Recently reading an article in the online DailyArt magazine about Antoni Gaudì’s extraordinary Casa Batlló in Barcelona, (*see below), I was reminded of the striking art nouveau house (above) just around the corner from our apartment in Florence. The Villa Broggi-Caraceni, in via Scipione Ammirato, is one of the best examples of stile Liberty, Liberty Style, the […]
William has been on 15 Watermill painting courses – and he’ll be back for more!
We have just had the pleasure of the company of William Shand, who we can now call an old friend, since has been on no fewer than 15 painting courses at the Watermill, the latest being Keiko Tanabe’s delightful watercolour week. He writes on TripAdvisor: “Can’t wait to go again.†And we can’t wait to […]
A cheerful, yet watery, start to our creative season
Wow! No sooner had our guests for our first creative week of the season arrived, that the Tuscan heavens opened. (That’s not quite true, we managed a couple of hours of sunshine and a walk along the riverbank and millstream, but by the end of the evening, the rain was torrential. And today it seems […]
A picture of a dress (and Eleanora di Toledo)
Dateline: Italy, Florence, the Uffizi Gallery, Room 65; A Thursday in the middle of March, around 9:15 in the morning. Attending a Private Audience with Eleanora di Toledo. Yes, it really is a Private Audience: none of the other visitors to the gallery have yet penetrated as far as Room 65, so Lois and I […]
“Her wonderful paintings are an inspiration.†Vicki Norman joins the Watermill online painting team
We are delighted to welcome the renowned UK painter Vicki Norman to the team of talented Watermill tutors who are providing our inspiring online, interactive sessions. On Vicki’s first session with us, on Tuesday 16 March 2021, you will be able to paint along with her, reproducing the lovely scene above, of the view down […]
Have you heard the news? Nearly 100 people have already signed up to paint amusing critters like us with Randy!
Yes, the latest news is that more than 90 people are already coming to Randy Hale’s next online, interactive painting session where they will paint, in Randy’s words, “a couple of critters in a whimsical and colourful manner.†You’ll not be painting the amusing trio above (they are just there to brighten your Saturday morning) […]
Pleasurable painting in the piazza with Tim
Judging by their comments, the participants in Tim Wilmot’s first online, interactive session for the Watermill mill earlier in the week had a wonderful time piecing a piazza in the walled mediaeval town of Fivizzano, a mile or so from the Watermill. Here are some of the comments: “Tim’s watercolour class was wonderful and I […]
Beat the coronavirus blues painting a rainbow zebra
Our next online, interactive painting session with the inspiring and sympathetic American watercolourist Randy Hale involves a multicoloured zebra, to bring a smile to your face and to the faces of the people who see your paintings. And Randy will throw in a snow egret, too. As you probably know, our Watermill online sessions have […]
A stationary stone gathers moss
I never thought it would be possible to have a favourite stone, but this one is mine. We encounter it every day when we go for a walk along the millstream and through the bamboo forest beside the river. The stone stands beside the path just above the boca, the archway which marks the beginning […]
Still time to make your pastels shine with Rebecca
You have only a couple more days to sign in for Rebecca de Mendonça’s online pastel session this Thursday, in which she will show you how to capture shine and reflected colour in your paintings. We would love you to join us — and, when you have enjoyed learning the art of pastel painting online […]