Doesn’t it all creep up on us very fast? It seems like the day before yesterday that we were saying goodbye to our last quests on a Watermill creative course. It was actually October, but we blinked and now there are only two weeks left before the end of the year. That means that if […]
The Donatello bedroom: cosy and bright and with a terrace with wonderful views over the garden and mountains
Less than three weeks to go to be an Early Bird. The Donatello bedroom, appropriately enough, is next to the Brunelleschi, for Donatello was for many years his apprentice, and he accompanied Fillipo Brunelleschi on their celebrated trip to Rome at the turn of the 15th century, where they rediscovered the secrets of classical architecture […]
The Ghirlandaio bedroom: wonderful river views from a beautifully restored 17th century room
Our tour of Watermill bedrooms continues today with the Ghirlandaio: Domenico Ghirlandaio was a late 15th century Florentine Renaissance painter, famous for his frescoes. Those in the Sassetti Chapel of the Santa Trinità church in Florence, with scenes from the life of St. Francis, are a knockout. I particularly like the miracle of the raising […]
Be inspired by the towering genius of the Renaissance in the Brunelleschi bedroom
It pays to be an Early Bird (see below). Continuing our notes of the Renaissance artists whose names grace the Watermill bedrooms and apartment suites, today we come to my great hero, Filippo Brunelleschi, to my mind one of the towering geniuses of the early Renaissance. As well as designing and supervising the construction of […]
Time’s ticking for Early Birds to secure their places on a Watermill creative course next year
By my reckoning, you only have 25 days to be an Early Bird and make your booking for an inspirational Watermill creative course next year. Not only that, places are filling up fast and to secure a week with the tutor of your choice you need to make your reservation now. Yes, the Watermill’s renowned […]
Thoughts on our Uccello bedroom: Did perspective affect the artist’s married life?
It pays to be an Early Bird (see below). Continuing our notes on the early Renaissance artists after whom our Watermill bedrooms are named, today it’s the turn of Paolo Uccello. Recently restored, the Uccello bedroom in the 17th Century mill building looks out over the watermill cascades and the River Rosaro. Uccello was born […]
Patriotic knitting and rude advice from Hemingway — all in the Watermill’s vibrant December newsletter
As well as urging you to be an Early Bird and book now to save money on one of next year’s creative courses, we also have stories on: Seasonal subjects for our next online interactive painting sessions Evocative watercolour of the marble workers of Carrara Non-Participating Partners have fun too! The Watermill riverside: another inspiring […]
Have you ever seen your artistic doppelgänger?
The Germans have a word for it: doppelgänger, expressing the concept that everyone, somewhere in the world, has someone who looks just like them. My favourite online art magazine DailyArt.com had a fun article this week on doppelgängers and art: famous people who look just like painted portraits of other people. That’s Maggie Smith above, […]
As the holiday rush gathers pace, contemplate a calm creative week at the Watermill
It pays to be an Early Bird (see below). It’s going to be a hectic few weeks as around the world we gather to celebrate our winter festivals (or in the southern hemisphere, I suppose, summer festivals with, for example, Christmas pudding on an Australian beach). Wherever you’re celebrating, it’s time to take a few […]
Book now for Georgia’s new knitting week at the Watermill
Bookings are coming in from the international knitting community for the extra week of Knitting and la Bella Vita we have opened up for the delightful Georgia Farrell after her initial week sold out. The new week runs from Saturday 29 April to Saturday 6 May 2023 and if you want to have your knitting […]