What better place to draw and paint with water colors, oil or pastel than in Chianti, in Tuscany, the cradle of Renaissance? Tuscan landscape is an inexhaustible source of inspiration.
Set in a garden of several hectares, among roses, rosemary bushes, olive trees and other plant mediterranean plants, the charm Hotel Villa le Barone offers wonderful views on the countryside and the Chianti hills, which have inspired so many artists. At Villa Barone it is enjoyable to paint outdoors in the gardens, on the many terraces or in the lounges inside…. And the Villa, owned by the famous family of ceramists Della Robbia since the 16th century, today property of their heirs, is beautifully situated between the art cities of Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, which can be easily reached.
Many painting teachers choose or have chosen Villa Barone to organize their courses… Jean-François Grillard, painting teacher in Neuilly sur Seine (France) organized with great success many workshops every year since 2008 and this success continues in 2015 with two painting courses planned for May and October 2015 (for more information contact info@villalebarone.com). Jann Pollard, an American watercolorist also brought her students to participate in different courses. Roni Miller held a pastel workshop… Marina des Tombes, who lives near Panzano in Chianti, often comes to teach watercoloring to Guests.
And we do not count the many painters, professional or not, who exercise their talents at Villa Barone drawing and watercoloring their travel books. Spring is a wonderful time to paint in Chianti, with all shades of green, tender green of Villa le Barone’s lawns, stronger green of the hills, bright green of new tree’s leaves, darker green of the olive trees… But summer and fall, with their bright, warm colors are both also wonderful seasons to paint!
We are especially grateful to the many artists who kindly gave one of their works to the Villa. The living room of our Fattoria has become a gallery!!! This lounge is also the place where, during workshops, painters gather in the evening to discuss their day’s accomplishments!
But artists also appreciate other pleasures: gastronomy is an important part of a sojourn at Villa le Barone, with typical Tuscan dinners prepared by our Tuscan cooks accompanied by Chianti wine! And after putting away the painting palettes, they can also enjoy the pool, the tennis court and the fitness trail on the property!
So what better place to draw and practice oil, gouache, pastel and watercolor painting, than boutique hotel Villa le Barone, Chianti in Tuscany?