Dear Friend,

Those Ancient Romans knew a couple of things about January. Their god, Janus, after whom our month is named, had two heads: one looking forward, one looking back. It’s a time of reminiscence and resolve, of memories of the past year and plans for the next. So, from all of us who all of you: I migliori auguri per un felice e creativo anno nuovo. Our very best wishes for a happy and creative New Year.

Our memories include many happy hours of convivial conversation with our guests under the dappled shade of the vine verandah, enjoying the amuses bouches freshly prepared by our cooks, chatting about the day, perhaps listening to Harry playing his classical guitar under the rose pergola. If you have been on a Watermill creative course you will know that we like to make each day different from the others, but on one evening last June we tried something a little more creatively ambitious: a flashmob of eight saxophones.

Once they’d revealed themselves, emerging magically from various gardens and terraces, they stood and played one of Bill’s favourites: the intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana.Here it is..

September’s ‘little extra’ was our gardener Flavio Terenzoni showing off a few ancient Vespa motor scooters from his collection. One of them was made as long ago as 1953, and it’s still going strong. But the highlight, for those who could stand the excitement, was a short trip on the back of a Vespa, Roman Holiday-style, like Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck (well almost). Again, we made a short video, which you can see here.

We also played a very funny clip from Roman Holiday on the Watermill wall. To see the clip, please click here.

We are looking forward to another convivially creative season in 2024. Who knows what surprises it will bring, but, where better to be happy and creative than on one of the world-renowned Watermill courses, in painting, creative writing, knitting and Italian language? Places are filling fast, so ‘Book now, to avoid disappointment!’ You can find details below, with links to the appropriate pages on our website.

January brings more Zoom ‘masterclasses’ in our winter/spring series of Watermill interactive online painting sessions, with Randy Hale and Mike Willdridge and a special shorter, 'pop-up' session with Pamme Turner. Our online sessions bring together hundreds of people from all over the world to paint along with some of our inspiring Watermill tutors. It’s a truly international ‘virtual community’ of like-minded people enjoying a creative and relaxing time in each other’s company. Why don’t you join them?

On 4 January 2024 (5pm UK time), Randy takes advantage of a rainy day in the beautiful French city of Rouen to show you sure how to create an atmospheric, moody painting, despite the weather. Mike, however, is capturing the warmth of the sunlight, bicycling by the seaside in Massa-Carrara in Italy, on 25 January 2024 (5pm UK time). Pamme's shorter, pop-up session on 11 January 2024 (6pm UK time) explores how to choose plein air subjects in your own backyard. Randy will be with us again on 1 February 2024 (5pm UK time) to paint a distinctly American scene with Cowboy Up! You can register for any of these sessions here.

(If you cannot make the date and time, you can still register, and you will receive an edited video of the session in the day or so after the session finishes, for you to paint along at home in your own time.)

Also in this month’s newsletter:

• details of the next Watermill interactive online painting sessions
• dates, links and availability of this year’s painting courses
• how travel can boost your creativity
• knit yourself happy – and creative!
• you will need to use your hands to speak Italian properly

The pictures above and below this introductory text celebrate the creativity of a Watermill week.

Bring a partner: there's plenty for them to do

“Shall we take our next holiday
at the Watermill?”

Your partner doesn'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 courses, as well as a generous £GBP 250 discount if they share a room with you.

Picture Right: Cameron Diaz and Jude Law in The Holiday. (Required Christmas viewing for the Breckon family.

Let Rouen shine through the rain, as you paint along online with Randy

Randy Hale’s subject for his next interactive, online painting session with the Watermill is a busy street in the charming French city of Rouen, with the elegant cathedral in the background. And as you can see from Randy’s practice painting above, it’s a rainy sort of day. That’s making Randy a happy man!

He says: “Not every day we travel is going to be sunny and bright. There will be those days when it’s cloudy or threatens to rain or is even shrouded in mist. Be happy because those days offer wonderful opportunities to paint wet reflections on cobblestone streets, or distant landmarks seen through a veil of misty weather.”

Join us to paint this moody street scene, where the ornate details of Rouen cathedral have faded into the background. Randy says: “Using reflections, values that contrast, and a vague cathedral shape, all help to create atmospheric depth and mood.”

On a technical note, Randy’s going to work on rough watercolour paper, 12” x 16” but there’s no reason why you should work on something smaller, and he adds: "I’ve also provided a line drawing that will be the basis of my painting. Be sure any outline you sketch of the cathedral is done with a very light hand (before the session starts). If too dark the lines will show up once the paint dries. Our background wash is going to be wet and done in pale, light values.”

Unlike many online painting tutors, Randy and Mike will not expect you to ‘look over their shoulders’ for a long demonstration, and perhaps be allowed to ask the odd question or two. No, you will be painting along at more or less the same time, trying out, step-by-step what he has shown you. Your tutor will demonstrate a tip or technique for only a few minutes before you start painting the same subject at home. Then, after you have had your turn, they will move on to the next part of the process. Lois will be on hand to feed your questions. The session will last two or three hours.

4 January 2024 Randy Hale
Creating an atmospheric cityscape (in Rouen, France)
Take advantage of a rainy day to paint a moody street scene
To learn more and to register, please click here.

Start time:
6 pm Florence, Italy
5 pm London, UK (Greenwich Mean Time)
Noon from Maine to Florida, USA
10 am in Denver (Mountain Time Zone) USA
9 am from Los Angeles to Seattle, USA

More details below on what happens next on all our interactive online sessions.

When you have painted with Randy online, why not join him for real at the Watermill in Tuscany Italy next summer? We would love to welcome you here. You can find more details of Randy’s week-long course, which runs from 8 - 15 June 2024, by clicking here.

(Randy’s course is currently fully booked, but there are often cancellations, so if you’re keen to come, please let us know via our Contact Form and we will put you on a waiting list.)

What you get when you register for a Watermill interactive, online session

When you register, you will be provided with the Zoom link for you to join the session. Please double check the start time in your own time zone.

For Randy's and Mike's sessions you will also be provided with a second link is where you can download a source photograph of the scene that your tutor has chosen for you, his practice painting to show you where you are heading, a simple line drawing, and a list of materials (including paper, paint and brushes) that he suggests you may need for the session.

After the event, you are invited to add your painting to the gallery and to view paintings by fellow students. Randy or Mike will give a short critique of every painting that is posted within seven days of the end of the session. We will also send you a link to an edited video within 48 hours of the end of the session, that will enable to you revisit the tutor’s step-by-step teaching.

For Pamme's shorter session you will also be sent a video, together with a special handout by Pamme.