We are looking forward very much to welcoming back our inspiring watercolour tutor Tim Wilmot, who, at last, will be with us for a week starting next Saturday. I thought it might be fun, just as a teaser, to show you some of the paintings that Tim has produced at the Watermill and on location around here in recent visits. I also thought it might just possibly engender a last-minute Continue Reading
Arrivederci and thank you
Here are the members of Brienne Brown’s watercolour week raising their glasses in the Watermill studio to celebrate a week of convivial company and inspiring teaching. We thank them all for braving the bureaucracy to enjoy a week of freedom in the secluded peace of the Watermill and to savour the beauty of the surrounding countryside. They certainly seemed to enjoy their week. Among the Continue Reading
Painting peace and tranquillity
After the exertions of excursions on a Wednesday, on Thursdays we always take our painters (and their non-painting partners) to the tranquil and restful Convento del Carmine for a peaceful day. Above are some of our guests on Brienne Brown’s painting group, listening to her words of wisdom (a monastery is a good place for that isn't it?) and savouring the architecture and the ambience of the Continue Reading
Is that my bedroom? Memories of Watermill painting courses
When Brienne Brown published this painting of the Watermill courtyard on her Facebook page, a number of respondents asked: “Is that my room?” The painting brought back fond memories of their stay with us and, as Brienne says: “All the rooms are fantastic. It’s magical here.” We still have a few bedrooms available for the last three of our painting courses this year, and for our unique Italian Continue Reading
Inspiration over the centuries
The picture above of Brienne Brown and her guests on a Watermill painting course triggered a childhood memory of a famous painting (in my day at least) by John Everett Millais, called ‘The Boy of Raleigh’, where the famous explorer and his chum are inspired by stirring tales of the sea. There is something of the same feel with Brienne’s group as she demonstrates how to paint the valley Continue Reading
How our Watermill painting tutors look differently at the same location
I don’t know about you, but I am always intrigued on how our Watermill painting tutors choose different viewpoints and different styles when we go out on location during a Watermill week. Yesterday Brienne Brown and her group went to the castle and ancient village of Verrucola, a few miles from the Watermill, and the striking and colourful watercolour above is Brienne’s first take on the Continue Reading
Ready for the off!
The students on this week’s watercolour painting course with Brienne Brown worked in and around the Watermill yesterday, as Brienne explained and demonstrated some of the finer points of watercolour theory and technique. Here she is ready for the off! Ken Brown took the pictures. Today we are off to the nearby mediaeval castle of Verrucola to enjoy our first plein air painting Continue Reading
Settling in for an inspiring watercolour week with Brienne
We were delighted yesterday to welcome nine guests from North America (eight from the USA and one from Canada) on Brienne Brown’s watercolour week at the Watermill. They are already bonding beautifully and enjoying settling in with an aperitivo (above) … … before heading off to the Elvetico restaurant in the nearby walled town of Fivizzano for an introductory Taste of Tuscany’s supper. Continue Reading
Take advantage of easing travel rules and escape to a Watermill creative course
. It is getting easier by the minute to travel from the UK to Italy as the British government eases the regulations: as from 4 October there will be no need for our vaccinated guests returning to the UK to have a pre-Covid test, nor an expensive PCR test in the UK on Day Two of their return. Although we have managed very well in organising inexpensive pre-departure tests for our guests at Continue Reading
Grahame would like you to join him painting in Tuscany and he’s got some simple tips to make your watercolours even better
We are looking forward to welcoming Grahame Booth Watermill for the first time next month. And so is he! He sent us this little note, together with some simple tips to improve your watercolours Grahame Booth, one of the Watermill’s new, inspiring tutors, only started to paint in his early 30s (some 30 years ago), and because he clearly remembers the problems of frustrations of learning to Continue Reading