Immerse Yourself in Puglia Italy: A Retreat to Inspire Your Creativity
Join professional watercolour artists Sarah Stokes and Jane Davies in Puglia where a whole raft of experiences await you. Relax and paint in the authentic surroundings of the lovingly restored Masseria, a venue with the message of sustainability at its core. On this retreat you’ll get the chance to soak up the ambience of towns filled with baroque inspired architecture, delight in traditionally cooked, responsibly sourced food at the Masseria, stroll along the stunning white sands and through the crystal clear waters of the nearby Salento beaches and dine out at some charming local restaurants serving up traditional
Italian cuisine.
This experience is a feast for the eyes as well as for the palette. With opportunities to stroll through olive groves, observe and paint flamingos in their natural habitat and ride horses along the shore line of some of Italy’s most beautiful beaches, you won’t be short of inspiration for your paintings. Sarah and Jane will be there every step of the way to guide you steadily through the process of getting you visions painted in watercolour.
On this Italian Art Retreat we will explore the natural surroundings and stunning architecture of the area to create some fabulous artwork in an expressive watercolour style.
Hosted at the stunning Masseria Specula, this unique experience will show you how to translate your ideas into stunning pieces of artwork, whether you are painting wildlife, seascapes or architecture. Whether you’re an established artist or just beginning your journey, all levels of expertise are welcome.
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Puglia Art Retreat Itinerary
The proposed itinerary is shown below and all excursions are organised and included. You don’t need any art experience to enjoy this tour.
Please note that the programme maybe subject to change due to the nature of the excursions.
Day One
Pick up from Brindisi airport at 2pm and transfer to the Masseria Specula.
On arrival to your accommodation, you will shown to your comfortable room, with time to settle in.
Join Sarah Stokes and Jane Davies for a welcome drink in the warm evening Sun before sitting down with the rest of the art group to enjoy an authentic Italian dinner, enhanced by a glass of locally produced wine.
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Day three
Your third day unfolds with breakfast, fresh juices and coffee where we can chat about the day ahead.
After breakfast, you will be taken to the sleepy little town of Nardò where you will be able to take your own photo references, or even indulge in some plein-air painting whilst sitting on the steps of a church or under the umbrella of a cafe. Sarah will be on hand to talk about composition and perspective when it comes to choosing and painting larger areas, such as street scenes. We will then head over to nearby seaside town of Santa Marina Al Bagno. This pretty little coastal area lines a beautiful sea front. On this part of the excursion Jane and Sarah will guide you through some of the best spots to observe and photograph the crystal blue ocean and the crashing waves as they hit against the nearby rocks.
We will return back to the Masseria for a spot of delicious lunch before Jane and Sarah deliver a combined workshop demonstrating different approaches to depicting the Sea. During this enjoyable session, you’ll get to use masking fluid, gouache and gel pens to bring alive the majestic and complex nature of crashing waves and sea foam.
Once the lesson has finished, there will be a couple of hours for relaxation followed by Aperitivo hour and then a traditional home cooked evening meal at the Masseria.
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Day five
Day five brings you the amazing opportunity to visit a local equestrian centre with Jane and experience a magical morning horse ride along the Salento shore line. There is no need to be a skilled horserider: before each excursion, information briefings are carried out to get on the saddle safely and both beginners and more experienced itineraries are available.
If you’d prefer not to visit the stables, then your breakfast will be served at the Masseria and you’ll get the chance to grab a free period for a painting session with Sarah who will be running a masterclass in colour mixing.
Once the horse riders have returned, the whole class will gather together for a session led by Jane on how to paint a wonderfully vibrant flamingo. You will learn how to depict feathers with an emphasis on the key skills of timing and pigment control.
After lunch Sarah will lead a class on how to paint Italy’s national bird, the sparrow. Using a beautiful rich palette of warm neutral greys and browns, you will get to paint our feathered friend with an emphasis on building up layers whilst letting go of too much detail. At the end of the painting session, there will be the chance to relax or alternatively to take a stroll along the nearby nature reserve to spot flamingoes in their natural habitat.
The day is completed with a splendid evening out, dining under the stars in the nearby town of Marrugio.
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Day seven
Having refuelled with breakfast, this is a great opportunity to transform memories from
Lecce into captivating artworks. Dive into your photographs and be inspired to complete your previously started pieces or embark on a new artistic journey.
With freedom in your choice of subject you might be inclined to paint a seascape or depict some of the animals that you’ve seen on your stay in Italy. To this end Jane and Sarah will be on hand to help you bring your vision to life.
After lunch there will be free time for you to continue painting, to spend time exploring the
expanse of beaches in the local area, or if you are a gastro enthusiast, to partake in an
impromptu cooking lesson from one of the Masseria's chefs. As the sun sets on our final evening, unique blends of cocktails will be served using locally sourced herbs and spices as a band of local musicians provide us with the perfect musical backdrop to our last evening meal together.
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Day Two
After a hearty Italian breakfast, we will walk in the vicinity of the
venue to photograph and
forage for objects suitable for our first art session. With olive
trees, geckos, pine cones, cacti, and a beach close to hand, we
won’t be short of inspiration.
Sarah will kick off the first workshop by guiding you through the core skills of drawing and painting from life, using the subjectsobserved on the morning stroll. This is a light hearted session and ideal for anyone interested in developing their art journaling skills or for anyone lacking confidence in their drawing skills. Light snacks, fruit and refreshments will be available throughout the lunch time period, after which we will dive into Jane’s first lesson. During this afternoon session Jane will guide you
through the fun process of creating a rich “treescape” inspired by the olive trees that abound in the area. Watch with
excitement as a beautiful piece emerges as you employ Jane’s
unique way of applying paint and water to the page. With this practical session finished you will have time to relax and refresh ready for a beautifully prepared evening meal in the ancient town of Oria.
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Day four
After breakfast, Sarah will lead the morning workshop in which you will get to depict a cafe scene inspired by your trip to Nardo. Sarah will explain the rules of perspective and composition as you map out the scene on the paper. Using a range of playful and experimental techniques, you will get to paint a bustling cafe scene, depicting the weathered masonry, rusting balconies and white umbrellas that make these scenes so iconic.
After a light lunch, Jane will help you create your first animal portrait of the holiday, a stunning equine portrait. Using Jane’s free flowing method, allow the water to carry the pigment over the paper as a beautiful horse emerges off the page.
At 4:30 you will take a well earned break from painting for an organised trip to Grottaglie, an ancient town famed for its ceramic heritage. This is an excellent opportunity to pick up quality, hand made souvenirs for the home or for loved ones.
We will return to the Masseria in time for a beautifully and freshly prepared evening meal.
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Day six
After a nutritious breakfast, we will embark on our day trip to the wonderful city of Lecce. With the option of a tour provided by a guide you will get the chance to spend the whole day in this Baroque inspired town.
Famed for its stunning architecture, Roman amphitheatre, Cathedral and Churches, it is one of the most awe inspiring cities in the world. It is filled with ancient palaces and squares, vibrant cafes, museums and restaurants… ideal for painting plein-air, gathering photo
references or simply for taking time out to absorb the atmosphere.
On our return to the Masseria we will have a relaxing evening dinner over which we can share our experiences of the city and the retreat as a whole and make plans for our final day.
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Day eight
Enjoy breakfast together, exchange any last contacts and transfer to Brindisi airport (transfer times will be confirmed after booking)
Please note that the Masseria is very much in the heart of rural Puglia. As such the majority of our trips will be via mini bus with the journeys ranging from 15 to 60
minutes in duration.
Paint with Sarah Stokes & Jane Davies
In terms of artistic practice, Jane Davies and Sarah Stokes will help you harness better control over this liquid medium, focusing on a diverse range of subjects. Building your knowledge up steadily, we will start our journey by depicting foraged objects using loose freehand drawing techniques to bring them to life. Once confident we will dive into watercolour exploring its magical qualities of translucency and fluidity to depict subjects in a loose and expressive manner. The Olive trees, weathered patina of medieval stonework and ancient doors will be our inspiration for a whole range of exciting and exhilarating techniques. Midway through the retreat we will turn our attention to the stunning shorelines that surround the venue and we will guide you through layering techniques to help you recreate the distant waves and rocky coastline of the Ionian Sea. And of course a painting retreat wouldn’t be complete without the opportunity to paint the beautiful animals that abound in this region; wild flamingos, migratory birds, chickens, geckos, horses and cats will give us abundant
opportunities to practice advanced techniques in depicting feathers, fur and texture.
In addition to painting with us, you’ll dive deep into the culture and warmth of this beautiful area. You will have the opportunity to visit the most beautiful baroque towns of Nardò and Lecce, to swim in the crystal clear waters of the renowned Punta Prosciutto beach, to ride horses along the Salento coastline and to learn essential Italian cooking skills from the wonderful chefs at the Masseria.
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At this expressive art retreat, you will learn how to:
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Better understand the role of shape, tone, perspective and composition
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Get to grips with timing and pigment control
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Create any colour you wish from a simplified colour palette and avoid muddiness
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Embrace a playful approach to the medium to help you create loose brush marks and convincing textures utilising salt, clingfilm, and masking fluid
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Break down complex forms, both animate and inanimate to depict paintings that read well
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Achieve depth, tone and vibrancy in a piece
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Find a harmony between loose and realistic brushwork
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Incorporate background washes and natural elements into your work such as water, skies, trees and foliage
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Paint from reference photographs and from life
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Capture a sense of time and place
Authentic Italian Experience
This "Expressive Watercolour" art retreat takes place at the Masseria Specula, which is a traditional farmhouse & nearby villas located in Puglia, Southern Italy. It is ideally located in beautiful countryside, close to the long white sandy Specchiarica Beach.
The Masseria seamlessly merges authentic traditional Italian charm with modern comforts. The villas are modern, spacious and have outdoor space with a swimming pool. The venue is surrounded by countryside and offers beautiful sea views.
In keeping with the Masseria's Italian charm, meals are freshly prepared by three Puglian women who cook delicious, authentic Italian recipes their mothers taught them.
On booking (subject to availability), you can select from rooms within the Masseria itself or one of the villas and more information about the accommodation can be found below.
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Stay at the Masseria
Relax and unwind in one of the Masseria’s beautifully furnished bedrooms. Each room is tastefully decorated and generous in proportion, whether you are sharing or having the room to yourself.
Room Layout:
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First Floor Rooms: Feature roof terraces.
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Ground Floor Rooms: Most have individual garden spaces.
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Accessibility Note: Guests with mobility issues should book a ground floor room.
Twin Rooms:
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Priced per person, based on double occupancy.
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You can share with a guest of your choice (if available) or be paired with another guest (by us) of the same gender.
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The en-suite bathroom is shared between both occupants.
Double Rooms (Single Occupancy):
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Designed for single occupancy only.
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You may bring a non-participating artist to share the double room for an additional charge of £1,800. Non-participating artists can join excursions, but will not be able to attend the art workshops.
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Stay in a neighbouring Villla
Contemporary Villas with Pool Access:
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Located across the road from the Masseria, 3 villas offer modern design; each with access to a swimming pool and outdoor space
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These villas provide a relaxing space to unwind during your stay.
Villa Sizes:
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Villa 1: Larger in size compared to the others.
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Villas 2 and 3: Slightly smaller in comparison.
Villa Bedrooms:
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Villa bedrooms are all solo occupancy rooms
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Villas are shared with other participants of the same gender, with shared kitchen, seating area, pool and outdoor space
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All rooms in the villas (except one room in Villa 1) share a villa bathroom with other guests in the villa
Photos: The images provided represent the typical rooms available in the villas.
Price & What's Included
Prices for this Italian retreat start from £3,240 per guest for 8 days, depending on which room you choose. Each room is priced differently as per the information about the accommodation above.
Spaces on this retreat are limited to just 18 students.
What's included
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7 nights, 8 days of accommodation at the beautiful Masseria & neighbouring villas
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Exclusive use of the property including all common areas, workshop spaces and gardens
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Daily Art workshops with Jane Davies & Sarah Stokes as outlined in the itinerary
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Daily freshly prepared meals cooked by a private chef at The Masseria on most days
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Two evening meals at local restaurants
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Wine and non-alcoholic beverages during dinner service
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Unlimited supply of tea/coffee/water during Art Workshops at The Masseria
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Roundtrip airport transfers from Brindisi airport if you adhere to our flight parameters. These will be emailed to you once the retreat is guaranteed.
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5 x excursions including: trip to Nardo town, trip to a local flamingo lake, trip to Lecce & optional trip to local equestrian centre organised by The Masseria, with gentle horse ride along the Salento beach (please advise your travel insurance provider of this activity in advance of your holiday to ensure you have appropriate cover)
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Private transportation for all planned trips/English speaking interpreter
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Spice cocktails and local traditional band on the evening of day 7
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Access to a private WhatsApp group with Sarah Stokes, Jane Davies and the other retreat participants four months before the retreat
Not included
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Roundtrip airfare to Brindisi airport
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Airport transfers outside of our flight parameters (which will be sent to you when the retreat is guaranteed)
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Required Travel Insurance- this is compulsory
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Art materials — you will receive a detailed list of art materials recommended by artist Sarah Stokes & Jane Davies two months before the retreat. Tables, chairs, glass jars and paper towels are included. A printer will be on-site to print off any photo references.
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Alcoholic beverages outside of the evening dinner service
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Additional excursions or taxi journeys you may wish to take outside of the itinerary
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Tips — tipping isn't the norm but it's appreciated by the local service providers
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Other expenses guests might incur on their own
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The non-participating artist package (when sharing a double room with a participating artist) excludes all art workshops
Got any questions?
