Dear Friend,
By our calculation, the Watermill’s creative courses this year are some 90% full: We have some 225 bookings and have room for a total of about 240 to 250 guests for our whole season (as we always say, it all depends on who is sleeping with whom, or to put it more politely, whether there are single travellers or friends or married couples sharing a room). While some courses are already fully booked (and we have opened waiting lists in case of cancellations), others still have places and there are more details below of what is available and when. So, come and join us for a creative week in the heart of rural Tuscany and enjoy the warm hospitality of the Watermill. Now is the time to make sure of a place.
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.
Come with your partner!
The latest painting course availability snapshot you will find below.
We still also have some places on our knitting and yoga weeks and again there are details below.
We’d love to welcome you here for one of our sun-filled, fun-filled, inspiring weeks.
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.
Did anyone say Walk?
Here’s a golden watercolour from Watermill painting tutor Tim Wilmot, who will be with us for an inspiring painting course this Autumn (details below).
It’s one of his submissions to the annual Bristol Savages Exhibition 2017, a scene with an emphasis on trees with a golden tint to them.
Did anyone say Walk?
Tim has used the bridge and the figure walking the dog to enhance the composition. He says: “It is good to get a light figure in front of a dark background. As a further enhancement, I could have had the figure reflected in some water!”
We are willing to walk our Labrador Rosa along the riverside if you need us when you are painting there during Tim’s course!
And she’s very willing, too!
Watermill tutor Tom Byrne loves plein air painting and sketching
This beautiful oil painting is by Watermill painting tutor Tom Byrne, who loves to paint en plein air at every opportunity. It is of a Judas Tree in a garden in Florence, blossoming prolifically – another sign of Spring. Tom also loves sketching, both indoors and outdoors.
Here (below left) is a recent sketch of his of the statue in the piazza of San Marco in Florence; and another (below right) of the arches in the piazza SS Maria Annunziatia. Tom will be leading a painting course at The Watermill this June – and there’ll be plenty of sketching in and around the watermill, and in the glorious surrounding countryside.
Tom J Byrne is from Ireland, where he studied and worked as an artist for 20 years, but for the last 15 years he has been living between France and Italy. In his workshop, Tom will demonstrate in both oils and watercolours.
Come and join us at the Watermill and sketch and paint en plein air with Tom in the glorious Tuscan countryside of Lunigiana.
Tom J Byrne - five or six places left
3 June to 10 June 2017
Oils and Watercolours
To learn more about Tom, his course at the mill and to see more of his pictures, please visit his Tutor Profile Page
A masterclass in collage from Sue Ford
Sue Ford, our delightful and talented painting tutor from England, loves painting in any medium, but is particularly fond of collage. She just written an article about it for the May issue of Paint! Magazine. Here’s a sneak preview of some of Sue’s thoughts and comments. She says: “I started working in collage when looking for a technique that could utilise my drawing skills, allow for working with lots of colour and provide a modern look”. In the article, Sue provides a step-by-step guide to making wonderful collages, like the one above of the village of Staithes in North Yorkshire.
First (A), here’s the photo reference.
The next stage (B) is to prepare the canvas with a light orange acrylic wash and, once this is dry, to draw the picture with a black felt tip pen.
Next (C), start selecting suitable colours from the magazines. Sue says: “I also use specialist paper. I’ve collected from craft/paper suppliers and tissue paper and even saved sweet wrappers.”You can cut out shapes, but Sue reckons it’s far better to tear. Then build up the picture gradually, bearing in mind tonal values and balance. The picture below shows the ‘sticking’ part, ready for the drawing back in the picture with black and white felt tip pens."
And this (left) shows detail after the pen work.
The picture is then finished using acrylic paints, to unify some parts of the picture, and for glazing and softening edges. Sue says: “I always like to stand back from my picture to see if the balance of the painting is working. Sometimes I use acrylic to alter colour. It all depend, some collage pictures have very little paint. For this picture I painted in the sky with Naples yellow and white, and for the beck, turquoise blue and white.” Sue adds: “If you find creating the whole picture in collage too much, I suggest partial collage within your acrylic paintings”
You can learn more when Sue returns to the Watermill this Summer. Her inspiring week-long painting course is in watercolours, pastels, collage and mixed media plus acrylics and will run from Saturday 15 July to Saturday 22 July. More details below. Sue says: “I just love creating pictures in any medium – and I love passing on what I’ve learned to other people and to help them release their creativity”
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 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 - two 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 open
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.
Tom J Byrne - five or six places left
3 June to 10 June 2017
Oils and Watercolours
To learn more about Tom, his course at the mill and to see more of his pictures, please visit his Profile Page
Keiko Tanabe -fully booked, waiting list open
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 - two or three 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 - fully booked, waiting list open
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 - two or three 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 open
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 open
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
- fully booked, waiting list open
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 open
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 - four or five 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
Two exciting knitting projects from Marie Wallin
Our celebrated knitting tutor, internationally renowned designer Marie Wallin, has created two special knitting projects for our guests on her knitting holidays at the Watermill this year. There are links to the courses below, but hurry – we have only one place left, on Marie’s first week here this year, from Saturday 20 to Saturday 27 May.
Marie’s Watermill projects are an introduction to Mosaic knitting and an introduction to Fairlisle, where you’ll make a sassy Tam o’ Shanter. Marie will show you how to knit Fairisle in an easy and neat way whilst keeping your yarns untwisted. She will also be showing you the two-handed method of creating Fairisle.
The following two pictures are her ‘works in progress’
Marie says: “The photo of the cushion (left) shows it complete except for the final row of ‘tiles’ in a dark brown and green colour.
The photo of the tam (right) shows my design swatch and is a section of the whole tam.”
2017 Knitting courses:
Lisa Richardson - two places left
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 - one place left
8 July to 15 July 2017 - fully booked, waiting list open
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 open
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.
Seeking that 'aah' moment on Claire's yoga week
Our relaxing yet inspiring yoga teacher Claire Murphy wants to put you at your ease during her yoga and meditation retreat this September. She says: “One of the many features of yoga with me is the number of props that are employed to convey a sense of support, comfort and above all else, ease. Last year, our guests at the Watermill were quite amazed at the bolsters, blankets, blocks provided, as well as physio balls and scarves that I brought with me too”.
Claire adds:“Your comfort during the retreat is of paramount importance to all of us, so when I ask if something feels comfortable and the response is, ‘it’s fine’, then that’s not ok. I’m not looking for fine I’m looking for that ‘ahh’ moment.
“Many of the practices that will be shared will be of a restorative nature, enabling your body and mind to feel supported, comfortable, leading to a feeling of deep nurturing and nourishment.The use of cushions and blankets encourages you to understand the internal cues your body gives you. The question we continually ask is, How can this feel better?”
We’ll nourish your soul on rural walks and visits to ancient walled towns and hilltop villages, castles and convents. You’ll also savour the relaxed atmosphere of la bella vita italiana in local cafes, shops, restaurants and markets.
We’ll venture a little journal writing and painting in The Watermill studio overlooking the river or under the shade of the vine verandah tonourish your mind.
And we’ll nourish your body with fresh, home-cooked, nutritionally balanced meals lovingly prepared by the Watermill cooks, with many of the ingredients freshly picked from The Watermill’s own gardens. There will be vegetarian options for every meal, of course. Private sessions with a local Shiatsu practitioner are also available, at cost, on request.
Claire Murphy - three or four 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
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 £250 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 sun filled May from all the team here in Italy. We look forward so much to welcoming you to The Watermill at Posara this year!
With very best wishes a tutti
Lois and Bill Breckon