique.
• Demonstrations as required.
• Minimal change of location allowing maximum painting time.
• Field trip to a local destination (options are Montalcino, Abbey of Monte Oliveto, Siena).
• Equipment (easels, palettes, umbrellas, chairs) and most materials (surfaces, brush tanks, solvents, paper towels) provided. Bring paint and brushes only!
• Painting in plein air only, RAIN or SHINE.
• 2 painting sessions per day, 1 of which instructed. 2 instructors provide more student support.
• Painting on isolated, private property in pristine landscapes.
• All media welcome but our expertise is oil painting.
• Daily reviews of work. 12 student maximum.
• Fees include accommodations, meals (breakfast, 4 of Maddine and Joe’s famous lunches, dinner plus wine), equipment, all materials listed above, field trips, local transportation.
• Options for longer stays at reduced rates. Students may continue to use school equipment during this time.

Course Requirements:

Intermediate and Advanced Painters only.  Prior plein air experience desirable.  Physical fitness and ability to walk on uneven, hilly terrain.

Register Now

View our Terms & Conditions

Scroll down for details

IMAGES FROM RECENT CLASSES Click photos to enlarge.