Art Course Structure
The Art Toscana holidays in Northern Tuscany offer courses in painting, drawing, sculpture and digital photography. This year we are introducing a new Art Toscana course for walking and sketching. Although the courses are packed with lots to do, you may prefer to spend more time relaxing at the pool, watching the eagles soar, or in the evenings, star-gazing or walking in the Val di Pozza to a secluded spot by the brook where you can reflect on the day's events.

>>> Painting and Drawing: These one and two week courses are open to all ages and all levels of experience and ability, from absolute beginners to professional artists. Our tutors will support you at a level appropriate to your needs, both within a group setting and individually. You will be able to extend your knowledge and understanding of art in a creative and relaxed atmosphere. Methods and techniques will be demonstrated in watercolour, oil, acrylic and mixed media. By working directly in the environment you will further your understanding of perception, analysis of perspective, composition, texture, form and colour.

>>> Mixed Media: This course is suitable for complete beginners as well as the experienced artist. The central aim is to unlock and develop an inquisitive attitude towards the making of art. During the week you will be able to explore the relationships between different materials which may happen either by chance or by design. You will find inspiration from a number of sources; the subconscious mind in the form of dreams and life experiences, and the conscious mind in the form of photographs, magazines and direct observation from the local environment.

>>> Clay Sculpture Silvia MacRae-Brown has 20 years’ experience of working with life models. For the past 8 years, she has been running her own sculpture in clay courses at the Gardner Arts Centre, Sussex University. The course focuses on the life model as the main source of inspiration, with a combination of quick sketches and a sustained pose. All levels of ability are welcome, from the beginner to the professional sculptor.

>>> Surface Decoration: (please enquire for dates) Cressida Bell is one of the most exciting and innovative designers at work today. We offer you a unique opportunity to work with Cressida on this surface design course. Your inspiration will come from local sources, including museums, galleries, architecture and the natural world and you will learn to manipulate images to form your own original artwork. This may be then taken further to create an end product of your choice from painted furniture and everyday objects, personalised stationery and scrapbooks.

>>> Walking and Sketching: Walking and sketching in the Garfagnana will give you the opportunity to truly discover this little known and yet most stunning landscape of Italy. The course is designed to improve observational skills through drawing in a variety of ways using the sketchbook. Your studies are then explored and further developed through a range of different media back in the studio.

Courses run Tuesday to Tuesday, both in the mornings and afternoons to a total of five and a half hours a day, although you are welcome to work on your own longer if you would like. Wednesday is a 'free day' to spend how you wish.

Courses (run Tuesday to Tuesday)
	Prices in £'s
Per person for one week based on two people sharing a small twin room with en suite shower room	£600
Per person for one week based on two people sharing a small double room with en suite shower room	£650
Per person for one week based on two people sharing a large double/twin room with en suite shower room	£750
Per week Single room with en suite shower room	£850
The price includes, 6 days of tuition, 7 nights at Val di Pozza, full board accommodation to include 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches (lunch is not prepared on Wednesdays, the free day) and 7 evening meals with wine - 3 of which are at local restaurants. Refreshments throughout the day & excursions and visits included in the course programmes. Transfer to and from Pisa Airport

Accommodation
Set amid 23 acres of the Garfagnana Nature Reserve, a mile and a half from the mediaeval town of Barga, 20 miles from Lucca and 56 miles from Florence, our spacious Tuscan farmhouse has a restored barn, extensive studio facilities and a swimming pool, and is an ideal retreat for exploring creativity.

The house and adjacent cabana (barn) have been renovated to create stylish and comfortable living accommodation consisting of six bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, 4 living rooms and a games room. The cabana also houses the artists' studio and library and the large terrace between the house and the barn offers our guests a place to paint.

With fantastic views of the snow-capped Apuan Alps, the house and grounds are situated in one of Italy's richest botanic regions. Our house 'Val di Pozza' (Valley of the Well) is comfortably furnished and, whilst offering total seclusion, is only a 10-minute stroll from our local restaurant 'La Mocchia'.

Tutors
We use a variety of teachers for our courses all of whom are highly experienced artists and teachers who will support you at a level appropriate to your needs, both within a group setting and individually. If you would like to find out more about who will be tutoring a particular course we will be happy to let you have a brief resume.

Location
The small town of Barga is situated 3 kilometres from Val di Pozza, in the Serchio Valley. It is characterized by narrow, unspoilt streets and squares which still breathe a mediaeval atmosphere. Steeped in history, it is a centre for literary and cultural activities with international jazz and opera festivals in the spring and summer.

The town is entered by two main gateways set in the ancient walls, the Porta Manchianella and the Porta Reale. There are many beautiful churches to see, but the most spectacular is the Ninth-Century cathedral which stands at the town's highest point and is fronted by a terrace offering a huge panoramic view of roof tops, hills and mountains, one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Garfagnana. Barga also has tennis courts, a swimming pool set beneath the hilltop village of Sommocolonia, a cinema, and numerous bars and restaurants.

Lucca is 35 minutes by train from Barga. Surrounded by four kilometres of walls, which are public walkways. Lucca has over one hundred churches and probably as many palaces. Its narrow streets lead into grand piazzas. Lucca’s architecture ranges from the most severe Romanesque to sumptuous Renaissance styles; the cathedral is a masterpiece of Roman art. The main shopping street, Via Fillungo, is a place for meeting, chatting and posing!

Getting There
We will pick you up from Pisa Airport between 10.30 and 12.00 Tuesday morning, to arrive at Val di Pozza in time for lunch.

It is easy to get by train from Pisa to Fornaci di Barga ( the local railway station) where we will collect you. There are trains which run directly from the airport to Fornaci di Barga or you may have to change at Lucca depending on the time of day.