Dear Friend,
Well, I don’t know what year it is! Not, I hope, because I am suffering from mild cognitive impairment (though there’s enough of that: where did I put my specs?) but rather that we are being inundated with people who want to come to the Watermill in 2018 when we are hardly halfway through our 2017 season! Many of them are this year’s guests who have enjoyed themselves so much that they have instantly booked for a creative course next year, while many others are fans of new tutors, coming to the Watermill for the first time next year, who have enthusiastically inspired their followers to come with them to Posara. Thank you to you all for your support.
The outcome is that we already have more than 40 firm bookings for 2018 and another dozen or so in the pipeline. There is also a generous special offer if you book for 2018 before the beginning of September 2017 – see below.
So, if you would like to come, please Contact us and I’ll reserve your place. (Remind me which year it is!)
We still have a few places left on our 2017 late-Summer and early-Autumn course and there are more details below.
The pictures below are by Natasha Maurits, a guest on Maggie Renner Hellmann’s recent painting holiday here. Thank you for sharing them with us Natasha.
Come with your partner!
We’d love to welcome you here for one of our sun-filled, fun-filled, inspiring weeks.
Why not bring your friend or partner? They don’t have to participate in the course, but they will be able to enjoy the wonderful hospitality of the mill and, whenever they want, to come out with you to our beautiful locations.
We also offer 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.
An attractive offer for early Early Birds
We won’t actually be publishing all the details of our 2018 painting courses on our website until 1 September this year – it is too confusing. But for those who want to book before that, our offer is: you can have a place on any of our 2018 creative courses at 2017 prices.
Please contact us if you would like to reserve your place.
Here’s the list of courses so far:
- 28 Apr - 5 May 2018 - Painting course - Paul Talbot-Greaves
- 19 - 26 May 2018 - Painting course - Maggie Renner Hellman
- 26 May - 2 Jun 2018 - Painting course - Sandra Strohschein
- 2 - 9 Jun 2018 - Painting course - Sandra Strohschein
- 9 - 16 Jun 2018 - Painting course - Sarah Yeoman
- 16 - 23 Jun 2018 - Painting course - Sarah Yeoman
- 7 - 14 Jul 2018 - Painting course - Terry Jarvis
- 1 - 8 Sep 2018 - Painting course - Rebecca Mendonça
- 8 - 15 Sep 2018 - Painting course - Mike Willdridge
- 15 - 22 Sep 2018 - Painting course - Claire Warner
- 6 - 13 Oct 2018 - Painting course - Vicki Norman
- 18 - 25 Aug 2018 - Sculpture course - Jason Arkles
- 5 - 12 May 2018 - Knitting course - Sarah Hatton
- 12 - 19 May 2018 - Knitting course - Sarah Hatton
- 14 - 21 Jul 2018 - Knitting course - Marie Wallin
- 29 Sep - 6 Oct 2018 - Knitting course - Lisa Richardson
- 23 - 30 Jun 2018 - Yoga course - Dina Sheldon
- 25 Aug - 1 Sep 2018 - Yoga course - Claire Murphy
- 30 Jun - 7 July 2018 - Italian Language course - Giulia Balestri (Langues Services)
- 22 - 29 Sep 2018 - Writing course - Jo Parfitt
2018 Painting Courses
2018 Sculpture Course
2018 Knitting Courses
2018 Yoga Courses
2018 Italian Language Course
2018 Writing Course
Our new Ghirlandaio bedroom
Most artists have their own websites, so you can see what they do by Googling them! And if you want to see what we are doing in 2017, please go to www.watermill.net.
You can see details of our bedrooms and their 2017 prices on our website. The costs for knitting, writing and yoga weeks are the same.
So why not join those extra-early Early Bird and spend a year dreaming of your Watermill holiday! We’d love to welcome you here.
Speaking of Early Birds…....
Sono nati i merli, nel giardino tra le rose
That was the message one morning last month from Watermill gardener Flavio Terenzoni: “The blackbirds were born in the garden between the roses.” It accompanied this picture of little chicks, bursting with new life.
The Watermill, in the heart of Lunigiana, is surrounded by wildlife, thriving in this pollution-free rural environment, where the air and water are clear and pure....
Come and be inspired on a creative holiday here with us!
More feedback from our guests
Sandra's watercolour
of the painters
at the Watermill
We’ve had even more lovely comments from our guests on our early 2017 courses. We’re so happy to have you here and share our Posara paradise.
Here’s what one couple had to say about Sandra Strohschein’s painting course: “Many thanks to you both for a fabulous week. Your forethought, hard work and professionalism are very much appreciated. Nothing was too much trouble and nothing was at fault. You have created a gem. Please pass on our sincere gratitude to all your lovely people.”
And with Keiko Tanabe: “I had a truly wonderful week at the watermill. It was perfect in every sense. The food was worth coming for alone. Thank you both so much for being lovely people and Bill, you are a charming and witty host. Keiko is a fabulous artist and I learned a lot with her.... It really was a magical experience.”
Painting with Maggie in the mountains
And with Maggie Renner Hellmann:
“Thank you for everything... an art workshop in a place like that Watermill can’t get better than that, especially with you guys as host and hostess. Only the best!“
Another guest with Maggie said:
“There are so many things I'd like to thank you for that the list might go on and on so I'll just say that I had a wonderful week at the Watermill. Seriously, Lois, Bill, Tam, Karsten and Lydia couldn't have made my week any better. I just had a fabulous time and met some wonderful people. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Come and loosen up in the Tuscan landscape with Tim
Tim's watercolour
of a vineyard and the Apuan Alps
near the Watermill
During our week-long painting course with inspiring English painting tutor Tim Wilmot this Autumn you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the spectacular scenery of Lunigiana, the unspoilt part of Tuscany that surrounds the Watermill. We promise you river valleys and craggy mountains, vineyards and olive groves, convents and castles, hill-top villages and walled medieval towns. And with Tim as your guide, you’ll learn now to loosen our style and capture the essence of the wonderful scenery with your brush. More details of Tim’s watercolour week at the Watermill below.
Tim's impression of the riverside
by The Watermill
While he’s dabbled with portraits and still lifes over the years, Tim is inexorably drawn to landscapes. He says:“I'm an outdoor person rather than an indoor person. For many years I’ve taken a sketch book on my travels and I quickly scribble scenes in a shorthand sort of way.Then, returning home, I recreate those memories with paint and brush.” And you’ll be able to do that, too, in the Watermill studio, overlooking the river and the walled garden with the high Apennines beyond.
Tim says: “There are all sorts of reasons for coming on a painting holiday -- it might be to improve your drawing skills, loosen up your style, learn how to incorporate figures in a landscape -- and it's my job to try to find what your personal objectives are and help you achieve them. Oh -- and have fun with like-minded people on the way.”
Tim Wilmot
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
Still a few places left on our 2017 creative courses
There are only a few places left on our 2017 creative courses. Here’s the latest availability information. Even if a tutor it fully booked, it might be worth trying, because there could be last-minute cancellations.
Sue Ford - two or three 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 - one or two 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 - three or four 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
For Sarah read Sarah!
Our heartfelt thanks to Sarah Hazell, who has stepped unto the breach to take over Sarah Hatton’s knitting course here next September. Sarah Hatton has had unfortunately to withdraw because of all illness in the family. We wish her well and hope to be able to welcome her here again next year.
Meanwhile, a warm welcome to our new Sarah who will be tutor on a lovely Knitting and La Bella Vita week from 16-23 September. Currently the course is fully booked, but there may be cancellations from people who particularly wanted to come with Sarah Hatton, so if you are interested, please contact us.
Sarah Hazell is a designer in knit and crochet, and author of several books. She says, “I have a passion for beautiful yarn and textiles and am endlessly fascinated by colour, pattern and texture.”
Her workshop will show you to elevate your knits from homemade to handmade demonstrating, in particular, the art of designing triangular and crescent-shaped shawls. Sarah will show you shaping techniques – including short rows – and how to create your own designs. Each session will focus on an aspect of shawl construction or finishing, including casting on and casting off as well as edgings. She will also be featuring crocheted edgings as mini-sessions to coincide with participants working on their own designs.
2017 Knitting courses:
Sarah Hazell - 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
Fun-filled knitting weeks – we’re already taking bookings for next year!
The goodies on display.
The start of Marie Wallin's first knitting course this year
A guest on one this year’s knitting courses said: “Such perfection, I am spoiled for anywhere else!” and everyone has seemed to have a lovely time on our Knitting and La bella vita courses. The rest of 2017 is full, though there might be cancellations
And we are already taking bookings for 2018 – and, even better news for early Early Birds: if you make a booking now, you can enjoy one of our 2018 knitting weeks at 2017 prices. See below.
2018 Knitting courses:
Sarah Hatton
5 May to 12 May 2018
12 May to 19 May 2018
To learn more about Sarah and her courses at the mill, please visit her Profile Page
Marie Wallin
14 July to 21 July 2018
Knitting and La Bella Vita
To learn more about Marie and her course at the mill, please visit her Profile Page
Lisa Richardson
29 September to 6 October 2018
Knitting and La Bella Vita
To learn more about Lisa and her course at the mill, please visit her Profile Page
Full details of our 2018 courses will not be on our website until September 2017, so do take advantage of this advance notice!
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.
Dabble in art and writing and add to your yoga experience with Claire
Our lovely and inspiring yoga teacher Claire Murphy, who will be with is again in September has recently been busy working on activities she will be introducing on some of theafternoons during her retreat.
She tells me: “I’ve managed to scope out all of the sessions for our retreat in September and I have to say I’m pretty excited, as the afternoon sessions will be quite creative!”
There will be fun painting and writing sessions most afternoons and Claire is keen to point out that no previous art / writing experience is required. She says: “I have pitched the activities to be do-able by all and the intention is to create a deeper, embodied experience of what is being offered through each day’s yoga and meditation practices. In addition, it also offers a sense of fun and lightness.”
We still have a couple of places left on Claire’s wonderful yoga and meditation retreat, called Nourish — mind, body, soul, which will run from Saturday 9 September to Saturday 16 September, and we’d love you to join us. (There are links below to more details.)
Here are Claire’s daily themes and thoughts for afternoon activities.
Sunday’s theme is Chakras (energy centres within the body) & colour “The afternoon session will offer a short yoga session followed by a ‘body painting’ relaxation, leading into creating a colour memory mandala. There will be opportunities to write / journal around the themes that come out of the memories.”
Monday’s theme is focused on awareness and moving energy: "The afternoon session is titled: ‘It’s all in the hands’ and will be a journey through many mudras (hand gestures) moving into a creative meditation on our hands which will includes art and journal writing”."
Tuesday’s theme is compassion: “Our afternoon session will feature restorative yoga and somatic movement, leading into a creative section: ‘Story of the body’, which will be lots of fun (don’t want to give too much away), again, an opportunity for art and creative journal expression.”
[On Wednesday, there will be no session, as this is the day of our excursion to the lovely walled city of Lucca.]
Thursday’s theme is focused around the heart: “In the afternoon, I’ve themed ‘Trees; the lungs of the earth’ – it will focus on yoga and breathing practices to strengthen our chest / lungs and move into the creation of our own yoga ‘forest’ of sorts and the option of either creating some art or creative writing from a variety of prompts.”
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, knitting week, sculpture sessions, or Italian Language course
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 really great summer from all the team here in Italy. If you haven't been already, we look forward so much to welcoming you to The Watermill at Posara in the coming weeks!
With very best wishes a tutti
Lois and Bill Breckon