Watermill guest Joanna Capelle, who was a student on David Taylor’s painting course a week or so ago, has just sent me a collection of vibrant sketches and paintings she made during her week here, and she is happy for us to share them with you. The sketch above was made in the marketplace of the nearby mediaeval walled town of Fivizzano where we go to visit the weekly market on Tuesdays. And here’s a colour version of the same thing.

I particularly like this study of people chatting over a coffee on market day:

And how about these three men indulging in the timeless pastime of chatting and watching the world go by, in the Piazza Anfiteatro in Lucca?

Here they are in colour:

I have put together these sketches and a few others in one of those speedy Facebook slideshows (less than 30 seconds), which you can see by clicking here. Please watch it and enjoy.

Thank you very much, Joanna, for sending these lively sketches to us, thank you too for your kind words. Joanna told us: “Thank you both for a brilliant week… You have a piece of Paradise, you all looked after us so well and the meals were delicious and varied. David Taylor was very generous with his time and expertise and we thoroughly enjoyed each new location. I’ve been painting for a long time, but I realise I still have a heap to learn about watercolour! We hope we will return one day!”

We are looking forward to welcoming back Maggie Renner Hellmann  (and her charming husband Lou) for not one, but two, of her inspiring ‘Courageous Color Workshops’ at the Watermill next year. We’d be delighted if you were to join us on either, or both.

Maggie’s week-long courses in oils, acrylics, watercolors* and pastels will run from 12 September to 19 September 2020 and from 19 September to 26 September 2020   *Maggie is American, so in this blog we are spelling color her way!

As well as leaving as a much better painter than when you came, you will also have great fun with like-minded people, enjoying the unique ambience of the Watermill. As one of our guests on this year’s painting course with Maggie said: “I just want to express my thanks and appreciation for such a wonderful experience staying at your beautiful Watermill! I loved my room and the meals were fabulous.

“Maggie and Lou were a delight and as the novice painter in the group, I always felt supported and encourage by both of them, as well as the rest of the group. I left with many warm and wonderful memories.  The Watermill is a very special place that will always be a part of me now.” 

The painting above, aptly titled Tuscan Magic, is a demonstration by Maggie, while below is a vibrant watercolour demonstration of the Watermill courtyard

Maggie Renner Hellmann is a contemporary California painter who paints with love, passion and energy. Her work is characterized by a unique blend of loose, energetic brushwork and strong compositions of exuberant color. Maggie says: “I love the joy of color and the poetry of brushwork.”

Maggie is also an enthusiastic tutor who has been teaching for more than 15 years – and loves it! Her workshop will cover oils, acrylics, pastels and drawing, sketching mediums including wax pastels and watercolour. She will encourage the beginner and challenge the more advanced painter. Maggie says: “In this plein air Courageous Color Workshop, we will paint in various spectacular Tuscan locations. Our emphasis will be on learning and practicing the core elements of successful paintings.”

And of the Watermill she says: “Tuscan heaven: Sumptuous multi-course meals, neighbouring village trattorias, ultra-comfortable accommodations and painting instruction with demos! And sharing and stories, some history and some just plain fun! Oh, and the wine.”

Everything is included in the cost of your holiday at the watermill: tuition, accommodation, pre-dinner aperitifs, all meals and wines (including outings to charming local restaurants) and all local transportation (including transfers to Pisa airport and an excursion by train to Lucca or the Cinque Terre). You get to Pisa, Italy, we do the rest!

You can see more about Maggie and her course of the Watermill by clicking here.  

Mark Warner, who is coming to tutor at the Watermill next summer, carries his sketchbook with him wherever he goes, even on his day off. The sketch above, for example, was made when he went to the wonderful walled city of Lucca, one of our excursion venues on Wednesday, which is technically the tutor’s day off. But, as Mark says, he never stops sketching. He says: “Sketching is at the heart of my work. It is important in the development of a piece and on many occasions, forming an integral part of the painting itself.” Here’s another corner of Lucca, captured with ballpoint pen and watercolour.

We are delighted to welcome back Mark Warner to the international team of inspiring and sympathetic watermill painting tutors. His course next year is called Colourful Acrylics/Drawing/Pen & Wash and those are the mediums in which you will be working. Mark’s course will run from Saturday 11 July to Saturday 18 July 2020.

Mark, from Shropshire in England, loves working outside – and he leads by example, creating a relaxed and encouraging environment for his students. He developed his passion for landscapes growing up in the West Wales and then moving onto the rolling hills of Shropshire enabled him to experiment further with colour, light and line. Mark says: “I adore using colour while interpreting the light, weather and a love for the materials. I work directly in the field (literally on many occasions!) and from sketches created outside as well as notes/photographs taken on location.” Here is a lovely demonstration picture, of the River Rosaro which runs beside the Watermill, made by Mark on his last visit here.

You can learn more about Mark and his course at the Watermill by clicking here. If you fancy capturing the stunning Tuscan countryside with your pen and brush, now is the time to book, particularly with our Early Bird Discount Offer: If you book before 31 December 2019 there’s a £75 (English pounds) per person discount on this fabulous 2020 painting holiday.

Everything is included in the cost of your holiday at the watermill: tuition, accommodation, pre-dinner aperitifs, all meals and wines (including outings to charming local restaurants) and all local transportation. You get to Pisa, Italy, we do the rest!

Find out all about the Watermill and our activities by clicking here.