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

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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.

IMAGES FROM RECENT CLASSES (CLICK to enlarge images)

Dates:

4 – 13 September 2025

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

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 on two evenings.
• 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.

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View our Terms & Conditions

Dates:

We regret that we will not offer this workshop in 2024 as our preferred accommodation location is still unavailable.

Location:

Civita Castellana

Fees:

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

Per Person
$2,700 Double Occupancy
$2,950 Single Occupancy
$1,300 Non-Painters
All Rooms have a Private Bath

Description:

Join Maddine and Joe along historic itineraries of early open air painting where they can best share insights from their research into this important tradition. Paint motifs of the great masters Claude Lorrain, PH Valenciennes, JBC Corot, among many others, at Civita Castellana in this final class of our core program.

Key Features:

• Daily changes of painting motifs
• Three evening slide lectures provide historic context
• Direct transport into the landscape where you will paint in complete isolation on magnificent private properties
• Field trip to Palazzo Farnese, Caprarola
• Advanced artists only

Our Italian classes, each distinct in design and content, share the following features:

• Equipment (easels, palettes, umbrellas, chairs) and most materials (surfaces, brush tanks, solvents, paper towels) provided. Bring paint and brushes only!
• Painting on plein air only, RAIN or SHINE.
• Two painting sessions per day with two instructors
• Painting on isolated, private properties in pristine landscapes.
• All media welcome but our expertise is oil painting.
• Daily reviews of work. 12 student maximum.
• Gourmet lunches served on location.
• Fees include accommodations, meals, local transportation.
• Options for longer stays at reduced rates.

Register Now

Mail in Registration Card

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

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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 OUR 2024 CLASS Click photos to enlarge