Dear Friend,
It’s certainly turning into a bumper year for bookings for the 2017 Watermill creative courses, with the best part of 200 people already signed up for our fun-filled, sun-filled, inspiring weeks. All in all, we reckon we have some 240 to 250 places, so now is the time to secure your week with us. (We know we say this every time, but it really is true. In our Stop Press last month, for example, we announced a new knitting course with Marie Wallin and eight people booked immediately.) So, you’ll have to be quick to get in on the course you want, in the bedroom you like.
But while some of our courses are already fully booked (and we have opened waiting lists in case of cancellations), others still have places and there are more details of what is available below. So, come and join us and find out what all the fuss is about!
Of course, painting holidays are our core activity, with our wonderful, inspiring international tutors and the stunning locations in and around the mill and in the surrounding unspoilt Tuscan countryside of Lunigiana. The pictures above and below, by some of our tutors, give you a feel for the wonderful locations where you, too, could be painting.
But our knitting, yoga and Italian language courses are proving very popular, too. And on all of them you’ll not only enjoy sympathetic and expert tuition, but also the warm hospitality of the Watermill and the glorious Italian food we serve you each day.
This year you’ll also have an opportunity, on our first-ever cookery course, to learn the secrets of healthy eating from Lois and The Watermill team. We are really looking forward to that.
Work continues apace on creating two new bedrooms in the 17th Century mill, with wonderful views down the River Rosaro. We are glad to report that that the roof is now completed (new massive roof beams, supporting rescued old, traditional tiles) and we are now at work installing new bathrooms. The tiles and the sanitary ware are all ordered and will soon be in place. Meanwhile we have also created a new bathroom in the Tuscan house, for the Fra Angelico bedroom, and we’ve stripped out and are completely renovating the bathroom for the Botticelli bedroom.
There’s some debate in the Breckon household over the naming of these bedrooms, all from early Renaissance artists – and all men. Lois reckons we should have at least some rooms named after women artists. See the story below. What do you think?
Come with your partner!
And don’t forget that your friend or partner doesn’t need to participate in the creative course, whether it’s painting, language, cooking, knitting or yoga. We offer them a range of Alternative activities for partners on all our 2017 courses, as well as a generous £GBP 250 discount if they share a room with you.
Shall we reveal some ‘invisible women’?
This Winter we’ve assigned each of our Watermill bedrooms the name of a Florentine Renaissance artist. Bill reeled them off: “Botticelli, Bronzino, Brunelleschi, Fra Angelico, Ghiberti, Ghirlandaio, Uccello, Donatello, The Vasari Suite and The Lippi Suite”.
“Hang on a cotton-pickin’ moment,”said Lois,“What about the women?”
“Which ones?” said Bill, provocatively.
Well Lois has suggested three ‘invisible’ Florentine Renaissance women artists so far -- Artemisia Gentileschi, Maddalena Corvina and Suor Plautilla Nelli. She says the latter could give her name to the best bedroom of all. (Not on your Nelly,says Botticelli Bill.)
Top Left: Self-portrait by Artemisia Gentileschi - Top Right: Francesca Caccini, one of Florence’s better-known ‘invisible’ women
Above: Plautilla Nelli’s The Last Supper in Santa Maria Novella in Florence
Of course, there are also famous women composers from the same period, like Francesca Caccini, but Bill’s wedded to his early Renaissance male heroes. What do you think?
As we’ve so much to tell you – and so little time to do so (before we are fully booked!) we thought we better give you two more Tutors of the Month in this February newsletter: Doranne Alden and Mark Warner.
Painting tutor of the month: (1) Doranne Alden
One of the great delights of Italy – and there are many – is the light and the colours it illuminates. And who better to capture them than our delightful watercolour tutor Doranne Alden. Below (left) is her still life of a breakfast fruit platter at the Watermill. (center), some geraniums on a Watermill window sill and to the right, don’t you think these glowing red tomatoes are good enough to eat?
Doranne doesn’t just paint tempting fruit and sunlit flowers, but also landscapes that capture the atmosphere of the surrounding towns and villages in this unspoilt part of Italy. Here (below left) the fountain in the nearby walled Medieval town of Fivizzano:
And (above right) another quiet corner there where the poet Giovanni Fantoni overlooks his small piazza:
Doranne Alden is a professional artist, art teacher and graphic designer who particularly loves painting in watercolour. She now lives in Malta, but also worked for several years in Germany. Doranne is also a dedicated teacher, who has led many classes and workshops. She loves sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm, inspiring her students to produce their best work — and she’s happy to teach beginners as well as more experienced painters. Doranne will be with is for her course in watercolours from 13-20 May. There are five or so places left. To learn more about Doranne and her course at The Watermill, please visit her Tutor Profile page.
Painting tutor of the month: (2) Mark Warner
Mark Warner is another inspiring English artist in the distinguished list of Watermill painting tutors in 2017. He’s a specialist in acrylics/watercolours incorporating conte/pastel. Mark’s course here will run from Saturday 22 July to Saturday 29 July 2017. You can also share Mark’s passion for painting outdoors. Isn’t his Cloud Migration from Stiperstones, (below top left), sensational? and (below right) another great landscape, Towards Cader Idris.
Mark Warner is an artist and tutor who lives in Shropshire in England. He is not only a respected artist but also a highly professional tutor with many years of teaching experience. Mark is passionate about working outside, tutoring numerous day and residential en plein air holidays. His sessions are very popular — and he leads by example, creating a relaxed and encouraging environment. He says “I adore using colour while interpreting the light, weather and a love for the materials. I work directly in the field (literally on many occasions!) from sketches created outside as well as notes/photographs taken on location.”
Sketching is at the heart of Mark’s work: “This is important in the development of a piece and on many occasions, forming an integral part of the painting itself”. Mark works on coloured grounds, incorporating aspects of mark-making and directional brushstrokes within the work. He says: “I continue to draw inspiration from the landscape, although subject matter can be broad and at times very different”. Mark’s‘Harbour Boat Sketch’ is to the right.
Mark Warner will be with us from 22 to 29 July 2017 for his course in Acrylics/watercolours incorporating conte/pastel. To learn more about Mark and his course at The Watermill, please visit his Tutor Profile page.
2017 Painting courses: the full line-up
As we said our places are filling fast, but we still have plenty of lovely bedrooms (all with en suite bathrooms) and apartment suites left.
Doranne Alden - five places left
13 May to 20 May 2017
Watercolours
To learn more about Doranne, her course at the mill and to see more of her pictures, please visit her Profile Page
Sandra Strohschein - fully booked, waiting list only
27 May to 3 June 2017
Watercolours
To learn more about Sandra, her course at the mill and to see more of her pictures, please visit her Profile Page.
Sarah Spencer - four or five places left
3 June to 10 June 2017
Oils and acrylics, drawing
To learn more about Sarah, her course at the mill and to see more of her pictures, please visit her Profile Page
Keiko Tanabe - two or three places left
10 June to 17 June 2017
Watercolours
To learn more about Keiko, her course at the mill and to see more of her pictures, please visit her Profile Page
Maggie Renner Hellmann - one or two places left
17 June to 24 June 2017
'Courageous Color Workshop’
To learn more about Maggie, her course at the mill and to see more of her pictures, please visit her Profile Page
Lea Nixon - five or six places left
24 June to 1 July 2017
Watercolours
To learn more about Lea, his course at the mill and to see more of his pictures, please visit his Profile Page
Terry Jarvis - two or three places left
1 July to 8 July 2017
Watercolours
To learn more about Terry, his course at the mill and to see more of his pictures, please visit his Profile Page
Sue Ford - three or four places left
15 July to 22 July 2017
Watercolours, pastels, collage and mixed media plus acrylic
To learn more about Sue, her course at the mill and to see more of her pictures, please visit her Profile Page
Mark Warner - three or four places left
22 July to 29 July 2017
Acrylics/Watercolours incorporating conte/pastel
To learn more about Mark, his course at the mill and to see more of his pictures, please visit his Profile Page
Varvara Neiman -fully booked, waiting list only
26 August to 2 September 2017
Water-based oils, acrylics and watercolour
To learn more about Varvara, her course at the mill and to see more of her pictures, please visit her Profile Page
Mike Willdridge - fully booked, waiting list only
2 September to 9 September 2017
Watercolours and drawing (also gouache and acrylics with an emphasis on sketching and drawing on location)
To learn more about Mike, his course at the mill and to see more of his pictures, please visit his Profile Page
Nel Whatmore & Rebecca de Mendonça
- two or three places left
23 September to 30 September 2017
Pastels
To learn more about Nel & Rebecca, their course and to see more of their pictures, please visit their Profile Page
Charles Sluga - fully booked, waiting list only
30 September to 7 October 2017
Watercolours (and acrylics and oils)
To learn more about Charles, his course at the mill and to see more of his pictures, please visit his Profile Page
Tim Wilmot - five or six places left
7 October to 14 October 2017
Watercolours
To learn more about Tim, his course at the mill and to see more of his pictures, please visit his Profile Page
Come and join us and enjoy the magic at the mill!
*** Why not bring your non-painting partner as well?
There’s a generous £250 discount for him/her if they share a room with you - and there’s plenty for them to do.
Have a look at our Partner’s Activities Page for suggestions.
Use the 2017 programme link below to view the full list of our inspiring 2017 painting tutors
Another knitting week for Marie
As we said above, by popular demand, we’ve opened another knitting week (in July) for our fabulous designer Marie Wallin and we already have eight people booked in. So, we still have room for three or four more. Also, due to a cancellation, our Botticelli bedroom is now also free for Lisa Richardson’s course in May.
Marie has built up a global reputation for her beautiful patterns, colourwork and stitch designs. She now runs her own design company complete with website and blog. She also publishes her own books and kits and holds popular creative workshops.
Marie works in close collaboration with Rowan where she was Head Designer for Rowan, the internationally renowned design-led luxury hand-knit yarn company, based in West Yorkshire, England. An ethically conscious brand, with an emphasis on creating luxury, premium yarns sourced from organic, natural fibres, Rowan will provide all the yarns for your Watermill knitting courses – and you don’t have to pay for them: it’s included in the cost of your knitting holiday.
Marie will also work with you on two projects she has specially designed for the week, one an introduction to mosaic knitting, making a mosaic scarf; the other, a Fairisle tam project
Some comments from guests on Marie’s previous courses at the Watermill: “This was the best gift I've ever given myself and I will cherish the memory forever. I loved everything; the location, accommodations, amazing food, being with friends, making new ones, walks in the Italian countryside, learning fantastic new knitting skills and not having to worry about anything. It was everything I dreamed of and more. Marie Wallin is an amazing teacher and person.”
"Well, everyone, it was an absolute stunner. We all had a great time. Lovely patterns and yarn with instructions from Marie... Anyone wondering about attending Marie's future workshops, don't wonder - just book and enjoy."
2017 Knitting courses:
Lisa Richardson - two places left (due to recent cancellations)
6 May to 13 May 2017
Knitting and La Bella Vita
To learn more about Lisa and her course at the mill, please visit her Profile Page
Marie Wallin
20 May to 27 May 2017- fully booked, waiting list only
8 July to 15 July 2017- NEW course, plenty of places
Knitting and La Bella Vita
To learn more about Marie and her course at the mill, please visit her Profile Page
Sarah Hatton - fully booked, waiting list only
16 September to 23 September 2017
To learn more about Sarah and her courses at the mill, please visit her Profile Page
And don’t forget that your friend or partner doesn’t need to participate in the creative course, whether it’s painting, language, knitting or yoga.
We offer them a range of Alternative activities for partners on all our 2017 courses, as well as a generous £GBP 250 discount if they share a room with you.
Al dente and digestion: the gospel according to Pellegrino
As you know, our new cookery course is called L’arte di mangiar bene, the Art of Eating Well, named after the inspiration for our course, the famous Italian cookbook of the same name by Pellegrino Artusi, published more than a century ago. Our exciting, enticingand appetising cookery course will run from Saturday 19 August to Saturday 26 August 2017.
The cookbook, as well as containing many classic Italian recipes, is full of amusing asides and anecdotes, which we have been sharing with readers of the Watermill blog from time to time. For instance, do you know your salsa from your sugo? Please click here to learn more.
And here’s Pellegrino musing on making sure your pasta is not overcooked: "Pasta must not be overcooked, but let us meditate a little on this. If the pasta is al dente, it will be more pleasant to the taste and more easily digested. This may seem paradoxical, but so it is, for when pasta is overcooked, and not sufficiently chewed, it goes down in a lump, weighs heavily on the stomach and becomes an indigestible mass. Whereas, when it can only be chewed, the mastication produces saliva, which contains an enzyme called ptyalin, and this enzyme helps to break down the starch, turning it into sugar and dextrin.
Saliva has a very important physiological function not only because it helps to soften and break down food, but also because it facilitates swallowing. Furthermore, its alkaline nature promotes the secretion of gastric juices in the stomach while the food is being swallowed...”
Pellegrino adds: “It is said that Neapolitans, great consumers of pasta, always drink a glass of water with it to aid digestion. I do not know if in this case the water acts as a solvent, or if it is helpful because it is easier on the stomach than the glass of wine or similar substance which it replaces.”
That maybe so, Pellegrino, but here at the Watermill we are sticking to a glass (or two) of the fine red wine made by our friends in Chianti.
We promise to serve our pasta al dente to add to your enjoyment and aid your digestion, as well as sharing the secrets of healthy Italian eating. You’ll choose freshest local ingredients (we’ll pick many of them ourselves each day) and prepare them deliciously for the table.
Tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms,
a Watermill speciality
We’ll visit markets, vegetable gardens, olive groves and vineyards. The Italians are the healthiest people in Europe and this is due not just the quality of the food, but to la bella vita italiana, the relaxed lifestyle which means taking time to talk to friends and to enjoy their company, not least in convivial meals around the dining table. You’ll be savouring all that, too.
Over the years, Lois and The Watermill team have built a reputation for thequality of their food and we’re keen to share our secrets with you, from antipasti to dolci – and dozens of mouth-watering, freshly prepared, health-promoting dishes in between. You can learn more about this sun-filled, fun-filled, inspiring course by clicking here.
Lois Breckon and Team - NEW course, plenty of places
19 August to 26 August 2017
L'Arte di Mangiar Bene
To learn more about Lois, her Team and their cooking course at The Watermill, please click here.
Birds, yes; running water, yes; rutting deer, well... maybe!
We still have five or six places left on Claire Murphy’s week-long retreat Nourish - mind, body and soul, which will run from Saturday 9 September to Saturday 16 September 2017.
We had a wonderful feedback from Claire’s first-ever yoga and meditation course here last year, including this lovely note from Alessandra Smith.:
She writes: “I've just come back from a yoga retreat at the Watermill at Posara and I was extremely impressed by the beauty of the Watermill itself and of its location. The buildings are beautiful and comfortable and the location is green and luscious, with a stream running nearby and plenty of walks available around the mill.
“A pretty village is a few km away and can be seen from the Watermill but the Watermill itself is surrounded by beautiful grounds and well-tended gardens where you can sit or lounge and relax or go for peaceful walks and the only noises you hear are birds, water, and the occasional rutting deer!"
Claire will help you nourish your
mind, body and soul
“The yoga studio is airy and peaceful and the yoga tutor was all we could have hoped for. Also, great food and wine. And all, and I mean all, even a meal in a local restaurant and transfers to/from Pisa airport, is included in the price you pay, no hidden costs”
You don't need to have any prior experience with yoga or meditation, and we will make each experience work for all levels. You can be assured of personal attention, too, as the group will be no bigger than 12 or so. We'll take care of every detail so that you can relax, renew, and spend the week being kind to yourself.
Claire Murphy - five or six places left
9 September to 16 September 2017
Nourish - mind, body and soul
To learn more about Claire and her course at The Watermill, please visit her Profile Page
Turn your wishes into reality with our Italian Language course
Here’s a lovely Italian word, which you hear almost every day: Magari: “I wish...If only...”
Well, now’s the time to turn your magari into reality, with our unique Italian language course. This year’s course runs from Saturday 29 April to Saturday 6 May 2017. We already have five people booked in, do still have room for five or six more.
This really is ‘a course with a difference’. Not only are there formal lessons on the vine verandah (some 20 hours in the week), but we also make trips and excursions to savour the natural beauty of Lunigiana, the area surrounding the mill, to explore its history and culture, to sample its traditional foods – and above all, to meet the people, speak Italian, and practise what we’ve learned.
We’ve teamed up again with the prestigious language school in Florence, Langues Services, and their delightful tutor Francesca La Sala, to design a week in which people can learn Italian in the most natural and enjoyable way ever.
You’ll meet Italian people and interact with their daily lives. Your immersion into the language and culture of real Italians will be customised for you, to suit your curiosity and your interests, helping you to treasure everything you learn and make it a seamless part of who you are.
You will have the perfect opportunity to make new friends in the company of like-minded people learning and improving their Italian language skills... and enjoying unspoilt Italy and, of course, fantastic food and wine.
There’s an Italian word for it!
Francesca La Sala - five or six places left
29 April to 6 May 2017
Italian language week
To learn more about Francesca and her course at The Watermill, please click here
Everything's included in your watermill painting holiday, yoga retreat, or knitting week
Don’t forget that everything is included in the cost of a painting holiday, yoga retreat, knitting or language holiday: tuition, accommodation (including all linen and towels), pre-dinner aperitifs, all meals and local transportation (including transfers to Pisa airport; an excursion by train to visit the ancient walled city of Lucca or the stunning seaside villages of the Cinque Terre). All you have to do is to get to Pisa airport and we do the rest. Prices depend on which room you choose. They start at £(GBP) 1,445 per person per week (based on two people sharing), with a discount of £200 GBP for a non-painting or non-writing partner. Single rooms start at £ (GBP) 1,575.
Whether you're travelling alone or with a partner you can be sure of a warm welcome, and that you'll be well looked after. We have built our reputation on the comfort of the mill and the care we provide.
Become a friend of The Watermill at Posara
Visit our Friends Website (Link below). Just follow the instructions to Register as a Friend and then Log In to enjoy special privileges. If you become a ‘Friend’ (it will cost you nothing) you’ll enjoy many exclusive benefits, including dozens of practical and inspiring tips from our international painting and creative writing tutors and recipes from the watermill’s mouth-watering menus. And there will be exclusive offers for Friends to make our courses and holidays even more attractive.
Make a retreat of your own
The mill is a very special place, offering tranquillity and seclusion but at the same time within easy reach of good company and restaurants should you want them. When we're not running courses you can retreat to one of our three self-contained apartments; unwind in the walled garden and by the riverside; and indulge yourself with delicious local food and wine.
All that remains is to wish you a tranquil February from all the team here in Italy. We look forward so much to welcoming you to The Watermill at Posara this year!
We would love you to join us.
With very best wishes a tutti
Lois and Bill Breckon