Art Workshops, Classes & Retreats
Select from the following options to view more listings.
June 12-17, 2023
Best art course in top location on the Italian Riviera with seaview artist residencies, for beginners and advanced, this class is taught by Nicole Durand renowned sculptor in a little paradise at the border of famous cote d'Azur and Monte Carlo.
Location: Ventimiglia, Italy
Instructor: Nicole Durand
Cost: 1000 euros
Website, email, +33 608177897

June 17-25, 2023
Experience the beauty of Croatia and plein air painting on a small group sailing tour through the breathtaking islands of Croatia with artist Robert Masla. In addition to the islands, we’ll tour ancient cities and UNESCO World Heritage sites with captivating coastlines for inspiration - all from the comfort of our private, luxury 41 meter (134.5’) yacht Barbara. Robert will lead art demonstrations and plein air painting sessions capturing the natural beauty of these Adriatic islands surrounded by the sea, nature and centuries of history!
Location: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Instructor: Robert Masla
Cost: $4795 Painters; $4525 non painters
Sponsor: Artful Travels & International Barging Tours
Website, email, 413-237-4631

June 24 - July 5, 2023
A unique art workshop/art tour open to artists of all levels and media (oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.). Seven days of plein-air painting, art history/theory lectures, and gourmet cuisine in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence followed by four days visiting Barcelona’s top art sites and enjoying Catalan cuisine. The price of CAD 4275 (around US$ 3330) includes instruction, 11-night double accommodation, 11 breakfasts, 6 healthy lunches, 6 gourmet dinners including wine, transportation from the Manosque train station to our lodge, transportation to all painting sites (Banon, Simiane-la-Rotonde, Rustrel, etc.), TGV train ticket Avignon-Barcelona, transportation and entrance fees to all museums and sites on schedule (Cézanne’s studio, La Sagrada Familia, Picasso Museum, Miró Museum, etc.). Limited single rooms for a supplement.
Location: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence & Barcelona, France
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$ 3330
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

July 5-12, 2023
Watercolor Workshop in Paros, Greece. All inclusive (classes, hotel, all meals each day, sightseeing, transfers within the island). Plein air and in studio painting.
Location: Paros, Greece
Instructor: George Politis
Cost: 2400 euros
Sponsor: Watercolor International
Website, email, +306944422097

July 9-18, 2023
A thought-provoking and inspirational art workshop open to artists of all levels and media (oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.). Join us for 9 full days of plein air painting, art history/theory lectures, touring, and gourmet cuisine in the most beautiful area of Tuscany. Our teaching approach and groups limited to eight participants allow us to offer personalized instruction and a stimulating learning environment. Cost of CAD 3775 (around US$ 2900) includes art instruction, 9-night double accommodation, all breakfasts, 8 lunches, 8 gourmet dinners including wine, transportation from and to the Arezzo train station, transportation to all painting sites (Montepulciano, Cortona, Pienza, etc.), train ticket to Florence, and a guided tour to the Uffizi Museum. Limited single rooms for a supplement.
Location: Lucignano, Italy
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$ 2900
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

August 5, 2023
This workshop will focus on working in abstraction while considering some basic fundamentals exploring composition, colour and expressive brushwork. This event is held at my Niagara-on-the-Lake studio. The studio is bright and spacious, and registration is limited to 10 people. Outdoor painting may be an option, weather permitting. In this workshop you will learn how to plan work as well as work intuitively to create a loose and confident painting which speaks to your unique style. No lugging of paints and materials! All GOLDEN Artist quality paints and mediums are included along with 16”x20” canvas. A healthy artisan lunch is included and all beverages. All participants will take home their abstract work along with an Artist Pack gift.
Location: Niagara, Canada
Instructor: Sandra Iafrate
Cost: $185 in-person
Website, email

August 12, 2023
Our one-day art workshop in the Ottawa region is more than an introduction to plein air painting, as you will learn to interpret and depict the landscape in a personal way. The reflection about the intertwining of two realities, nature’s and yours as the viewer, will lead to a synthesis of both on canvas. The day will start with a lecture and end with a gastronomic evening. For all levels and mediums.
The price of CA $425 (around US$ 320) includes a lecture on the history of landscape painting, four hours of plein air painting, a five-course dinner including wine (with recipes from Let Go! The Artist's Way of Cooking), and two-way transportation from Ottawa.
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$ 320
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 8006114789

September 9-16, 2023
Introducing history of art in Umbria – journey among the wonder.
Day 1 Assisi – before and after Giotto: Cimabue and Pietro Cavallini. Investigation around art changings through the XIII century.
Day 2 Spoleto – Alberto Sotio: unique XII century school of art in remote Umbria, how byzantine influences have produced masterpieces.
Day 3 Montefalco – Benozzo Gozzoli: a piece of Florence in Umbria. Spello – Pinturicchio: artist of the most reach XVth century courts of Italian Renaissance.
Day 4 Orvieto – From ‘300 to ‘500: three centuries in a single masterpiece, the Duomo of Orvieto and the ‘Fabrica’.
Day 5 Perugia – briefing up: Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria, eight centuries of History of Art in Umbria in one place.
Location: Assisi, Italy
Instructor: Irene Maturi
Cost: € 2500
Sponsor: Schola Artis Pro Vobis
Website, email

September 15-28, 2023
Join Winnie Givot for her 5th workshop to Villa Salinara on the west coast of Sicily, a unique place that has been shaped by many cultures over many thousands of years. Our days will be filled with painting, drawing and writing in our watercolor journals as we explore this beautiful place, seeing more deeply through our art. Winnie will give daily lessons and individual help. This is an opportunity for art immersion as we play with color and texture, with composition, writing and page embellishments, while connecting with the beauty around us. There will be lightheartedness and musings in our journals and our days. Limited single rooms for a supplement.
Location: Marsala, Italy
Instructor: Winnie Givot
Cost: US$ 4200
Sponsor: Salinara
Website, email

September 30 - October 7, 2023
Come to enjoy a masterful tuition by Keiko Tanabe, subject matters will be landscape, Mediterranean seascape, old historic city scape, locations in the charming 18th century farmhouse where the participants will stay. Sicily it’s like a dream, colorful sunset, olive groves, lined vineyards, picturesque villages with narrow streets, churches, a never ending range of restaurants and cafés, blue skies and beautiful nature, jovial people, traditional foods and great local wine. The participants will benefit from daily one-on-one guidance and a group sharing with Keiko. You can expect to learn about composition, how to capture lights and atmosphere, methods and techniques of creative process. Limited single rooms for a supplement.
Location: Marsala, Italy
Instructor: Keiko Tanabe
Cost: 1950 €
Sponsor: Salinara
Website, email

October 1-10, 2023
A thought-provoking and inspirational art workshop open to artists of all levels and media (oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.). Join us for 9 full days of plein air painting, art history/theory lectures, touring, and gourmet cuisine in the most beautiful area of Tuscany. Our teaching approach and groups limited to eight participants allow us to offer personalized instruction and a stimulating learning environment. Cost of CAD 3775 (around US$ 2900) includes art instruction, 9-night double accommodation, all breakfasts, 8 lunches, 8 gourmet dinners including wine, transportation from and to the Arezzo train station, transportation to all painting sites (Montepulciano, Cortona, Pienza, etc.), train ticket to Florence, and a guided tour to the Uffizi Museum. Limited single rooms for a supplement.
Location: Lucignano, Italy
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$ 2900
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

October 8-15, 2023
We have designed an amazing adventure filled with artists’ favorites such as breathtaking views of Czech towns and rivers, fantastic guided tours, exceptional daily watercolor instructions and painting spectacular sceneries of Bohemian landscape complimented with delicious local delicacies, comfortable lodging and private transportation. All mediums | All levels | Non-painters are welcome. Explore the country of castles with Vlad. We will start our journey in Prague, “Golden City of a Thousand Spires”, one of most fascinating cities in Europe, exploring and painting in historic neighborhoods across the Vltava River. Crossing the country down to the South region, we will experience the number and variety of Czech castles from Gothic ruins to majestic, baroque mansions that are simply awe-inspiring.
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Instructor: Vladislav Yeliseyev
Sponsor: Renaissance School of Art
Website, email, 941-330-6865

October 8-15, 2023
Join Cindy Briggs and Theresa Goesling for their workshop at the stunning Salinara Art Farm on the west coast of Sicily. Cindy and Theresa will give daily painting lessons and individual help, encouraging support, share how to draw and simplify your subject, play with colors and water, textures, composition, writing and precious advice on how to create and improve your watercolor journal pages. Resume of the workshop, final discussion about student’s works with Cindy and Theresa. Sicily is a unique island that has been shaped by many cultures over many thousands of years. Salinara is a 10 minute walk from the Sea, close by are salt pans with windmills, lined vineyards and olive groves. Limited single rooms for a supplement.
Location: Marsala, Italy
Instructor: Theresa Goesling and Cindy Briggs
Cost: From 2900 €
Sponsor: Salinara
Website, email

October 15-22, 2023
Join watercolor artist Jeni Caruana on the beautiful island of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea. Jeni is an experienced tutor for all levels of artists, from beginners to advanced. She encourages everyone to challenge their boundaries and make new discoveries about their own unique expression. Whether it’s basic techniques to give a firm background, or a nudge into loosening up rigid habits, Jeni gives individual attention and inspiration to everyone in the group. The sessions are taught in watercolour, because it is so portable and easy to use on site, but the principles of drawing and colour apply to all mediums, so artists are welcome to bring whatever they are most happy with. Or to bring something different to experiment!
Location: Marsala, Italy
Instructor: Jeni Caruana
Sponsor: Salinara
Website, email

February 17-25, 2024
Join our unique art workshop in South America and experience the stunning Caribbean coast from Puerto Colombia (Barranquilla) to Cartagena. Learn the fundamentals of perspective drawing and watercolors and have a taste of Colombian Caribbean food and culture. After an art class, try a "mojarra con arroz con coco" with a cold Colombian beer or an "aguardiente". Paint on the beach, attend cooking demonstrations by local chefs, take part in a street food tour, and much more. Price of CAD 2900 per person (around US$2200) includes eight-night double accommodation in comfortable and centrally located hotels, all ground transportation, all breakfasts, one lunch, a few aperitifs, two suppers, one street food tour, art instruction, cooking demonstrations and art supplies.
Location: Cartagena, Colombia
Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque
Cost: US$ 2200
Sponsor: Walk the Arts
Website, email, 800-611-4789

See also:
Art Books for Design & Color Theory |
Tutorials for Design & Color Theory