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Archives for August 2017

Enjoy the Watermill, inside and out!

30 Aug By

The Watermill at Posara for painting, sculpting, knitting, creative writing, Italian language and yoga, holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.Here’ a rather good photo of a corner of The Watermill sitting room, taken by Dana Dodge, who was a guest on one of our recent knitting courses.

Notice the bust of Aphrodite on the chest of drawers? Well, she was kidnapped by painting tutor Maggie Renner Hellman and placed in the walled garden as a subject for painting. (She’s back in the siting room now!)

The Watermill at Posara for painting, sculpting, knitting, creative writing, Italian language and yoga, holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

Aphrodite kidnapped. A bust of the goddess, normally in the Watermill sitting room, placed artistically in the walled garden.

Other denizens in the garden include lots of bees, who particularly like the artichoke flowers. Here’s Dana’s picture of one of them.

The Watermill at Posara for painting, sculpting, knitting, creative writing, Italian language and yoga, holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

And here’s the entrancing entrance to the mill.

Dana Dodge mill entrane

Come and enjoy the mill inside and out yourself!

And don’t forget you’ve only another day or so to take advantage of our Early Early Bird offer.

We won’t be publishing details of our 2018 courses on our website until 1 September this year, but for those who want to book before that, our offer is: you can have a place on any of our 2018 creative courses at 2017 prices if you book before 1 September 2017. Please email me at bill@medialliance.net if you would like to reserve your place.

Here’s the list of courses so far:

28 Apr-5 May 2018 Painting course Paul Talbot-Greaves

5-12 May 2018 Knitting course Sarah Hazell

12-19 May 2018 Painting course to be arranged

19-26 May 2018 Painting course Maggie Renner Hellman

26 May-2 Jun 2018 Painting course Sandra Strohschein 1

2-9 Jun 2018 Painting course Sandra Strohschein 2

9-16 Jun 2018 Painting course Sarah Yeoman 1

16-23 Jun 2018 Painting course Sarah Yeoman 2

23-30 Jun 2018 Yoga course Dina Sheldon

7-14 Jul 2018 Painting course Terry Jarvis

14-21 Jul 2018 Knitting course Marie Wallin

18-25 Aug 2018 Private retreat

25 Aug-1 Sep 2018 Yoga course Claire Murphy

1-8 Sep 2018 Painting course Nel Whatmore and Rebecca Mendonça

8-15 Sep 2018 Painting course Mike Willdridge

15-22 Sep 2018 Painting course Claire Warner

22-29 Sep 2018 Writing course Jo Parfitt

29 Sep-6 Oct 2018 Knitting course Lisa Richardson

6-13 Oct 2018 Painting course Vicki Norman

13-20 Oct 2018 Painting course Tim Wilmot

Most artists, writers, knitting designers and yoga teachers have their own websites, so you can see what they do by Googling them!And if you want to see what we are doing in 2017, please go to www.watermill.net.

You can see details of our bedrooms and their 2017 prices at http://watermill.net/painting-holidays/painting-holidays-costs17.php. The costs for knitting, writing and yoga weeks are the same.

Be an extra-early Early Bird and spend a year dreaming of your Watermill holiday!

Lois millstream 1 Mar 17 reduced and cropped

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A sparkling oil painting from tutor Maggie

29 Aug By

Painting by Maggie Renner Hellmann, a tutor at The Watermill at Posara painting holidays/vacations, Tuscany, ItalyHere’s a lovely oil painting of the village of Vernazza in the Cinque Terre, by our inspiring tutor Maggie Renner Hellmann. It is based on a sketch she made there and finished off in her studio.

Maggie was with us early this Summer for her Courageous Color Workshop and our guests seemed to have a marvellous time. One said: “Maggie is good at teaching in all mediums and with all levels.   She did wonderful demos in watercolour, acrylic, pastel and oil.  Every day we did critiques together and learned from each other. I highly recommend this art workshop as well as the most wonderful accommodation with great food and wine. A little piece of heaven in experiencing Italy.”

Another said: “Our experiences at the Watermill were definitely the highlights of our tours! Maggie’s gentle and helpful manner coupled with technical skill and aesthetic sense opened the gates of motivation for students, making them comfortable in their new surroundings and primed for an exciting creative experience in those beautiful hills of Tuscany. I also appreciated Maggie’s husband, Lou’s ready assists for our physical comforts. What a dream adventure, the two of you, along with Bill and Lois, prepared for all of us!”

Painting by Maggie Renner Hellmann, a tutor at The Watermill at Posara painting holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy

Two of Maggie’s students painting in the Watermill riverside gardens

Maggie will be back for another great workshop next year, from Saturday 19 May to Saturday 26 May 2018 and we are already taking bookings. We won’t be publishing details of our 2018 courses on our website until 1 September this year, but for those who want to book before that, our offer is: you can have a place on any of our 2018 creative courses at 2017 prices. Please email me at bill@medialliance.net if you would like to reserve your place.

But you’ve only got a couple of days to meet that 1 September deadline!

You can see details of our bedrooms and their 2017 prices at http://watermill.net/painting-holidays/painting-holidays-costs17.php.

Be an extra-early Early Bird and spend a year dreaming of your Watermill holiday!

The Watermill at Posara for painting, sculpting, knitting, creative writing, Italian language and yoga, holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

Maggie’s group settle in to paint in the mountains

That’s Maggie’s group above, painting in the spectacular setting of Monte dei Bianchi, the hilltop village where we go to paint (and eat in a gourmet restaurant) on Fridays.

Some general comments about the Watermill from Maggie’s group: “The Watermill was a perfect place: beautiful, well appointed, organized, and the comradery of the gracious gatherings, and the food!”

“Maggie, our wonderful instructor, along with hosts Bill, Lois and their daughter presented week-long experiences that were unforgettable, enriching and so satisfying each day. Thank you all. There were 14 of us enjoying three delectable meals together, with drinks, hors d’oeuvres before dinner under the grape arbor and after-dinner-liquors in the living room accompanied by Bill’s wit and stories.”

The Watermill at Posara for painting, sculpting, knitting, creative writing, Italian language and yoga, holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

Aphrodite kidnapped. A bust of the goddess, normally in the Watermill sitting room, placed artistically in the walled garden.

All this and more on a Watermill creative holiday. Come and be inspired with us!

Remember, early Early Bookers can have a place on any of our 2018 creative courses at 2017 prices. But you must reserve your place by 1 September 2017. Please email Bill at bill@medialliance.net if you would like to come on Maggie’s 2018 course.

 

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Another mouthwatering recipe from the Watermill: Tam’s banana loaf

23 Aug By
The Watermill at Posara for painting, sculpting, knitting, creative writing, Italian language and yoga, holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

Picture Lara Breckon

Our erstwhile ‘Man Friday’ Tam Shepherd, who worked at the Watermill from May to July 2017, was a wow with our guests, not only for his cheerful personality and hard work, but also for the delicious cake he baked for us each week.

We’ve added it to the mouth-watering Watermill recipes that you can find on our Watermill Friends page (along with painting, writing, knitting and yoga tips and exclusive offers). You can become a Friend (it’s free!) by clicking here and registering.

Tam’s banana, hazelnut and dark chocolate loaf

  • 175g light brown sugar
  • 175g self-raising flour
  • 175g softened butter
  • 2 free range eggs
  • 75g chopped hazelnuts
  • 100g dark chocolate
  • drop of vanilla extract
  • 2 ripe bananas, riper the better
  • pinch of Demerara sugar

The Watermill at Posara for painting, sculpting, knitting, creative writing, Italian language and yoga, holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.Preheat the oven to 170°C and line the base and sides of a 20cm x 12cm loaf tin with baking parchment.

Beat the sugar and butter together until light coffee colour, then slowly add the eggs; this is best done using a hand whizzer.

Mix in the hazelnuts and flour.

Chop the bananas into small pieces and break up the chocolate using a food processor to leave you with some finely ground but mostly small bits; you don’t want many larger chunks (alternatively you can use chocolate chips).

Fold both in with the vanilla extract (careful not to over mix) and spoon into the tin. Sprinkle a small amount of Demerara sugar on top and bake for between an hour to an hour and 10 minutes (cover with foil if top starts to darken too quickly).

Once out the oven, let cool before cutting and serve with a cup of tea or coffee!

The Watermill at Posara for painting, sculpting, knitting, creative writing, Italian language and yoga, holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

Picture: Lydia Breckon

 

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Suddenly there is a place available for Tim’s inspiring painting course this October

21 Aug By
Painting by Tim Wilmot, a tutor at The Watermill at Posara painting holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

Tim Wilmot’s impression of the riverside by The Watermill

Due to a cancellation we have a place available on Tim Wilmot‘s watercolur painting course this October. It is in our Uccello bedroom (Please click here for details of all our rooms), so it could be for single occupancy or two friends sharing.

Tim is a sensational watercolourist from Bristol in the South-west of England and he will be joining us for a week-long course in watercolours from 7 to 14 October. More details below.

Tim specialises in watercolours, exploiting the medium with tone and light in a loose impressionistic style. He says: His “I seem to have an affinity with painting landscapes, although I have dabbled with portraits and still life in the past, but always come back to landscapes.”  Tim says: “For many years I’ve taken a sketchbook on my travels and I quickly scribble scenes in a shorthand sort of way. Then, returning home, I recreate those memories with paint and brush. Watercolour is also an ideal medium for capturing those quick impressions.” Here’s another lovely watercolour, of a vineyard beneath the sensational Apuan Alps mountains near the Watermill.

Painting by Tim Wilmot, a tutor at The Watermill at Posara painting holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

A vineyard and the Apuan Alps near the Watermill

As well as an exciting artist, Tim is also an inspiring teacher and on his course, suitable for all levels, he’ll help you to improve your drawing skills, loosen up your style, learn how to incorporate figures in a landscape as well as nurturing you own artistic ambitions. As one student of Tim’s says: “I can’t help being inspired by the careful and wonderfully measured strokes of a genius.”

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAhttp://watermill.net/painting-holidays/painting-holidays-tutor-tim-wilmot17.php7-14 October 2017 Watercolours

with Tim Wilmot

To learn more about Tim and his course at The Watermill, please click here.

 

Come and join us  — and enjoy the magic of the mill! 

Tom riverside photo Jun 13

 

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The Watermill August newsletter is just out…

18 Aug By

The Watermill at Posara for painting, sculpting, knitting, creative writing, Italian language and yoga, holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.…with sneak previews of our new 2018 painting, creative writing, Italian language and knitting courses, and yoga and meditation retreats, together with fond memories of some of the courses earlier is year and great news for early Early Birds to bag a bargain 2018 course, and much else besides. Read all about it by clicking here – and come and join us to savour the magic of the Watermill.

Painting by Sarah Yeoman, a tutor at The Watermill at Posara painting holidays, Tuscany Italy.

The Watermill courtyard, by Sarah Yeoman

 

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Last ten days for early Early Birds to snatch a bargain

18 Aug By
Painting by Vicki Norman, a tutor at The Watermill at Posara painting holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

Sneak preview: a study of the nearby mountains by tutor Vicki Norman

We are working hard on updating the Watermill website to present to you full details of all the creative courses we will be running in 2018. Our webmaster, Les van Jaarsfeldt, is doing a marvellous job preparing all the pages which will tell you all about the courses and tutors and we expect to publish our 2018 website by beginning of September.

While we are waiting, we decided to make a unique offer for early Early Bird bookers: you can have a place on any of our 2018 creative courses at 2017 prices. But you must reserve your place by 1 September 2017, so you only have ten days or so left.

Please email Bill at bill@medialliance.net if you would like to reserve your place.

Here’s the list of courses so far:

28 Apr-5 May 2018 Painting course Paul Talbot-Greaves

ainting by Paul Talbot Greaves, a tutor at The Watermill at Posara painting holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

Sneak preview: through the woods by Paul Talbot-Greaves

5-12 May 2018 Knitting course Sarah Hazell

12-19 May 2018 Painting course to be arranged

19-26 May 2018 Painting course Maggie Renner Hellman

The Watermill at Posara for painting, sculpting, knitting, creative writing, Italian language and yoga, holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

Out on location with Maggie in the glorious Tuscan countryside

26 May-2 Jun 2018 Painting course Sandra Strohschein 1

2-9 Jun 2018 Painting course Sandra Strohschein 2

9-16 Jun 2018 Painting course Sarah Yeoman 1

16-23 Jun 2018 Painting course Sarah Yeoman 2

23-30 Jun 2018 Yoga course Dina Sheldon

Painting by Terry Jarvis, a tutor at The Watermill at Posara painting holidays/vacations, Tuscany Italy.

Terry Jarvis demonstrating in the Watermill walled garden

7-14 Jul 2018 Painting course Terry Jarvis

Knit Judy and Jean show their work - square14-21 Jul 2018 Knitting course Marie Wallin

18-25 Aug 2018 Private retreat

Yoga in the Watermill studio

Yoga in the Watermill studio

25 Aug-1 Sep 2018 Yoga course Claire Murphy

1-8 Sep 2018 Painting course Nel Whatmore and Rebecca Mendonça

8-15 Sep 2018 Painting course Mike Willdridge

15-22 Sep 2018 Painting course Claire Warner

The Watermill at Posara for painting, sculpting, knitting, creative writing, Italian language and yoga, holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

Capture you memories!

22-29 Sep 2018 Writing course Jo Parfitt

29 Sep-6 Oct 2018 Knitting course Lisa Richardson

6-13 Oct 2018 Painting course Vicki Norman

13-20 Oct 2018 Painting course Tim Wilmot

Painting by Tim Wilmot, a tutor at The Watermill at Posara painting holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

Tim Wilmot’s impression of the riverside by The Watermill

Most artists, writers, knitting designers and yoga teachers have their own websites, so you can see what they do by Googling them!

And if you want to see what we are doing in 2017, please go to www.watermill.net.

You can see details of our bedrooms and their 2017 prices at http://watermill.net/painting-holidays/painting-holidays-costs17.php. The costs for knitting, writing and yoga weeks are the same.

So why not join those extra-early Early Bird and spend a year dreaming of your Watermill holiday! We’d love to welcome you here. As we said, if you book now, you can have a place on any of our 2018 creative courses at 2017 prices. Please email Bill at bill@medialliance.net if you would like to reserve your place.

Mill courtyard

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An attractive offer for early Early Birds (it only lasts a few more weeks!)

7 Aug By
The Watermill at Posara for painting, sculpting, knitting, creative writing, Italian language and yoga, holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

It’s a great offer! Pass it on!

You’ve only a few more weeks to take up our unique offer for early Early Birds!

As we won’t be publishing all the details of our 2018 painting courses on our website until 1 September we decided that early Early Bookers can have a place on any of our 2018 creative courses at 2017 prices. You must reserve your place by 1 September 2017. Please email Bill at bill@medialliance.net if you would like to reserve your place.

Here’s the list of courses so far:

28 Apr-5 May 2018 Painting course Paul Talbot-Greaves

5-12 May 2018 Knitting course Sarah Hazell

12-19 May 2018 Painting course to be arranged

19-26 May 2018 Painting course Maggie Renner Hellman

The Watermill at Posara for painting, sculpting, knitting, creative writing, Italian language and yoga, holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

Out on location in the glorious Tuscan countryside

26 May-2 Jun 2018 Painting course Sandra Strohschein 1

2-9 Jun 2018 Painting course Sandra Strohschein 2

9-16 Jun 2018 Painting course Sarah Yeoman 1

16-23 Jun 2018 Painting course Sarah Yeoman 2

23-30 Jun 2018 Yoga course Dina Sheldon

7-14 Jul 2018 Painting course Terry Jarvis

14-21 Jul 2018 Knitting course Marie Wallin

18-25 Aug 2018 Private retreat

25 Aug-1 Sep 2018 Yoga course Claire Murphy

1-8 Sep 2018 Painting course Nel Whatmore and Rebecca Mendonça

8-15 Sep 2018 Painting course Mike Willdridge

15-22 Sep 2018 Painting course Claire Warner

The Watermill at Posara for painting, sculpting, knitting, creative writing, Italian language and yoga, holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

Capture you memories!

22-29 Sep 2018 Writing course Jo Parfitt

29 Sep-6 Oct 2018 Knitting course Lisa Richardson

6-13 Oct 2018 Painting course Vicki Norman

13-20 Oct 2018 Painting course Tim Wilmot

Painting by Tim Wilmot, a tutor at The Watermill at Posara painting holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

Tim Wilmot’s impression of the riverside by The Watermill

Most artists, writers, knitting designers and yoga teachers have their own websites, so you can see what they do by Googling them!

And if you want to see what we are doing in 2017, please go to www.watermill.net.

You can see details of our bedrooms and their 2017 prices at http://watermill.net/painting-holidays/painting-holidays-costs17.php. The costs for knitting, writing and yoga weeks are the same.

So why not join those extra-early Early Bird and spend a year dreaming of your Watermill holiday! We’d love to welcome you here. As we said, if you book now, you can have a place on any of our 2018 creative courses at 2017 prices. Please email Bill at bill@medialliance.net if you would like to reserve your place.

Mill courtyard

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