Strategies in Watercolor Painting: A building in the Tuscsan landscape

When you prepare to make a watercolor painting it really helps if you use certain strategies.
Particularly if you have a landscape with a building in it.

Most people would focus on the building first and then paint vegetation around it. That's the direct opposite to what you should do.

In this video you can see how to prepare for a painting in watercolor using an easel and how using vegetation to frame your architectural elements helps enormously when it comes to choosing the values for the buildings.

https://youtu.be/i6qAX9XRk6o

Happy new year. Winter light in Tuscany

Happy New Year.
Here's wishing you a very happy, inspiring, artistic and creative 2016.

Exploring the Tuscan countryside is always amazing. Even in winter it's incredibly beautiful and full of surprises.

While exploring painting locations I recorded the setting sun in a rather beautiful location within easy walking distance of Florence. The photos below are all taken on the same day with a mobile phone on a tripod and I just thought you might enjoy them as they look more like early autumn, rather than the pinnacle of winter.

Hope you enjoy them.

#Tuscany #Florence #Firenze #Italy #painting #Landscape #oils #watercolor #drawing #art #workshop #paint #winter

The Tuscany Plein Air Villa in 2016

Welcome to the Tuscany Plein Air Villa in 2016.

This magnificent villa, which is very close to the city of Florence has been carefully chosen for the landscape painting opportunities it presents. It's extremely beautiful and comfortable. The landscape and access to it were the deciding factor. It's a magnificent building and also very exciting.

Around the grounds there are beautiful painting and sketching spots within a few feet of the main entrance. Olive fields with vistas of Florence, a local village with historical churches, views of other villas, interesting designated public hiking areas, a nearby bar and small restaurant. The villa also has wifi.

Cresting a hill, the villa is surrounded by landscapes on all sides.

Inside, it's tastefully decorated and very comfortable.

One of the most exciting elements are the painting opportunities which the tower presents. With 180 degree views of the Tuscan hills and valleys, the tower provides an impressive location for workshops on landscape painting principles such as ariel and drawing perspective, color mapping, speed painting and more. Once the principles are grasped artists can search out views, set up their easels and create art in nearby locations. The principles taught apply both to oil and watercolor paints or any media. Complete with fresh coffee or a glass of wine, this tower makes early morning and late evening painting, very convenient. 

 

The villa is very large, with several comfortable locations to gather, share a meal and talk. 

Bedrooms are also very comfortable and most have their own private bathroom.

As for the gardens, they are beautiful with seating areas looking over the valley below. A private swimming pool on a lower level and al-fresco dining table on the terrace for evening meals and breakfasts. We are here to learn and enjoy creating art and there is no harm in feeling pampered. 

 

To see more photos of the villa follow this link.

The countryside around the villa is also very beautiful. Photos were taken in October and an article will be published later. The autumn it is excitingly beautiful. Spring will no doubt be quiet awe inspiring.