Art Holiday in Italy -August 2011

If you are interested in an all inclusive ART HOLIDAY  with like minded people ?- Want to visit Italy and do some sketching and painting with the benefit of expert guidance and advice from a tutor?                           Enjoy viewing world famous masterpieces ?  dining on delicious freshly cooked  dishes at a friendly Itialien  family run hotel each evening ? want to bask in the Tuscan sunshine?
If the answer is yes to the above , this Italian experience will suit you. A unique holiday in Montecatini , including painting trips and a visit to Florence -  Wednesday 24th August to Wednesday 31th 2011.

-La Pia Hotel

In April 2009 I visited Italy  to find just the right place to meet my criteria -namely a small comfortable Italian owned hotel, with character , friendly service, excellent food and wine in the heart of Tuscany  but away from the milling tourists in which to base a relaxing painting and cultural holiday.
 I found La Pia Hotel run by Maria and her family.
  Last August  2010 I took a group there for a week and had a wonderful time. Maria the proprietor could not have been more welcoming or helpful. She speaks perfect English , having spent time in London studying  and extends a friendly welcome to everyone ensuring that all are happy with their accommodation  and  services.  I am delighted to be able to offer this  unique holiday again this year .
These images are photos taken  during last years holiday  and will give you a flavour of  the lovely atmosphere of this corner of Tuscany.

The itinerary

Wednesday 24th August..
Arrival at Pisa Airport where you will be met by our courier and taken to your hotel -Hotel La Pia in Montecatini  by bus contact trudiart@eircom.net   with you arrival time to arrange a transfer if not flying from Dublin.  Meet at Dublin airport if you are from Ireland  - Meet your tutor Trudi for an informal meet and greet later at the Hotel


Group with Maria & Trudi outside LaPia 

 Thursday, 25th Aug. DAY 1 -Montecatini Terme (morning) A guided tour of  lovely Montecatini and the Tettuccio spa building with welcome drink in the historical cafe, situated inside the magnificent Tettuccio building.(This short tour was really  interesting and  and well enjoyed by all last year and a lovely social introduction to new companions) Afternoon free to settle in, explore surroundings -or start sketching or painting with Trudi's guidance in the tranquil tree lined square outside La Pia hotel  or in the studio room designated by Maria for  informal classes. .
Dinner at La Pia hotel always surpasses expectations and is full of variety each evening . One has a choice of dishes , delicious fresh salads,  anti pasti, a choice of starters, main courses and deserts .
Last year everyone agreed that the quality of the food, wine and service could not have been be surpassed  - fresh, delicious and varied.


Archway  Massa


Friday, 26thAug - . Painting day  in Buggiano and Massa ,you  will visit  two beautiful medieval villages by bus and spend the day  painting en plein air with guidance from your tutor. Lunch en route . Both towns offer  a feast of painting choices -  a possible painting composition at every turn. This day is full of variety and fun and is a very social time for the group -getting to know each other and painting at  leisure.Portable chairs  for painting en plein air provided.

Return by bus with time to relax and freshen up .  Dinner at the hotel.



"The Birth of Venus"  Boticelli ( Uffizi Gallery)



Browsing in Florence

  Saturday 27st Aug. Florence - Departure for Florence by train with our courier .You will be met by the English speaking local guide of Florence at the Uffizi Gallery, enjoy a  guided visit to the Uffizi gallery in the morning view  magnificent masterpieces by Leonardo Da Vinci , Boticelli and many others . Time to explore the gallery further or browse the  galley art shops . Lunch break -                                   


Trudi & "David" sculpture 



Guided tour  ( one hour)of the historic centre  in the afternoon,  have your own time to explore beautiful Florence -browse the sites and shops or just sit outdoors or in a cafe and watch the world go by . Return by train to Montecatini to relax before dinner at the hotel.





MontecatiniAlta



Sunday 28th Aug. Painting day  in Montecatini alta- the ancient upper town  reached in a few minutes by a quaint red cable car giving extensive views of the surrounding landscape en route.



Red cable car



Lunch in one of the many cafes  Sketching and painting guidance by your  tutor. Time to stroll and explore or return to hotel  to relax before dinner.

Dinner at the hotel.

Monday, 29th Aug. Free day or optional excursion  to Sienna  . Dinner at the hotel.

Tuesday, 30th Aug.  Free day / shopping / sightseeing / relaxing -or Painting day tutored by Trudi Doyle  - your choice. Dinner at the hotel.

Wednesday 31st Aug. Departure day - transport to Pisa airport by bus- a short stop - an hour - will be included at Pisa to view the famous tower and historic town.

Deposit of €300 will secure your place on this wonderful holiday in Italy . Contact me - trudiart@eircom.net - for booking /inquiries . 10 places available  on holiday .
UPDATE - JULY 1st - 5 PLACES  AVAILABLE  
Update July 25th - Late Offer €50 off - 3 places available - 
 The cost of this 'all in' Holiday- €875 per person  £775 sterling -  same as last year -great value in high season ( no single supplement) ( now €825/ £735 )
If you want to know more I will send a brochure and booking form and  answer any queries by phone or email   trudiart@eircom.net . Ring Trudi 00353  059 9156299  / 0876658500
A list of suggested materials etc. for your painting days will be sent to you. 

THIS HOLIDAY INCLUDES -
 Seven nights accommodation at La Pia Hotel, Montecatini , all rooms en suite and air conditioned  -six days half board - breakfast buffet and evening meal with wine or soft drink included each day -Thursday 25th, Friday 26th , Saturday 27th , Sunday 28th, Monday 29th  and Tuesday 30th.   Breakfast on last day Wednesday  31st.


Transfers by bus or taxi to/from Pisa airport (Luggage service and courier on arrival included ).


A local guide (2 hours and half) in Montecatini plus entrance ticket for Tettuccio spa building and complimentary  welcome drink and snack.


Transport by Bus or taxi (full day) for a painting day excursion to two  beautiful rural medieval villages Buggiano and Massa


Full day Excursion  including return  train ticket to Florence and entrance reservation ticket  for  the Uffizi gallery plus guide, local guide and courier in historic Florence .


Painting tuition with professional artist and experienced tutor Trudi on three painting days .


Parking fee for the bus or taxi and use of fold up-artist chair all included.
 . email trudiart@eircom.net

PLEASE NOTE -
{Flights are NOT  included.
Ryanair have  flights at convenient times Dublin /Pisa on the 24th and 31st . If travelling from the UK or  elsewhere please let a know as I will arrange transfers from Pisa airport with the hotel.





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Cypress trees near Montecatini



New Season programme 2011 - Art weekends / Workshops-

at Bunbury Art Studio
Ballyconnell Tullow Co Carlow Ireland

Bunbury Art Studio       Fees reduced to 2003 prices


1. WATERCOLOURS with Trudi Doyle 
Whether you are an apprehensive beginner or have some experience but feel at sea in this medium of watercolours, this course will help you to develop a range of simple techniques; how to use & mix colour, lay washes and compose a painting. All will be demonstrated in Trudi's paint along method which will reinforce your understanding of how to handle this exciting and beautiful medium, giving you the confidence to produce paintings to be proud of. You should complete at least one finished painting and several sketches. SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS & IMPROVERS
2 days €140 or 1 day €70 ( for beginners & improvers ) 

MAY - Sunday 1st & Mon 2nd (bank holiday)

JULY–  Sun 10th ( one day)

SEPTEMBER Sat. 24th & Sun 25th


2.OIL PAINTING with Pat Maher
 2 days €140   ( for beginners & improvers )
This weekend is tutored by award winning artist Pat Maher, a master at capturing the elusive effects of light and shade. He is a patient and experienced tutor who knows how to bring out the best in painters of all level of ability. He includes instruction on good composition, colour and tone with demonstrations and individual tuition. If you are starting out or want to develop a surer approach which can be adapted to suit your own personal style this course is for you. SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS &; IMPROVER
MAY - Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th

SEPTEMBER— Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th


3. ART SAMPLE DAYS with Trudi Doyle
 1 day €70  ( for beginners )
Materials supplied .
Drawing & a good basic introduction to Watercolours .
Suitable for those who have always wanted to take up painting but haven’t got round to it
This day will introduce you to basic drawing & painting techniques and  skills,  how to compose a painting,  mix colours and  choose subjects .I will include a question and answer session .
It will give you a taste of painting with watercolours and you are sure to  go home with a new insight and hopefully enough enthusiasm to continue painting. -

All materials are supplied for the day  free of charge  - pencils, paper ,paint, paint brushes etc. (if you already have some materials  please bring  them along ) 
You can purchase a compact starter pack of good quality watercolours and a brush  in studio to take home for only €4.

JUNE  - Sunday 26th  - 8 places

JULY  -  Sat urday 9th  - 8 places



4.VIBRANT WATERCOLOURS with Trudi Doyle
1 day  €70  ( for  improvers ) For those who wish to loosen up and enliven their work and stretch their knowledge of watercolours beyond the usual. Learn to experiment with a variety of techniques and "tricks of the trade" e.g. sponging, masking, salt effects, cling film textures and the use of mixed media. Delight in the discovery of unexpected effects, keeping an open mind to happy accidents, finding ways of incorporating your new skills into your paintings whether abstract, figurative, landscape, still life, etc. Learn from Trudi the well kept secrets of transparent glowing watercolours and how to effortlessly achieve freshness and vibrancy in your paintings from now on.

    JULY -  Sunday 24th

5. ACRYLICS with Trudi Doyle 
2 day €140  &1 day €70-  ( for beginners & improvers )Acrylics are an easy to use & versatile medium. Diluted with water they can be used like watercolour or used straight from the tube, they produce depth and colour similar to oil painting. Their quick drying nature allows the painter to build up layers of colour faster than oil paint and their opacity means that they are forgiving of mistakes. This workshop will include simple drawing skills and painting techniques, learning the basics while completing a simple painting


 JUNE  Sun 5th and Mon 6th (bank holiday)

   JULY   Saturday 23rd  (one day)


 ART & NATURE SUMMER SCHOOL (2 day) Age 4 to 11
Enjoy Art lessons in Painting , Drawing and Collage. Stimulate the imagination and encourage recycling by making wonderful creations from colourful textured papers, fabrics, found objects, beads & buttons in the studio.
Also enjoy outdoor nature walks to encourage observation skills –weather permitting- and interactive fun and games in the garden. All Materials provided. Bring a packed lunch each day. 
Tues 5th Weds 6th  July  2 day fee €45
Optional extra day on Thursday 7th  - €15  
               ( 2 day - €45   /  3 day fee €60 )- all materials included


Art holiday in Hotel LaPia Montecatini Tuscany  Italy
 Wednesday 24th  to 31st August . €875. Organised all inclusive cultural week with tutored  painting days.
1. Seven nights Half Board accomodation - breakfast buffet and evening meal including  drinks during the evening meal  -  breakfast only  on last day )
2. Painting tuition and guidance with professional artist throughout .
3. Transfer by bus or taxi to/from Pisa airport,  courier on your arrival at Pisa airport
4. Full day bus or taxi  laid on for excursions to medieval villages Buggiano+Massa
5. Local guide in Florence half day including  guided visit to Uffizi Gallery
7. Train ticket, return to Florence. 
10 places available . No single supplement. Booking open until end of May. Deposit €300 secures a place. Full payment by June 1st  2011  
Full information brochure available on request .
( Scroll down & check out my January 2010 blog post for more information and photos  on this holiday )

( Flights to and from Pisa NOT included - Ryanair flights are currently available @ €115 return  Dublin Pisa 24th Aug. / Pisa Dublin 31st Aug.  ) 

email trudi for further information and details and for bookings - trudiart@eircom.net

New affordable favourite prints with hayseed ( ivory) mounts in my Etsy shop

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ARTbyTRUDI?ref=seller_in


I  have  selected 20 images which will be available in this range -All are only $15 each or €11 - plus $4 ( €3 )Postage and packaging . 

Here is a sample of 10 of my favourites which I am launching in my on-line shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/ARTbyTRUDI?ref=seller_info



"Blackbird Singing in the dead of Night"  8"x10"

"Drifting to Dreamland" 8"x10"

"At Anchor" 8"x10"

"Daisy Chain" 8" x10" 

"Deserted Village of Perillos"  8" x10"

"Lazing in a Summar Garden" 8" x 10"

"Lilac Light"  8" x10"

"Flying with an Angel"   8" x10"

All are  only $15 each or €11.  plus shipping  $4 -(€3 ) (I will post  anywhere in the world ) purchase extra prints with no additional   postage/ shipping costs  

 These  are open edition prints 6 x 8 inches ( A5  ) of my original paintings with a gentle matte finish and come with a free ivory mat and backing card - suitable for framing under glass

- ready to pop into a standard 8 x 10ins frame  and arrive to you protected  in a cellophane self seal pocket .

The printsd are created out-of-house by professional printers on Fujicolor Crystal Archive photo paper, with beautifully rich colour reproduction and will last a lifetime. To view more - or to purchase follow the link -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ARTbyTRUDI?ref=seller_info

"We're all mad here" Polling day Ireland

To quote Alice ( in Wonderland)   If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense.  Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't.  And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?”

 On a day that Ireland voted to form a new Government -  I 'm so jaded listening to the endless discussion about bond-holders, banks and debts which the ordinary  folk have to pay back . The illlogical logic  of economics - !

The day was spring like , walking with the dogs I see the newly ploughed field and hints of green in the hedgerows

The secret life of the earth moves along - In nature nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted and bent out of  shape and are all the more beautiful  . 

Trees - "a nest of Robins in her hair "

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d617e83fde18eef32dcc2f4/i-think-that-i-shall-never-see-a-poem

Although there is a mention of God in this poem -I believe the creative forces  of nature are the only dieties !
It's still an inspiring poem !

 

" TREES" 

by american poet Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A Tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree              

"Approaching rain, Eagle Hill" Oil on canvas .

This Oil painting  "Approaching Rain, Eagle Hill " is of a place very close to my heart as I spent my chilhood playing in its fields and woods and among its rocks and ferns.  I love this place.
I sold  the piece on line  recently to a lady from Utah -USA
She emailed the following  when she recieved the painting.
"I received it yesterday! And I must say I am in LOVE with it! It is even more beautiful than I could have imagined! It has this dream like quality to it...you have created an ethereal, poetic landscape, a soft, soothing, yet happy place! You are truly gifted! I LOVE your use of color!!! I am so happy with my new art !!. You must be a lovely, tender, sweet soul to have painted this artwork   Thank you Dear Trudi!! "
I am very happy for this piece to have gone to a loving home ! Yes my paintings are like my children , I have a pang every time I let one go - but it's  good to  make a  living !

What makes a good painting ?
"If a painting is full of magic, if you feel some happiness from it, if it makes you laugh or cry, if it gets things moving.
It should be like a flower,a tree. It should be the same as nature. It should be that when it is not there you should miss it. It is a person. A painting is only good when it can stand comparison to a tree or a living person . "
F.Hundertwasser 1928 -2000( Austrian artist )

Thinking of summer to banish January Blues

2011 Art weekends and workshops at my studio.

We're almost at the end of the coldest January and winter in living memory here in Ireland and life goes on - snowdrops are peeping their brave little shoots through the hard frosty soil . I've had inquiries about my 2011 Art weekends and workshops, and they will as usual begin at the end of April and continue until October - I will  publish  definite dates and details here on my blog soon ! It is  time to plan the year ahead !

If you would like to be notified please leave a message here on comments or email me at trudiart@eircom.net   Please LEAVE A COMMENT if you have any special requests or suggestions for classes . Input from my potential  or returning students is always welcome -I am  open to new ideas and if I know what you want I will do my best to provide it . 

 "After the Showers" Watercolour

And why not take a few moments to check out my JANUARY SALE  of paintings and prints in  my NEW ONLINE  Etsy shop    http://www.etsy.com/shop/ARTbyTRUDI