Will Sofonisba Anguissola soon be joining Artemisia Gentileschi in a Watermill bedroom? That’s the pressing question in this month’s Watermill newsletter, as Lois seeks to redress the balance following the scandalous neglect of women artists in the past. We contemplate the gibbous moon, enjoy wondrous words from The Leopard, worry about the adolescent of punctuation, […]
Happy Easter. If you are looking for the Easter Bunny, he went thataway!
Yes, the Easter Bunny was last seen diving through the front door of a house in Poundbury, in Dorset, England. Our tutor and friend Mike Willdridge and his lovely wife Sue sent us this picture of their house, saying: “We’re expecting our complete family for Easter (16!) – our door decorated ready for the grandkids.” […]
Italian prosecco producers are up in arms against British pubs!
Such is the popularity of prosecco that it has far outstripped champagne as Britain’s favourite fizzy tipple. And Aperol spritz is as enthusiastically sipped in the bars of London as in the canal-side cafés of Venice. But, as is often the case, with demand comes deception. The producers of prosecco, a sparkling white wine from […]
Paint this alluring Italian hilltop village with Mike Willdridge, in the first of our new series of Watermill interactive Internet sessions
Thanks to our appreciative and supportive guests and our inspiring and sympathetic tutors, we have had a wonderful year of creative courses at the Watermill. Now, as we make the Watermill and its grounds even more beautiful for next season, we’ve created a new series of interactive online sessions, where you can happily paint along […]
As the sun sets on the last of this year’s creative courses, we are looking forward to the sunrise of our next season
We have just finished a fun-filled Italian language week with Giulia Balestri, the last of our 2023 creative courses.This year, more than 260 people have enjoyed our painting, knitting, creative writing and Italian language courses (263, to be precise). So, as well as saying a big thank you to our guests, we would also like […]
The October Watermill newsletter is just out, celebrating convial creativity
Ready for the off
Charles’ ‘Tuscany Tip’ on painting glass that looks like glass! Edges and highlights
Charles Sluga, on his 10th trip as a Watermill tutor, posted this little ‘Tuscany Tip’ for his fans and followers and we thought we’d share it with you: Why not come and see our Tuscan demijohns for yourself on a Watermill creative course next year? You’ll enjoy inspiring tuition, warm hospitality, stunning scenery, delicious food […]
The best studio location ever, says Watermill tutor Charles Sluga
Above is a video Charles has just published for his fans and followers. Yes, the views are fantastic: on one side the Watermill walled garden with the towering Apennine mountains, the backbone of Italy, in the distance; and on the other, the Riverside gardens and the river Rosaro bubbling past us. Inspiring, or what? Come […]
And so farewell…
…to Mike Willdridge and a delightful and diverse group of painters and partners from the USA, Australia and the UK. The conversation was convivial, the weather, warm and the painting, prolific. Above is a short video the group’s farewell show, demonstrating their convivial creativity. You, too, could be in a picture like this if you […]
A striking pastel by Andrea of the river that runs by the Watermill
This lovely pastel, by Watermill guest Andrea Smith, is of the River Rosaro, which runs beside the Watermill. Andrée was on Mary Padgett‘s creative week in August. Thank you for sharing this with this, Andrea. I think it has captured the spirit of our mountain river perfectly. Now is time to reserve your place on […]