Come and join for fun-filled week soaking up the beautiful Italian language and speaking and understanding it as never before. You will benefit enormously, whether you are beginner or have studied Italian for years. The reason is that we use a special method of teaching a foreign language to adults, which enables each person not […]
Come and pastel passionately with Padgett!
Mary Padgett, a passionate pastellist* from Syracuse, New York, USA, came to the Watermill for the first time last summer – and we all had an amazing time. After her return to the USA she wrote: “If you have ever wanted to come on one of my European trips, next year is the year to do […]
80 days for Early Birds
It pays to be an Early Bird. You can do a lot in 80 days (Phineas Fogg, you will recollect, went round the world) – and you will do a lot as we approach the holiday season and all the preparations for Diwali,Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Diwali, Christmas and the like. But one thing that I would […]
‘Paint the brightest colours first.’ A watercolour tip from Mark
It is worthwhile being an Early Bird. See below. Watermill painting tutor Mark Dober, whose wonderful multi-sheet watercolour is shown above, has sent us this smart little tip to make your paintings even better. Mark says: “After completing the pencil stage of sketching in your subject, paint in the small areas of brightest colour, for example, […]
Harry’s gentle teaching style will bring out the best in beginners and experienced painters alike
* It is worth being an Early Bird. See below We are delighted to welcome Harry Westera, a popular Australian artist and teacher, who will be joining us in April (details below), . As one of his students says: “Harry has a gentle teaching style that brings out the best in the artists he works […]
A peaceful location during a Watermill week
The charming little watercolour above, sent to me by Watermill painting tutor Randy Hale, brought back memories of the peaceful Thursdays when our painting (and knitting, writing and Italian language) location is a peaceful 16th Century monastery called Il Convento del Carmine, a little beyond and above the nearby town of Fivizzano, with views over […]
Come and enjoy Gentileschi and Grahame, painting in unspoiled rural Tuscany.
Due to a cancellation, we suddenly have a place in the delightful Gentileschi bedroom for Grahame Booth’s popular watercolour course this year. The course runs from Saturday 8 October to Saturday 15 October and we would be delighted to welcome you here. The Gentileschi bedroom is light, bright, beautifully decorated with views over the Riverside […]
Mary Jane’s memories of a wonderful painting week
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 […]
Still time to join Pamme and paint in the glorious Tuscan countryside
You could not find more glorious plein air subjects than in the scenery around the Watermill at Posara. Unspoiled rural Tuscany, with tree-covered hills, craggy mountains, fortified mediaeval towns, hilltop village slumbering in the sun… there are endless subjects to paint, and who better to paint them with than Watermill tutor Pamme Turner? A professional […]
A toast a Watermill creativity and conviviality
An Australian painting tutor, an Ancient Roman drinking ritual, and some sublime Italian musical merrymaking. No one can say that Watermill blogs are not far-reaching and eclectic. The Australian painting tutor is Charles Sluga, who tells us in his recent newsletter that the expression of raising your glass and ‘making a toast’ comes from ancient […]