Kerstin’s lunchtime picnics for our painting guests when they are out on location are world-renowned. Many of our guests single them out specially for praise. Here are Kerstin, tutor Fergal Flanagan and some of our guests enjoying their lunch on the ramparts of the nearby town of fivizzano, before settling down for a quiet afternoon’s painting of the valley and the hills

Our popular Australian tutor, Terry Jarvis, has just sent us this colourful watercolour,  inspired by the village of Terezano, where we take our students on one of their location painting days.

This village, high in the hills near the mill, is where Kerstin lives and it has spectacular views over the Alpi Apuane, the marble mountains of Carrara.

Sheena Guz, one of our students from a few of years ago, has just won the Writers and Artists Yearbook short story competition with her story, A Grain of Sand.  Take a look at http://www.writersandartists.co.uk/2010/03/winner-of-the-2010-short-story-competition/#more-6672.  Well done, Sheena!

One of our tutors at the mill, Bob Henfrey, has just sent us a great oil he did of the little street leading from the mill to the village.  Bob will be running another week-long course at the mill in 2012 (we’ve pencilled in the dates 2-9 June 2012 just in case you are interested and would like to make an early booking!)

Sharon’s course finished last Saturday and already the accolades are pouring in - not least because the watermill setting provides such a great background for a truly inspirational week.  But don’t just take it from me - look at the comments:

http://www.iheartpresents.com/ and http://sharonkendrick.blogspot.com/2010/05/wild-orchids.html

We’ve already had a few repeat bookings for Sharon’s course next year (7-14 May 2011) so don’t wait too long if you want a break which will nurture your soul and boost those old grey cells!

Just heard from our writing tutor, Sharon Kendrick, that she can officially be described as a ‘USA Today bestselling author’!  Congratulations, Sharon.  And if you would like some of her glitter to rub off on YOU, then come on her course at the watermill, 8-15 May.  We have one or two places still available, but hurry!

Now that it’s March and the end of the cold weather is in sight, everyone’s thinking about their 2010 breaks.  In fact, there’s been such a flurry that we’re going to have to hang up the FULL sign on a number of our courses very soon.  So if you have a particular tutor or week in mind, call us on 01888 568375 to reserve your place, or email us using the secure contact form on our website.  We look forward to you joining us in sunny, warm Tuscany!

…..coming on her fifth visit to the mill

This year we are delighted again to welcome Laraine Simpson for her fifth visit to the watermill. She’s proved to be one of our most popular tutors, with her courses always full.

During the week-long painting holiday, which runs from 4-11 September, Laraine will be tutoring in oils, pastels, watercolours etc.

And, as always, Laraine’s partner Paul will be on hand to help entertain you and to inspire your painting with a little gentle guitar playing on location.

Laraine is a Fine Arts-Painting graduate of Central School of Art & Design (now Central St. Martins), London.  She is highly regarded as a perceptive, patient and encouraging tutor working with beginners and advanced students alike, her main aim being to teach people to ‘see’ the relationships of line, tone, shape, colour etc which are fundamental to drawing and painting.  Laraine works in oils, pastels, watercolours, and a variety of drawing materials.  Her main inspiration is the wonderful interplay of light on surfaces, particularly the human form and landscape, and also animals and architecture. 

Here’s a rather nice oil Laraine painted in the UK, called Hawnby Summer Heat. It was executed en plein air using palette knives.  Laraine says: “It was a very hot day and having quickly blocked in the main shapes of the composition with washes, the use of the knives speeded up the painting process and created luscious textures. The simple arrangement of the tree line and subtle changes of the rich greens in the landscape are complemented by the inclusion of strategically placed reddish ochres.”

And here’s a painting of the nearby castle of Verrucola, painted by one of Laraine’s students:

If you’d like to see the castle yourself and enjoy the unique delights of a famous Watermill at Posara painting course, now’s the time to book. We already have six students booked in, so places are filling up.

To recap, Laraine’s painting holiday with tuition oils, pastels, watercolours  and drawing runs from 4-11 September.

If you would like to come on Laraine’s painting holiday at the watermill, see our website to find out more.

Don’t forget:  If you book your place under the Tuscan sun at the watermill for a 2010 course before the end of February there’s a £50 ‘Winter Warming Allowance’ discount. Just call us on (UK number) 01888 568 375 or email us using our secure Contact Form (quoting blog 2001) and we’ll make sure your place is reserved.

To celebrate us all surviving the deep freeze in the northern Hemisphere, we’re offering everyone a special Winter Warmer Allowance, of £50 off any painting holiday or creative writing course, if you book before the end of February. (Our picture shows Lois enjoying the Winter snow but, on the whole, sh’d rather be in Tuscany!)

That should help warm you up – as well as the anticipation of a week’s pampering at the sunny Watermill of Posara.   Email us on our secure Contact Form or call (UK number) 01888 568 375 and we’ll reserve your place.

Sharon is currently in Paris; gathering new material for her next novel and being inspired by all that she sees……so why don’t you inspire yourself and enter the competition on her website to win one of her books! 

PS  She looks forward to seeing you on her course in Posara in May….