Mary Jane Cooley, who was with us for Randy Hale’s painting week earlier this month, sent me this charming watercolour of the archway from the courtyard into the Watermill’s walled garden. She says: “ Thank you for one of the highlights of my lifetime during my stay at the Watermill. I'll be framing it, hanging it in my studio and remembering a beautiful experience.” Thank you, Mary Continue Reading
It’s lavender time in the communal kitchen
One of the most pleasant things about living in the country is a heightened awareness of the seasons, whether it’s the swifts returning each summer, the blossoming of the begonia, or bulging zucchini demanding to be eaten, there is always a pleasant reminder of the rhythm of life. One such moment is when the lavender is blooming. Lois cuts back some of the flowers and stalks, and binds them Continue Reading
Painting and drawing for pleasure with Carl in glorious Tuscany
We are looking forward to the visit of one of our new watercolour tutors, Carl March, next month, not least to see how he captures the glorious scenery around the Watermill in his sketchbook – and encourages you to do the same. Why not come and join us? We still have a couple of painting places left. Carl March, an English painter and printmaker, has studied in Milan and lived until recently in Continue Reading
Enjoy quiet contemplation and peaceful painting in the stunning Tuscan countryside with Paul
The striking painting above, by Watermill tutor Talbot-Greaves, in many ways sums up his unique artistic approach. He says: “My work can be described as representational in an impressionistic style. I don’t seek to paint popular views or chase narrative within my work. Instead, I delve deep into the human senses, arranging striking compositions, play dark against light, introduce you to pattern Continue Reading
The sunlit valley of Posara is waiting for your pastelling talents
This stunning pastel by our Watermill tutor Rebecca de Mendonça is of the view as the sun sets over the valley of the River Rosaro, with Posara in the distance. Rebecca, a wonderful English pastellist, will be with us from Saturday 27 August to Saturday 3 September 2022 for another of her popular weeks. We would love you to join her, capturing beautiful scenes in pastel Continue Reading
Lois encouraging new blooms
The rose pergola has been particularly flamboyant this year and Lois has been encouraging new blooms by regular deadheading of the old ones. Here she is hard at work on a sunny Tuesday morning, before we all head off to Fivizzano market for a bit of shopping and a chat over coffee. We have a splendid Writing Your Life Stories group with Jo Parfitt with us this week and they will be joining us Continue Reading
A series of sunflowers to brighten your Sun-day
Since it is Sun-day, how better to brighten it than with a series of sunflowers. And who better to paint them than Vincent van Gogh, whose series of paintings of sunflowers in a vase are as iconic as the Mona Lisa or Michelangelo’s Sistine chapel? An article in the online DailyArt magazine tells us that the famous Sunflowers (one of which you can see above) is actually the second series of Continue Reading
A busy and creative week with Randy
Above is a montage of just some of the paintings done by participants on Randy Hale’s watercolour painting holiday at the Watermill this week. Inspired by Randy and the beautiful locations to which we go on our painting sessions, the group of 11 painters produced a plethora of pictures, as well as enjoying the ambience of the Watermill and its beautiful surroundings, and the convivial company of Continue Reading
Hazel shares some memories of her Watermill week
We are always pleased when guests on our Watermill painting weeks prolong their memories of their stay with us by sending us pictures they painted when they were here. So, we were delighted to receive some watercolours from Hazel Murray, who was a guest on Keiko Tanabe’s watercolour week earlier this month. Thank you for sharing these with us, Hazel, I selected just two to give an idea of the Continue Reading
Calling oil painters and pastellists: come and paint with Pamme at the Watermill
Our enthusiastic American painting tutor Pamme Turner calls her week-long course at the Watermill a Plein Air Essentials workshop (for watercolor and gouache). But she tells me that she is very happy to welcome and help oil painters and pastellists, too. So, if these are your preferred mediums why not join Pamme for her week this summer? We still have a couple of places left. Pamme says: “I am Continue Reading