WORKSHOP -
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 23 TO WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 8, 2008
16 days of painting and delight in spectacular Venice, the historic hill town of Assisi, Umbria and the beauty of the Amalfi Coast. Let David show you the best locations in Italy.

The Tour at a Glance
All the drama, color and passion of Venice, Umbria and the Amalfi Coast laid out before your brush. And who better to lead this tour than one of watercolor's most passionate and spontaneous painters - David Taylor. If you love the finer things in life - don't miss this workshop.

About Your Tutor
You'll receive classic watercolor and sketching instruction from this respected artist. In recent years David Taylor has led several tours to Europe for us and has the knack of inspiring and encouraging his students to greater heights. He has a Distinguished Leadership Award for outstanding services to watercolor and to teaching. Here's your opportunity to get privileged insight into how one of the world's best artists does it and have a rewarding vacation at the same time. Register early for this one.

Highlights of your vacation

Exemplary teaching and critique sessions by world famous artist, author, and instructor, David Taylor.
5 nights in a comfortable three-star hotel right in the middle of Venice, 5 nights accommodation in a historic four-star hotel located right in the middle of the old town in Assisi, Umbria and 5 nights in a four star hotel in Maiori on the Amalfi Coast.
Continental breakfast daily, a welcome drinks party and farewell dinner.
Dinner nightly in Assisi
Painting, sightseeing and shopping in Venice, Assisi, the countryside and towns of Umbria including Gubbio and Cortona, and the Amalfi coast towns of Positano and Pompei.
Guided walking tours of Venice and Assisi, including the St Frances Basilica.
A certificate confirming the successful completion of the workshop.
Workshop accompanied by a professional workshop manager.

WORKSHOP

Day 1: TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2008 Venice, Italy
Workshop members will be picked-up at Venice airport at midday and transferred to the workshop hotel in the center of Venice. The workshop's comfortable three-star hotel is superbly located close to the Grande Canal and a wealth of great painting sites. After lunch, David Taylor will lead the group with his first painting demonstration in the back streets of Venice, close to the hotel. Dinner will be at leisure.

Day 2: WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 Venice, Italy
After breakfast a local guide will take you on a tour of the sights of the St Marks area. You will see St Marks Cathedral and its square, the Grand Canal, the Doges Palace and the busy waterfront. Following the tour, David Taylor will begin painting with a demonstration, and then move amongst the group helping with individual paintings. Valuable critique sessions will be held in the hotel every few days.

Day 3: THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 Venice, Italy
David will lead the group to a good painting location and then assist workshop members with their individual work.

Day 4: FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2008 Venice, Italy
After breakfast we will take you by boat to the colorful island of Burano for a day of painting and sightseeing. Featuring an extensive network of canals and ancient buildings painted in vivid reds and greens, Burano will surely offer inspiration for today's workshop. The group will spend the day exploring the island and will return to the hotel in the afternoon.

Day 5: SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2008 Venice, Italy
David will begin your final day in Venice with a demonstration and then help workshop members with their work throughout the day.

Day 6: sunday SEPTEMBER 28, 2008 Assisi, Umbria
Today workshop members will be transferred to the Umbrian town of Assisi. Sitting on the slopes of Monte Subasio, commanding spectacular views over the Umbrian countryside, Assisi will make a perfect base for the following weeks workshop.

Retaining much of its medieval character, buildings, streets and history, workshop members will have no shortage of inspiration and subjects to paint.

Day 7: MONDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 Assisi, Umbria
In the morning we will enjoy a guided tour of Assisi including the Basilica de St Francesco. Later David Taylor will lead workshop members to a good location in Assisi for a day of painting. David will help individuals with their work throughout the day.

Day 8: TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 Assisi, Umbria
A full day of painting and exploration in the fine Umbrian town of Assisi with David Taylor.

Day 9: WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1, 2008 Assisi, Umbria
After breakfast the workshop group will travel by private coach to the nearby hill town of Gubbio for a full day of painting and exploration. Gubbio is a fine historic town perched high up on Monte Ingino. It has an atmosphere of the Middle Ages with impressive town walls, majestic palaces and unusual towers. We will enjoy painting in this historic town that today bustles with the locals busy going about their daily lives.

Day 10: THURSDAY OCTOBER 2, 2008 Assisi, Umbria
After breakfast we join a private coach to travel west for a day of painting with David Taylor in the historic hill town of Cortona. Workshop members will enjoy the historic streets and the town squares, often busy with produce markets, and the wonderful location of this medieval town. David will assist workshop members with their work throughout the day.

DAY 11: FRIDAY OCTOBER 3, 2008 Amalfi Coast, Italy
Workshop members will be transferred south to Maiori on the Amalfi Coast. The Amalfi Coast is one of the most spectacular places in Italy - perfectly preserved medieval villages spill down sheer cliffs to the azure sea below, giving you a multitude of painting possibilities. You will experience driving along the famous road that clings to the cliffs and twists and turns its way along the coast offering breathtaking views. Beautiful towns and villages including Positano, Ravello, Amalfi and Sorrento dot the coast and they will stir your imagination. The Isle of Capri, once home to Emperors, is just off the coast. Amalfi was a great maritime power that in olden times rivaled Venice and Genoa. The great Duomo is a remnant of these past great days. Nearby is the famous archeological site of Pompei destroyed by the volcano Vesuvio, and the modern metropolis of Naples, one of the largest cities in Italy.

DAY 12: SATURDAY OCTOBER 4, 2008 Amalfi Coast, Italy
After breakfast the workshop group will travel by private coach to nearby Positano for a full day of painting in truly beautiful surroundings. David will commence the day with a demonstration and help everybody with individual teaching.

DAY 13: SUNDAY OCTOBER 5, 2008 Amalfi Coast, Italy
Today David Taylor will begin the days painting program with a demonstration in a good location near the hotel. Then it will be your turn to paint as David moves among the group, helping each person with their work. Relaxed critique sessions will be held at the workshop hotel in the evening.

DAY 14: MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2008 Amalfi Coast, Italy
A tour highlight today as we take you to the ruins of Pompei, the Roman city destroyed by an eruption of the volcano Vesuvio in AD79. The impressive ruins help us understand what life was like at the height of the Roman Empire, 2000 years ago. After the visit there will be the opportunity to climb the volcano to see its famous cone. Bring your camera.

DAY 15: TUESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2008 Amalfi Coast, Italy
Our last full day on the delightful Amalfi Coast. David will lead the group for a final day of painting on the coast. He will demonstrate and then move from person to person offering helpful advice. There will be a critique session before the group comes together for an included farewell dinner to celebrate the success of our time on the Amalfi Coast.

DAY 16: WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 8, 2008 Departure

After breakfast workshop members will join the workshop coach to travel north to Rome airport to join late afternoon flights.

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